Races
Schlittenhunde Rassen
There are currently four sled dog breeds approved by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique international). Each breed must meet certain criteria and characteristics, which are listed. For example, the coat color, eye color and body shape are assessed. In 2019, a fifth breed was added, but this rare breed was only provisionally included.
The recognized sled dog breeds include: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed and the Greenland Dog. These dogs were bred specifically for pulling heavy loads and some were later optimized for racing. Each breed has certain characteristics, so it always has advantages and disadvantages. Mixed breeds are therefore often preferred, especially for racing, which combine all the advantages (strength and endurance) of different breeds.
All sled dogs love to work. And if you give them this freedom, these dogs can live very well with people. There are also other dog breeds that are suitable as sled dogs, but these will be discussed later in a separate chapter.