Fun Alaskan Husky Facts For Kids

Have you wanted to learn more about the kind of dogs used for sled racing? Iditarod is the world's toughest race covering a distance of 1000 mi (1609 km) in 8-15 days in blizzards and sub-zero temperatures and now you can learn all about the star of this race: the Alaskan Husky!

The Alaskan Husky is believed to be a mix of Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamute dogs, German Shepherd dogs, Salukis, and English Pointer breeds. This cross-breeding was done to increase the dog's speed and endurance to make it a more efficient sled dog. Alaskan Huskies are large, lean, and have brown eyes. They are wolf-like in appearance due to their long legs, broad chest, and bushy tail. The Alaskan Husky's coat is short to medium in length and comes in different hues ranging from gray, white, and black, to cream and brown. Their heavy undercoats and coarse overcoat keeps them warm in extreme weather conditions.

Do you want to know more about this one-of-a-kind mixed breed? Read on to get more information about the amazing Alaskan Husky!

What type of animal is an Alaskan Husky?

The Alaskan Husky belongs to the dog breed and is not a pure breed. The Alaskan Husky is a cross-breed and is believed to be a mix of Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, German Shepherd dogs, Salukis, and English Pointers. This cross-breeding was done to increase their efficiency as sled dogs. The Alaskan Husky breed is very good at sled racing and makes an excellent working dog.

What class of animal does an Alaskan Husky belong to?

Alaskan Huskies are mammals. Like any other mammal, the female Alaskan Husky gives birth to young puppies and feeds them with her milk until they are old enough to feed on solids.

How many Alaskan Huskies are there in the world?

The exact number of Alaskan Huskies is not known. Today, this is a popular dog breed thanks to its capacity to run and pull sleds over long distances without getting tired. This sled dog is medium in size, making it relatively easy for owners to groom and take care of it.

Where does an Alaskan Husky live? 

Alaskan Huskies are more prevalent in snowy and cold hilly regions. This sled dog is often used by rural communities living in the coldest regions of Greenland, Canada, Russia, Alaska, and Yukon. This breed is sometimes used to deliver mail and other supplies by sled.

What is an Alaskan Husky's habitat? 

Alaskan Huskies can live in icy habitats like the Arctic and Antarctic. They are often owned by people living in snowy and cold hilly regions, and some people use them as sled dogs. A wooly undercoat and a coarse overcoat keep these Alaskan Huskies warm even in extreme weather conditions.

Who do Alaskan Huskies live with?

The Alaskan Husky is an excellent working dog and therefore it often lives with people who use it as a sled dog. These sled dogs are exceptional at sled racing and are often used in racing events like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod Trail.

How long does an Alaskan Husky live?

The Alaskan Huskies' life span ranges from 10-13 years. With the best diet and health care, this breed of dog can live for up to 15 years.

How do they reproduce?

Alaskan Huskies reproduce by sexual reproduction. The gestation length for an Alaskan Husky is between 60-64 days and the average litter size of Alaskan Huskies is between 4-10 puppies. The breeding of any dogs should be ideally only be done once a year (rather than twice a year or more) as frequent and forced breeding is not good for the health of the dog.

What is their conservation status?

There is no data to show its conservation status, but as this breed is domesticated by humans it does not have any immediate threats to its life. It comes under the Not Evaluated category, which means that this species has not been assessed enough by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to be put under any other category.

What do Alaskan Huskies look like?

The Alaskan Husky is a dog with large, tall ears, long, lean muscular limbs, and brown eyes. The head's shape can be broad or elongated, and it has a curly tail. The Alaskan Husky has a powerful sense of smell and sight. One great feature of the Alaskan Husky is the self-cleaning coat that cleans the debris trapped in it with the help of oils produced by the skin. The color of its fur coat can be white, black, or grey in different combinations.

How cute are they?

The Alaskan Husky, especially the Alaskan Husky puppy, looks adorable with its fluffy coat and captivating brown eyes. They may not be as cute as a Pomeranian or a Beagle because of their heavy and stocky wolf-like appearance, but they attract people with their sweet and friendly nature.

How do they communicate?

Alaskan Huskies use howling, whining, and specific body gestures as means of communication. If your dog is holding your hand in its mouth or wagging its tail, this is a sign of affection. If it is howling at you, it probably sees you as part of its family. If its tail and ears are relaxed and its tongue is showing from its mouth, it probably means the dog is happy and relaxed. By paying close attention to their gestures, we are almost able to communicate with our dogs.

How big is an Alaskan Husky? 

The male Alaskan Husky's weight is between 45-60 lb (20.4-27.2 kg), whereas the weight of the female Alaskan Husky is between 35-50 lb (15.8-22.7 kg). Alaskan Huskies are much larger and leaner than Siberian Huskies, whose weight is between 40-50 lb (18.14-22.7kg). On the other hand, the Alaskan Husky is typically shorter than the Siberian Husky.

How fast can an Alaskan Husky run?

Alaskan Huskies are often involved in races because of their ability to run very fast. This Husky can run at an average speed of 18.6 mph (30 km/h) and cover a distance of 310.6 mi (50 km) without getting tired. During long races, a Husky can cover a distance of 149 mi (240 km) each day! Its large lung capacity, medium-size and powerful shoulders help it to cover long distances at great speeds.

