The Siberian Husky was originally developed by the Chukchi people of the Chukchi Peninsula in eastern Siberia, for sled pulling and companionship.They were brought to Nome, Alaska in 1908 by William Goosak, a Russian fur trader, to serve as working sled dogs for the mining fields, and for expeditions through otherwise impassable terrain. They were eventually developed and used for sled dog racing. In 2015, a DNA study indicated that the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute and the Alaskan Husky share a close genetic relationship between each other and were related to Chukota sled dogs from Siberia. They were separate to the two Inuit dogs, the Canadian Eskimo Dog and the Greenland Dog. In North America, the Siberian Husky and the Malamute both had maintained their Siberian lineage and had contributed significantly to the Alaskan husky, which was developed through crossing with European. Siberian Huskies show a genetic affinity with historical East Siberian dogs and ancient Lake Baikal dogs, and can be traced to a lineage which is over 9,500 years old.
Comparison: Alaskan Malamute (Left), Siberian Husky (Center), Alaskan Husky (Right)
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working sled dog breed.The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognizable by its thickly furred double coat, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markings, and is smaller than the similar-looking Alaskan Malamute.
Today, the Siberian Husky is typically kept as a house pet, though they are still frequently used as sled dogs by competitive and recreational mushers (a person who handles and drives a dog team). Competitive sled dog races are popular in the USA and Canada, with the most well known race being the Iditarod, which arose from the original serum run in 1925, using relay teams of Siberian Huskies, from Anchorage to Nome, which was suffering from a serious diptheria outbreak at the time. Today’s Iditarod follows a similar route, and teams of dogs and drivers (mushers) taking up to 10 – 14 days to complete. The winners of the 2023 Iditarod, Richie Dehl, completed the run in just under 9 days.
It’s important to note that in South Africa, competitive dog racing, in any form, is illegal. It is more the norm here to walk with them, although the more adventurous will either run with a Sibe or two in harness (Canicross) or using a special rig to allow them to pull a rider on a mountain bike (Bikejoering). Less common is dryland sledding, using a wheeled cart pulled by a team of dogs. There is a group in Capetown that does a Husky run, with a big team of Sibes from various owners, on Blouberg Strand, pulling an actual sled along the beach.