What is an Alaskan Husky? The Alaskan Husky is considered the best racing sled dog in the world today, and it is not a dog regularly seen as a pet. It is a working and racing dog, and the dog most commonly seen at sled dog races all over the world, especially in Alaska where the breed originated. The breed’s title itself can be so easily misunderstood and misrepresented, as it is not a registered Kennel Club breed like    the     Siberian     Husky.

The Alaskan husky has a diverse gene pull and it’s title is a concept of excellence and a way of thinking, based on the performance as a sled dog, not looks, and to try and judge it by a kennel club written standard, in a show ring, would be to destroy it! Written imposed standards are a useless constraint to the breed, because every Musher - driver of the sled team - has his or her own preferences.

Historically, the origin and refinement of the Alaskan husky began some 10,000 years ago when it is theorized the first dogs crossed the Bering land bridge with a wave of humans occupying North America.
Today, there are as many 'bloodlines' as there are sled dog racers, and each is known for it's strengths or weaknesses, and some common running traits. Yet, they are all Alaskan Huskies, or, as they are often referred to - 'ALASKANS'. With little consistency in looks, one of the only common features being their talent in harness, the variety in the breed is one of it's most endearing traits - variety being the spice of life, of course! Appearance is unimportant--they bred to be working dogs, these dogs really love what they do, and to allow them to perform in harness as part of a team pulling a sled or wheeled rig; is to make them very happy.

Joe Runyan: The Alaskan husky may have a different look in the next century, but you can bet one thing will remain the same. The Alaskan husky pulls harder and runs faster than any dog in the world.

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 greet every person who passes. Contrary to popular belief, very few are actually aggressive. 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, small dogs, or livestock. Normally they are good with children, but children should not be left with any dog unsupervised.

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 Huskies from Siberia 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.

The females should be 45 to 50 pounds, and the males between 50 to 55 pounds. It is important that they are no heavier than 55 lbs. because that seriously compromises their speed, resilience, and endurance.

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 enormous amount of exercise. They are not suited to city living, as they require an enormous amount of exercise, and they are very vocal.

If you think this is a misinterpretation of the dog, please let us know with your findings!

• Description and Origin of the Alaskan Husky by Joe Runyan

• dogomania.com/breed/Alaskan Husky

• Highland Wilderness Tours