Northernrun's Blue Diamond Girl, owner: Abby Brunton
General
What is an Alaskan Husky? Or...what is it not? It is not a cross between a Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Malamute, it is not the savage, slavering beast from Jack London's novels, it is not a registered breed or a show dog, and it is not a dog regularely seen as a pet. It is a working and racing dog, and the dog most commonly seen at sled dog races. It is impossible to write a breed standard for the Alaskan Husky, because there is huge variety from kennel to kennel, and even within one kennel. Every musher has his or her own preferences. The Alaskan Husky is the best racing sled dog in the world today.
Characteristics
The Alaskan Husky is essentially a cross between northern village huskies, Siberian Huskies, a dash of Border Collie or German Shepherd, maybe a bit of Inuit sled dog, or bit of hound (German Shorthaired Pointers, for example) for speed. They usually have prick ears, although their ears can droop at the tips, or even not stand up at all. Their eyes can be blue, brown, one of each, or even both colours in one eye. Their coats tend to be dense, but not long, although some sprint dogs have very short and slick coats. Coat colours rage from pure black (like the dog in the photo) to pure white, and everything in between, even the unusual brindle and pinto. Some have curly tails, while others have tails that aren't even bushy. Some look almost exactly like purebred Siberians, while others barely look like huskies at all. Appearance is unimportant--they bred to be working dogs, not show dogs.
Temperament
Most Alaskan Huskies are very friendly and eager for human contact. Some are shy and duck away when you try to pet them, while others are loud and obnoxious, leaping up to great every person who passes. Contrary to popular belief, very few are actually agressive. They are a pack-oriented animal, so a fighting dog would be a danger to the musher and to its team-mates. They still have a strong predator drive, so they are not always trustworthy with cats, smal dogs, or livestock. Normally they are good with children, but children should not be left with any dog unsupervised.
History
Sled dogs were once commonly used for work and racing in northern communities in Canada and Alaska, one of the breeds being the Alaskan Husky. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, imported Siberian Huskies dominated the racing scene. Crossing the Alaskan Husky with various breeds made it rise to the top, and become the epitome of the racing sled dog. With the invention of the snowmobile, however, sled dog populations dwindled. Thanks to mushers like Joe Redington Sr. and George Attla, interest in sled dogs has been rekindled. Today, most racing kennels consist of Alaskan Huskies.
Origin
The Alaskan Husky is descended from many breeds (mentioned in the "Characteristics" section). As the name suggests, the breed originated in Alaska. It originated from northern village huskies and Siberian huskies; later it was crossed with various other breeds to improve speed and endurance.
Utilization
The Alaskan Husky is used mainly for competitive and recreational sledding. Some are seen in weight-pulling. Few are seen as house pets, as they require an enourmous amount of exercise. They are not suited to city living, as they require an enourmous amount of exercise, and they are very vocal.
Classification
Spitz and primitive types
Size
Large
Height
20-24 inches at withers
Weight
35-65 pounds
Grooming
Moderate
Excercise
Considerable
Activity
High
Locality
Country
Health
Being a mixed breed dog, they have few health problems, although some are prone to gastric torsion.
Main
menu: