Sakhalin Husky: breed description and cultivation

The huge species diversity of domestic animals makes it possible for everyone to choose a pet to their liking. The most widespread variety of breeds and the most beloved are still dogs. Today, not all breeds can “boast” a large number of individuals, there are those where the number of individuals is negligible, and therefore the breed is on the verge of extinction, although it is unique in its own way. Sakhalin husky belongs to this particular group.

The name "Sakhalin" breed was primarily due to the habitat of these amazing dogs. Since ancient times, the small Nivkh people lived on Sakhalin Island, using dogs of this breed as sledding and for hunting a bear. But, in addition to performing these important functions, the Sakhalin husky had another purpose - a cult. It is the dog, according to the legends of this ancient people, that should take the nivha to paradise.

The word "husky", the second in the name of the breed, means a group of sled dogs, which included the Sakhalin huskies, as they are also called. In 1852, the name Husky was given to a group of dogs held by Inuit. So, according to some experts, this name is not entirely true for Sakhalin dogs, since both the Eskimos and Inuit lived in other northern territories, and the dogs they used in harness are somewhat different from the Sakhalin group. It would be correct to call the Sakhalin husky “karafuto-ken”, which means “Sakhalin dog” in Japanese, since most sources mention the Japanese origin of this group of dogs.

This breed has another name associated with the people living in Sakhalin. They are called Gilyak huskies thanks to the explorer Vasily Poyarkov, who described the Nivkhs and gave the people a new name - gilyaks back in the 17th century.

Sakhalin Husky was highly valued not only by the indigenous population, but also by the Russians who settled on the island. The breed, which has endurance and the ability to cover fairly large distances in snowy territories, was used both in military maneuvers with the aim of delivering goods and for peaceful purposes for transporting ammunition and products of various expeditions. Individuals of this breed were also used to improve the characteristics of another. At the beginning of the XX century, the Japanese were taken to Fr. Honshu several representatives of the Sakhalin husky breed for crossing with individuals of the Akita Inu breed. The remaining individuals of the breed were quite successfully used as draft dogs not only in Sakhalin, but also in other territories of Russia. But unfortunately, in the 30s they began to be barbarously destroyed, believing that the content of the Sakhalin husky is too expensive for the state, and aviation can also be used to travel long distances.

According to the MKF classification, the Sakhalin husky breed belongs to the 5th group of Spitz and primitive dogs, and also corresponds to the description of the 1st section, which includes all types of sled dogs without working trials. Of all types of sled dogs, the Sakhalin dog is the largest. And this is not surprising, because its direct purpose is to transport goods and people over long distances in harsh climatic conditions. The height of an adult male at the withers is 60–65 cm, and some individuals can reach 70 cm. Bitches are slightly lower, their growth varies between 50–60 cm. The average weight of the breed is in the range of 25–40 kg.

A characteristic feature of the individual is a body without a sagging back, with a well-developed lumbar region and a rather wide, but not long neck. The high-ranking tail is most often log-shaped, but representatives of the breed are also found with a saber-like shape and a characteristic arrangement: it is tilted to the back with a slight shift to the side region. A typical representative of the breed has a large head with a slightly pointed muzzle. The ears are small with well-developed cartilaginous tissue, which is why they are always in a standing position. In shape, they are more like a neat isosceles triangle. The eyes, although small in size, have a very beautiful almond shape. Eye color varies, individuals are found not only with a blue color of the cornea, but also with brown, and it is also considered acceptable, although there are no fixed standards, there are colored eyes where one can be brown and the other blue.

The purpose of the Sakhalin dog is, first of all, walking in a harness, therefore, the limbs of a typical representative of the breed are strong enough with perfectly developed muscles, allowing animals to move quickly and without stiffness in joints on any surface. The limbs, directly set and parallel to each other, are equipped with large rounded paws with well-developed fingers and powerful claws.

A distinctive feature of the breed is the coat. The Sakhalin dog has dense hair with a dense undercoat and a hard, tight-fitting outer cover.In the muzzle and on the outside of the extremities, the coat is less thick, and the outer hair is slightly shorter compared to the body. The color of animals of this breed can be different, there are no clearly defined standards. Possible black, gray, red and even tiger color of a typical representative of the breed, but not white. Color can be continuous and consist of only one color, and may have a pattern and consist of two colors. Most often you can find individuals with a gray-white color. For the Nivkhs, the color of the dog had its own sacred significance; more than others, they venerated individuals with a tiger spotted wool pattern.

Sakhalin Huskies are very dedicated and human friendly animals. They get along great not only with the owner, but with all members of his family. They treat strangers quite calmly, without aggression. But at the slightest danger from the side of a stranger, they may well rush to the defense of the owner. And this is not surprising, Sakhalin dogs are not cowardly, a well-developed hunting instinct, coupled with courage and bravery, allowed them to cope not only with small marine inhabitants, but also with such a large animal like a bear. Dogs of this breed are very active and curious. They just love to run fast and explore all the hidden corners. Dogs in the blood have a love of long runs, because the breed belongs to the group of sled dogs for which great physical activity is not a problem.

