Sled Dogs in the History of the Interior

Sled Dogs in the History of the Interior. Vignettes in History. , No one knows for certain when the idea was first conceived to harness dogs for pulling sleds, although it is probable that dog traction has been around for at least a thousand years. From the writings of the earliest European and American travelers in the North, we know that dog teams were in widespread use by native Alaskans at the time of contact., As Alaska was explored and settled, the importance of dog team transportation increased. Dog teams were commonly used until the 1930s to carry the mail and freight among the widely-dispersed towns, villages, and gold camps. Dog teams have been used by native and non-native explorers, trappers, traders, gold miners, clergymen, law officials, the military, and most recently, by racers., As sled dog races evolved, so did the breeding, training, and care of the dog. The "Alaskan Husky", the breed of choice by today's racers, has developed over the years from a number of different breeds, each added to improve speed, endurance, toughness, and that intangible element mushers call "drive". The Alaskan Husky, although it has wolf, Malamute, Siberian Husky, Indian "village dog", and other canids in its background, is a true home-grown product of the Great Land., From 1927 to the present, Fairbanks has hosted a series of major sled dog races, which have aptly earned this community the title of "Sled Dog Racing Capital of the World". The oldest continuously-run event in the sport, the Open North American Championship, consists of 3 days and 70 miles of the world's top sprint racing, and annually draws thousands of spectators and participants from Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48., Since 1984, Fairbanks has also co-hosted the Yukon Quest, a grueling 1,000 mile test of endurance which follows the gold rush trails between Fairbanks, Circle, Dawson, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory., From humble beginnings as part wolf and fellow hunter to the carefully bred, trained, and well-nourished athlete of today, we salute sled dogs, the Alaskan Husky, and the Interior's important role in the development of these remarkable animals.