Siberian Huskies - A True "Snow Dog"

The Siberian Husky origianlly came from Siberia, Russia. The Chukchi people bred and raised these dogs for thousands of years. The Chukchi people are a tribe of Siberian nomads. They needed dogs that were fast and could travel over the ice and snow. Known then as the Chukchi dog, the Siberian Huskies were bred as a strong, agile dog of medium size that could travel long distances on small amounts of food. Chukchi children often used these dogs as furry warm beds.

The most important trait in this dog to the Chukchi people was the dog's strong desire to run. This medium dog could run fast but it could not pull much weight. The Chukchi people built teams of up to 20 dogs to pull in the loads of a long day's hunt.

The Siberian Husky and the Chukchi people thrived together in the frozen tundra for centuries before the world discovered this wonderful breed of dog. The Siberian Husky of today has changed somewhat since entering our country in the early 1900's but they still have many of the qualities that the Chukchi people bred them for so very long ago.

Near the end of the 19th century, the Chuckchi dog was discoverd by Alaskan traders. They imported these dogs to the Northwest Territory and renamed them Siberian Huskies. The Siberian Husky was first introduced into the United States by a fur trader in 1908. These dogs started to win Alaskan dog races almost immediately. News of this wonderful dog from Russia started to spread.

The All Alaska Sweepstakes Race of 1909 marked the appearance of the first team of Siberian Huskies. That same year, a large number of Siberian Huskies were imported to Alaska by Charles Fox. For the next ten years Siberian Huskies captured most of the racing titles of Alaska. The harsh and rugged terrain seemed to be ideally suited for the Siberian Husky. Leonhard Seppala becamer famous for his racing Siberains. One of Seppala's dogs that was especially well knows was a lead dog named Togo. Togo was Seppala's full time lead dog from about 1917 to 1925, althought he was used as a lead dog by Seppala even before 1917. Togo, being the fast, scrappy, and brilliant dog that he was, became the most famous dog in Alaska.

Togo played a large role in saving the lives of many people in the village of Nome. In January 1925, doctors saaw that a potentially deadly epidemic of diphtheria was seeming as if it would sweep through Nome's young people. The only serum, or medication, that could stop this outbreak was in Anchorage, Alaska, almost a thousand miles away from Nome. The only aircraft that could deliver this serum had already been dismantled for the winter. The only other likely solution was moving the medication by sled dog.
The serum was sent by train from Anchorage to the closest train stop to the trail that led to Nome, Nenana. The distance from Nenana to Nome was still more than 670 miles and the serum had to be transported across potentially deadly terrain. More than 20 mushers participated. They battled terribly cold temeratures that rarely rose above 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. At times the winds were so strong it would knock over the sleds and dogs.

Leonhard Seppala's team of dogs, led by Togo, ran the longest and most dangerous leg of the relay. It was 91 miles long, which included the treacherous stretch over the unpredictable ice of Norton Sound. Togo led his team into a 40-mph gale with a wind chill of about 80 below zero on the way to the handoff to the next musher and team. Togo and Seppala's team covered more than 260 miles in the serum run.
On February 2, 1925, Gunner Kaassen's team of dogs arrived onto the streets of Nome. The lead husky of this team was named Balto, a dog who would soon be known around the world. In honor of their journey, a statue of Balto was erected in New York City's Central Park. The words on the statue say: Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice across treacherous waters through arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the Winter of 1925. Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence.

For two years after the serum run Balto and some of his team mates traveled the continental United States as part of a traveling show. After Balto's death in 1933 his body was ppreserved and displayed at Cleveland's Natural History Museum. In 1995 a children's movie about Balto was released, bringing Balto's story to a new generation. Many of the Siberian Huskies of today have pedigrees that trace back to Seppala's awe inspiring racing dogs.

Photos of Balto

Although all of Although all three of these breeds can trace their heritage to northern climates, there are some very noticable differences between them. The Malmute is a very large dog. They are similar in appearance to the Siberain but there are noticable differences. Firstly, the Malamute is about double the size of a Siberian Husky. Secondly, the Malamutes ears are set much lower and they have a much broader head. Thirdly, Malamutes tend to bark more than Siberian Huskies.

The Alaskan Husky, dispite popular belief, is not a pure-bred dog. The name "Alaskan Husky" is generally given to a cross-bred dog produced for sled races. Normally it is some sort of hound crossed with a Siberian Husky so that the end result is a spirit racing dog with longer legs that is able to survive in the cold.

Siberian Huskies are pure-bred dogs that were domesticated and bred long ago by the Chukchi people of northern Siberia, Russia. They are more of a distance runner and are much more moderate in size than the Malamute.

Siberian Husky


Alaskan Husky


Alaskan Malamute

Ice is our personal Siberian Husky. He has been a part of our family since about October 2009. He is AKC registered as Franks' Ice Prince. He was born on January 27, 2009. He is an awesome addition to our family, such a loyal and loving dog and we wouldn't trade him for the world. He is solid white with those beautiful husky blue eyes that almost look white when you look at them.

UPDATE ON ICE- We were unable to keep him due to our current goal of breeding German Shepherds. He has gone to a wonderful home in Kaplan, Louisiana that has a breeding program for Siberian Huskies. There are many huskies where he is now that he can run and play with. Ice can be seen HERE and their facebook page.




Photos courtesy of Memories Photography, taken by George Franks

I wanted to thank the squid angel, Spirituality for her wonderful blessing. These angels work hard to see to it that wonderful lenses get blessed. I believe that they deserve recognition for their hard work. Thank you all Angels!
December 20, 2010 - Thank you to the Squid Angel SandyPeaks. I feel so honored to have my lens blessed multiple times.
February 11, 2011 - Thank you to the Squid Angel Pantherart for blessing my lens. Your blessings are very appreciated.