Siberian Husky History

[siberian_wolf]

Sorry it's a long thread!

Chukchi Dog to Siberian Husky

The Siberian husky was originally developed in the sub-zero temperatures of Siberia, Russia. The Siberian husky was originally bred/developed for the purposes of the Chukchi tribes. The people of these tribes have inhabited the Artic coastal region of north Siberia for over 1,000 years. Northern Siberia is a place of extremely harsh winters where general survival is a great challenge. Before the Siberian husky was complete the Chukchi developed the Chukchi dog; the progenitor of todays Siberian husky.

The Chukchi tribe have developed a breed of dog which would be most suited to their needs, over many generations of breeding. Although the Chukchi tribes lived inland, the Chukchi hunters worked mostly around the coastline as Seal was their main source of food. The hunters was not needing a dog which would be able to carry heavy loads as the catch was not that heavy but they needed a dog which was able to withstand long exposure to the sub-zero temperatures whilst pulling a light to medium load, quickly over long distances and also able to use a minimal amount of energy in the process. The Chukchi believed that the less energy the dog used whilst working meant that the dog would have more energy to help protect themselves from the harsh weather conditions.

The Chukchi found that quick, small working dogs which were docile enough to work in teams were most suitable to the work and terrain. The dogs had to be hard and eager workers and had to show enough common sense and dedication to the task so they wouldnt be constantly tangling themselves in the lines of the sled they were pulling. The Chukchi people became so valued o their dogs that they would often bring the dog into their homes as guardians of their possessions and companions to their children. This, without doubt, is a huge part of why the Siberian husky has so much of a gentle personality, today.

The Chukchi dogs instinct and desire to run, endlessly, were the most important traits. Due to the dogs moderate size, it was able to run far and quickly but it was not able to pull much weight so the Chukchi required teams of 20 or more to pull the hunters load. The Chukchi were able to breed a dog that combined all the tribes necessary traits, and the Siberian husky of today traces back to these dogs.

The birth of the Siberian husky and the fate of the Chukchi dog are both tied to several historical events, primarily in Russia. In 18th Century, Russian Cossacks went on a march across Siberia in aim to conquer the land to retain all its resources, especially fur. The majority of people living in the northern area were rather primitive tribal groups who were unable to compete with the Russian Cossacks advanced weaponry. However, the Chukchi people were able to withstand conquest because their sled dogs were always able to keep them ahead of the advancing military forces. Although they were unable to fight, they had the advantage of being able to run ahead efficiently. The other advantage that the Chukchi had against the forces was their ability to withstand the Siberian weather; whereas the Russian soldiers were not, and so they suffered great losses.

Fortunately, the Chukchi were able to force the Cossacks to give up their quest of taking over the whole of northern Siberia. The Chukchi was able to lure the Russian forces into a mountain pass, in which all available escape routes were blocked. Although the Chukchi had no advanced weaponry like the Russian forces, they managed to craft sharpened rocks and spears. With these crafts, the Chukchi was able to inflict a substantial amount of casualties on the Russians, who then withdrew from the area.

After the tribes great and lucky victory, the Chukchi people and their dogs were again able to exist peacefully for many years after. At the end of the 19th century, the Chukchi dog was then discovered by Alaskan traders. These traders imported the Chukchi dogs into the Northwest Territory and renamed them the Siberian husky. This importation, later, proved to be a very important event for the breeds survival.

During the early 1900s the Russian monarchy was overthrown and replaced by a communist regime, vowing to do away with all the bourgeois and elite aspects of Russian life. By the 1930s, the forces of communism reached the Artic north; home to the Chukchi tribes. Due to the Chukchi dogs being revered highly and desired by the Chukchi people, those of the tribe which bred and maintained the finest dogs had assumed a leadership position and a measure of wealth. The forces of communism, viewed the Chukchi people as hindrances to the forces of collectivization. This view resulted in most of the Chukchi people being killed or imprisoned. Within a few years, the Chukchi dog breed had been completely wiped out and had disappeared from Siberia.

Siberian Huskies in Alaska as Sledding dogs

Although the Chukchi dog of Siberia had been wiped out of Siberia, the renowned Siberian Husky was taking hold on Alaska. Dog sledding had not only become just a way of transportation but it was also becoming a popular sport for many adventurers who had journeyed north in search of gold. Many local races had soon evolved into large events with many entrants. Albert Fink, a lawyer, had undertook the task of regulating the sledding events and helped to formalize the sport.

