Alaskan Husky Dog

The Alaskan husky is not really a breed of dog per se, but rather a “class” or “type”.  In fact, the Alaskan husky is not defined by descent, but by its purpose, which is to be a sled dog.

However, many mushers distinguish between the Alaskan husky and “crosses of hunting dogs”, which suggests that there is an informal test, and that the Alaskan husky is expected to have a certain proportion of Nordic dog. Specialties exist, such as load Alaskan huskies (also called Mackenzie River husky), the sprint Alaskan huskies and distance Alaskan huskies.
The Alaskan husky is, worldwide, the most commonly used dog in dog sled competitions.  No purebred dog competes with these dogs at speed.

Speed-races at the championships held in Fairbanks, Alaska and Anchorage, Alaska are always won by teams of either Alaskan huskies or of Alaskan huskies crossed with hounds.  Their average speed is 31 km/h over three days, or 32-48 km/h on one day.

Appearance
The Alaskan husky is a breed in which the cross of Siberian husky, or another breed of husky type, predominates.  Other breeds enter into the Alaskan, such as the wolf, the American foxhound, the greyhound, the Doberman … This explains the differences in appearance between Alaskan huskies.
Alaskan huskies (at least those who participate in races) are medium-sized, weighing about 21-25 kg for males and 17-19 kg for females.  Their shape resembles that of the Siberian husky (as Siberians are part of their ancestry) but they are generally larger and taller.

The color has no importance for the mushers; one can meet Alaskan huskies of all colors and with all types of markings.  The eyes can also be any color, but they are often light blue.  The fur is short or medium, never long.  This allows for better heat dissipation during the race.  The fur is generally less dense than in dogs of pure Nordic breed.
Therefore, during cold weather, the Alaskan huskies can run wearing coats.  On the long distance races in particular, these dogs wear booties to avoid frostbite.  The characteristic of resistance to extreme cold seen in other northern breeds is sacrificed for speed in the Alaskan husky, so that these dogs require more attention and maintenance.

Character
These sled dogs are kept primarily for their strength, agility and endurance, but a good ability to work is also essential.  In addition, dogs that will be in contact with the public at races or tours should not be aggressive toward humans.
For this reason, the Alaskan husky is also popular as a pet dog in Alaska.  The dogs that become too old to compete make excellent pets if their masters exercise them regularly.  The older dogs are alert and well prepared, and less turbulent than the young.
Young Alaskan huskies also make good companion dogs if they have enough space to run, but their need for a great deal of exercise makes them impractical for urban dwellers.
If multiple huskies live together, they tend to bark at or question the neighborhood dogs.  If they have not been trained to remain silent this may cause problems in estates.  They can be trained not to bark, but it requires effort.  They also tend to dig holes as portals to escape or go hunting.
Alaskan huskies are not generally good indoor dogs.  They lose a lot of fur in the spring and fall, are very active, and tend to tear around if they are locked in the house.  Left alone in the same place for a long period, they may start to break everything out of boredom.

They also have the instinct to hunt small and large animals.  If they are attached to their sled and it does not start immediately, they can get excited and end up nibbling their attachments.
In Alaska, and in other parts of the Great White North, moose sometimes kills huskies during the winter. From time to time, the impetus to search for a food that is scarce cause the moose to enter populated areas, attracted by the smell of fresh straw used as bedding for dogs.  Because of their ancestors the wolves, huskies do not avoid the fight, which may end in serious injuries to dogs if they are trampled by moose.

But most encounters between moose and huskies take place when a team crosses paths with a moose.  The moose generally avoid combat in that case, but in cases of heavy snow, it is difficult to escape, and the momentum may cause the moose to confuse the sled with a pack of wolves, and do damage by attacking.
Elk are generally aware that huskies are domesticated and do not represent a threat. Some elk take refuge near the kennel of huskies, hoping that the dog will alert if the wolves are approaching. Wolves can sometimes attack Siberians if they do not find other prey, but this is rare.

The mushers surround their kennels with high barriers to prevent attacks by wild animals, as well as low barriers to prevent entry of rodents that could contaminate sick dogs if they eat them.

Health
The Alaskan husky is generally a dog without health problems.  Some however, are prone to hereditary diseases similar to those found in dogs of pure Nordic race, such as the progressive atrophy of the retina, hypothyroidism, etc.  Some dogs have problems with their esophagus, preventing them from barking, but they can produce a low sound of barking.  This abnormality is inherited and rare.  The life expectancy of an Alaskan husky is between ten and fifteen years.

History
The Alaskan husky is from a cross of different breeds with the Siberian husky.  His story, like that of many sled dogs, dates back to the gold rushes of the late nineteenth century.  The miners used sleds pulled by large dogs such as St. Bernards or crosses of St. Bernards.  The arrival in Alaska of dogs descended from the Siberian husky changed this habit as the teams began to be composed of this type of dog, which was smaller and faster.

The advent of motorized transport during the twentieth century made the dogs less useful and less numerous.  But the sled dogs in Alaska made their return in the 1970s, particularly thanks to George Attla, from an Alaskan village of Huslia.  Many of the racing dogs came down from his dogs.

Recent history
Several attempts have been made to organize the raising of Alaskan huskies and establish a register for these dogs, but these attempts have never received much support.  There are numerous breeders of sled dogs, often at a large capacity (sometimes over a hundred dogs per farm), and although their total population is estimated at more than 100,000 this “variety” of dog remains unofficial.
The Alaskan husky, a bit like the Border collie, is a working dog and is therefore defined primarily by its ability to work.  Diehard racers fear a possible definition of the Alaskan husky in appearance, making the appearance more important than the efficiency, would cause the husky to lose his race performance.  This preference of form over function exists in the Alaskan malamute, whose standard requires a curved tail.  This is purely decorative and creates a shorter back, which reduces its efficiency in a race.