Siberian Huskies are the workhorse of the Arctic people. Bold, beautiful and strong, these magnificent canines were bred thousands of years ago to haul heavy burdens over long distances through the unforgiving subzero temperatures of the Arctic. Now, most people may see these adorable pups as a wolf, but you would be wrong. Here are some inspiring things about the Siberian husky.
They Are the Ultimate Sled Dogs
If you live like the Chukchi people of old, you need high-endurance sled dogs that require little care to survive the atrocious conditions of the Arctic. The Siberian Husky is the descendant of the Chukchi dog and keeps the strength, agility, and endurance of its ancestors. They need no warmth or food to run mind-boggling distances through gales and storms of the Alaskan wilderness.
Maintenance-free Double-Coat
Have you ever wondered how the Siberian Husky survives the cold of the Arctic without warmth? The dog has a thick double coat which locks in warmth and prevents cold from gaining entry. Siberian Huskies have a long and water-resistant overcoat while the undercoat is short and warm, helping to keep the dog in mint condition even when its -30 degrees below freezing point.
When they sleep, Huskies warm their tails around the face to keep it warm with their breath and shield their face and nose from the cold. The dog's almond-shaped eyes are built to keep out snow. While it has a heavy coat, the Husky is self-grooming, making it low-maintenance.
They Are Friendly
Siberian Huskies may be strong and intimidating in stature, but they are friendly animals. You might mistake one for a wolf the first time, but love the companionship of humans and animals, including strangers. This makes them a poor candidate for a guard dog because they don't become suspicious of intruders. Their sheer size might be enough to discourage anyone with ulterior motives, except the person knows the dogs are the best of guards.
Championship Dogs
The Huskies first appeared in the United States at the 1909 edition of the All Alaska Sweepstakes Race. The dogs proved they were a superior sled breed by winning the race for the next decade.
Piercing Blue Eyes
A distinctive feature of the Siberian Husky is the dog's blue eyes. These beautiful set of eyes are bright and allow the Husky to navigate safely through darkness and snowstorms. Their unique eyeballs, small upright ears, and thick fur make them a beautiful dog breed loved all over the world.
Escape Artists
The Husky is the escape artist of the canine world. These athletic dogs would find a way out of any enclosure regardless of countermeasures. Keeping these dogs as a pet can be difficult as they need to run great distances to keep fit. If your property is unfenced, you will face challenges restraining a Siberian Husky as the dog will always grow a mind of his own outdoors, digging underneath fences and scaling high obstacles. To avoid disastrous outcomes from a Husky's escapades, it's better to have him microchipped. To enjoy a Siberian Husky, you need a lot of space and time. If you are a career person with a heavy workload, this high-energy sled dog is not a good fit.
Helped Save an Alaskan Town from Diphtheria
In 1925, an outbreak of Diphtheria in the small Alaskan town of Nome created widespread fear among the locals. Unfortunately, the nearest hospital with the treatment was 1000 miles away in Anchorage. The job to get the medicine to Nome fell on 20 sled drivers and 100 Huskies who covered the 674-mile journey in 127.5 hours.
The most popular dogs of this heroic episode were Togo which led the team that traveled the most distance and Balta which led the team of the sled that delivered the life-saving anti-toxin to the hospital in Nome. Balta has a statue in New York City's Central Park and his stuffed fur is on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
If you fear the Siberian Husky before, now you know better. The breed is one of the strongest work dogs in the world. It is beautiful, untiring, and friendly.
