With so much wildlife in Alaska, the question sometimes comes up about ‘Why use dogs and not other animals for work in the Arctic?’ It’s a very good question and one that has quite a complex answer. There have been attempts at using other animals to help humans live in the extreme climate in the Arctic, including reindeer, and even a moose on occasion. Being much larger in stature, and native to the Arctic region, these animals might seem more well suited for assisting humans in their daily tasks and long distance travel. However, dogs continue to be the animal of choice. 

According to an article in LiveScience.com, animals that would be best suited for domestication and use by humans usually fall into 6 criteria:

1. Can’t be picky eaters – Animals need to be easily fed, especially early on during the domestication process and there has to be enough food easily available to sustain growing mammals.
2. Reach maturity quickly – If it takes too long to raise an animal to full maturity, then the time and effort put in, does not usually outweigh the cost of raising it.
3. Docile by nature – They must have a good demeanor and not be a major threat to humans. 
4. Tendency to not panic – Animals that scare easily and flee are harder to train whenever they perceive a threat.
5. Easily bred in captivity – If an animal is territorial, or needs a remote breeding area, it will only be able to be captured and trained, making the process much more challenging. 
6. Conform to a social hierarchy – An already established hierarchy or social structure allows for easier training and for a human to become the leader of that structure.

Here is a link to the full article: https://www.livescience.com/33870-domesticated-animals-criteria.html

There are not many Arctic animals that fall within these parameters. The main issue with those that do, is that it is illegal to own, and therefore domesticate them. More specifically, state law bans the keeping of game animals as pets; follow this link to the law. The only place to see these animals besides in the wild are at zoos and other similar facilities. During the days when Alaska was only a territory, domestication of some of these animals was attempted on a few occasions, each with its own challenges.

Moose:

Moose hitched to sleigh, Athabasca Landing, Alberta. 1909. Glenbow Archives, Calgary, Alberta

Jack Carr, perhaps the most well known (due to his confirmation of a gold rush in the Klondike area in 1897) captured two young moose calves around 1909, named them Bill and Helen (after then president William Taft and his daughter), and kept them for a few years.

To learn more, click the link to the full article on the topic https://www.adn.com/wildlife/article/moose-and-men-brief-history-domesticated-moose-alaska/2016/01/03/

Bottom line, people thought it was a lot easier to train a horse than a moose. The challenge of acquiring a young moose calf, training it, and then starting the process again with the next calf, was simply too great.

Reindeer:

Nils Klemetsen starting with mail for Nome from Eaton; Unalakleet River, March 1, 1900. Klemetsen was part of a group of herders brought to Alaska from Scandinavia in 1898 under contract with the U.S. Government, to teach native Alaskans how to raise reindeer. Courtesy Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA.

Reindeer have the capability of pulling the same amount of weight in a sled, but due to their size and diet, max out at about 50 miles/day. They simply do not have the biological makeup to travel long distances for sustained amounts of time. However, during the warmer seasons, reindeer were used to transport mail from 1899 to the early 1910’s in parts of Alaska. There were a handful of routes that were used in and around the Nome region. This was somewhat successful as reindeer are a grazing animal. Their diet consists of mosses, lichen, herbs, grasses, and the shoots and leaves of shrubs and trees. So food during the warmer months was available on the mail route, which made things easier. Although, during the winter months, these food sources were not readily available, and are much harder to maintain over longer distances, making them less optimal for work and travel. 

Currently, there are reindeer farms being used in Alaska today. Here is one such farm in Palmer, AK that also has a moose, bison, yak and elk. https://www.reindeerfarm.com/ 

As historian and Iditarod great Dan Seavey stated, “There were successful reindeer teams, but I would guess because they were very inconvenient to keep, compared to dogs, they are also not as trainable as dogs, never have been. Not as predictable in behavior. Pound for pound, a dog can pull more than a reindeer. Over a long period of time, dogs prove to be more trustworthy, more economical.” 

Palmer Reindeer Farm. Photo Credit: Sara Lamont

Bear:

National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Shoemaker Papers, KLGO 38172.

Although this photo appears in the history books, I was unable to find any accounts or information about domestication ever being attempted with bears. For starters, they are not a pack animal. Males tend to live more independently and bears simply do not have the body structure or endurance for long distance pulling. And most significantly, they are far more dangerous. Therefore, this was never a viable option for people living in the arctic region.

The one species that has been successfully used for assisting humans in the Arctic region has been dogs.

Sled Dogs:

Sled dogs have adapted over thousands of years to be well suited for work and survival in extreme environments. During that time, there are numerous adaptations that the sled has developed. These include:

1. A double layer of fur. They have a short undercoat that works as an insulator in the colder months, and is shed during the warmer months. They also have a water-resistant outer coat that prevents buildup of snow and ice. Both of these coats help to maintain a consistent body temperature.
   
   

   Counter currentcirculatory system in dogs.

2. A countercurrent heat exchange system in their feet. In most animals, the veins that carry blood to extremities are separate. However, in the feet of sled dogs (and other animals such as the penguin) the veins are much closer together which allows for heat to be maintained from the flow of blood in both directions. This keeps the animal warmer and requires fewer calories to be burned to stay warm.
3. Fur between the toes and pads on its feet. Unlike our common house pets, sled dogs need this added layer of protection against the cold. 
4. A longer furry tail. This is important because when the dog lies down to sleep, the tail can curl around the face of the dog, covering its nose to help trap the warmth of its breath. 
5. Their diet. During races, long distance endurance canine athletes can consume up to 12,000 calories a day. This means they require a special diet of foods with high fat content. During the race, the dogs will eat chunks of frozen meat, chicken skins, or fish as snacks along the trail, and when taking longer breaks, they will have various meats like beef or fish mixed with kibble and water to create a soup-like meal. 

In addition to the adaptations above, the dogs used in long distance endurance races like the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest need to have a very specific genetic disposition. Therefore, the dogs that are selected to race are the result of a very specific breeding program that the mushers have designed. The canine athletes in these races represent the very best the Alaskan Huskies and other breeds have to offer. As Martin Buser told me in an interview last year, “Training is ongoing. When I tell people it starts before utero, they look at me like “what are you talking about”? But because we pick the moms and dads, we selectively breed dogs based on many, many attributes, I call it the 30 attributes. So when the puppies are born they are predisposed to being successful sled dogs based on all that selective breeding.” 

Sled Dogs use their tails to help keep warm. One of their many unique adaptations. Photo Credit: Terrie Hanke

Finally, there is an uncommon bond that exists between humans and dogs that should be mentioned here. There is a reason that dogs have earned the nickname of  “man’s best friend.” The relationship that has been built over the thousands of years of evolutionary existence of both species is extremely powerful. Humans and their canine companions have learned to trust and depend on each other for survival. This simply cannot be discounted. All of these factors considered, the Alaskan sled dog is still the most sensible choice for long distance travel and work in the Arctic region. 

To echo the importance of relationships and the reliance of dogs and humans on each other, check out this preview of a recently released dog show titled “Man, Woman, Dog.” Be sure to watch (at least) episode numbers 2 and 4 which star the Berington twins and their dogs at Seeing Double Dog Kennel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIxaNPS__p0

Teachers: Check out this high school science lesson from 2020 Teacher on the Trail™ Kelly Villar about the sled dogs’ Skeletal system.