Alaskan Husky Information

What is the Alaskan Husky Personality?

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 often easily motivated by humans (shepherds, rotties, even chihuahuas). This is not necessarily true for the sled dog. The working relationship between a sled dog and a human is somewhat convoluted. The Alaskan Husky is motivated by running, and usually that is done by way of dog team. A musher's job is to continually manage a small dog pack. It is through this pack management that loyalty and motivation are created.

As you can imagine, recreating the mushing 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 other huskies, 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 impossible?

No. It means the dog training methods you are accustomed to using may not work. At least they will not work in the usual order. The most important part of 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 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 those dogs are not as common. The traditional 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 the excess body heat. Of course there are huskies living all over the world including Hawaii and South Africa. It can be done. Just be extra careful in warm climates and hot summers.

Clipping or shaving a husky is harder on them then leaving the coat alone. A husky has a double coat. This coat consists of long, course, outer guard hairs which protect the soft insulating under coat. These two layers help insulate and thermoregulate a 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. Focused huskies 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 pay 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.

If you want to learn about dog mushing read these articles:

This is the one and only "beginning mushing" book out there. This is the book you read cover to cover before you hit the trail.

This Skijor book is for anyone who wants to teach their dog to pull (and the publisher just happens to have her picture at the top of this webpage!

This is a must read if you are going to mush with your dog. This is the book every musher owns.