THE SIBERIAN HUSKY

A Brief History

The Siberian Husky originated in Northeast Asia where they were bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia (and a few other groups) for the purpose of sled pulling and companionship. It is an active, energetic, and resilient breed bred to live and work in the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic.

A Russian fur trader by the name William Goosak introduced the Siberian Husky breed as a sled dog to the state of Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush sometime between 1899 and 1909. The dogs were used to work the mining fields and to transport gold miners to the Yukon. They gained even greater popularity when a man by the name of Leonhard Seppala, who was the foremost sled dog breeder at the time, began to use them in long-distance sled dog races, namely the “All-Alaska Sweepstakes.” This smaller, faster, more enduring breed quickly dominated the races and took home a number of championship titles.

In 1925 when diphtheria swept through Nome, Alaska, approximately 150 sled dogs and their 20 mushers participated in the 1925 serum run to Nome, also called the Great Race of Mercy. This relay race covered 674 miles and took 5.5 days. Although all dogs and mushers who participated in the race were hailed as heroes, two dogs in particular, and their mushers, became more famous than the rest.

Balto and his musher Gunnar Kaasen ran the final leg of the Great Race of Mercy, covering 55 miles and successfully delivering the much-needed serum to Nome. A bronze statue was erected at Central Park in New York City in Balto’s honor.

Togo and his musher Leonhard Seppala ran the longest and most dangerous segment of the race, covering 264 miles while racing across the exposed open ice of the Norton Sound during a frigid winter storm, braving freezing temperatures of -30 to -40 °F with a wind chill of -85 °F, and crossing the uneven, rugged terrain of Little McKinely Mountain and climbing over 5,000 feet in elevation.

Both dogs and their mushers have been featured in multiple movies and documentaries honoring their sacrifice and telling their stories. Balt, Togo, and Leonhard Seppala have also had monuments erected in their honor.

The Siberian Husky’s popularity skyrocketed after the Great Race of Mercy, and in 1930 the exportation of the dogs from Siberia was halted and the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Siberian Husky (originally called the Artic Husky) as a breed.

After the Serum Run, Seppala established a kennel in Poland Spring, Maine that lasted for five years. During that time, the Siberian Husky became an American Kennel Club registered breed, but despite Seppala’s and Togo’s contribution to the establishment of the breed, only eight dogs from the Poland Spring Kennel were ever registered with the A.K.C.[1]

The Chinook/Wonalancet/Alyeska bloodline developed by Milton and Eva B. Seeley from New Hampshire became the dominant Siberian Husky bloodline in the USA. Unlike the Seppala dogs that were bred with intent and purpose for their function as a working dog, the Seeley dogs were bred and marketed as a “dual purpose” dog. They could compete and place in races, but they were also “pretty” and more visually uniform, a fact the A.K.C liked a lot and used to create their “breed standard”.

Unfortunately, the Seeley’s breeding practices were questionable at best. Their Chinook Kennel bred both Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes and were deeply involved in the promotion of both breeds. However, record keeping and honesty weren’t their strongest virtues as they are alleged to have created their breeding lines from dogs of ambiguous lineage, and often misreported and misregistered their dogs. One former Chinook Kennel employ is even on record stating, “They registered the blue-eyed ones as Siberians and the brown-eyed ones as Malamutes.”[2]

The Chinook Kennel was also a highly commercialized operation. They gave tours of their facility and produced and sold pups for exceptionally high prices. The emphasis of their program appeared to be producing a product and meeting market demand, rather than on producing quality dogs.

This obvious lack of breeding ethics created a rift between Leonhard Seppala and his Poland Spring Kennel and the Seeley’s and their Chinook Kennel. This rift extended to the A.K.C. as well, as their registry was dominated by the questionable Chinook bloodlines. Seeley’s Chinook Kennels breeding program was notorious for its “makeover” of the original Siberian stock, making them shorter and showier and more effective in the show ring.

Seppala and a few dedicated breeders who believed in his dogs and his vision did their best to preserve the original Seppala bloodlines. Over time, however, due to lack of public education, interest, and kennel club politics, the last of the Seppala Siberian bloodlines died out in Rossburn, Manitoba in 2022.[3]

All current existing A.K.C. Siberian Husky bloodlines now trace back to the Seeley foundation registry to some extent, and it is in large part thanks to them, that the A.K.C.’s breed standards for the Siberian Husky are what they are.

Breed Description

The Siberian Husky is a medium sized working sled dog breed. Males generally mature anywhere from 45 – 60 pounds and stand 20 – 24 inches tall at the shoulder. Females, being naturally smaller, generally mature anywhere from 35 – 50 pounds and stand 19 – 23 inches tall at the shoulder.

Siberians come in a variety of colors including Red, White, Black, Grey, Sable, and Agouti (also called Wolf Sable). They can be solid colored, have multiple shades, and even have white markings.

Their coat comes in three lengths: Short, Plush, and Wooly. The wooly coat, although a recognized variation for the breed, is not accepted as “breed standard” by the A.K.C. as the longer hair obscures the dog’s outline, disqualifying it from the show ring.

The Siberian Husky also has what is known as a double coat, meaning they have two layers of hair: a thick, soft undercoat, and a longer, coarser topcoat (known as guard hairs). This double coat acts as natural insulation, helping them regulate their body temperature in both cold and hot climates. Huskies shed or “blow” their undercoat or twice a year. NEVER SHAVE YOUR HUSKY UNLESS MEDICALLY NECESSARY. The double coat is a crucial and necessary adaptation unique to Siberians that allows them to live in almost any climate. Shaving their hair can permanently damage the undercoat which can lead to health and heat regulation issues.

Temperament/Behavior

The Siberian Husky is a fun-loving, hard-working, intelligent breed with an adventurous spirit that can often lead to mischievous and stubborn behaviors. They are known for being very social, enjoying both human and canine companionship, and for being good with children. They tend to believe that everyone is their friend and generally don’t make very good watch dogs. They’re a very high energy dog that gets bored easily, often resulting in destructive behavior if their physical and mental needs aren’t met. They are also known for being very vocal, howling, barking, and “talking” more than other breeds, but these behaviors are easily managed with the proper training.

Due to the fact that the Siberian Husky is a working breed (bred for a specific purpose/job), they are a very high-energy dog that requires a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation. They are incredibly intelligent and trainable, but they are also independent thinkers, meaning they require a firm, confident hand during training. If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. They are the mules of the horse world (for those who come from equine backgrounds): intelligent, stubborn, sometimes hard to handle, but strong, affectionate, gentle, and the most reliable when it comes to their “job”. They can make wonderful companions for those who know and understand the unique requirements of this beautiful, intelligent breed and are willing to dedicate the appropriate amount of time and effort into training and challenging them.

Sources:

https://seppalasleddogs.com/seppalakennels/confused-about-seppalas.htm

https://www.siberian-husky-bloodlines.seppalasleddogs.com/chinook-wonalancet-alyeska.htm

https://seppalasleddogs.com/seppalakennels/index.htm

THE SIBERIAN HUSKY

A Brief History

Breed Description

Temperament/Behavior

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