When the word Alaska is said or heard by any of us, the most probable thing to come to our minds is ice and iced landscapes, no sign of life, coldness and strong winds. But the reality is that there is much more to Alaska than we can ever imagine and one of those things are Alaskan dogs. Dog breeds coming from Alaska are becoming more and more popular among us, even in places where climate is not precisely cold. Alaskan dogs might not be among the most popular of all, but they are surely interesting, and most of all, they are absolutely beautiful because they have that nostalgic, almost sad look that will make us really want to hug them and comfort them. Perhaps the most typical Alaskan dog is the Alaskan Malamute. These dogs are really similar to Siberian Huskies and many of us might even confound them as equals. This breed is believed to have been originated within the Mahlemuts tribe, an Alaskan group of nomads that has used these dogs specially for transportation, for protection of wild animals and cold weather and, of course, for hunting activities. They have accompanied them for around two to three thousand years so this breed is quite old as you can see and has surely evolved from different types of wild wolves. The Alaskan Malamute is a big and sturdy dog, with a thick coat that is meant to protect them from the extreme cold in which they were bred, with big v-shaped ears and beautiful and penetrating eyes. They are extremely energetic and hard working dogs. They are also quite loving and affectionate dogs but should be supervised when being around young children or other animals. They measures are 22 to 26 inches tall and 75 to 95 pounds of weight. They are simply amazing. Another Alaskan dogs that comes from this region is the Alaskan Husky, a definitely beautiful dog that looks like a snow ball and that will surely catch your heart. This breed’s history is not quite clear but it is believed that they were raised as working dogs in the cold lands of Alaska, just as any other dog in that area. They are big and thinner than Alaskan Malamutes, but they are still quite strong and energetic, with a tender and even funny look on their faces. They love human company so avoid leaving them alone because they need exercise and human contact and if not provided with that will become quite destructive. Measures for this breed are among Finally, we have Siberian Huskies. Though this dog breed was originally bred in Siberia, it was taken to Alaska in the first years of the twentieth century were it was used to hunt and as transportation. They are strong dogs as well, with a compact and sturdy body. Their coat is very thick as well and can be found in different colors such as grey, white, chocolate and silver. They can blue or brown eyes, or a combination of both. They are highly sociable and tender, as well as loyal and protective of their family, but they can become aggressive from time to time if not correctly supervised. They require lots of exercise and should not be left in apartments. They measure around 20 to 24 inches tall and 45 to 60 pounds of weight. |
