Alaskan Husky Facts

As is evident from the name of this breed of dog, Alaska, in the United States, is where it originates. The Alaskan Husky was bred for pulling the sled as well as sled racing. They are thought to be a crossbreed of huskies, Irish Setters, and wolves. One of main characteristics of the Alaskan Husky is its speed. The Husky dates a long way back, with the North American natives using them as sled dogs since time immemorial.

The Alaskan Husky, however, is categorized amongst the group known as Working Dogs, and is not registered at present by the American Kennel Club, or AKC, and hence is classified in the dogs termed as Unrecognized and Rare Breeds.

The Temperament and Character of Alaskan Huskies

The size of working dogs, such as the Alaskan Husky, ranges from medium to very large, and they are strong and can often be domineering, independent and hard to manage. This, along with their large size, makes this kind of breed unsuitable for first time owners of dogs and as a normal pet in the family. The Alaskan Husky needs to be trained properly and requires patient but firm control. They need to undergo a formal training for obedience, which should also include a socializing program. However, this does not mean that you need to be harsh with the dog, and neither is it particularly difficult to train it since breeds like the Alaskan Husky are intelligent and hence have the ability to learn quickly.

Tips on How to Train an Alaskan Husky

Your new Alaskan Husky will be able to pick up what you want to teach him/her by following these tips:

• Your dog should be taught only one command at a time. Only after he/she understands that command fully should you teach him/her the next command.
• Everybody in the family should adhere to the words that are used during the training, plus the discipline and the techniques. Usually, the results are much faster if a single person carries out the training and the others in the household involve themselves later on in the process, once progress is made.

The Physical Features of the Alaskan Husky

The coat of the Alaskan Husky can be either multicolored or a solid color, which can range from brown, red, white, gray, and black. The Alaskan Husky’s undercoat is dense and soft, while the outer coat is usually straight and coarse. The Alaskan husky weighs anywhere between 44 to 66 pounds, while its height can range from 23 to 26 inches when measured at the shoulder. This breed of dog is highly athletic, and has thigh muscles that are big and powerful. They have brown or blue eyes, and some of them can even have one of each color. The life expectancy of the Alaskan Husky is 12 to 14 years.

The Care and Grooming of Alaskan Huskies

Your Alaskan Husky will need weekly caring and grooming. Apart from bathing the dog as well as brushing the coat out, grooming also involves paying attention to the nails, feet, ears, teeth and eyes. A regular grooming routine also helps in quickly identifying potential problems in its health, which is particularly important in Alaskan Husky puppies and older dogs.