Labrador Husky

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Labrador Husky

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Other names

Labradorian Sleddog (obsolete)

Country of origin

Canada (Labrador)

Traits

Classification & standards
Not recognized by any major kennel club

The Labrador Husky is a spitz type of dog that was bred for work as a very strong, fast sled dog; it is a purebred originating from Canada. Although the breed's name may be baffling, it is not a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Husky; these mongrel dogs are not automatically purebreds simply because the Labradorian Sleddog is. The breed is very little known, and there are no breed clubs that currently recognize it.

1 Appearance
2 Temperament
3 Health
4 Origin
5 Grooming and Living Area
6 See also
7 External Links

[edit] Appearance

At first glance, the Labrador Husky looks a bit like a wolf. It is slightly smaller than the Alaskan Malamute, but it is larger than the Siberian Husky. The Labrador Husky is a fairly large dog which can weigh between 60-100 pounds and grow between 20-28 inches. Their round head is covered in plenty of fluffy fur and leads to their long narrow muzzles. Fluffy fur covers their large bodies and is double coated to protect them from freezing cold weather. It is likely to have been bred and introduced by the Thule Inuit of Canada. Like the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Husky, it has traditionally been used as a sled dog; the body is aerodynamic, so they can be extremely quick.

This breed has existed for hundreds of years, and is unique because it has become isolated from other northern dog breeds during this time. These dogs were heavily used until the invention of the snowmobile, and are now kept as pets. Its dense coat allows it to thrive in the cold environments from which it originates. Coat colors vary from solid white, solid black, black and white, red and white, and gray and white. Two of the rarest coat colors are wolf gray and solid gray.

Of all the northern dog breeds, the Labrador Husky is one of the most rare. It is a purebred, and has existed for many years. It is also not well understood by many dog breeders.

[edit] Temperament

The Labrador Husky has a somewhat different temperament from other Northern breeds which means that they can often be unfriendly or, in the extreme, even aggressive with strangers. However, they can be good if socialized, and they often do well with children, especially if reared with them. Being with other dogs always makes them happy, because they are bred to work well in a pack and actually many people believe they should be bought in pairs. Training is easy and fun for them because they naturally learns things well. Intelligence can be their gift but can be your nightmare if they are not entertained enough.

Unlike the Siberian or Alaskan Husky, the Labrador Husky is not well known. It looks like a wolf, and has a few of the characteristics that are found in wolves. It barks rarely, and it is even more rare to hear it howl. Labrador Huskies have a combination of strength, intelligence, and stamina, properties that are good for virtually any breed.

[edit] Health

There are no known ailments which are specific to this breed; special care has been taken in their breeding which could suggest that few health problems exist. Any health problems it may have are common with most other breeds. While the exact life expectancy of these dogs isn’t known, a healthy Labrador Husky should live for approximately 10 to 13 years.

[edit] Origin

The Labrador Husky originated in the Canadian area known as Labrador. The breed probably arrived in the area with the Inuit people who came to Canada around 1300 AD. Although they were once very closely related to other Northern breeds, such as the Siberian Husky, they became isolated in Canada and continued to develop on their own. These dogs were even allowed to breed with the wolves in the area. This does not, however, mean that they are wolf-dogs, nor do they have any recent wolf ancestry. While they were isolated, some Labradorian people have allowed the blood of Alaskan Malamutes and, later for trainability purposes, Alsatians. This was in order to create a larger sled dog that looks strikingly similar to the Siberian Husky, but larger and more wolf-like.

[edit] Grooming and Living Area

The Labrador Husky is a rare breed but if you do find one you will want to socialize them extremely well especially with people. Grooming is something to consider when getting this breed because of their thick double coat. The Labrador Husky probably needs plenty of brushing as any double coated breed would. Plus, they shed once a year and during that time they should be brushed every day to make sure the loose hair gets cleaned from their coat. Sometime baths are necessary to fully clean the coat of dirt and other impurities.

Exercise is another thing to think about especially if you are not an active family; it is, of course, essential to this sled dog. Cold climates are best for this breed, as well as large yards; a large yard to run in and long walks, however, will help keep them calm. They should also have some sort of work to do such as agility or flyball which will keep them calm and happy.