The Origin of domestic dogs happened somewhere between 32000 years to 10000 years ago. From then on, humans used dogs in various ways.
Sledge dogs are one such artificial discovery of dog usage. Dogs were trained for sledging more than 1000 years ago.
One such breed of dog bred by humans is called the Husky. There are two types of sledge Huskies available worldwide: Alaskan Husky and Siberian Husky.
Key Takeaways
- Alaskan Huskies are a mixed breed developed for sled racing, while Siberian Huskies is a purebred dog breed originating in Siberia.
- Alaskan Huskies are bred for performance and speed, while Siberian Huskies have a consistent appearance and are recognized by kennel clubs.
- Alaskan Huskies are usually leaner and faster, while Siberian Huskies have a thicker coats and a more uniform, wolf-like appearance.
Alaskan vs Siberian Husky
Alaskan Huskies are a mixed breed commonly used for sledging and racing. At the same time, Siberian Huskies are purebred with a thick double coat and a more compact build, often used for sledging and companionship. Both breeds are friendly and energetic and make great family pets, but Alaskan huskies are more adaptable for racing and working purposes.
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The two breeds of huskies are from two different parts of the world. However, they are bred or cross-bred, which would be correct for the Alaskan Husky’s sake for working purposes. Despite the similarities, there are many differences in spotting an Alaskan and a Siberian Husky.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Alaskan Husky | Siberian Husky |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Alaskan Husky is never considered a breed. It has been cross-bred many times from its time of existence. | It is a recognized breed called Husky, belonging to the Spitz genetic family. |
| Purpose | Alaskan Husky is developed as a working dog. The primary purpose is for working and sledge pulling. | Siberian Husky is also a carefully developed breed for working but is also used for show purposes. |
| Dog sledge racing | Alaskan Huskies are used for dog sledge racing for longer distances. | Siberian Huskies are used for dog sledge racing for shorter distances. |
| Coat Type | Alaskan Huskies have a thick coat with a short to mid-length level. | Siberian Huskies have very thick or long coats. |
| Country of Origin | USA | Siberia |
What is Alaskan Husky?
Alaskan Husky is a sledge dog bred for working purposes to assist humans. They are carefully produced and trained to match the requirements of the owner.
They are not bred for looks; they are made to pull sledges and work for the owner. Alaskan Huskies are not considered a breed or pure as they were bred from various other breeds of dogs.
Alaskan Huskies are also used for Dog sledge racing. They are predominantly used in long-distance races.
Alaskan Huskies have long legs and lean bodies compared to any husky family. It also has a thick, short to mid-length coat on its body.
Alaskan Huskies are world-class race dogs, the best in the snow-clad mountain races. They are also considered to be the best companions for hikers and mountaineers.
Alaskan Husky is intelligent and likes to do things his way too. However, this dog category is bred only for working purposes, so the owners will train them from the second month of their birth to suit their requirements.
None buys Alaskan Husky as a pet. Anyone who wants to buy for his domestic need can approach certain groups to buy them.
What is Siberian Husky?
Siberian Husky is a pure breed of dog made for working and show purposes. Siberian Huskies are a bit smaller compared to other Husky varieties.
Siberian Huskies came into existence for guarding, pulling sledges, and working purposes. They were technically bred to be a championship racer too.
Siberian Huskies are good at Short distance races. They have thick double-coated fur, long enough to protect them from extreme cold weather.
The eyes of the Siberian Husky are almond-shaped. The colour of the eyes differs from Brown to Black.
Siberian Huskies are also used as show dogs and have impeccable colours. Grey dogs have black noses, and black dogs have tan noses.
Siberian Huskies are well suited for the winter weather of their thick coat of fur. It may not be suitable for warm weather conditions.
Siberian Huskies are fond of prey, which means the owner has to take control of the dog most of the time, or it may run behind anything to hunt it down. Siberian Huskies don’t bark much, but they howl.
Siberian Huskies are a bit heavier compared to their Alaskan Counterpart. The male weighs 27 kg while the female up to 23 kg. They are not made for hard-working purposes, though, more of a show dog, and few are carefully bred for racing purposes.
Main Differences Between Alaskan and Siberian Husky
- The main difference between an Alaskan Husky and a Siberian Husky is the Alaskan Husky is solely made for working purposes. In contrast, Siberian Husky is also a show dog, apart from being a sledge dog.
- The countries of Origin also differ, the Alaskan is of American Origin, while Siberian is of Russian Origin. Their sizes also vary; the Alaskan counterpart is leaner than the Siberian Husky.
- Alaskan and Siberian Huskies are used for dog sledge racing too. However, Alaskan is used for long-distance racing, while Siberian is for short-distance racing.
- Alaskan Husky is not a pure breed; it is not registered with any kennel club, while Siberian Husky is a well-recognized and pure breed of dogs.
- Alaskan Husky is shorter than the Siberian Husky.
- https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/153/20/624.short
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01652176.1986.9694059
- https://bmcgenet.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2156-11-71
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