Sakhalin husky will be a great friend and companion for people leading an active lifestyle, because without movement and constant communication with the owner, he simply "withers". But their activity and curiosity have a flip side - the love of vagrancy. Sakhalin husky does not mind running away from home, and even an aviary with thick rods is not an obstacle for him - he will make a dig or find a way to open the heck.

Sakhalin husky quite rarely bark, most often they howl. This is especially evident if the animal is left without company for a long time, because it is quite difficult for them to be alone for a long time, they miss and yearn for the people they are attached to, and for this reason they can even get sick. Sakhalin husky dogs are companionable animals and very loyal to their owners, so long separation and loneliness are categorically contraindicated to them.

Good nutrition is the key to good health and long life for any living organism. For a Sakhalin husky, a properly composed diet is of great importance, since their activity and performance depend on its quality and composition. Genetically, their digestive system is more adapted to the digestion of marine fishMoreover, the Nivkhs always fed them only with the ranges of chum salmon, the loin portion was intended for people. In modern conditions, it is extremely difficult to reproduce such a diet, firstly, because of the required quantity (nivkhs procured at least 400 fish for each dog), and secondly, because of the high cost of such feeding, because chum salmon is by no means cheap. Therefore, in modern conditions, these dogs are fed either with industrial feed, or they make up a balanced diet that is as close as possible to the type usual for the breed.

With the natural type of feeding must be present: sea ​​fish, meat (best of all beef or venison and together with cartilage), offal, eggs, dairy products (the ideal option is cottage cheese, but kefir is also possible); cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, rice), vegetables, bone meal and vitamin and mineral supplements. Do not feed the dogs leftovers from the table, as salty, and even smoked foods negatively affect the health of dogs. Products such as potatoes, all types of flour products, all types of legumes, and also tubular (hollow inside) bones should be completely excluded from the diet.

Feeding Sakhalin Husky with industrial feed is less desirable, as they do not particularly like such food. But if there is no other choice, then the best food for them is super-premium and holistic. When buying, you should pay attention to the composition: the higher the percentage of protein of animal origin - and in good types of feed it is usually not lower than 70% - the better for the dog’s health. And there are no flavors harmful to the body.

Such content is justified, since their behavioral reactions are very specific and not always predictable. One of the most striking is, of course, howling, and what is interesting: they make these lingering sounds, not only during the day when they miss the owner, but also at night, wolf genes in this case make themselves felt. But if the dog is physically loaded enough during the day - and she needs to run at least 40 km daily - then she is unlikely to have the strength to howl, and also to dig. But just in case, it will not hurt to strengthen the aviary in all places, the fence should be reliable, high, strong and with good difficult to fit bolts.

Dogs do not tolerate heat, and this is not surprising, because the natural habitat of dogs of this breed is the north of Sakhalin, and the climatic conditions there are very severe. Therefore, in the summer, it is better to take the dog out for a walk in the early morning or after 18-00, when the sun does not so much bake. The place for the enclosure should also be selected taking into account the characteristics of the breed: it must be covered from direct sunlight.

A characteristic feature of the breed is the absence of a specific smell from the dog. But if the dog is very dirty, then, of course, you can wash it in warm water using shampoo specially designed for dogs. But, as a rule, Sakhalin husky prefer to swim in open waters and do not particularly need shampoos and balms. At home keeping the dog contaminated areas can be wiped with a normal wet sponge.

Dog hair needs to be looked after using a procedure such as combing. At least 2 times a week, with the help of a comb with often located teeth, you need to go through the entire coat. During the molting period, the procedure is carried out more often, and instead of a comb, a pedicel is used. Ears should be inspected regularly for ear mite detection. Constant combing of the auricle and brown deposits inside are vivid symptoms of this disease. If you have these signs, it is best to contact your veterinarian: he will not only prescribe the necessary medication, but also tell you how to properly carry out the procedure.

The claws of dogs that regularly take long walks do not need to be trimmed, since they grind naturally. But in conditions of housing or with little physical exertion, the claws must be cut with a clipper. Regardless of how you keep it, after each walk it is advisable to inspect the dog's paws. If even small cuts are found, it is better to carry out the treatment right away in order to prevent suppuration.The Sakhalin husky, although they have good health from birth, are nevertheless in unusual living conditions, and therefore there is a high probability of infection with viral, infectious and parasitic diseases.

The Sakhalin husky breed has become famous all over the world thanks to one tragic event that occurred in February 1958 in Antarctica. A group of scientists from Japan went on an expedition, accompanied by 15 representatives of this unique breed. But due to adverse conditions, Japanese researchers were forced to leave the continent, leaving the dogs parked with a small supply of food. They expected to return in the near future and pick up the dogs, but, unfortunately, adverse weather conditions did not allow them to do this. Only a year later, people were able to return to the parking lot, and were very surprised to find two surviving dogs! Out of 13 dogs, 8 were never found, and 5 were found dead, they could not free themselves from the leash.

Two surviving dogs Taro and Jiro became national heroes, and based on these tragic events they made 2 feature films. The first was shot by a Japanese director in 1983, it is called "Antarctica", and a little later the Americans made a remake of "White Captivity" based on this film. The fate of the surviving dogs was different. Jiro died two years later on another expedition, and Taro was transported to a university located on the island of Hokkaido, where he died at the age of 20.

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