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The Different Types of Dog Sled Breeds

Sled dogs are highly trained dogs that are used to pull a dog sled. Any dog can be used as a sled dog as long as he can pull the sled. But International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association has put some criteria that must be satisfied before qualifying a dog as a sled dog. The sled dog must have willingness to be harnessed and should have desire to participate in the activity for which it is harnessed. The dog must be well trained and must be vaccinated. Several distinction dog breeds are generally used as sled dogs but drivers have a long history of using crossbreeds as a sled dog.
The main quality required for a sled dog is endurance and speed. A sled dog should have the endurance to travel up to 80 miles in a day with the speed more than 20 miles per hour and should have the strength to pull more than 85 pound. The most common purebred dog sledding breeds are Siberian husky and Alaskan malamute. Siberian husky was originally bred to be used as an Alaskan sled dog but now they are mostly used as domestic family pets and show dogs. Alaskan malamute is also now used as a domestic dog. Canadian Inuit dog is considered to be the oldest and rarest of the remaining purebred sled dog. They are also known as Canadian Eskimo dogs. Another one of this category is Mackenzie River Husky. But the most popular dog sledding breed is unregistered hybridized Alaskan husky. They are preferred for dog sledding racing. They have high endurance and can run very fast. But any kind of dog can be used for dog sledding racing. From 1988 to 1991, a team of poodles even managed to compete in the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The German shorthaired pointer is often being chosen as the basis for cross breeding. Euro hound, Labrador Husky, Sakhalin Husky, Samoyed, Seppala Siberian Sled dog, Tamaskan Dog, Utonagan and Northern Inuit Dog are also dog sledding breeds. Euro hound is a crossbred between Alaskan husky and the pointer. It is one of the most formidable sprint-racing sled dogs in the world. Labrador Husky was bred as a strong, fast, working sled dog. Sakhalin Husky usually lives in Japan. Samoyed is mostly used for herding reindeer as well as pulling sled. Seppala Siberian Sled dog is originated from Siberian husky and active and energetic. Utonagan and Northern Inuit Dog are crossbred from Alaskan malamute, German shepherd, and Siberian husky. They have the appearance like a wolf and they are fast.
Different sled dogs are used for different purposes. The main thing to be considered is the distance of the destination, average speed needed and the weight to be carried. Different breeds are used for different purposes. The use of dog sledding for the travelling purpose is rarely used today. They are mainly used for the recreational purpose. That’s why the main use of sled dogs is for racing today. Alaskan husky is the mostly used sled dog for racing although other kinds are also used. Many older sled dogs are now used as domestic pets. Newly crossbred sled dogs are coming and many of them are used for racing

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