Husky dogs, oftentimes called sled dogs, are breeds of Northern country dogs that have become popular all over the world for their caring and playful personalities and their work ethic. Historically, husky dogs have been used to herd, assist hunters and pull sleds. Examples of huskies include the ever-popular Siberian, Malamute, Akita, and the Chow-Chow.

Whether Siberian Huskies are the most popular of the husky dogs because of their beautiful coat and crystal blue eyes, or because they are such good companions is unknown, but there is no denying that this animal has taken the world by storm. For those who may be considering the purchase of a husky, there are some positive and negative attributes to think about. On the one hand, huskies are very sociable and gentle. They enjoy playing and love companionship, especially that of children. On the other hand, this playfulness can be a negative as well, for they aren’t very disciplined and would not make a good guard-dog. They are also very hard to train, are easily bored, and live on impulse. If allowed to roam free they are destined to run into trouble, either by way of a speeding car or an angry farmer or cat owner whose animal became temporary prey to this wily predator.

Husky dogs have become well known for their sled-pulling capabilities. The Iditarod, an 1150-mile race across Alaska, is held yearly and run by teams of huskies and their owners. In this race the dogs pull sleds across rough terrain, through deep snow and snowstorms. At the end of the race is acclaim and some very happy dogs, as huskies absolutely love the snow and love to pull. They also have a natural tendency to dig, which is another reason they enjoy snow (although dirt is just as good to dig in)!