Alaskan Sled Dog's were primarily used in the early races, which were origianlly bred to hual freight. This breed was larger and stronger than the Siberian Husky. However the Siberian Husky was much faster and well adapted to the terrain and also had great competitive sprit. In 1908, William Goosak, a russian fur trader, decided to enter a team of Chukchi dogs (aka. Siberian Huskies) into the All-Alaska sled race from Nome. He had hired a local driver, who was familiar with the 408 mile course, to lead the team. But, the driver was not familiar with the Chukchi dog style of dog sledding. The team had finished thrid against the other, more experienced, dogs and drivers, but the dogs speed and enthusiasm attracted alot of attention to the breed. As a result, many Chukchi dogs subsequently were imported from Siberia.

Leonhard Seppala, who had emigrated to Alaska in the early 20th century, was the first sled dog driver to gain notoriety on the sled dog circuit using Siberian Huskies. He had inherited a well trained team of huskies that had originally been scheduled to drive explorer Roald Amundsen to the North Pole. Due to the outbreak of World War I, the expedition was cancelled and this resulted in the dogs being placed in the hands of Seppala. Over the following few years, Seppala's Siberian husky teams had beaten all comers in races throughout the Northwest. His husky teams were all but unbeatable in the 25 mile Borden Cup Race which took place each year in Nome.

In January 1925, a place in history was earned by Seppala and his huskies. That winter, a diptheria epidemic had broke out in Nome and all local doctors did not have an adequate supply of the required serum. At this time, Nome was connected to the lower territories, but only by telephone. The nearest realroad was more than 650 miles away, south near Anchorage. Seppala was chosen to go and collect the much needed serum by dogsled. In a race against time, Seppala and his trusty team of huskies headed south along the Tanana and Yukon Rivers and the Bering Sea; some of the most treacherous sections of Alaska's wilderness. A relay team, which comprimised of 15 sled dogs was sent north with the serum to meet Seppala. After mushing nearly 170 miles, Seppala met up with the relay team. On the day he met the relay team he had already travelled more than 40 miles in blizzard conditions, he retrieved the serum and immediately started heading back to Nome travelling another 40 miles or more before he and his dogs rested briefly. His team of 20 huskies travelled approximatly 350 miles on this journey. The relay teams from the south had ran appraximately 50 miles each and contributed greatly to the sucess of this greatly important mission.

News reports of Seppala's dogs bought great acclaim to the breed. Therefore, this created a great demand for Siberian huskies, especially to sledding enthusiasts in New England. Due to the breeders in Alaska being unable to fill the requests, they recieved many from interested fanciers, they imported dogs directly from Siberia. These proved to be the last substantial imports before the breed had disappeared from its homeland.

[Sarah]

added to rep good post

[raindog]

There is a little-known but interesting "twist" to our history of the Siberian Husky. The accepted gospel on our breed is that Siberian Huskies had been pure bred for some 3000 years as a sled/family dog by the Chukchi tribe and indeed, research has shown that genetically, the Siberian is one of the 7 most ancient breeds. However, the reality is slightly different as the Chukchi sled dogs were almost wiped out by a series of appalling famines in the Chukotka regions of Siberia during the 1860's and the breed was re-established over the next 30-40 years by outcrossing the few remaining dogs with other local breeds, including most importantly the Tungus Spitz - a small, red breed. Visitors to Chukotka prior to the 1860's reported that the Chukchi sled dogs were large, shaggy coated and wolflike. After the breed had been re-established in the years following the famines, it was described by visitors as small and foxlike. Genetically, the Siberian remains an "ancient" breed in scientific terms as the Tungus Spitz (now I believe extinct) was also genetically ancient. The breed we know today, is the result of breeding from the very few (estimated as no more than 12) entire dogs/bitches amongst the original imports to Alaska. The Chukchi sled dog itself no longer exists as the Soviet Union (of which Siberian became a part) pursued a policy of canine "ethnic cleansing" in the cause of creating the perfect northern dog.

Fascinating stuff history!!

Mick

[siberian_wolf]

Thanks mick, I was trying to research a bit more about this yesterday (when I did it in college, I was marked down for that!). Thanks, added to rep

[raindog]

A really good book on this subject is "The History of the Siberian Husky" by Thompson and Foley, published by the Seppala Siberian Husky Club in the 1950's. It's difficult to get hold of nowadays, but well worth it if you can find a copy.

Mick

[siberian_wolf]

Thanks mick. Sounds good will take a look on Amazon. I did that write up a few years ago in college and cant remember what book/s I used. A book I got just before I got Gizmo was 'Siberian Huskies - for Dummies' which had a little about Husky history but only few pages