Mackenzie River husky describes several overlapping historical populations of Arctic and sub-Arctic sled dog originally bred to support fur traders for Hudson's Bay Company and later prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. A mixture of native sled dogs and European freighting dogs, Mackenzie River huskies were prized for their ability to haul heavy loads long distances in the snow with minimal care. Since the advent of modern mechanized travel in the Arctic, moving cargo by dogsled has become nearly obsolete and only small populations of these dogs still exist.
Mackenzie River husky
Banks, a Mackenzie River husky. Bernard Harbour, Nunavut. 1915.
A sled dog is a dog trained and used to pull a land vehicle in harness, most commonly a sled over snow.
Carrying the mail and the weekly Klondike Nugget, this service covered all the creeks adjacent to Dawson City. The service was established by Jean (or Gene) Allen in 1898
Sled dog wearing harness during the Jesup Expedition in Siberia
A sled dog team of 11 in Denali National Park and Preserve
Huskies ready to ride at the husky farm in Kuusamo, Finland