Meet the Alaskan Husky: The Dog That Pulls Your Sled at Santa Claus Village
They might not look like the huskies you imagined — and that is exactly what makes them extraordinary.
Are They Huskies? Yes — But Not the Ones You Are Expecting
When people arrive at a husky kennel in Lapland for the first time, many expect to see the classic image: thick fluffy coat, bright blue eyes, that famous wolf-like face. The Siberian Husky. The movie husky. The Instagram husky.
Then they see the Bearhill dogs, and a question follows: “Are they huskies?”
The answer is yes — absolutely yes. But these are Alaskan Huskies, and they are a different animal entirely. Leaner, faster, and built not for looks but for one single purpose: to run. Understanding what an Alaskan Husky actually is makes the experience of riding behind them even more impressive.
What Does “Husky” Actually Mean?
Before anything else, it helps to understand the word itself. According to the dictionary, a husky is a type of dog used in polar regions, primarily as a sled dog. That is the entire definition. No mention of blue eyes. No mention of a fluffy coat. Just a job and a geography.
The term “husky” came from North America. When European settlers encountered the Indigenous peoples of the far north, they noticed their working dogs and adopted a version of what those communities called them. It is a North American word for North American dogs — not a Siberian one. The Alaskan Husky, therefore, is the original husky: the sled dog of Alaska, shaped by thousands of years of Arctic life.
The History of the Alaskan Husky
The relationship between humans and sled dogs goes back at least 9,000 years, with archaeological evidence of domesticated sled dogs found on Zhokhov Island in northeastern Siberia. Ancient sled runners dating to around 7,000 BC have been found in Finland. For most of human history in the Arctic, sled dogs were not a hobby or a tourist attraction — they were survival.
The Original Alaskan Sled Dog
Five hundred years ago, the Alaskan Husky looked very different from the dog you see today. They were closer to what we now call Alaskan Malamutes: big, powerful, heavy dogs built to haul enormous loads through brutal conditions. They lived and worked alongside Indigenous communities in remote Alaskan villages, where breeding decisions were guided not by paperwork or aesthetics but by real-world performance. Only the dogs that could endure the climate, pull efficiently, and work well in a team were chosen to pass their traits on. This was selective breeding at its most practical.
The Gold Rush Changes Everything
Then came the Gold Rush. Suddenly there were not enough sled dogs in Alaska to meet demand. Dogs from other parts of the United States and beyond were brought north by any means possible — legally, illegally, and in every way in between. Jack London’s famous novel The Call of the Wild is based on exactly this situation: strong dogs taken from warmer climates and sent north to work the trails.
These new dogs mixed with the native Alaskan stock. The unsuitable ones did not survive. But the gene pool grew, the dogs began to change in appearance — different colours, different ear shapes, different builds — while their core traits of toughness and endurance stayed strong.
From Hauling to Racing
As modern transport — snowmobiles, planes, cars — took over from sled dogs for practical use, working dogs began to disappear. But racing kept the tradition alive. And racing changed the Alaskan Husky again. Now the goal was speed, not load. A 45-kilogram freight dog was no longer useful. The lean, fast, efficient dogs started winning — and those were the ones people bred.
Siberian Huskies and other breeds were introduced into the lines, not to make a mixed breed but to add specific qualities: speed from Greyhounds, cardiovascular efficiency from Pointers, endurance from the original Alaskan stock. Over generations, only the dogs that could perform at the highest level survived in the breeding pool.
The result, today, is the Alaskan Husky: the world’s top-performing long-distance sled dog. They do not belong to any kennel club. There is no breed standard for how they should look. And that is entirely the point.
So Is the Alaskan Husky a Mixed Breed?
This is the question that confuses most people. The short answer is: no, not in the way that word is usually meant.
A mixed breed is typically what happens by accident — two random dogs, with no selection for any purpose, producing puppies of uncertain character and ability. That is not what the Alaskan Husky is.
From a biological standpoint, a breed is a population of animals that reliably passes on specific traits. If you breed two Alaskan Huskies, their puppies will look and behave like Alaskan Huskies. They will have the same drive to run, the same lean athletic build, the same extraordinary endurance. That consistency, built over generations of purposeful selection, is what makes them a breed — just not a kennel club one.
Alaskan Huskies are bred for grit, speed, endurance, appetite, recovery time, foot health, and coat quality. The things that actually matter when your job is to run across frozen wilderness. No one at a sled dog race cares what the dog looks like. They care how far it can run and how much it loves doing it.
What Does an Alaskan Husky Look Like?
This is where Alaskan Huskies surprise a lot of visitors. Because the honest answer is: all sorts of things.
