Siberian Husky – Canine Movie Star
All types of Siberian Husky dogs have one thing in common in that they can trace their ancestry back to the sled dogs of the Northern Hemisphere. These early sled dogs were also called “Eskimo dogs”. Other descendants of the ancient Eskimo dogs include the Siberian Husky, Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute. All these modern sled dogs originated in several Northern Hemisphere countries like Siberia, Canada, Greenland and Labrador. The Siberian Husky gets its name from the Siberian region and from an Inuit tribe, called “huskies” by early Caucasian traders.
White Siberian Huskies were valued for their ability to blend into the snow, helping to thwart predators. Proving themselves time and again as one of man’s best friends, the Siberian Husky made it possible for man to extend his reach across lands that would otherwise have been unreachable. Admiral Robert Peary used Siberian Huskies as part of his expeditions in search of the North Pole. In 1925, Siberian Huskies heroically delivered diphtheria serum over six hundred miles snow to Nome, Alaska.
If you have ever seen the Iditarod, one of the most famous dog races in history, then you have seen a recreation of the historical delivery of the diphtheria serum. The annual Iditarod celebrates the 1925 event.
The classification of a white Siberian Husky is based not on the color of the coat, but on a certain action of the dogs’ genes. There are a few different types of white Siberian Husky. For example, an Isabella White Siberian Husky is usually monochromatic, with jet-black points. The points may also be liver or flesh toned. Isabella White Siberian Huskies have a white undercoat with distinct buff tones above the hock and elbow, on the ears, on the saddle and buff down the center of the tail.
A pure white Siberian Husky is a rare version of the breed, with silver tipping and a silver or white undercoat. The points may be black, liver or flesh colored, but black hair on the body is rare and occasional. This type of Siberian Husky is created with a genetic mix that completely restricts pigments over the entire body.
The white Siberian Husky is rarely used for dog sled racing today, because the Alaskan Husky, a faster dog, is the dog of choice for competitive dog sled racing. The dogs still pull loads through the snow though. Many winter sports enthusiasts who own Siberian Huskies as pets enjoy recreational mushing with their dogs.
Other contemporary chores all types of Siberian Husky dogs enjoy include skijoring, a winter sport where Siberian Huskies working in groups of one to three pull skiers. Dogs also race off the snow through the forests of the United Kingdom.
The entertainment industry makes extensive use of Siberian Huskies. A team of Huskies starred in Disney films Snow Dogs and Iron Will. Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, owns a white Siberian Husky named Kyoto, for the Kyoto Protocol. Siberian Huskies are also popular mascots of universities like Jonathan represents the University of Connecticut; King represents Northeastern University; and Blizzard T. Husky represents Michigan Technological University.