Husky is a general term for a type of dog used in thepolar regions, primarily and specifically for work assled dogs. It also refers to a traditional northern type, notable for its cold-weather tolerance and overall hardiness.[1][2] Modern racing huskies that maintain arctic breed traits (also known as Alaskan huskies) represent an ever-changingcrossbreed of the fastest dogs.[3][4]
Huskies have continued to be used insled-dog racing, as well as expedition and trek styletour businesses, and as a means of essential transportation in rural communities.[5] Huskies are also kept as pets, and groups work to find new pet homes for retired racing and adventure-trekking dogs.[6]
The term "husky" first came into usage in the mid to late 1700s. At this time, "Esquimaux" or "Eskimo" was a common term for pre-Columbian Arctic inhabitants of North America. Several dialectal permutations were in use including Uskee, Uskimay and Huskemaw. Thus, dogs used by Arctic people were the dogs of the Huskies, the Huskie's dogs, and eventually simply the husky dogs.[7][8] Canadian and American settlers, not well versed on Russian geography, would later extend the word toChukotka sled dogs imported from Russia, thus giving rise to the term Siberian husky.
Nearly all dogs' genetic closeness to thegray wolf is due toadmixture.[9] However, several Arctic breeds also show a genetic closeness with the now-extinctTaimyr wolf ofNorth Asia due to admixture: theSiberian Husky andGreenland Dog (which are also historically associated with Arctic human populations) and to a lesser extent, theShar Pei andFinnish Spitz. An admixture graph of the Greenland Dog indicates a best-fit of 3.5% shared material; however, an ancestry proportion ranging between 1.4% and 27.3% is consistent with the data and indicates admixture between theTaimyr wolf and the ancestors of these four high-latitude breeds.
This introgression could have provided early dogs living in high latitudes withphenotypic variation beneficial for adaption to a new and challenging environment, contributing significantly to the development of the husky. It also indicates that the ancestry of present-day dog breeds descends from more than one region.[10]
Huskies are energetic and athletic. They are distinguished by their hardiness and cold-weather tolerance, in contrast to many modern sprint sled dogs derived fromhound and pointer crossbreeds and purebred sprinting dogs which do not have or retain these qualities.[11] Likewise, they are distinguished fromlaika, as they were not developed for the primary purpose of hunting game and prey animals.[12]
Huskies typically have a thick double coat that may come in a variety of colors.[13] The double coat generally protects huskies against harsh winters and, contrary to what most believe, they can survive in hotter climates. During the hotter climates, huskies tend to shed their undercoat regularly to cool their bodies. In addition to shedding, huskies control their eating habits based on the season; in cooler climates, they tend to eat generous amounts, causing their digestion to generate heat, whilst in warmer climates, they eat less.[14] Their eyes are typically pale blue, although they may also be brown, green, blue, yellow, orheterochromic. Huskies are more prone to some degree ofuveitis than most other breeds.[15]
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The most commonly used dog indog sled racing,[16] the Alaskan husky is amongrel[17] bred specifically for its performance as a sled dog.[18] The modern Alaskan husky reflects 100 years or more of crossbreeding with English Pointers, German Shepherd Dogs, Salukis and other breeds to improve its performance.[19] They typically weigh between 18 and 34 kg (40 and 75 lb) and may have dense or sleek fur. Alaskan huskies bear little resemblance to the typical husky breeds they originated from, or to each other.[18]
The Labrador Husky originated in the Canadian region ofLabrador. The breed probably arrived in the area with the Inuit who came to Canada around 1300 AD. Despite the name, Labrador huskies are not related to the Labrador retriever, but in fact are most closely related to theCanadian Eskimo Dog. There are estimated to be 50–60 Labrador huskies in the world.[20][21]
The termMackenzie River husky describes several overlapping historical populations ofArctic andsub-Arcticsled dog-type dogs, none of which constituted abreed. Dogs from theYukon Territory were crossed with largeEuropean breeds such asSt. Bernards andNewfoundlands to create a powerful freighting dog capable of surviving harsh arctic conditions during theKlondike Gold Rush.[22]
TheSakhalin Husky is a critically endangeredlandrace and sledlaika associated withSakhalin Island and adjacent areas.[23][24][25] They are also known as Karafuto Ken, Sakhalin Laika, or Gilyak Laika.[26] While bred primarily as asled dog, Sakhalin Huskies are also used for hunting bear and fishing.[18][25] There are approximately 20 Sakhalin Huskies remaining on Sakhalin Island.[25]
The Siberian Husky is smaller than the similar-appearingAlaskan Malamute. They are descendants of theChukotka sled dogs bred and used by the nativeChukchi people of Siberia, a people of Paleosiberian origin, around the year 2000 BC.[27] Imported to Alaska in the early 1900s, they were used as working dogs and racing sled dogs in Nome, Alaska throughout the 1910s, often dominating theAll-Alaska Sweepstakes.[28] They later became widely bred by recreational mushers and show-dog fanciers in the U.S. and Canada as the Siberian Husky, after the popularity garnered from the1925 serum run to Nome.[29] Siberians stand 20–23.5 inches, weigh between 35 and 60lbs (35-50 for females, 45-60 for males), and have been selectively bred for both appearance and pulling ability.[30] They are still used regularly today as sled dogs by competitive, recreational, and tour-guide mushers.[31]
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