Some have upright ears, some have floppy ears. Some are black, white, brown, or patchy. Some are lean and almost greyhound-like in build. Some have the denser coat of a traditional husky. Eye colour varies too. Some have blue eyes, some brown, some a mix of both.
No one bred for any of this. Appearance was never the goal. And so the Alaskan Husky comes in every shape and colour, because what matters — the only thing that has ever mattered — is performance.
When you arrive at Santa’s Husky Rides and see a team of dogs that looks nothing like what you expected, remember: you are looking at the result of generations of ruthless natural selection. Every dog in that team is there because it earned its place.
Meet the Dogs That Make Your Sled Ride Possible
Before you climb into the sled, it is worth watching the dogs for a moment. When the team is harnessed and ready to run, the dogs bark, jump, and pull at their lines with barely contained excitement. This is not stress — it is joy. Running is what Alaskan Huskies were born for. It is in their blood, their bones, and their entire history.
The moment the musher gives the signal and the sled moves, the noise stops completely. What replaces it is the quiet sound of paws on snow and runners on ice — and the unmistakable feeling of genuine power pulling you through the forest.
Alaskan Husky Facts
- Alaskan Huskies are the world’s top-performing long-distance sled dogs, used in major races including the Iditarod (1,610 km across Alaska).
- They are not a kennel club breed — there is no official breed standard for appearance. They are defined entirely by function.
- A racing Alaskan Husky can sustain speeds of over 30 km per hour over long distances. On a tourist safari, teams typically run at 10 to 20 km per hour.
- Their appearance varies enormously: different ear shapes, coat lengths, colours, and builds. What they all share is the drive to run.
- They are highly social animals and prefer living with other dogs. A lone husky is an unhappy husky.
- Alaskan Huskies are bred for foot health, coat quality, appetite, recovery speed, and cardiovascular efficiency — not looks.
- Archaeological evidence of sled dogs in Finland dates to around 7,000 BC. Finland has over 10,000 working sled dogs today.
- The word “husky” is a North American term for working sled dogs, not a specific breed name.
Do the Dogs Enjoy Pulling Sleds?
This is a question many visitors ask, and it is a fair one. The simple answer is: yes, genuinely. Alaskan Huskies are physiologically adapted for sustained running and show clear signs of distress when they do not get enough exercise. The enthusiasm you see at the start of every run is real. These dogs are not performing for you — they are doing what they were born to do.
At Bearhill Husky and Santa’s Husky Rides, the welfare of the dogs is the first priority. The dogs are well-fed, well-exercised, and live in an environment built around their needs. When you arrive for your ride, take a moment to watch them. Their excitement says everything.
Alaskan Huskies and Finland
Sled dog culture is not ancient in Finland the way it is in Greenland or Alaska. Finland’s traditional work animals were horses, and in the north, reindeer. However, Finland’s connection to sled dogs runs deeper than many people know. During the Winter War and Continuation War against Russia in the 1940s, dogs were used to pull sleds carrying ammunition across Arctic terrain.
Recreational mushing began in Finland in the 1960s. By the 1980s, husky tourism was developing in Lapland, and the sport grew rapidly. Today Finland has over 10,000 working sled dogs. Finnish mushers have also left a mark on international racing — including Leonhard Seppala, the hero of the 1925 serum run to Nome, who had family roots in Finnish Lapland.
Why do the dogs at Bearhill Husky look different from the huskies I expected?
The dogs at Bearhill Husky are Alaskan Huskies, not Siberian Huskies. Alaskan Huskies come in many different shapes, sizes, ear types, and colours because they have been bred entirely for performance, not appearance. No two look exactly the same — but they all share the same extraordinary drive to run.
Are Alaskan Huskies a mixed breed?
Not in the way that term is usually used. Alaskan Huskies are a distinct, consistent population of working dogs that reliably pass on their traits from generation to generation. They are bred with great care and intention — just not according to kennel club rules. Their breeding is guided by real-world performance, which is a much harder test than any dog show.
How many dogs pull a sled on a husky ride in Rovaniemi?
On short tourist safaris like Santa’s Husky Rides, a team of four to eight dogs typically pulls the sled, depending on the weight of the passengers and the length of the route.
Can I meet the dogs after the ride?
At Santa’s Husky Rides, you will learn about the dogs during the indoor husky information session included in your experience, but petting the dogs is not permitted as they are focused and in the zone for running. On longer Bearhill Husky safaris, guests often spend time at the kennel interacting with the dogs before and after the trip.
Are Alaskan Huskies safe around children?
Yes. Alaskan Huskies are very friendly, sociable dogs, excellent with people of all ages including young children. As with all dogs, approach them calmly and let them sniff you first. Your guide will give you any instructions you need before you meet the team.
