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Article #195: Sled Dog Breeds - The Fleet Of Foot

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Sled dog breeds are characterized by shorter, Alaskan huskies were found to
endurance, strength, and intelligence. perform better.
They are usually medium to larger dogs, Alaskan husky dogs are not a recognized
with a very muscular build, and have breed. They are bred for their
helped mankind transport supplies in performance, and so they cannot be easily
times before the automobile. characterized as a breed. Alaskan husky
Nowadays, sled dog breeds are found as dogs represent a variety of types with
pets, as well as trained to participate different lines. They are hybrid dogs - a
in sled dog racing. husky with another breed, that is
Sled dogs were developed to withstand determined by the needs and ideas of the
very low temperatures. Their coats have a breeders. A husky may be bred with a
double layer, with the undercoat acting wolf, setters, or any other breed that
as insulation against the ice and snow. can bring genetic advantages in speed and
Because they have such thick coats, they endurance.
need regular brushing and grooming. They Sled dog racing is a winter and fall
also shed a lot, especially at the sport where the sled dogs are attached to
beginning of summer when they lose a lot a sled (or a 3 or 4 wheeled cart in
of their undercoat. This could be a autumn), and pull the driver along. The
problem for people with dog allergies. driver stands on runners. The dogs are
Traditional sled dog breeds include the harnessed individually, with tug lines
Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, the attached that are linked into a central
Chinook, the Sakhalin Husky, the Canadian gang line. The dogs are linked in pairs,
Eskimo dog, the Seppala Siberian sled and there are up to 22 dogs in a racing
dog, the Tamaskan husky, the Samoyed, the team. Teams race either against the
Eurohound, the Mackenzie River husky, and clock, and a winner then announced, or
the Greenland dog. against each other in a seemingly chaotic
Whilst these dogs were purpose bred, many race. There are dog sled races in three
other breeds have been used, including categories - short distance, middle
mixed breeds. These days, that tradition distance, and long distance.
lives on in sled dog racing, where the Like the sled dog breeds themselves, the
most popular breeds include the Alaskan sport of sled dog racing has seen some
Husky, and various cross breeds, often interesting adaptions to modern times and
based on the German Shorthaired Pointer. different climates. In Australia, for
However, many breeds have been used, example, where there is very little snow,
including the poodle! even in winter, sled dog races are held.
Alaskan huskies are favored in modern Here, modified scooters are used, and
sled dog races because they are faster racing is done on dirt tracks. Australian
than traditional breeds like the Alaskan sled dog racers tend to use all sorts of
malamute or the samoyed. They are not as dogs as sled dogs, including kelpies,
strong, but in sled dog racing where english pointers, and red heelers.
speed is important, and the distances are






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