All types of Siberian Husky dogs have one thing in common: They can trace their ancestry back to the sled dogs of the Northern Hemisphere. These early sled dogs were also called “Huskies”. Other descendants of the ancient Eskimo dogs are the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed, and the Alaskan Malamute. All of these modern sled dogs originated from various countries in the northern hemisphere such as Siberia, Canada, Greenland, and Labrador. The Siberian Husky gets its name from the Siberian region and an Inuit tribe, called “huskies” by early Caucasian traders.
White Siberian Huskies were valued for their ability to camouflage themselves in the snow, which helped thwart predators. Proving time and time again that they are one of man’s best friends, the Siberian Husky made it possible for man to extend his reach across otherwise unreachable lands. Admiral Robert Peary used Siberian Huskies as part of his expeditions in search of the North Pole. In 1925, Siberian Huskies heroically delivered diphtheria serum across six hundred miles of snow to Nome, Alaska.
If you’ve ever seen the Iditarod, one of the most famous dog breeds in history, then you’ve seen a recreation of the historic delivery of the diphtheria serum. The annual Iditarod celebrates the 1925 event.
The classification of a white Siberian husky is not based on the color of the coat, but on a certain action of the dogs’ genes. There are a few different types of white Siberian Husky. For example, an Isabella White Siberian Husky is usually monochrome, with jet black points. The spots can also be liver or flesh colored. Isabella White Siberian Huskies have a white undercoat with varying beige tones over the hock and elbow, on the ears, on the saddle, and in the center of the tail.
A pure white Siberian Husky is a rare version of the breed, with a silver tip and a silver or white undercoat. The spots may be black, liver or flesh colored, but black hair on the body is rare and occasional. This type of Siberian Husky is created with a genetic mix that completely restricts the pigments throughout the body.
The white Siberian Husky is rarely used for sled dog racing today, because the Alaskan Husky, a faster dog, is the dog of choice for competitive sled dog racing. However, the dogs still drag loads through the snow. Many winter sports enthusiasts who keep Siberian Huskies as pets enjoy recreational mushing with their dogs.
Other contemporary tasks enjoyed by all types of Siberian Husky dogs include skijoring, a winter sport in which Siberian Huskies work in groups of one to three skiers. Dogs also run out of the snow through the forests of the United Kingdom.
The entertainment industry makes extensive use of Siberian Huskies. A team of Huskies starred in the Disney films Snow Dogs and Iron Will. Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, owns a white Siberian husky named Kyoto, per the Kyoto Protocol. Siberian Huskies are also popular college mascots with Jonathan representing the University of Connecticut; King represents Northeastern University; and Blizzard T. Husky represents Michigan Technological University.
