Sagan

Sagan is my very first Alaskan Husky—not to be confused with an Alaskan Malamute.

“The Alaskan husky is not considered a pure breed. It is defined only by its purpose, which is that of a highly efficient sled dog. The husky is a blend of various Northern breeds, chosen particularly for skills such as pulling.”

Sagan comes from Sally Manikian of Shady Pines Sled Dogs. I asked Sally about her pups because her Alaskans are among the most Siberian-ish in this area. (Most Alaskans in the Northeast are predominantly hound mixes, for sprint races rather than distance.) I wanted to keep a similar build and coat type with my crew, so that they’d mesh well together as a team.

So far, Sagan has been an absolute nutcase—in a good way. She runs like a hound dog, has the noodle-nose of a Greyhound, talks like a husky, and screams like a banshee. She’s fast and tough, and loves mushing more than I even thought possible.

Sagan quickly became one of my lead dogs within her first season on the team. If she’s not leading, and the team isn’t going fast enough, she’s likely yip-yip-yipping to encourage everyone to go. She maintains an easy trot when the rest of the Siberians are running—it’s clear she was bred to do this one activity, and do it well.