Tag archives: Siberian husky

Every state has a flower, a nickname and another officially decreed symbols. However, only 11 states have an official state dog. This seems like a gross injustice to me, considering some of the symbols recognized by some states include official state amphibians, insects, fungus, poems and even toys.

In 1964, the Chesapeake Bay retriever was the first dog to be decreed an official state canine – that was in Maryland, the state from which it originated. Typically, the dogs that originated in a state or played a role in its culture tend to have the official-state status bestowed upon them.

Several states have shot down proposed state dog breeds; politics knows no bounds, apparently. In 1991, Georgia politicians came to an impasse when two opposing campaigns pitted the golden retriever against the bulldog for state canine. Similar attempts to designate dogs as state symbols failed in Washington state (Siberian husky) and Kansas (Cairn terrier; a hat-tip to Toto from The Wizard of Oz).

If your state were to name an official breed of dog as the canine symbol, which breed would be the best representation?

Official State Dogs

Alaska: Alaskan malamute
Louisiana: Catahoula leopard dog
Maryland: Chesapeake Bay ...

An iconic breed, the Siberian husky is often associated with Alaska, sled dogging and arctic temperature. Indeed, the husky dog is well suited to the arctic with an extremely thick double coat (said to be able to withstand temperatures as cold as -76 degrees Fahrenheit) and thick, fluffy sickle tail that aids in keeping it warm when at rest. It originated in northeastern Siberia (and was subsequently imported to Alaska), and was bred by the Chukchi people of northeast Asia. With their medium to large, well-muscled frame, the dogs have been used by indigenous people, explorers, miners and homesteaders to settle the coldest regions on the planet.

A member of the spitz group, the husky is just one of many sled-type dogs, which includes the Samoyed, Alaskan malamute, Alaskan husky and the Japanese Sakhalin husky, to name just a few. Members of the family all share the weather-resistant coat, as well as powerful and athletic bodies and high-energy levels. They were first used by the Inuit to pull sleds full of supplies and people, therefore aiding in the settling and inland exploration of Alaska, Canada and other places. European explorers then began using dog teams to pull sleds in their ...

Almost all dogs are better suited for the cold than humans – it’s just the way they’ve evolved. However, some breeds are better suited for the cold, rain, snow and ice than others. These breeds historically served a purpose that had to do with cold, nasty weather, climates or conditions.

Three breed groups feature several dogs that tend to fall into the winter-loving category and have some unique features that help them adapt to cold climates – namely double coats (those featuring an insulating under layer and weather-resistant outer layer) that were developed to repel the elements.

It’s something to keep in mind if you’re considering a new dog. These dogs tend to be happy and at home in colder temperatures, and if you live a hot area (like the desert southwest) they might not fare as well as in more northern climes or higher elevations where cooler weather is more prevalent.

Retrievers

Breeds such as the Labrador, Chesapeake and golden retriever were developed to fetch fishermen’s nets and hunters’ waterfowl from rough, icy seas.

As such, retrievers tend to have an outer coat that is slightly oily, which helps repel water while trapping air and body heat while submersed ...