| The Siberian Husky belongs to the so-called Spitz | | | | ready for the next race in 1910. He wasn’t |
| Group of dogs and has variously been known at one | | | | disappointed. In 1910 his three dog teams comprised of |
| time or another under the following names: | | | | Siberian Huskies dogs placed 1st, 2nd and 4th in the |
| • Artic Husky Dog | | | | All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race, which covered a |
| • Siberian Chukchi | | | | distance of 408 miles between the towns of Nome |
| • Chukchi Sled Dog | | | | and Candle. The stage was set and from then |
| • Chukchi or Chuchi | | | | onwards the Siberian Husky was recognized far and |
| The Siberian Husky developed as a purebred dog | | | | wide as the ultimate sled-racing dog. |
| breed through its isolated existence with the native | | | | |
| people known as the Chukchi that existed in the | | | | Siberian Husky Dog: Perfection of Form to Function |
| extreme north-eastern region of Siberia around | | | | Once it made its stunning debut in the All-Alaska |
| Yakutsk located north of Stanovoi Mountains. Some | | | | Sweepstakes Race, the Siberian Husky dog breed |
| legends in fact narrate how the word husky arose as | | | | literally became an overnight sensation in sled |
| a corruption in the pronunciation of the word | | | | dog-racing circles. Even so its phenomenal success |
| “Chukchi” by European migrants to the region. | | | | baffled both spectator and racer alike. How could such |
| Some dog authorities are of the opinion that the | | | | a comparatively lightweight and small sled dog |
| Siberian Husky had developed as a purebred dog | | | | drastically outperform and outrace the bigger dog |
| breed as far back as 3000 years ago through its | | | | breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute and Eskimo |
| isolated existence with the Chukchi. Unquestionably | | | | dog; both of which were more powerful and boasted |
| there is Northern Wolf blood in the Siberian Husky dog | | | | a longer stride. |
| breed mix and for centuries from generation through | | | | The secret to the husky dog’s superior sled-racing |
| generation it was customary for the Chukchi people to | | | | skills lay in its inherent form that was beautifully |
| only breed the very best of lead dogs while neutering | | | | adapted for speed sled pulling. At a maximum weight |
| the rest to eliminate the reproduction of undesired | | | | of sixty pounds, the Siberian Husky dog had attained |
| traits. In this manner the Chukchi not only vastly | | | | the ideal pull- weight ratio for sled racing. An excess of |
| improved the genetic lineage of the Siberian Husky | | | | 60 pounds in weight would result in a proportionally |
| dog breed but also consolidated its genetic purity as a | | | | decreased surface area for heat loss or conversely a |
| thoroughbred dog breed.Husky Dogs | | | | disproportionate increase in heat storage. Dogs are |
| When the Siberian Husky dogs of the village were not | | | | notoriously inefficient at losing heat, most especially big |
| working there were cared for by the women of the | | | | dogs, and such an issue would constitute a very big |
| tribe which meant that the dogs had to be in close | | | | problem in long distance races such as those like the |
| proximity with them and their children. Thus another | | | | four-day 25 mile marathon race that sled dogs have |
| trait which the Chukchi people bred for in their husky | | | | to endure. |
| dogs was a sound and balanced temperament, since | | | | In short, selective centuries of breeding by the Chukchi |
| naturally they would not want aggressive and | | | | people of particular dogs with their most desired traits |
| ill-tempered dogs hanging around their children. Ironically | | | | for loaded-sled pulling on slippery surfaces at high |
| enough it was this pleasant nature and temperament | | | | speed resulted in a dog breed perfectly formed and |
| of character that moved many people to dismiss the | | | | designed for just such a pursuit. The Siberian Husky |
| Siberian Husky as an insignificant sled-racing dog | | | | was that dog, the perfect balance of weight to optimal |
| contender; that is until the Siberian Husky “got on | | | | sled-pulling ratio at high and sustained speed. |
| the ice and started performing!” | | | | Siberian Husky Makes Its Mark In History |
| Siberian Husky Dog Racing History | | | | In the winter of 1925 a very serious diphtheria endemic |
| As earlier pointed out the Chukchi people of Siberia | | | | struck the city of Nome in Alaska. Being deep winter |
| had bred the Siberian Husky dog to the pinnacle of | | | | the only routes accessible at the time were dog trails |
| work performance on the snow and for excellence of | | | | that spanned across hundreds of miles of snowy |
| temperament. In essence they bred a superb sled dog | | | | plains. In an unprecedented feat of speed and |
| perfected to carry light loads such as hunted game for | | | | endurance a number of teams of Siberian Husky dogs |
| extensive distances at remarkable speeds. The | | | | led by legendary Norwegian Champion Dog driver |
| Chukchi’s unschooled dog breeding program was | | | | Leonhard Seppala streaked across 340 miles of |
| so successful that in effect they had bred the ultimate | | | | unforgiving snow and harsh winter in a race against |
| sled-pulling dog. | | | | time to save the city. In what came to be known in |
| By the end of the 19th century news of these | | | | history as the fabled “ Serum Run” Seppala and |
| amazing sled dogs filtered to North America and in | | | | his team of Siberian Husky dogs saved the city of |
| 1909 a team of imported Siberian Husky dogs debuted | | | | Nome! |
| in a major sled race in Alaska. Although the Siberian | | | | Following their amazing rescue mission Leonhard |
| Husky was dismissed by many as being far too small | | | | Seppala and a team of huskies went on a tour across |
| and docile to match competitively against their bigger | | | | the United States forever cementing this dog breed in |
| and more powerful counterparts (the Alaskan | | | | the hearts and minds of the American public. In |
| Malamute and the Eskimo Dog both of which average | | | | Commemoration of the “Serum Run” to this day |
| around 100 lbs in weight as compared to the Siberian | | | | a statue of one of those heroic Siberian Husky dogs |
| Husky dog’s relative featherweight of 60 pounds), | | | | resides in New York’s Central Park. Later thanks |
| as soon as the Husky started racing it quashed all | | | | to the significant role that the Siberian Husky dog |
| doubt. Put simply, the Siberian Husky created quite the | | | | played in military search & rescue operations in |
| sensation by outperforming all the other dog breeds in | | | | the Artic during World war II as well as Seppala’s |
| the race. | | | | State-wide tour people’s admiration for this dog |
| One racer present was so impressed by the relatively | | | | breed was further consolidated. The Siberian Husky |
| “miniscule” Siberian Husky dogs’ | | | | was officially recognized by the AKC in 1930. |
| performance he imported 70 of them to prepare and | | | | |