What Breed Is An Alaskan Husky Sled Dog?

We often get asked, what makes a dog a sled dog? And, what exactly is an Alaskan Husky? Many also remark that the dogs that take them on their Alaskan sled ride look a lot like a dog they’ve seen before. We will give you some basic information on what makes the Alaskan Huskies unique. And how sled dogs are an exciting part of Alaskan history.

Alaskan Husky History In The Making (Or Mushing)

The ancestors of the many of the sled dogs that live today in Fairbanks, Alaska, were Alaskan village dogs. These village dogs lived with native people thousands of years ago as hunting companions and pack animals. These Alaskan native dogs were known for their double hair coat and rugged feet. But, most importantly, they could withstand the challenging arctic conditions with a great attitude.

When European settlers made their way to Alaska, they learned that horses could not live and work well in the freezing temperatures. It’s not easy to trudge through the snow with long knobby legs and short hair. So the native Alaskan dog became highly sought after as the main form of transportation for generations.

During the Alaskan or Klondike Gold Rush, an estimated 100,000 prospectors made their way to western Canada and Alaska. This migration increased the popularity of the native Alaskan dog as transportation. There was so much demand for dogs that people assembled sled dog teams of whatever large working dogs they could find.

Today, Alaskan huskies are long-distance endurance athletes. They embody all the adventure hard work and loyalty of their ancestors

Purely Bred For Purpose, Not Purebred Dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, the Alaskan Husky is not a purebred, let alone a recognized dog breed. Instead, huskies are defined by their purpose: for use as an athlete sled dog. So we are breeding Alaskan Huskies for their abilities that make them great at what they do. It’s likely that all working dogs were bred for specific purposes.

Of course, for the Alaskan Husky, no one came along to say this dog is everything it needs to be in look and size like other working dogs. Our Alaskan Huskies are still evolving, and are bred for what matters most to dog mushers today.

For An Alaskan Husky, It’s What You Can’t See

You may think an Alaskan Husky Sled Dog should look like a Siberian or the Malamute. While you can see some similarities to these purebred dogs, there will be many different variations in an Alaskan Husky. When assembling our sled dog teams, we look for qualities that are not always evident in appearance alone.

Some Qualities We Look For In Our Alaskan Huskies:

Strong pack instinct because they must work closely with people and other dogs.
Great Personality
Fur coat can be short to medium length, with a very heavy undercoat for cold weather because temperatures here can drop as low as 80 degrees below freezing (-62.2°C)
Highly Trainable
Loads of energy for running long distances
A healthy dog with a healthy appetite

At Trail Breaker, we breed our dogs for what is on the inside. That’s why we get a lot of diversity on the outside.

Ask An Alaskan Husky Training Expert

This is just a taste of what you can learn at Trail Breaker Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s an easy trip from the Fairbanks, AK Airport! We are here to help you experience the Alaskan Musher life with its rich history. Contact Us or Book your visit today!

Our Time In Eureka, Alaska

As winter approaches, we are filled with gratitude as we prepare for the season ahead. The entire kennel, puppies to retirees, are out in Eureka, Alaska until December. For those unfamiliar with Trail Breaker history, Eureka is the community roughly four hours north of Fairbanks where kennel founders Susan Butcher and David Monson began their racing journey. In the early 1900s, Eureka was a significant mining town, so there are many small, run-down miners’ cabins and equipment that have been left out over the years. Susan’s original homestead consisted of a small living cabin and an old blacksmith shop where they made wheelbarrows and horseshoes for the sourdoughs in the area.

Our Eureka, Alaska Homestead

Today, the property is home to a barn, three cabins, a workshop, and, of course, a dog yard. The area is full of old mining roads that have become great trails and training routes for the mushers who live out there today. The history that is embedded in those trails is felt on every run. Both musher and husky can feel the energy of all of the mushers, including Susan and David, who trained on them in the past. It’s on these trails that we will get our team race-ready and get a break from city-living!

Training For Race Season In Alaska

With the exciting prospect of the race season ahead, the race team will be exploring the trails around the homestead and putting on the miles. The team is currently running 15-20 miles a day, and we will slowly build until they are doing 50 or more miles at a time. There is still much anticipation hanging on the first significant snowfall. We wait eagerly for it to come, but we will stick with ATV training until it does. Whether we train on sleds or ATV, we are having fun and learning just the same. As our machines are not made to start in the winter, it can be a chore keeping our ATVs running, but it just adds to the adventure of life in rural Alaska.

While the mushers and race dogs are hard at work, the retirees and puppy team will be having nothing but fun. Eureka’s trails are perfect for puppy teams because they are introduced to many different obstacles. They’ll learn how to eagerly take on hills, push through windy conditions, battle snowdrifts, and many other conditions they may not encounter in the heart of Fairbanks. The Eureka homestead has been crucial in preparing our team for all conditions, getting the mushers comfortable to train in remote settings, and providing a unique bonding experience between musher and dog.

Want To Know More About Trail Breaker Kennel?

We are so thankful to train from a place like the Eureka homestead, and we are thankful for all of you who make it possible. Later this month, we will be releasing some exciting news that will allow you to learn more about each of our huskies and mushers, so stay tuned! Contact us today if you would like to receive Trail Breaker’s newsletter directly to your email!