Live Life Team
Also going by the name Karafuto-Ken, the Sakhalin Husky dog breed originates from Japan. Since it had a thick coat of fur and a hardy disposition, Sakhalin Huskies were used primarily as sled dogs. In a large pack of dogs, they would pull a sleigh through deep snow and in very cold weather conditions to their destination. They would often be used in expeditions to Antarctica and other freezing regions. In fact, the Sakhalin Husky dog breed is most famous for one particular Antarctica expedition.
In 1958, a Japanese research team took a pack of 15 Sakhalin Huskies with them to Antarctica. The weather was too much for the researchers and they had to make an emergency evacuation, leaving the dogs behind. It took them a year to finally go back for the dogs and, remarkably, two of the Sakhalin Huskies were still alive. This event sparked several movies including the 2006 American film, Eight Below, starring Paul Walker.
While the Sakhalin Husky certainly had a lot of fame, they have become a rare dog breed. Since the need for sled dogs has waned over the years, there are far less breeders for Sakhalin Huskies.
The Sakhalin Husky is a medium to large sized dog breed. It reaches a height of 56 to 66 centimetres tall on average and a weight between 30 and 40 kilograms. They are said to be a descendent of the Akita Inu and Japanese Spitz dog breeds.
