But these initial concerns are, for the most part, baseless. From the evidence of those who have spent time with the dogs, huskies certainly seem to like pulling sledges. And they don’t mind sleeping outside. In fact, they’re built (and
specifically bred) for both.
In North America, dogs have been bred to pull sleds for centuries: in the 1800s they were used for polar exploration. By the 1930s, they were being bred for sled dog racing.
Hetta Huskies, a farm in Enontekio, Lapland, has a wealth of husky-related information on their website. They note that there are many
types of husky – among them Eurohounds, Alaskan huskies, Siberian huskies and Malamutes. All are probably happier outside than in your apartment. As adoption sites like
Blue Cross point out: “Huskies can pull sleds across hundreds of miles of icy terrain. They are not happy with simply slobbing in front of the telly after a 10 minute plod round the block.”
What’s more, the dogs that sleep outside are perfectly used to it – it’s usually ones with Malamute and Siberian husky blood, and therefore thicker coats. When it’s too cold or the snow isn’t good, responsible tour operators will ensure that trips don’t run. Most farms would rather reimburse customers than send their dogs out in bad conditions.