Alaskan Husky????

    • Silver

    Alaskan Husky????

    i always get weird looks from anyone i tell my dog is Alaskan Husky. seems everyone only knows one kind of husky and it's not the Alaskan. finally got around to taking decent pics of my dog so tell me, anyone, other traits aside, if my dog does or does not look like an Alaskan Husky.











    • Gold Top Dog
    cool dog!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Toonces...pretty dog. Just to make your life more difficult...on Westminster tonight I heard the "nondog savvy sidekick" ask "Alaskan Husky and Siberian husky....same thing right?"...he got told "yeah''...oy vey....[:-]
    • Silver
    Since Alaskans aren't a breed, and aren't bred to look a certain way, you could say it is or isn't.

    If I didn't have a clue what Alaskans were, I'd just say it was a Husky/GSD mix.
    Most breeders won't even sell to pet homes unless they know the dog has no drive, or they know it will get a ton of exercise. So their temperaments and drive are the top things the breeders shoot for, rather than looks. That's why every Alaskan is different!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Like Aera said they are not a breed, they are not bred for a look, they are bred for workability, some have long hair some have short, some show more scent hound than husky, some more site hound.  They are a group of dogs that mushers have been breeding for many dog generations, but they have never stopped crossing in different breeds.  Some are bred for endurance some are bred for strength, those that use them in warmer climates have shorter coats, those in colder climates have thicker coats.

    Here is a quote I have from a friend that breeds them, for work mind you:
    Alaskans Huskies are not a breed. They are a type of husky that is bred to be more effective than Siberians and other racing huskies. It has been bred since sled dog racing/pulling came to be important. The dogs have no standards, since they are so often bred with other breeds.
    Within the Alaskan, there are different categories. Some are bred for distance, others are bred for freight and sprint. So some of these dogs may not even look to be like the typical husky that most people invision pulling mushers on sleds in teams. Husky hauler.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Pretty pup!
    Love the name "Toonces!"  SNL reference?
    We call my sister-in-law Toonces and she subsequently named one of her kitties Toonces too![:)]