INTERESTING AND FUN FACTS ABOUT SIBERIAN HUSKIES

Here are some fun and fascinating facts about the Siberian Huskies that will surely surprise a lot of people!

General Facts about Siberian Huskies

• Name:

  There is no definite or hard evidence as to why this breed was named as such. Well, the inspiration behind the first part of their name is quite obvious, as these dogs hail from Siberia. But why the term Husky was added to their name is not very clear. But many people theorize that the word Husky is derived from the term “Esky” which was a nickname that was given to Eskimo as well as their dogs.

• Popularity:

  These wolf-like canines are immensely popular all around the world. They are currently sitting at #12 spot in AKC’s list of most popular dog breeds that features 190 distinct canine breeds from all over the world.

Body Facts about Siberian Huskies

• Coat:

  Huskies are double coated with a short, soft and warm undercoat and a decently long and weather-resistant exterior coat. This coat is known to provide enough protection to the Huskies under various kinds of harsh weather conditions.

• Eyes:

  Huskies are also known for their beautiful blue-colored eyes. Not all Huskies have this striking eye color but it is fairly common among many members of this breed. A condition called Heterochromia is also quite commonly seen in Siberian Huskies in which the same canine possesses two different colored eyes.

• Metabolism:

  Huskies have an excellent metabolism. They can run for hours without getting tired and on very little food as well. The energy resources inside a Husky’s body remains intact even when he’s been working for several hours and this is all due to his amazing metabolism.

Historical Facts about Siberian Huskies

• Origin:

  Siberian Huskies are considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds in this world. They originated in Siberia and are believed to be bred by a tribe of nomads called Chukchi. These people wanted to breed a perfect sled dog that had amazing stamina and great tolerance to low temperatures. When the breeding process was finished, the resulting canines are believed to be the Siberian Huskies. These pooches were heavily used for transporting loads from one place to another and there were no extra resources, like food and warmth, required for these canines to efficiently work in the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia.

• Russia to the United States:

  These sled dogs were first brought to the United States in the year 1909, when a Russian trader brought these canines along with him from Siberia to Nome, Alaska. And, interestingly, Nome was in the middle of a “Gold Rush” period, when these pooches first moved to the United States.

• All Alaska Sweepstakes Race:

  When Huskies moved to Alaska in 1909, these dogs took part in the annual dogsled race competitions which were known as All-Alaska Sweepstakes. First, they were ridiculed because of their compact size and were seen as inferiors to the Alaskan Malamutes and they were even taunted as “Siberian Rats”, but these dogs proved all their naysayers wrong by dominating the race and becoming the alpha of these racing competitions for the next decade or so.

• Huskies, the saviors:

  In 1925, when a small town in Alaska was hit by a diphtheria outbreak, a large number of people were in the need of immediate treatment and for that, a crucial antitoxin was required. But, because of heavy snow and harsh climate, no airplanes or other vehicles were able to deliver the required medicine. And, at that time, a pack of Siberian Huskies came forward to save the day. These dogs traveled 1084 kilometers in about 127 hours to bring the required antitoxin back to the people in need. They risked their life in -23-degree weather but were able to save a lot of people because of their heroism.

• World War II:

  During the Second World War, these canines were heavily used as search-and-rescue dogs by the army. Some other roles that Huskies had during the WWII were messenger dogs, transportation dogs et cetera.

• AKC Recognition:

  Siberian Huskies were recognized by the American Kennel Club as a distinct breed in 1930.

Temperamental Facts about Siberian Huskies

• Friendly and Sociable:

  Huskies are not only good and kind to their own family members, but they are great with strangers as well. These dogs are happy to meet new people and they don’t take a lot of time to get close to them. These pooches love the company of others and are always ready to play and have fun with them. But their great sociability comes at a cost which takes shape in the form of their poor watchdog ability. These dogs are not known for their guarding skills and are not able to effectively alert their owners in case of intruders or trespassers.

Miscellaneous Facts about Siberian Huskies

• Huskies ≠ Wolves:

  They might have a similar appearance to that of Wolves, but the Siberian Huskies are not the direct descendants of Wolves. Their behaviors are very different from one another and the Huskies belong to the Spitz family which has not been influenced by the Wolves. Breeds like Chow Chow and Shiba Inu, on the other hand, share the most DNA with the wolves.

• Loud Howlers:

  Huskies are also known to be highly talkative in nature. But did you know they are extremely loud as well? Their howls can be heard from as far as 17 Kilometers away.

• Balto:

  Inspired from the heroic actions of Huskies that took place in Nome, Alaska in 1925, a movie called “Balto” was made in 1995 that honored the bravery of a pack of Huskies that risked their lives to bring back a serum to the people of Nome when they were afflicted by a deadly epidemic.

• Celebrity Owners:

  The list of celebrities that have owned a Husky at some point in their lives includes Miley Cyrus, Ben Stiller, Jared Leto, Bella Thorne, Rita Ora, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Ashlan Gorse, Taylor Lautner et cetera.