The Alaskan Husky - A Friendly Dog That Loves to Play
The Alaskan husky is a category of dog that owes much of its genetic make-up to it's Siberian husky ancestors. It is not a recognized breed of dog, due to generations of cross-breeding to produce an efficient working dog and not a standardized appearance. Often similar in looks to the Siberian, the Alaskan is a larger dog with a significantly thinner coat. This means that dogs working in extremely cold environments will need to wear garments to protect themselves. These dogs are famous for their speed and endurance during dog sled races, which is why they are bred.
Huskies enjoy cool dry regions. They can perform in warmer climates, but need to be provided with adequate opportunities to cool down. If an Alaskan is brought into an area with a high level of humidity, it will require frequent examinations to prevent/combat infections that it is susceptible to. It should also not be kept outdoors in the heat for long periods of time, like their human friends, Alaskan huskies appreciate air conditioned climates.
To ensure that an Alaskan husky is happy and comfortable, prospective owners need to have a large, fenced in yard to allow the dog the room it needs to play and exercise. These dogs are noted for their ability to escape enclosures, so make sure to bury the edges of your fence at least a foot to prevent tunneling. Frequent and lengthy walks and play time in the part is essential for this dog breed.
Dogs kept indoors for long periods of time will engage in destructive behaviors out of boredom and a feeling of being cramped. However, beyond plenty of exercise and a balanced diet, very little care is needed to keep these dogs healthy. For grooming, combing with a metal brush need only be done during the fall and spring seasons.
These dogs were bred to run, this is what they love to do. If you lead an active outdoorsy lifestyle than this is the perfect dog to take along on your activities. They have excess energy and may be too much for more restful persons. Take them out for a long walk every day or have them accompany you on a jog and they will burn off much of that energy. Be careful during the summer months not to over exercise the dog as they can become overheated and dehydrated.
Alaskan huskies are easy to train as long as you are consistent with them and project the image of pack leader from an early stage. You must be firm with them as they have a mind of their own and may take to ignoring you if they do not clearly see you as the leader. These are intelligent and curious dogs, so even the best trained of them will occasionally get into mischief while discovering their environment.
Because of their past, huskies have been bred to handle loud groups of people happily. In fact, they love almost everyone. This makes them great as a family pet, but a poor choice as a guard dog.
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