Originally posted by LabradorLover
Great pictures

I also always wondered if it was fair to the dogs, It must be so cold for them, but they look happy running.

I've always wondered why most groups do not use purebred Huskies?? What are most of the dogs mixed with?
RIght now the trend is to mixing them with German Short-haired pointers, Coonhounds or Eurohounds. Border collie mixes are also pretty common. Most Alaskan Huskies are so mixed now it's hard to tell what breeds are mixed in. An Alaskan Husky can be any breed combination that was intentionally bred to pull a sled.

There's a couple reasons that most mushers don't use purebreds....the mixes are faster usually. Most mushers want to keep enough husky in their dogs that the coat, ear protection, feet and drive to pull are maintained. But they mix in faster racing breeds to increase speeds. The Siberian was bred to pull a long distance at moderate speed--not at a sprint pace. As well, I've been told that mushers try to bred the Husky stubborn streak out. Additionally, unfortunately, breeders have in many ways ruined the Siberian Husky. The average show dog these days couldn't do the job Huskies are meant to do!