Alaskan Husky

The Alaskan Husky is the result of crossing various breeds with the Siberian Husky. Its history, like that of many sled dogs, goes back to the gold rushes of the late nineteenth century. Miners of that time used sleds pulled by large dogs such as Saint Bernards or Saint Bernard crossings. The arrival in Alaska of dogs from Siberia such as the Husky changed habits, and teams consisted rather of this type of dogs, smaller and faster. The appearance of motorized transport in the twentieth century made sled dogs less useful, and therefore less numerous. But Alaska sled dogs made their return in the 1970s, particularly through George Attla, an Alaskan from the village of Huslia. Many great racing dogs descend from his dogs.

These sled dogs are raised primarily for their strength, agility, and endurance, but good aptitude for work is also essential. Moreover, dogs intended to be in contact with the public during races or excursions must not be aggressive toward humans. For this reason, the Alaskan Husky is also popular as a pet dog in Alaska. Dogs that become too old for competition make excellent pets if owners give them regular exercise. Former racers are alert and well-trained, and less restless than young ones. Young Alaskan Huskies also make good pets if they have enough space to run, but their great need for exercise makes them impractical for city dwellers. According to their degree of proximity to the Siberian Husky, if they are together, Alaskans may tend to bark at each other or call out to neighborhood dogs, which can pose problems in housing developments. However, they can be trained not to bark. They may also have a tendency to dig holes under gates to go hunting. Alaskans with a high degree of Siberian Husky generally do not make good indoor dogs. They lose a lot of hair in spring and autumn, are very active, and could tend to pace around the house if confined. Some dogs, left alone in the same place for a long time, can start to destroy everything out of boredom. Because of their crossing between Husky, Sighthound, and hunting dogs, they generally have an instinct to hunt small and large animals. If they are attached to their sled and it does not leave immediately, they may become excited and end up chewing on their tethers. In Alaska and other far northern regions, Alaskans are sometimes killed by moose in winter. From time to time, moose searching for increasingly scarce food enter inhabited areas, attracted by the smell of fresh straw used as bedding for dogs. Alaskans generally do not avoid fighting, which can result in serious injuries to dogs if they are trampled by moose. But most encounters between moose and huskies occur when a team crosses the path of a moose. The moose generally avoids confrontation in this case, but if there is heavy snow, if it is difficult to escape, the moose may confuse the team with a pack of wolves, and cause damage by attacking it. Alaskans can sometimes be attacked by wolves, but this case is rare. Mushers surround their kennels with high fences to prevent attacks by wild animals, as well as low fences to prevent the arrival of sick rodents that could contaminate dogs if they eat them.

The Alaskan Husky is first and foremost a deliberately crossbred utility dog in which the base type of husky (Siberian Husky, Sakhalin Husky, crossed huskies) predominates. Other breeds enter into the crossing but they must have the sole purpose of improving the performance of the Alaskan as a sled dog adapted to northern conditions. The profile of the dog also depends on the position it will occupy in the team. The various large sighthound breeds (Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, Greyhound, Hungarian Sighthound, Borzoi or Galgo) intervene for their high peak speed. Scenthound-type dogs such as the American Foxhound, English Foxhound or Anglo-French intervene for their endurance. For resistance to cold, the Czechoslovak Wolfdog, Saarloos Wolfdog, or even wild wolves also intervene. These multiple crosses explain the differences in appearance between Alaskan Huskies. Alaskans show significant variability in weight and height. Males weigh between 18 and 40 kg for a height at the shoulder of between 55 and 76 cm. Females, on the other hand, weigh between 16 and 35 kg for a height at the shoulder of between 53 and 70 cm. Their shape is similar to that of the Siberian Husky or Sakhalin Husky (which are part of their ancestors) but they are generally taller. Color is of no importance to mushers, so one can encounter Alaskan Huskies of all colors and presenting all types of coats. Eyes can also take any color, but they are often light blue or odd-eyed. The hair is short or medium-long, never long, to improve heat dissipation during racing. The coat is generally less dense than in purebred northern dogs.