The History of the Siberian Husky

A Siberian Husky is not a Wolf or a Hybrid of a Wolf.

The Siberian is from a very ancient lineage dating back perhaps 4,000 years or more.

The husky was the dog of the Churchi tribe in northern Siberia for many centuries. He was an all-purpose dog for the tribe. He would work and play with the tribesman. The Husky was such a part of the family he was admitted to the family dwelling at night to sleep.

In 1909, the first large numbers of these Chukchi dogs were brought to Alaska to compete in the long-distance All-Alaska Sweepstakes races. The Husky team finished third, and from then on was a fixture in most sled-dog races.

In the winter of 1925, when a diphtheria epidemic broke out in the isolated town of Nome, Alaska, a relay of dog teams brought life-saving serum from distant Neana. The heroic endeavor earned national prominence for the drivers and their dogs.

One of these drivers, Leonhard Seppala brought his team of Siberian Huskies to the United States on a personal appearance tour.

While in New England, he competed in sled dog races and again proved the superiority of Siberian Huskies over the native dogs. The New England drivers and pioneer fanciers acquired foundation stock, earned AKC recognition for the breed in 1930, and founded the Siberian Husky Club of America in 1938.