The term Mackenzie River husky describes several overlapping
local populations of
arctic and
subarctic
sleddogs, none of which constitutes a
breed. Most prominent
and current of these are the sleddogs of Donna Dowling and others in the
interior of Alaska.
These dogs are described as standing 27 to 32 inches (61-81 cm) in
height and weighing 70 to 125 pounds (32-57 kg). Usually long-coated,
they are rangy, deep-chested and long-legged, built for heavy freighting
in single file through deep snow. Their colours are the usual
northern-dog range of black and white, shades of grey and sable, tan, or
blonde.
Historically, the term has been variously applied to different dog
populations in the arctic and subarctic regions of
Alaska and
Canada. Dogs from
Old Crow,
Fort McPherson,
Arctic Red
River,
Porcupine River, Hay
River and
Mackenzie River regions, although distinguished by locals, were collectively
termed “Mackenzie River” dogs by outsiders; crosses of these local freighting
huskies with large European
breeds such as
St.
Bernards,
Newfoundlands, or
Staghounds were sometimes called “Mackenzie River Hounds,” giving rise to
great confusion surrounding the name. Some reference sources describe the
Mackenzie River husky as a dog, used by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, consisting of a mix of
Inuit (Eskimo)
dog, large European breeds, and
wolf ancestry.
Currently Donna Dowling acts as a co-ordinator for Alaskan residents
interested in breeding and preservation of the native arctic freighting dog. She
describes the gene pool as capable of considerable variation, but states that
the temperament is always guaranteed to be independent but “completely
trustworthy with children, intelligent and eager to work.”