Dalmatian Husky -- Dalmatian X Siberian Husky

		Dalmatian Husky
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Croatia <> Siberia -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Dalmatian Husky

The Dalmatian Husky is a mix of Dalmatian and Siberian Husky. A very active dog, it may also require a little more patience during training. He is playful, energetic and very affectionate. He's also good with children. He needs a moderate amount of grooming, especially if he inherits the thick coat of his Husky parent. The Dalmatian Husky requires a little activity. They can put on weight if they don't get enough exercise. Often, the Dalmatian Husky will closely resemble the Siberian Husky parent, however, some Dalmatian Huskys have spots like their Dalmatian parent.

History of the Dalmatian Husky

There isn't much information on the Dalmatian Husky breed itself, but we can learn more about the parent breeds to understand what to expect from the hybrid breed. The Dalmatian Husky will be a combination of the two parent breeds, the Dalmatian and the Siberian Husky. Although there isn't much information on the Dalmatian Husky breed itself, we can study the parent breeds to determine what the Dalmatian Husky will look like.

	A little of the Dalmatian
	The Dalmatian is most often associated with the fire service. Its distinctive features set it apart from other dogs. Most adults have seen Disney's 101 Dalmatians. So most people are familiar with the Dalmatian. However, they may not know much about the breed and its origins. Experts cannot determine the exact origin of the Dalmatian. The dog traveled with the nomadic Roma. In Dalmatia, they were used as guard dogs and adopted the name Dalmatian. They were also used as razors, shepherds, retrievers and even had fun with the circus. The Dalmatian was developed as a training dog in England, running alongside or under a trainer. When the horses were resting, the Dalmatian served as their guardian. Even today, Dalmatians and horses get on instinctively. In the United States, the Dalmatian accompanied horses pulling fire engines. They have even been known to rescue people from burning buildings. Today, fire stations across the United States use the Dalmatian as their mascot.

	Standard of the Dalmatian
	A little of the Siberian Husky
	Siberian Huskies were developed by an indigenous Russian tribe known as the Chukchi at some point in prehistoric times. The original Siberian Husky or their ancestors were probably accustomed to hunting and, at some point, began pulling the sledges of the nomadic peoples they lived with, enabling them to travel further and faster. They were an integral part of Chukchi daily life and were bred not only to be energetic and hardy, but also to be sociable. In the early 1900s, Siberian Huskies were imported to Alaska as sled dogs, where they excelled. Several Siberian Husky teams won annual competitions before they were cancelled due to the First World War. Then in 1925, a diphtheria epidemic struck the small town of Nome, endangering everyone in the region, some 10,000 people. In order to deliver the serum to the villagers, twenty sled drivers and over a hundred dogs, the majority of them Siberian Husky, undertook the grueling 1060-kilometer journey to collect the necessary medicine from a town known as Nulato and bring it back to Nome. A journey that should have taken twenty-five days was completed in just under six, and under unbearable conditions. The final leg of the journey was led by Gunnar Kaasen, but conditions prevented him from seeing the lead dogs, let alone their destination. It was the dogs who sailed through the storm to bring the serum to Nome. It was not long after this, in 1930, that the Siberian Husky was recognized by the AKC and is the 12th most popular dog breed to this day.

	Standard of the Siberian Husky

Appearance of the Dalmatian Husky

The Dalmatian is generally white with a multitude of black spots, although there are variations on this. Some Dalmatians will have spots rather than others. Most Dalmatians are born white and the patches develop over time. Those with patches will be born with them. Some may have large liver spots or black spots with no white hairs at all. However, these are an exception. Most Dalmatians have the telltale spots. Rarely, there is a tricolored Dalmatian. A black or liver-spotted dog will have tan markings on its head, neck, chest, leg or tail. Whatever their coloring, Dalmatians have soft, fine, satiny coats. It has been compared to velvet. The Husky has a double coat of thick, medium-length hair. Husky colors vary. They can be totally black, black with white markings, pure white with colored markings. There may also be red or copper markings. They may have brown or blue eyes. Often, the face bears a "mask" marking, which distinguishes the breed from others. Most Dalmatian Huskies are seen with a thick Husky-like coat and tend to be black and white, with black and white spots or large patches. Their tails are smaller than those of the Husky, but are a little hairy and curl a little over the back.

Temperament of the Dalmatian Husky

Your Dalmatian Husky is a loving, intelligent dog. The Husky is a pack dog, and owners must remember that they need a definitive leader. Otherwise, the Husky will try to become the "Alpha" dog. Because of this trait, your hybrid can be destructive if it doesn't get enough exercise or gets bored. He should never be left alone for long hours. There is evidence that a Husky once chewed through a cement wall. Your Dalmatian Husky also loves to dig, and it's a good idea to teach him to dig in a designated area. He's so driven to dig that it's easier to train him to dig in one place than to try to break him completely of the habit. Although it may seem that the Dalmatian Husky is a difficult breed, it's also quite playful and charming. They're mischievous but good-natured. They rarely bark, but may howl from time to time. Your hybrid may not be a good apartment dog. It's best suited to a home with a large yard. It's also worth mentioning here that a Husky should wear a harness, not a leash. They pull so hard they can hurt you, and leashes can tend to hurt the throat. As for interaction with children, since the Dalmatian Husky is exuberant and very active, it needs to be supervised when with children and ideally, an adult-only home or a family with teenagers willing to work with training is preferable.

Needs and activities of the Dalmatian Husky

The Dalmatian Husky is a rather active dog. It's recommended that he gets enough exercise and activity so that he can not only maintain a healthy weight, but also refrain from the destructive behaviors this hybrid tends to engage in. Your Dalmatian Husky will enjoy long walks or a brisk jog with you. He'll also enjoy the dog park. The Dalmatian parent breed loves to run and play. The Husky loves to dig. Proper exercise will help redirect its energy toward something positive, rather than destroying your property.

Maintenance of the Dalmatian Husky

The Dalmatian Husky has a tendency to shed. To keep track of the fur that will be shed on a daily basis and thus scattered around your home, use a pin brush every morning or evening. This hybrid, if it lives in a warmer climate, can shed even more than normal. Don't be discouraged though, no shearing of the fur is necessary and bathing isn't often necessary either, unless your hybrid likes to roll in the dirt outside. His fur doesn't tend to tangle, so brushing will suffice. Because of the possible density of the coat, a stripping tool may prove useful. As with all breeds, care of teeth and nails is a must. Brushing several times a week will go a long way to keeping his pearly whites in shape. The nails of an active breed often wear well on their own, but if not, trim them a few times a month.