Siberian Huskies were originally bred as working dogs in Siberia (and are still to this day!). The Chukchi people bred these dogs to be companion dogs and to work as sled dogs in the long, frigid winters of Siberia. The dogs hauled loads over miles of frozen tundra, which enabled the Chukchi people to expand their hunting and gathering territories. They were originally brought to Alaska to pull sl
eds during the Gold Rush years of the late 1800s to early 1900s. At this time, they also participated in sled-dog races alongside other sled dogs like Alaskan Malamutes and Samoyeds. Huskies are also known heroes. In 1925, Leonhard Seppala led a relay of more than 100 Siberian Huskies sled dogs over 600 miles in less than six days to rush a lifesaving serum to Nome, Alaska, where a diphtheria epidemic broke out. It was referred to as the “serum run,” and global newspapers showed photos of these beautiful, strong dogs as heroes. Balto was the lead dog on the final stages of the journey and is one of the most famous hero dogs out there. There’s a statue of him in New York City’s Central Park, and he’s also the star of a movie (“Balto”) loosely based on the sled dog’s story. Siberian Huskies also served in the US Army’s Search and Rescue Unit in the Arctic during World War II.
