Comparative characteristics of the exterior of dogs of northern sled breeds

Abstract

Purpose: Comparative characteristics of the exterior of dogs of northern sled breeds.Materials and methods. The object of the study was the dogs of the Chukchi sled dog breed and the Siberian husky used in the LLC "Scythians-tour" of the Republic of Karelia. The method of taking body measurements from dogs and calculating body composition indices was used. Body measurements were carried out in 14 males and 8 females of the Chukchi sled dog and 17 males and 7 females of the Siberian husky. From the measurements, the height at the withers, the oblique length of the trunk, the chest circumference, the length of the forelimb, the circumference of the pastern, the length of the muzzle, the length of the head were taken into account. To take measurements, a measuring stick, a compass and a measuring tape were used. Based on the measurements, the physique indices are calculated. The degree of differences was assessed based on the results of biometric processing of indicators using the Excel program.Results. It was established that the males of the Chukotka Sled Dog and Siberian Husky breed were significantly superior to bitches in almost all body measurements, i.e. they were significantly larger than them. The males of the Chukchi sled dog exceeded the Siberian huskies by 6 cm in the oblique length of the trunk, by 2.4 cm in the length of the head. The differences between the bitches of the Chukchi sled and the Siberian Husky appeared only in the chest circumference and the length of the muzzle. The bitches of the Chukchi sled were more downed and massive than the males. In dogs of the Siberian Husky breed, there were no significant differences between males and bitches in all body indices. The males of the Siberian Husky breed were more downed and massive than the males of the Chukchi sled dog. Bitches of both breeds were developed in the same way.Conclusion. Sexual dimorphism in the exterior was manifested in dogs of the Chukchi Sled dog breed. Breed and sex differences of dogs in size, appearance and physique should be taken into account when forming sleds.