Alaskan Husky
What we all know to be the Alaskan Husky is in fact, not completely accurate. This is because following the designation of “breed”, the so-called Alaskan Husky neither distinguishes a type or ancestry, but rather is only the loose categorization for the dogs that efficiently drive sleds.
While those who drive sleds with dogs usually differentiate the Alaskan Husky from other hounds used in crossing snowy areas, this differentiation is simply an informal designation more than anything, to perhaps imply that the Alaskan Husky was derived from the northern regions.
Within this so-called breed exists specializations resulting from the purpose they fulfill: there are freight dogs the distance Alaskans, and the sprint Alaskans. Physically, these Alaskans are characterized by pointy ears and are categorized as spitz-type dogs.
This Alaskan Husky is second-to-none when sled drivers select their sled dog for various sled racing competitions. Alaskan Huskies have reigned supreme in such Alaskan speed races like the Open North American Championship in Fairbanks and the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. In these situations, teams of Alaskan Huskies–either completely or mixed with some other hounds, which are known for capacity to run long distances–won over other teams.
Alaskan Huskies usually emerge victorious at speeds averaging greater than 19 mi/hr, or 31kph over three days’ worth of racing nearly 30 miles daily.
This is the reason why Alaskan Huskies within the top performance bracket enjoy market values ranging from $10,000 to $15,000. However, because of the fact that these Alaskans are bred primarily for racing, those who fall short of standards of world class performance amount to nearly nothing in the market. As a result, culling often occurs, which is the cause of much opposition from animal rights advocates. Some of these dogs unfit for racing, however, are welcomed by many Alaskan homes as pets.
Origins
The ancestry of the Alaskan Husky is traced from the mix of northern Siberian Huskies. While not a wolf-dog, the Alaskan Husky is considered a distant relative of the wolf, evident in the features that it shares with many wolves.
The Alaskan Husky became recognized in the late portion of the 19th century during the Gold Rushes that were characteristic of the period. During this time, dogs recognized as the “Alaskan Husky” were heavy draft dogs who drew more things in common with the St. Bernard breed. In later years, dogs were imported into Alaska all the way from Siberia through the Bering Straight. This practice caused a shift in what became known as “Alaskan sled dogs” into more lightweight dogs capable of running greater speeds thanks to their relatively smaller size.
In the 20th century, motor transportation has grown as the norm, causing the Alaskan Husky to lose much of its previous popularity as sled dogs in villages in the northern areas. Their popularity was renewed in the 1970s with the help of a Native Alaskan George Attla. This is the reason why many of the prominent racing dogs now can draw their origins to dogs raised by George Attla.
Description
The Alaskan Husky is considered a hybrid-breed dog whereby the traits of huskies from the northern regions, including the Siberian Husky, or the Alaskan village husky, prevails. In addition to this set of dominant characteristics contributed by these northern huskies, the wolf, Doberman, and hounds (including the foxhound, the greyhound, and the staghound) all contribute to some physical characteristics that may cause variations across this so-called breed.
Alaskans grown and trained for the purpose of racing usually occupy a weight range of about 40-60 pounds (for males) and 38-42 pounds (for females), which is considered to be moderate in size. While some of them may display attributes of the Siberian Husky, they are in fact taller and bigger in size.
Physical attributes such as coat thickness or color is not a matter of concern for those who use Alaskan Huskies for racing. Due to their mixed ancestry, Alaskans can come in a variety of colors common to dogs, or any pattern on their coats. Alaskan Huskies have coats that vary in length, usually short or medium. These coats are, in general, less dense than coats of northern purebreds. The fact is, these shorter coats help dissipate the body heat of the Alaskan husky during their long races.
Alaskan Huskies are much less hardy and less resistant to extreme climates than its Siberian Husky and Innuit Dog counterparts. Nonetheless, these factors are seen as worthwhile tradeoffs for Alaskan Husky’s speed. In addition, the Alaskan Husky require great care and attention during stops they make in long races. As such, these Alaskan Huskies usually go on races wearing so called “dog coats” around their bellies to help keep them warm. On distance races, the Alaskan Huskies wear “dog” booties on their paws to minimize the possibility of abrasions and cracking on their paws.
Attitude
Sled dogs that interact with the public, either on excursions or in races, and they must be trained to not practice aggression against people. Luckily, Alaskan Huskies are usually characterized by much shyness.
