Dog
Pronunciation:
uh-las-kuhn huhs-kee
Breed Description:
The Alaskan Husky is a medium sized breed of dog that should be compact and well-proportioned. The head should be wedge shaped with the a definite stop between the muzzle and the skull. The body should be strong and robust with an athletic build, giving the appearance of a well-balanced dog. The ears should be triangular and they should be held erect on the top of the head. The tail should be long, carried low and should have a slight curve at the end.
The coat of the Alaskan Husky is medium to long in length and should consist of two coats; the soft, dense undercoat and the longer top coat. The top coat should have a harsh texture to it and it should be slightly thicker around the neck and shoulders and on the tail. The breed can be found in any color that is commonly found in the Siberian Husky including black, white, gray, sable, red, brown, and silver either as a solid color or with the Husky markings with white on the face, head, legs, belly and feet.
Temperament:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is a gentle and affectionate dog that is known for being a hard working and energetic breed. They do very well with children but are better suited to homes with older children since they are an eternal puppy and may injure a small child with their exuberance. The breed is known for being very good natured and often approaches life and people in a very cheerful manner. The Alaskan Husky generally gets along well with everyone and while they are amiable, they do have a very high intelligence and really need an owner who can give them firm rules and consistent training. The breed may be prone to roaming and they can be quite destructive if they are not being worked or exercised.
Height:
The average height of an Alaskan Husky is between 20 to 25 inches.
Weight:
The average weight of an Alaskan Husky is between 48 to 55 pounds for a male and 36 to 45 pounds for a female.
Health Problems:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is not a purebred breed of dog and is considered to be a mixed breed. For this reason, they do not have any known health problems.
Living Conditions:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is not recommended for apartments since they tend to be very active and really need a fair amount of space to run. They do better in a home with a large fenced yard and it is important to provide them with a secure area to play outside since they will wander if they are given the chance. The Alaskan Husky does much better in cooler climates.
Exercise:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is a very energetic breed and requires at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. They do have excess stores of energy and if they are not properly exercised they can become very destructive. Alaskan Husky dogs make excellent jogging companions.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and you should only expect to brush the coat about once per week, however; you will need to brush it two or three times a week during shedding periods. In addition, if you live in warmer climates, your grooming needs may increase up to 4 or 5 times a week. They do not need a bath on a regular basis and can go most of the year with only one or two. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and the nails should be clipped once or twice a week, but other than that, nothing more really needs to be done.
Origin:
The Alaskan Husky breed of dog is not a purebred breed of dog and was created by crossing a number of Northern breeds together in the hopes of developing a versatile working dog. That being said, this is one of the few "mixed" breeds that efforts are being made to establish a breed standard. Alaskan Huskies today are being bred together to breed true to standard and there is an actual pedigree for puppies now. While they are not recognized by kennel clubs, efforts are being made to see this happen in the future. Currently, only the Dog Registry of America has recognized the breed. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
