Huskies are the general term for sled dogs in the northern region, and their fast-pulling style differs from other sled dogs. They are a breed that is constantly mated by the fastest sled dogs. In contrast, the Alaskan Malamute is the "largest and most powerful" sled dog and is often used for heavier loads. Huskies are used in sled dog pulling competitions. In recent years, some businesses have been marketing dog sledding snow touring hikes for adventurous travelers. Huskies are also kept as pets today and are often called cute idiots by their owners.
The origin of the word "husky" is related to a group of Eskimos (aka Inuit) who live in the Arctic. It is because the sailors of the British merchant ships called "Eskimos" "Huskimos" or simply "Huskies". The earliest records of Huskies being raised by Eskimos were recorded in 1852. Almost all dog-grey wolves affinities are due to interbreeding. However, some arctic breeds have also been shown to be genetically related to the now-extinct North Asian Tamil wolf hybrid, such as the Siberian Husky and Greenlander, and to a lesser extent the Shar-Pei and Finnish Spitz.
This introgression may have allowed phenotypic variation in early dogs living at high latitudes, favoring adaptation to new and challenging environments, and aiding huskies' growth. It also shows that the ancestry of today's dog breeds comes from more than one region.
Huskies are energetic and agile. They usually have a thick double coat and can be grey, black, copper-red, or white. Their eyes are usually pale blue, but may also be brown, green, blue, yellow, or heterochromatic. Huskies are more prone to uveitis than most other dog breeds.
