Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is the light, fast sled dog of the Chukchi people — bred to pull moderate loads over long distances at speed, not to haul weight.

History

It descends from the Chukotka sled dogs of far-eastern Siberia, imported to Alaska from 1908 for the sweepstakes races. Its reputation was made in 1925, when relay teams carried diphtheria antitoxin 1,085 km to Nome through a blizzard — the run Balto and Togo are remembered for, though Togo's leg was by far the longer and harder.

Temperament

The breed is known for being outgoing, mischievous and entirely unsuited to guarding: it greets strangers as friends. It is a pack animal that is happiest with company, and it talks — howling and a distinctive chuntering rather than barking.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and genuinely escape-proof fencing, because it runs and does not come back. Recall is unreliable in the breed by design. The double coat sheds twice a year in handfuls.

Health

Known tendencies include hereditary eye conditions — juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy — and hip dysplasia. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.