Alaskan Husky , temperament and health

Alaskan huskies are very popular as pets in Alaska, where they are relatively easy to obtain from professional dogsled racers. Puppies judged to be unfit for racing are regularly culled, and as a result they are often available free to any good home. Older dogs which have outlived their usefulness as racing dogs make excellent pets for people willing to exercise them regularly. Older ex-racers tend to be very alert and well behaved, as well as somewhat less energetic than their younger counterparts.

Young huskies make good pets if given plenty of space to run and play, but their high demand for exercise and activity makes them a poor choice for urban residents. In the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks the large number of trails and extensive open space make it easy to ensure plenty of free running; in contrast the relative lack of large open areas in Juneau makes them somewhat more difficult to exercise.

Huskies are often healthier in the drier climates of interior Alaska. In the humid Alaskan Panhandle, they are prone to develop (and maintain) ear and related infections.

If multiple huskies are kept in the same lot they tend to be very vocal, howling and barking at each other and any other dogs in the vicinity unless they are trained to be quiet. In crowded neighborhoods this can be a very irritating nuisance to neighbors, especially other dog owners. They can be trained for silence with some effort though. They are also accomplished diggers, and will tunnel underneath fences and houses to hunt burrowing animals and to escape their enclosures.

Huskies make extremely poor household dogs. They shed heavily during the spring and are extremely active, running in circles inside a house when bored or cramped. If left alone inside a dwelling for long periods they will tear things apart out of boredom. They also enjoy hunting small animals which can be a nuisance if rats or mice are in the walls or basement, since the husky will constantly scratch and tear at the walls and floors. When they are hooked up to a sled, and will have to stay there for a while they may get bored and start to chew the gang line.

In Alaska they are occasionally killed by moose in the winter, since moose will enter human areas in search of winter browse of willows and mountain ash. True to their wolf ancestors, huskies tend not to back down from such encounters, and an angry moose can easily stomp and kick several dogs causing severe injuries. Professional dogsled racers always surround their lots with very high fences to prevent moose from causing havoc.

The Alaskan Husky is generally a very healthy dog. Some strains are prone to different genetic health problems that run in pure bred strains. This includes PRA, hypothyroidism, etc.

source : wikipedia.org

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