Dog Breeds: Alaskan Husky

An Alaskan Husky is the ultimate working dog and is not the same as the Alaskan Malamute. They are born and bred to pull and are legendary for their endurance. Breeders very carefully select breeding pairs to ensure the best working dog possible. The result is a sturdy dog that resembles the Siberian Husky but with a leaner build. They're also considerably stronger and slightly larger than the Siberian. Alaskan Huskies have a thick coat to deal with all sorts of weather and a fluffy tail that is sometimes carried over the back. They can have eyes ranging from blue to brown. Many dogs have a combination of blue and brown eyes.

Since the Alaskan Husky is bred to be a working dog, they are easily bored and tend to chew or scratch if they don't have something to do. A dog that is lonely or bored will quickly become destructive. They are loyal and gentle, so as long as you can keep them occupied, they make great pets. They stay puppy-like throughout their lives and are wonderful with most children. They tend to love everyone and are relatively quiet (though they do like to howl, sometimes at nothing), so they don't make great watchdogs.

Huskies are incredibly stubborn, so much so that they are sometimes considered stupid. This is untrue, as they are intelligent and highly trainable. If you're going to train an Alaskan Husky, however, you must be prepared to be the leader. If you're not the leader of your own little pack, your Husky will have no respect for you. This disrespect doesn't usually turn to violence, as Huskies are not a naturally violent breed. Instead, your Alaskan Husky is likely to simply ignore you, an ability they seem to share with most cats.

These dogs are born to roam so they don't do well in apartments. They need exercise and room to move. If you do have an Alaskan Husky in an apartment, prepare to walk your dog at least three times a day. This isn't optional as they absolutely must have this much exercise. It would be better if your dog had a fenced yard to explore and toys to keep him or her busy. An Alaskan Husky should not be left to roam without a fence. These dogs do tend to wander off purely by accident and you might never seen your canine companion again. They also like to dig, so the fence should extend at least a foot below the ground.

This dog is bred for colder climates. They enjoy being outside when the temperature dips below freezing, but they really can't stand the heat. On a blistering summer day, you need to give your dog a way to cool down. Maybe an air conditioned garage or even a tub of water large enough for the dog to stand in.

The fluffy coat of an Alaskan Husky requires very little maintenance. But this breed does have two shedding seasons a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. During these periods Huskies will drop a lot of hair and may mat. Brush out the coat every few day with a metal comb to help prevent uncomfortable matting.

Though most Alaskan Huskies are indeed pedigreed, they are not considered pure by the AKC or the CKC and so are not registered by either association. This is because breeders will sometimes introduce other breeds into their breeding programs. Regardless of their acceptance by two of the largest associations in the world, they are a loving and joyful breed and make wonderful companions for many people.