You have probably heard about the Iditarod. Maybe you are sled dog savvy enough to know about the Yukon Quest. But what about the dogs that run these long distance races? What kind of dog does it take to run a 1000 mile race?
A dog with drive, tons of drive.
What about an Alaskan Husky for a pet?
For starters, this type of dog is bred for two things; endurance and speed. That means they are not bred for obedience, retrieving, herding, guarding, or hunting. Most dog training methods rely on one or more of these working dog traits for training. Working dogs are bred to please humans at a high level. This is not necessarily true for the sled dog. The working relationship between a sled dog and a human is a convoluted relationship. The Alaskan Husky is willing to please a human, but usually it is by way of dog team. A mushers' job is to continually manage a small dog pack. It is through this pack management that loyalty and obedience are born.
As you can imagine, recreating this habitat in the typical suburban home might pose some problems. First of all, huskies do not like to be the lone dog. They really learn best from each other or at least other dogs. Second, what do you do with all that drive? It is not so much the husky has nervous energy. It is the constant need for new interaction. This is what drives the stereotype as escape artist or run away.
Does that mean training the Alaskan Husky is unattainable?
No. It means the dog training methods you are accustomed to using will most likely not work. At least they will not work in the usual order. The most important part of dog training a husky is bonding. You need to spend the entire first year with your husky on a leash wherever you go. The instinct to want to be with you does not exist right away with a husky. It will develop, but it takes a long time. Consider this if you are thinking about getting a husky.
You will also need to consider your own lifestyle. An Alaskan Husky needs an active household. Running, camping, hiking, and biking should be regular activities for a family that wants to own a husky. Keep in mind that a musher will cover hundreds of miles with a husky in a single year. Over this long distance loyalty and trust is developed. If you ignore this exercise prerequisite you will regret your choice of a husky as your pet.
The husky is bred for cold weather. Yes, the modern husky has been bred with pointers and hounds leaving a less desirable winter coat, but that has not been the norm. The heavy double layered coat is ideal for cold weather. A husky can have serious trouble adapting to a warm climate because they cannot pant fast enough to eliminate excess body heat. Clipping or shaving a husky is harder on them then doing nothing at all. The double coat consists of long, course, outer guard hairs which protect the soft under coat. These layers together help insulate and thermoregulate the husky. Shaving these dogs messes up their ability to keep a consistent body temperature.
Finally, what type of person owns a husky?
A husky is bred for endurance, and not bred to hunt, but they still have a very strong prey drive. Drive means determination. Like the drive to succeed. When a person has drive they tend to be very focused. Huskies that are focused are hard to control. The best husky owner understands boundaries. They know in order to succeed with a husky, problems must be dealt with immediately. A good husky owner always pays attention because they know one distraction can lead them to posting lost dog signs all over town. They are people who enjoy dogs, but do not have to be worshipped by them. Husky owners have patience because they know sharing their lives with a husky is a life long training process.
Kirsten Frisch has worked with sled dogs for over 8 years. She has handled dogs in Alaska for mid and long distance races such as the Copper Basin 300 and Yukon Quest 1000 mile race. Her background also includes Veterinary Technician, sled dog rescue and foster, artist, and traveller. You can learn more about Kirsten and sled dogs at http://www.alaskan-husky-behavior.com
Alaskan Husky - Facts Every Owner of this Dog Breed Should Know. By Robert Benjamin
The Alaskan Husky is not truly a 'breed' of dog in the traditional sense. The name is actually a classification for this working and sled dog. There is no written breed standard for Alaskan Huskies and it is not a registered breed or show dog. Alaskan Huskies are the descendants of several dogs: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Border Collie, German Shepard and possibly a few others.
Most Alaskan Huskies have brown eyes, but can also have blue or blue-brown combinations. They are about 20 to 24 inches high and average about 35 to 65 pounds, giving them a slim build. Since this dog is used primarily for work, colors and markings are unimportant in breeding and vary widely from dog to dog. Alaskan Huskies can be pure black, totally white and everything in between. Tails can be long and curly or barely there. The ears are often times prick ears, but some Alaskan Huskies have ears that droop.
They do not need a lot of maintenance, as their coats tend to be short to mid-length, but do require extra brushing twice a year during shedding season (particularly in the spring when shedding is the heaviest). The coats are wooly and thick (a protective measure when in their native environment) so they are better suited to cooler climates. Living on average about 10 to 15 years, the Alaskan Husky is good with children, but not other household pets as they have a strong hunting instinct and may turn on them. Though playful, loving and generally docile, the Alaskan Husky is not a good indoor pet. They can be difficult to housebreak, and get bored easily, especially if left alone. Alaskan Huskies will become destructive, tearing things or running around in circles. They also need a lot of room to run as they have a lot of energy and need to exercise frequently.
If outside, Alaskan Huskies do need to be watched closely as they will dig under fences in order to hunt or run. They also do not make good watchdogs, as they will greet everyone with friendly barking and have been known to play with any stranger entering their territory. As a result of their mixed heritage, Alaskan Huskies have relatively little health problems, though some are prone to gastric torsion (bloat) and if they do not get enough exercise will quickly become obese, leading to other health problems.
There is a website that has great information on Alaskan Huskies and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:
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Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.
