Joe Redington, "Father of the Iditarod" looks over his supplies at the checkpoint. One arctic parka, one heavy sleeping bag, an ax, a pair of snowshoes, musher food and dog food, as well as dog boots to protect the feet of the Siberian Husky team. He concocts a strategy in his mind for when to feed the dogs their meals and when to feed them their snacks. Should he travel by day or travel by night? When and how much should they rest?
Every musher has a different technique, but unexpected blizzards, dog sicknesses, a slip into the icy river or losing the course could all threaten their time. The challenge is to cover 1,150 miles in 10 - 17 days with 12-16 dogs heading from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome. This race is sometimes called "The Last Great Adventure" but most importantly, it's an Alaskan adventure and a part of history and pride.
One needn't be a die-hard racer to love the Siberian Husky. Sure, these dogs are clearly bred for racing. Their slender, agile frames shout "long distance runner," while their thick double coat and heavily padded feet exude "endurance." This breed is incredibly resilient, requiring little food and little sleep, but demands exercise and attention.
The Alaskan Husky likes to dig, loves to run and enjoys the hunt. Smaller dogs, cats and other animals may become prey for this wolf-like dog, so they function best with similar-sized dogs of the opposite sex and the companionship of the whole family. Early obedience classes will help these native Alaskan dogs be all they can be and it should be understood that positive reward works best for these docile and devoted animals.
Siberian Huskies are a popular show dog at the American Kennel Club. If you're looking to enter your Alaskan Husky in the show, then the most important characteristics are medium size (23" males, 22.5" females), moderate bone structure, well balanced proportions, ease of movement, well-groomed/colored coat, pleasing head and ears, correct tail and good disposition. Penalties are doled out for clumsiness, stubbornness, excessive weight or a coarse coat. In other words, the Husky should exude "powerful endurance and agility." The Siberian Husky Club of America provides more information on show dogs.
The lifespan of a Siberian Husky is 12 - 16 years. Sight problems are one of the most common health ailments, with juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy affecting some older dogs. As with many larger breeds, hip dysplasia can be found and sled dogs may come down with gastric disease, bronchitis or "ski asthma." If you take your dog to the vet regularly and ensure proper feeding/exercise, then your dog should live a long, healthy life.
When you take on the responsibility of owning a dog like a Siberian Husky you are also taking on the responsibility of caring for your dog and understanding when problems arise. One of the problems that need to be monitored on a daily basis is a Siberian Husky allergy. For the most part the Siberian Husky is a strong and healthy breed and the allergies that affect the Siberian Husky are allergies that are pretty common to the rest of the dog world. But you should still keep an eye out for any conditions that may need a vet's care.
Many dogs develop skin allergies in response to a change in their food, their surroundings or any number of things. If you notice rashes beginning to develop on your dog, or patches of hair falling out, or just your dog acting uncomfortable then get them to the vet immediately so the vet can diagnose the problem and suggest a treatment to help your pet that will relieve them of this nagging allergy.
With skin allergies there can be rashes on the skin, patches of hair missing, or the dog just always seems uncomfortable. The cause of these allergies can range from diet to something in the dog's surroundings. Your vet will determine the cause and treatment.
Allergic reactions and the symptoms of Siberian Husky allergies can sometimes develop over time or they can be an immediate response to a change in your dog's environment. Siberian Huskies are know to develop allergies to certain kinds of food and if you constantly change what you are feeding your dog then they could develop a digestive allergy to something. If you feed your dog something different and it gets sick then get to the vet and prepare to stop feeding your dog that particular food.
This is more of a condition than an allergy, but it is very common in Siberian Huskies to develop hip or elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia is when the bones in the joint do not develop properly and over time it becomes difficult for the dog to walk or even move. There are things your vet can do so get your dog treatment right away if you notice these problems.
In the same vein as the skin allergies come the Siberian Husky allergies to fleas and flea activity. That is why you should always take your Siberian Husky to the vet if you start to notice skin allergy symptoms because treating a flea allergy is different than a skin allergy. So, as was mentioned previously, if you notice skin allergy symptoms like rashes or patches of fur missing you need to get your dog to the vet right away.
Your dog hates living with allergies as much as you do so if you start to notice unusual behavior from your dog then get them to the vet right away to diagnose the problem and get the necessary treatment.
Sometimes allergic reactions can seem so simple and calm but they can develop into terrible conditions so don't take any chances and make sure you get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Both Mike Selvon & Andrew Preston are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mike Selvon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Camping, Allergies and Personal Desktop. Learn more about the at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our. Mike Selvon's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.
Andrew Preston has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Pets and Culture and Society. Andrew Preston is a passionate lover of the Siberian Husky and owns a popular website that can show you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved. Andrew Preston's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.