The Siberian Husky IS the breed closest to a wolf. Recent DNA testing proves the Siberian is one of the oldest breeds in the world. The way a dog gradually came from a wolf happened like this. The early paleolithic peoples always had wolves following camp. They accepted the most docile wolves near camp. They bred the most docile wolves, with other docile wolves. And over many generations came the dog. They used a process called selective breeding. They bred the dogs with the qualities they liked most. Like all domesticated animals, the desired qualities and traits were kept for breeding, and the rest were not allowed to reproduce. Very few domesticated dog breeds can withstand temperatures of 60 below. This can only come from the wolf. The Creator Above did not snap His fingers and make a dog, or multiple breeds. The Chukchi people, whose name was derived either from the Chukchi word “Chukcha” meaning “rich in reindeer”, or the Russian “chavchu” meaning reindeer people, were primarily a reindeer-herding people living inland on the tundra with their reindeer herds. Like the Saami of Lapland, the nomadic herders used their reindeer products to make tools, clothing and construct their dwellings. Reindeer were the basis of their diet, and also served as transportation. Their sled dogs were crucial to both the survival of the maritime Chukchi and the viability of their communities. Many of the characteristics still seen in today’s Siberian Husky have their origin in the Chukchi dogs going back several millenia. Their temperament for example, had to be equable enough for them to coexist peacefully with both humans and other dogs. They could work amicably as part of teams of 20 or more dogs and their temperament was a crucial survival factor – out on the ice in freezing arctic temperatures, a major dog fight could mean the team simply did not get home but froze to death. The Chukchi dogs were also sweet tempered enough to sleep with the children as “doggy duvets.” Night-time temperatures were measured by the number of dogs necessary to keep the kids warm – eg. three dog night, four dog night etc. The conventional wisdom concerning the origins of the modern day Siberian Husky, claims that the breed is a direct descendent in an unbroken line of pure breeding dating back some 1000, 2000 or 3000 years (depending which book/website you read). The reality is somewhat more complex and interesting. Many of the indigenous Siberian peoples have used sled dogs as transportation and have done so for thousands of years. Indeed the 3000 year benchmark so often used in discussions of Siberian Husky history may itself be a serious underestimate. The distinguished Russian researcher N.N.Dikov found evidence of Laika-type dogs in burials in the Kamchatka peninsular which dated back 10,000 years.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:26:43 +0000