Sakhalin Husky: breed description and cultivation

A huge species diversity of domestic animals makes it possible for each person to choose a pet to their liking. The most common in terms of the variety of breeds and the most beloved are still dogs. Today, not all breeds can "boast" of a large number of individuals, there are also those where the number of individuals is negligible, and therefore the breed is on the verge of extinction, although it is unique in its kind. Sakhalin Husky belongs to this group.

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

The word "husky", which is the second in the name of the breed, means a group of sled dogs, which included Sakhalin huskies, as they are also called.In 1852, the name husky was given to a group of dogs kept by the Inuit. So, according to some experts, this name is not entirely correct for the Sakhalin dogs, since both 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 is translated from Japanese as "Sakhalin dog", since most of the sources point to the Japanese origin of this group of dogs.

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

The Sakhalin Husky was highly valued not only by the indigenous population, but also by the Russians who settled on the island. The breed, possessing endurance and the ability to cover sufficiently long distances over snow-covered territory, was used both in military maneuvers for the purpose of delivering goods, and for peaceful purposes to transport 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 about. 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 on Sakhalin, but also in other territories of Russia. But unfortunately, in the 30s they began to be savagely destroyed, considering that the maintenance of the Sakhalin husky is too expensive for the state, and aviation can also be used to travel long distances.

According to the ICF 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 tests. Of all the 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 growth of an adult male at the withers is 60–65 cm, and some individuals can reach 70 cm. Bitches are slightly lower, their height varies within the range of 50–60 cm. The average weight of representatives of the breed is in the range of 25–40 kg.

A characteristic feature of the individual is the body, even without sagging, with a well-developed lumbar region and a rather wide, but not long neck. The high-set tail is most often of a log-like shape, but there are also representatives of the breed with a saber shape and a characteristic location: it is overturned on its back with a slight offset to the lateral 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 reminiscent of a neat isosceles triangle. The eyes, although small in size, have a very beautiful almond shape. The color of the eyes varies, there are individuals 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, the presence of multi-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 excellently developed muscles, allowing animals to move rather quickly and without stiffness in the joints on any surface. The legs, set straight and parallel to each other, are equipped with large, rounded paws with well-developed toes and powerful claws.

A distinctive feature of the breed is the coat. The Sakhalin dog has a thick coat with a dense undercoat and a hard, tight-fitting outer coat. In the area of ​​the muzzle and the outer side of the limbs, the hair is less dense, and the guard hair is somewhat shorter than that of the body hair. The color of animals of this breed can be different, there are no clearly defined standards. Black, gray, red and even brindle color of a typical representative of the breed is possible, but not white. The color can be solid and consist of only one color, or it can 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 meaning; more than others, they revered individuals with a tiger spotted coat pattern.

Sakhalin Huskies are very loyal and human-friendly animals. They get along great not only with the owner, but also with all members of his family. Strangers are treated quite calmly, without aggression. But at the slightest danger from a stranger, they may well rush to protect the owner. And this is not surprising, Sakhalin dogs are not cowardly, a well-developed hunting instinct, multiplied by courage and courage, allowed them to cope not only with small sea 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 have a love of long runs in their blood, because the breed belongs to the group of sled dogs, for which a lot of physical activity is not a problem.

The Sakhalin Husky will be an excellent friend and companion for people leading an active lifestyle, as without movement and constant communication with the owner, it will simply "wither away". But their activity and curiosity has a downside - a love of vagrancy. The Sakhalin Husky is not at all averse to running away from home, and even an open-air cage with thick rods is not a hindrance to him - he will dig a tunnel or find a way to open the latch.

Sakhalin huskies rarely bark, most often they howl. This is especially manifested 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 really miss and yearn for the people to whom they are attached, and for this reason they may even get sick. Sakhalin huskies are sociable animals and very loyal to their owners, therefore, long separation and loneliness are categorically contraindicated for them.

Good nutrition is the key to good health and a long life for any living organism. For the 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 for the digestion of marine fish., moreover, the Nivkhs always fed them only chum salmon ridges, the sirloin was intended for people.In modern conditions, it is extremely difficult to reproduce such a diet, firstly, because of the required amount (the Nivkhs harvested at least 400 fish for each dog), and secondly, because of the high cost of such feeding, because chum salmon are by no means cheap fish. Therefore, in modern conditions, such dogs are fed either with industrial feed, or they make up a balanced diet, as close as possible to the type usual for the breed.

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

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

This content is quite justified, since their behavioral reactions are very specific and not always predictable. One of the brightest is, of course, howl, 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 it needs to jog at least 40 km every day - then it will hardly have the strength to howl, and it will hardly have enough energy to dig in. 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 complex bolts.

Dogs do not tolerate heat well, 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 harsh. Therefore, in the summer, it is better to take the dog for a walk early in the morning or after 18-00, when the sun is not so hot. The place for the aviary must 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 a shampoo specially designed for dogs. But, as a rule, Sakhalin huskies prefer to swim in open reservoirs and do not really need shampoos and balms. In the home environment of the dog, the contaminated areas can be wiped off with a regular damp sponge.

The dog's coat needs to be looked after using a procedure such as brushing. At least 2 times a week, using a comb with often spaced teeth, you need to go over the entire coat. During the molting period, the procedure is carried out more often, and instead of a comb, a slicker is used. The ears should be checked regularly for ear mites. Constant scratching of the auricle and brown deposits inside are clear 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 carry out the procedure correctly.

The nails of dogs that regularly take long walks do not need to be trimmed, as they are naturally grinded. But in living quarters or with light physical exertion, the claws must be trimmed with a nail clipper... Regardless of the method of keeping, after each walk, it is advisable to examine the dog's paws. If even small cuts are found, it is better to carry out the treatment immediately in order to prevent suppuration. Sakhalin huskies, although they have good health from birth, are still in unusual habitat for them, and therefore there is a high probability of contracting viral, infectious and parasitic diseases.

The Sakhalin Husky breed became 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 unfavorable conditions, the Japanese explorers were forced to leave the continent, leaving the dogs in the parking lot with a small supply of food. They hoped to return in the near future and pick up the dogs, but, unfortunately, unfavorable weather conditions did not allow them to do so. Only a year later, people were able to return to the parking lot, and were very surprised to find two surviving dogs! Of the 13 dogs, 8 were never found, and 5 were found dead, they could not free themselves from the leash.

Two surviving males Taro and Jiro became national heroes, and based on these tragic events, they shot 2 feature films. The first was filmed by a Japanese director in 1983, it is called "Antarctica", and a little later the Americans shot 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 on the island of Hokkaido, where he died at the age of 20.

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