The Siberian Husky is a breed developed by the Chukchi people in Northeast Asia to pull sleds and herd reindeer. Its original name was the Chukchi Husky, which was later changed to Siberian Husky. The breed’s complete ancestry is not known, but it is related to the Spitz breed family. The dog has been an important part of the Arctic region’s life all the way back to the Alaskan Gold Rush when dog racing became an important source of entertainment.

In 1909, the popular Alaska Sweepstakes Race (a race covering the 400 miles between Nome and Candle), the Chukchi Huskies were introduced. The dog did not become immediately popular after this race, but one racer was so impressed with the breed that he imported 70 of them. He trained his Huskies for the 1910 race where three of his teams won first, second and fourth-place. From this auspicious start, the Siberian Husky became a dominant force in future races.

During the 1925 Nome, Alaska diphtheria epidemic, dog sled teams composed of Siberian Husky’s relayed desperately needed medicine to the city. This lifesaving event helped to popularize the Siberian Husky breed. It started to show up in Canada and then the United States where the AKC formally recognized the breed in 1930. The breed also helped during World War II as members of the US Army’s search and rescue missions. Today, it is a common household pet and is the most popular Arctic breed.

Grooming and Exercise

Being a racing breed, the Siberian Husky is a fantastic long distance runner and will roam if left unattended. The dog will need a secure enclosed area when outside or will need to be leashed and securely supervised to prevent running away. His puppy like attitude carries well into adulthood where he exhibits an alert, independent, clever and adventurous personality. Siberian Huskies are easy going and get along with people and other pet’s in the house, but can be slightly aggressive toward strange dogs.

This dog breed requires daily, vigorous exercise. Long jogs, off-leash running in a safe area, or even pulling exercises with sleds or ATV’s will keep the Siberian Husky fit and happy. This is definitely a dog for a person with an active lifestyle. Due to his thick fur coat, the Husky prefers cooler climates. Once or twice a week his hair coat will need a thorough brushing. During the heavy shedding brushing may need to be increased to daily brushing to keep the hair under control.

Health Matters

The Siberian Husky has an average life span of 12 to 15 years. This dog breed is generally healthy with no major breed health concerns. Some minor health concerns include: hypothyroidism, PRA, corneal dystrophy, and cataracts.