The sleddogs we use is the Alaskan Husky breed. Sleddogs with arctic characteristics which means they are well suited for the arctic climate. The dogs love running and working and it is this characteristic that prioritised in the breeding.

During a session the dogs can manage up to 5000 km and still they are eager to pull.

Nova Arctic's Alaskan Huskies

At our kennel we have 48 Alaskan Huskies which 13 of them are puppies. Many people through the years we been driving guest at the kennel have asked us questions about this fascinated dog - Alaskan Huskies.

On your sleddog adventure with us, you will learn a lot about this dogs, see how they work for you, how sociable they are (how they love to be cuddled - many find that hard to believe) and how they work together as team.

We have had many guests that does no any thing about dogs when they arrive here, some are a bit scared of the dogs to begin with. To hear almost 50 dogs howling at the same time is an experience.

What is a leaddog?

In order to drive a sleddog team you need a leaddog. With help of the leaddog you control the rest of the team with the help of commands to the leaddog at the front. It is easy command words; right, left and go on and stop (in Swedish).

Many people wonder how you teach a dog these commands - practice, practice and practice - is the answer. Not all dogs got the intelligence and authority. How will you then know which dog is suitable as lead dog? The answer is we will train the dog and see if it is suitable.

Communication between lead dog and musher (the American word for the person driving the sleddog team) is built on confidence between the two and many years of training.

How often do you train the dogs?

Many guests ask us how much training the dogs need. The answer to the question is that in order for the dogs to work with us a whole session we have to build up their muscles and fitness. We start in August after the dogs have had their summer break. At that time of the year we use the four wheel drive (no snow in Lapland at this time of the year). We start with short runs a couple of kilometres and then gradually they get longer. It is like training for a marathon - slowly building up the muscles.

During the peak session the dogs are working 5-6 times a day. After a 6-day sleddog-trip in the mountains the dogs will need to rest for 2 - 3 days. Resting for Alaskan Huskies is not something they are familiar with - however it is important that they rest in order to avoid injuries.

What do you do with dogs during the summer?

The sessions end in the beginning of May. During the summer, until we start with the autumn training in the being of August, the dogs are on holiday. On daily base the dogs run freely in the big yard.

Can huskie live with a family if you do not us him/her as sleddog?

Alaskan Huskies is a very sociable and friendly dogs and very easy to adopt. We recommend people to take a little older dog that has lived in kennel and been a sleddog for a while.

Why do the dogs howl?

The Alaskan Huskies are probable one of those dogs that still has a lot of the wolf behaviour. Why the dogs are howling one can not know for sure, however research wolfs show that it probably demonstrates that they are a group and to strengthen ties within the group.

How often do your huskies howl?

Our dogs normally howl 2-3 times a day often in the mornings after the the morning meal and in the evening. The howling often takes about 30 sek and after that it is quiet.

How old does a sleddog get?

An Alaskan Huskie will be around 11-13 years old. They are normally sleddogs until about 11 years old.

How much food does a sleddog eat?

Every dog is fed 2 times a day. Sleddogs demands very nutritious and energy-high food. We always use the best kind of food for our dogs. They get fish, chicken and meat from the local butchers (elk and reindeer) and dry food.

The Alaskan Husky Breed

The Alaskan husky is not so much a breed of dog as it is a type or a category. It falls short of being a breed in that there is no preferred type and no restriction as to ancestry; it is defined only by its purpose, which is that of a highly efficient sled dog. That said, dog drivers usually distinguish between the Alaskan husky and 'hound crosses', so perhaps there is informal recognition that the Alaskan husky is expected to display a degree of northern dog type.

Sleddog Competitions

The Alaskan is the sled dog of choice for world-class dogsled racing competition. None of the purebred northern breeds can match it for sheer racing speed. Demanding speed-racing events such as the Fairbanks (Alaska) Open North American Championship and the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous are invariably won by teams of Alaskan huskies, or of Alaskans crossed with hounds or gundogs. Hounds are valued for their toughness and endurance. Winning speeds often average more than 19 miles per hour over three days' racing at 20 to 30 miles each day. On the rare occasion when purebred teams are entered in such races, they nearly always finish last.

Alaskan huskies that fulfill the demanding performance standards of world-class dogsled racing can be extremely valuable. A top-level racing lead dog can bring $10,000-15,000.

Appearance

The Alaskan husky is basically a mixed-breed dog, in which northern or husky-type ancestry, such as the Siberian Husky or the traditional Alaskan village dog, predominates. Many other breeds have contributed to its genetic makeup, from staghound and foxhound to greyhound and Dobermann, which accounts for the Alaskan's great variability of appearance.

Alaskan huskies (at least those used for speed racing) are moderate in size, averaging perhaps 46 to 50 pounds for males and 38 to 42 pounds for females. They often resemble racing strains of the Siberian Husky breed (which is undeniably a major component of the Alaskan husky genetic mix) but are usually taller and leggier with more pronounced tuck-up.

Colour and markings are a matter of total indifference to racing drivers; hence the husky may be of any possible canine colour and any pattern of markings. Eyes may be of any colour and, as in the Siberian Husky, are often light blue. Coats are almost always short to medium in length, never long, and usually less dense than the coats of northern purebred breeds; coat length is governed by the need for effective heat dissipation while racing.

In very cold conditions, Alaskans often race in 'dog coats' or belly protectors. Particularly in long distance races, these dogs often require 'dog booties' to protect their feet from abrasion and cracking. Thus the considerations of hardiness and climate resistance prevalent in breeds such as the Siberian Husky and Canadian Inuit Dog are subordinated in the Alaskan husky to the overriding consideration of functional capability. The Alaskan huskies lack the dense coat required to keep them warm, and they are not as hardy as Siberians, often requiring extra care on the trails. Andre Nadeau says this is the reason his Siberians did so well in the 1998 Yukon Quest, where he led nearly the whole race until being passed by a team of Alaskan huskies.

Temperament

Dogs are bred for stamina, strength, speed, and endurance. It is essential for a sled dog to want to work. And for dogs meeting many new people, the dogs must not be aggressive towards people. (Source: personal communication, Paul Reid, owner of Chocpaw Expeditions in Ontario)

Future of the husky

Various attempts have been made in the past to organise breeders of Alaskan huskies and to establish a registry for these dogs; such attempts have never received significant support. Although husky kennels tend to be large, with many kennels harbouring over a hundred dogs, and the breed population arguably in excess of one hundred thousand, this canine variety remains an informal and unregistered category of dog.