Chukotka sled dog

Coat and looks how to spot one

double coat

A hardy, economical sled dog with a thick double coat made for Arctic cold.1

Personality what they are like

A friendly, cooperative dog, as teamwork in harness demands, prized for its stamina, strength and willingness to work.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A working sled dog bred for long-distance running, so it needs a lot of daily exercise; pulling sports suit it well.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The double coat benefits from regular brushing, especially during seasonal shedding.1

Home where they are happiest

Built for cold northern conditions and outdoor work.1

Company who they like around

Bred to work in teams, so it is used to the company of other dogs.1

The story where it all began

Developed by the Chukchi people as a reliable way to hunt sea mammals on the ice and travel the tundra. From the 1890s to 1930 many were taken to Alaska, where dogs imported by Leonhard Seppala's circle helped found the Siberian Husky. Exports stopped in 1930 and the two lines grew apart.1

Recognised by the official bits

RKF (Russian Kynological Federation)

First official breed standard approved in 1999.1

How many 1,594 dogs in a 1988 survey, about 400 of them purebred; Wikipedia estimates roughly 4,000 today1