Siberian Huskies are well-loved dogs that have been valued as service animals, working dogs, human saviors, and treasured family pets. There is much to be read about the famed Siberian Husky as pet and working dog, but perhaps here are a few fun and interesting facts you didn't know about the Siberian Husky.
The Siberian Husky was first bred in Siberia and is an ancestor of the arctic dog of the Chukchi tribe.
Few, if any, Siberian Huskies remain in their native land; most were exported to the Americas following the spike in popularity after the 1925 serum run in Alaska.
The first Siberian Husky was brought to the U.S. in 1908.
The Siberian Husky is the star of the books and movies written about the Alaskan Diphtheria run from Anchorage to Nome in 1925; the story of Balto, the lead dog of the team who delivered the serum to Nome was made into a Disney movie.
A bronze statue of Balto stands near the entrance of New York's Central Park.
Despite Balto's fame, he is not the only hero of the 1925 serum run; several sled dog teams formed a relay to deliver the serum, and Balto's owner actually ran the longest leg with Togo, Balto's kennel mate. Balto and his driver got all the fame because they ran the final 55 mile leg and carried the serum into Nome.
Togo was actually favored over Balto by their owner.
Togo lived to retire in Maine at the kennel of one of Seppala's friends, where he was put to stud.
Balto and his team were used as dime-museum attractions and kept in poor conditions until they were saved through the efforts of a boxer named George Kimble.
After Kimble partnered with a Cleveland newspaper, 1200 people donated money to save the dogs, who were then placed in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo until their deaths.
Siberian Huskies rose to fame after the 1925 run, but were not recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1930.
The first Siberian Husky Club was created in 1938.
Siberian Huskies can, by AKC standards, have any coat and eye color.
The Siberian Husky howl most closely resembles the howl of a wolf.
There are 6 dogs in a sled team.
A male specimen over 23 1/2 inches tall is considered disqualified by AKC standards.
Siberian husky owners each seem to have their own unique tales of life with a Siberian Husky. Should you decide this dog breed is the right companion for your home, you are sure to have stories to add in short time!
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