| Size at withers | 58–64 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 34–56 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–14 years |
| Size class | Giant (> 40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–100 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Very thick, coarse double coat |
| Temperament | Powerful, affectionate, independent, high prey drive |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia; hypothyroidism; polyneuropathy; chondrodysplasia; cataracts |
| Exercise needs | Very high |
| Climate & housing suitability | Very poorly suited to lowland heat; the heavy double coat makes hot, humid climates hard to tolerate. Best kept in cold climates. |
| Owner notes | A powerful Arctic sled dog bred for hauling heavy loads; the dense coat and high exercise needs demand a committed owner. |
Origin and purpose
Working (AKC). Origin: Alaska.
A powerful Arctic sled dog bred for hauling heavy loads; the dense coat and high exercise needs demand a committed owner.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Powerful, affectionate, independent, high prey drive
This is an independent-minded breed that was developed to make its own decisions, and it will not work for you simply because you asked. That is not stubbornness or stupidity — it is the trait the breed was selected for. Training must be genuinely rewarding to the dog, and expectations of instant, military obedience are misplaced. Recall, in particular, is often unreliable in these breeds; be honest about that before letting one off-lead near traffic.
Strong prey drive: this dog may chase cats, poultry, and small animals, and may pursue free-roaming dogs or livestock. That is instinct, not disobedience, and it is largely not trainable out. Manage it with a secure garden, a lead near roads and livestock, and a realistic view of what recall can achieve against a moving target.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Cataracts
Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Cataracts | Ophthalmologist eye examination | Annually |
| Hip dysplasia | Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring) | Once at 12–24 months; earlier if lame |
| Hypothyroidism | Thyroid blood panel | On unexplained weight gain, coat loss, or lethargy; annually in predisposed breeds |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Cataracts — Ophthalmologist eye examination
- Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
- Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
Feeding
Slow, controlled growth is essential — giant-breed puppies grow for eighteen months or more, and pushing that growth with over-feeding or calcium supplementation causes lasting orthopaedic damage. Use a diet formulated for large- or giant-breed growth and keep the puppy visibly lean. As an adult, two measured meals a day, never one large one. Feeding costs are substantial and should be budgeted before acquiring the dog.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Very high
This is a genuinely high-energy dog and the commonest reason such dogs are rehomed is that their owners underestimated this. It needs hard daily physical exercise AND a job to think about; a walk around the block is not exercise for this breed. An under-exercised dog of this type becomes destructive, noisy, and anxious — behaviour problems that are, correctly understood, an exercise deficit.
Coat and grooming
Very thick, coarse double coat. Brush 3–4× weekly; daily in moult. Same honest warning as the Husky, more so.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Very poorly suited to lowland heat; the heavy double coat makes hot, humid climates hard to tolerate. Best kept in cold climates.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 10–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 5–6 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Giant breeds age fast and live short lives, and this is the hardest fact about owning one. Senior screening should start early, orthopaedic support matters from middle age, and cardiac and bone cancer risks are real. Go in with your eyes open. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