One of the best Alaskan Husky dog facts is that The Vet Street lists the Alaskan Husky as the seventh fastest dog globally, and this dog is often referred to as 'marathoner of dogs' due to its capacity to run longer distances!

How much does an Alaskan Husky weigh?

The male Husky weighs around 45-60 lb (20.4-27.2 kg), and the female weighs around 35-50 lb (15.8-22.7 kg). The female Husky is normally smaller than the male husky.

What are their male and female names of the species?

A male Husky is known as a 'dog' and a female Husky as a 'bitch'. Some popular names for a female Husky are Molly, Lucy, Coco, Luna, Sadie, Ellie, and Nala. Buddy, Max, Toby, Jack, Bear, Riley, and Oliver are few popular names for a male Husky.

What would you call a baby Alaskan Husky?

The baby of Alaskan Husky is known as an Alaskan Husky puppy. An Alaskan Husky puppy is highly energetic and is not at all apartment friendly. An Alaskan Husky puppy will have a tendency to nip, chew, and bite things. This is quite normal puppy behavior and does not mean they are aggressive. They also tend to bark, whine, and cry when left alone by the owner. An Alaskan Husky puppy may cost anywhere between $1000-$1500 when bought from a good breeder.

What do they eat? 

The Alaskan Husky dog requires a diet that contains plenty of protein (22%) and fat (8%). An Alaskan Husky's diet can include meat, salmon, fruits, lentils, peas, and vegetables. They can be fed three to four cups of high-quality dog food two times a day. An adult dog should be fed around 1100 calories per day, whereas racing dogs need 1800 calories per day to maintain their energy levels. The list of the food items which should not be fed to Alaskan Huskies includes foods rich in wheat, skim milk powder, whey, milk, salty food, garlic, onions, macadamia nuts, raisins, and grapes.

Are they slobbery?

The Alaskan Husky has an average drooling tendency and they are less slobbery when compared to some other dogs. If your dog is drooling more than normal, it can be a sign of an underlying health issue so the dog should be checked over by your vet.

Would they make a good pet?

The Alaskan Husky makes a good pet because of its affectionate, friendly, and less aggressive nature. If you are an energetic and outdoor person, this dog could be the best fit for you. Owners should train and socialize this dog from a young age, particularly between 8-14 weeks of age, when they are most receptive towards others. They are very loyal dogs and love cuddling with their owners. They also do not require much grooming, thanks to their self-cleaning coat and low shedding rate. Seasonal shedding can be controlled by regular brushing and bathing and clipping its nails once a month is enough to keep it tidy.

Because of its high energy and exercise needs, this dog may not be the best breed for those who lead an inactive lifestyle. They sometimes even jump on their owners due to excitement, so they are also not a good choice for the elderly and those with very young children. Training this dog can be pretty challenging as it requires a lot of time and repetition of commands, and therefore it may not be the best choice for novice dog owners.

Did you know...

Alaskan Huskies can't tolerate sweltering climates because of their thick fur coat. If you live in hotter climates and you have a Husky pet, it is better to keep it in the shade and give it plenty of water to drink. Do not make the mistake of shaving its fur as rather than helping the dog to cope up with the heat, this will actually make it more prone to severe sunburns, and shaving takes away this dog's ability to regulate its body temperature.

The Alaskan Husky is a mixed breed and is not recognized by official kennel clubs as it is not a purebred breed like the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute.

Characteristics and health issues

The Alaskan Husky is a highly alert, energetic, agile, and protective dog. It can take a long time for them to learn and memorize new commands due to their average intelligence levels but they are highly sensitive dogs and don't handle punishments well. This breeds social interaction abilities can also be improved by training it at a very young age.

This breed generally has good health and does not have many common health problems. Some of the health problems that are sometimes seen in this breed are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, laryngeal dysplasia, and obesity. These dogs can be kept healthy with a good diet, loving care, frequent health checkups, and regular vaccinations.

The Alaskan vs. other Huskies

Are you finding it difficult to spot the differences between the Alaskan Husky and Siberian Husky? The Alaskan Husky vs. Siberian Husky facts listed here might make your job easier!

Alaskan Huskies are generally shorter than the Siberian Huskies. Though both Huskies have the same wolfy looks and energy levels, they have very different temperaments. Because of their genetic makeup, Alaskan Huskies are more hard-working and less able to relax than Siberian Huskies. Both these Husky breeds are prone to progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and hereditary deafness. One disease that particularly affects Alaskan Husky and not the Siberian Husky is Alaskan Husky Encephalopathy. It is a hereditary neurological disorder that affects the brain and sadly has no cure.

Also, Alaskan Malamute vs. Siberian Husky facts explain that these are two different breeds (even though they look largely the same). The Siberian Husky has a smooth coat that is the same length throughout the body, whereas the Malamute's coat is coarse in texture and longer over the neck, back, and shoulders. The Malamute's muzzle is bulky, and the Siberian's is medium-sized, and the ears of the Malamute are pointed up, whereas those of the Siberian are slightly forward. The Siberian Husky can pull light loads, whereas the Alaskan Malamute can pull heavy loads due to a difference in its body structure and stamina levels. All of these breeds are highly energetic and athletic dogs though.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our dog running coloring pages.