Alaskan Husky
A sled dog bred for speed and stamina rather than looks: no breed standard, any colour, and an engine that does not switch off.
Photo by Randi Hausken from Bærum, Norway, CC BY-SA 2.0
Overview
The Alaskan Husky is a type of working sled dog rather than a breed. No major kennel club recognises it and there is no breed standard, because it has only ever been bred for one thing: pulling a sled fast and far. Lines started from Siberian imports and native Alaskan village dogs, then had Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, Greyhound, Saluki and other blood added for speed. Sprint teams reach 28 mph, and distance teams run the Iditarod. Most dogs stand 20 to 26 inches and weigh 35 to 75 lb.
Temperament
How it differs from a Siberian Husky comes down to purpose. A Siberian is a recognised breed bred to a standard for its look as much as its work: the mask, the plush coat, the familiar husky face. An Alaskan Husky is bred purely for performance, so it can be any colour, often looks more like a lean pointer cross than a husky, and is usually taller and rangier. Breeders select for pulling drive, running drive and a sound, steady head, so most are friendly and easy with people. The drive is the point: expect a dog that needs to run every day and is at least as hard to keep in a yard as a Siberian.
Care and grooming
The coat depends on the line. Distance dogs carry a dense double coat built for long runs in deep cold, while sprint dogs are often shorter coated and closer to a hound. Brush weekly, and daily when the coat blows. Feet matter in a dog bred to run, so check the pads and nails after hard work. Sled dogs can develop a cold weather airway irritation known as ski asthma, so a cough after running in very cold, dry air is worth a vet visit rather than a wait.
Living and exercise
This is an athlete, not a companion that happens to look sporty. Plan for hard daily exercise: running, bikejoring, canicross or harness work, well beyond a walk round the block. A bored Alaskan Husky digs, chews and escapes. Fencing needs to be secure, recall cannot be trusted near wildlife, and the shorter coated sprint lines feel cold more than a Siberian does. Because there is no standard, ask the seller which kennel and which lines the parents come from, sprint or distance, since that tells you more than the name does.
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