With these attributes, Alaskan Huskies are popular pets in Alaskan homes by virtue of how easy they are to acquire from professional sled racers. Puppies that are deemed to be unfit for racing are readily available to good homes seeking pets. As for older dogs who have passed their prime, they are usually adopted as pets by people who enjoy regularly exercising with them. As these older dogs are trained to interact with people, they are usually alert and behaved, despite being less energetic than younger huskies.
Younger huskies, on the other hand, are excellent pets in areas where there is a huge area where they can run around. Because younger huskies require lots of exercise and area for physical activities, they are not very well suited as pets to homeowners in the urban areas.
In terms of habitat, huskies often flourish in dry climates present in the interior areas of Alaska. In humid regions, huskies may develop ear infections and the like.
Pet owners who intend to keep a number of huskies altogether may have a problem with the noise that they generate. Kept together in the same vicinity, huskies have the tendency to howl and bark—not only at each other, but also at other dogs in the area. Training is needed to teach them how to be quiet in such close quarters. This can become extremely problematic in small, crowded communities where various noises around can start the dogs into a barking frenzy. Moreover, Alaskan Huskies are trained to dig and tunnel through fences to find small, burrowing animals, or seek freedom from their fences.
It is for the same reason that huskies are not ideal pets in homes. This isn’t simply because of the noise they make, but also because of the fact that in the Spring and Fall, they shed their coat heavily. In addition to the shedding, Alaskan Huskies grow increasingly hyperactive and may run in circles indoors when bored. Boredom, malice, or mischief may cause Alaskan Huskies to become destructive when left alone in the house. Moreover, they may become overly inclined to start hunting small or large animals, because of what is known as the small mammal attack response, or SMAR. Outdoors, they may get restless when they are tied to a sled and made to wait for a while, and might start to chew their line.
Unfortunately, Alaskan Huskies are hunted down by moose in the winter. This happens when moose seek mountain ash during periods of deep snow by going into human areas. They are called to these human areas because of the scent of the straw used by homes as bedding for the huskies. Like their ancestors of wolf descent, these Alaskan Huskies face these intruders with great courage. This, however, is unfortunate, because angry moose are very much capable of stomping on dogs and kicking them enough to cause severe internal and external injuries. While moose avoid getting into these bloody encounters, this may difficult in periods of heavy snowing when moose become angered by sled teams that they mistake for predatory wolves.
There is some awareness on the part of moose that these huskies pose no threat due to their domestication. In fact, moose frequently rest near kennels for sled dogs. That way, they can be alerted by the huskies when predatory wolves are nearing the area.
Huskies, unfortunately, are at times hunted by wolves during stakeouts when no other animal to prey on is available. While this is rare, this happens to Alaskan Huskies resting in the northernmost forests. This is the reason why dog sled racers usually install high fences to keep out outdoor attacks from predators. They also install low fences in order to keep rodents that are carriers of various parasites from infecting the sled dogs.
Health
As for their health, the Alaskan Husky is considered as a healthy dog over-all. The lifespan of the husky is within the range of 10 to 15 years. This lifespan for an Alaskan Husky includes being bred for preparedness for early maturity, performing strongly as young dogs, and then later on experiencing rapid deterioration when they go beyond 6 years of age.
There are some strains of the husky, however, that experience genetic health problems like their purebred counterparts. These genetic predispositions include hypothyroidism and PRA.
There are other dogs that are prone to esophagus disorders that make them wheeze (resulting in their being called “wheezers”) and unable to bark. The sound that they instead produce is a low, howling sound. This esophageal disorder is linked to Alaskan Huskies that have white coats and blue eyes. Despite this genetic link, this esophageal disorder rarely occurs.
What Bodes for the Alaskan Husky
In the past, people who bred Alaskan Huskies attempted to create a full breed category for the dogs, with much of these efforts in vain. As a result, the Alaskan Husky continues to be defined loosely within a great variety of categories despite their being bred in hundreds in large kennels through the years.
Like other dogs related to it (including the Border Collie), the Alaskan Husky is a working dog defined by the nature of the work or purpose they fulfill. This is the reason why Alaskan Husky enthusiasts are hesitant to limit the Alaskan Husky to a particular set of physical characteristics that give greater credence to their appearance rather than the roles they play. This wrong priority placed on physical characteristics than function has happened to dogs like poodles and toy dogs. Poodles, for example, were originally once hailed as excellent hunters than decorative pets.
The Alaskan Husky is at risk as well: now, some northern breeds of the Siberian Husky are bred for the aesthetic value of their curly tails despite the fact that these curly tails shorten the back and thus, do not contribute positively to running.
