There are many differant dogs which can be used for pulling sleds, but the most common for long races are the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and Alaskan Huksy.

Of the three, Balto would PROBABLY fall into the Alaskan Husky catagory. Alaskan huskies are mutts that are a mixture of high stamina dogs and dogs that can easily indure cold weather, and most have some wolf in them. They are the most common dog used in the Iditarod.

Next most popular is the Siberian Husky. Steele wuold most likely fall into this catagory, though it's hard to tell whether he's a malamute or a husky. (Forgive me if it says in the movie, I haven't seen it in years) Though they are slightly bigger than the Alaskan Husky, they are, for whatever reason, not as popular among the big racers, such as Martic Buser or Lance Mackey.

Last but certainly not least if the Malamute, whether it be Alaskan, Mackenzie Valley, or whatever. They are the largest of the three, and also the stockiest. For whatever reason, mushers don't use these very often. They are more commonly used for weight pulling.

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109 visitors have seen this article (3 this week)

Saphire Wolf {Star}, July 25, 2008 at 11: 21 Member

hmmmm...... those Alaskan Huskies look like greyhounds.^^

Iditarod, July 25, 2008 at 16: 37 Member

Very cool! It could do with a little more info, bot overall nice article!

Ligerstar, July 26, 2008 at 00: 27 Member

hmmmmm. i like it i like the last pic its cute

Baltorocks123, July 26, 2008 at 07: 52 Member

Steele is an Alaskain Malamute... And Balto is probably the Alaskai Husky.

Banshee, July 26, 2008 at 14: 43 Webranker

Most Aalskan huskies do NOT have wolf in them. They are Siberian husky crosses, usually mixed with some type of Hound so they can have longer legs to run faster. Whay makes you think they were crossed with wolves? And if the three Balto would fall into the Siberian husky catagory, since he was pure Siberian husky. ;]

Dustpaw, July 26, 2008 at 18: 38 Member

I've read on Wikipedia that Balto was actually an Alaskan Husky, and not an Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky. If you read it off of that and that's why you think so, it might not be true. Anyone could go on their and edit the pages. But it might be true. But like Banshee said, most Alaskan Huskies do not have wolf in them. They're huskie crosses with a mix of hound in them. Alaskan Huskies are probably too small to have wolf in them anyways. I've also read on other sites instead of Wikipedia that he was Siberian Husky, so that's what he may be.

Banshee, July 27, 2008 at 01: 53 Webranker

Balto was a purebred Siberian husky, which today is known as the "Seppala Siberian Sled Dog" since Siberians have changed over the years.

Dakota The Black Wolf, July 27, 2008 at 15: 13 Member

Um, no. Balto wouldn't fall under the category of Alaskan huskies. Doesn't mean that Balto was a hybrid (in the movie) DOESN'T make him an a Alaskan husky. But, I liked your article .

SouthPaw, July 29, 2008 at 16: 35 Member

ok Balto(the real one) was a SIBERIAN HUSKY, and Alskan huskies are'nt a pure breed at stated by many others withous mixing of some kind, there would be no Alaskan husky. o and this is more of a fact then a comment, but did you know sometimes Akitas are used for sled puling as well (but probably not one of the most comon ones, I just thought that was different, because I always thought that mals and huskies pulled sleds, or at least dogs like that) o well great article

wolf_girl_772, July 29, 2008 at 23: 51 Member

I liked your article, could use a little more research though. Although in the movie Balto was part wolf, he wasn't in real life (he was Alaskan husky, check on Wikipedia). And for some extra info, sometimes mushers use mutts in which they see good racing quality. If I lived anywhere near a dog sledding place (which I don't :( ) I probably would have had my dog trained. Some mushers just accept mixed breeds who are fast, strong, around 55 pounds or so...you get my drift. But overall it was a nice article!

white husky, July 30, 2008 at 02: 02 Member

ok article...

SouthPaw, July 30, 2008 at 20: 00 Member

wolf girl I'm not trying to be mean or anything but, Balto was a siberian husky Alaskans don't exist as 'pure' breeds wikipedia sometimes has good information but not all the time, sometimes they have thier balto info really messed but I see your point and everything, just thought I would correct you on that.

wolf_girl_772, August 01, 2008 at 21: 39 Member

Oh okay, thanks for correcting me, SouthPaw!

Novaluna, August 06, 2008 at 17: 09 Member

My friend has an adorable Mal named Storm. The dog's a flippin' bear, but I love her to death. I noticed you don't have a picture of a Mal on there? Lemme help! http://www.allpetsnetwork.com/images/malamute.jpg And that looks like a small one!

Banshee, August 07, 2008 at 15: 30 Webranker

Yeah, you should have added a picture of a Malamute in there. Malamutes are awesome, you can't forget about them. :]

jaypaw, August 12, 2008 at 21: 34 Member

people, i just want to say, i think balto was PROBABLY an alaskan husky. i don't know if it's absolute. i did not get this from wikipedia. Most expert mushers have dogs that have at least a little wolf in them. it's not rare. We can have our own opinions, so please, no flaming! Alaskan huskies are by no standards pure breeds, they are MUTTS. they are just very popular mutts. i will add a pic for the malamute! thanks, peoples!

SouthPaw, August 16, 2008 at 19: 12 Member

Jaypaw I'm not being mean, but the real balto was pure husky.

Banshee, August 17, 2008 at 03: 44 Webranker

Well, he wasn't "probably" an Alaskan husky. He was just a purebred Siberian husky. No wolf in him at all. And no, most expert mushers do NOT use wolf hybrids. That is very rare. They use Alaskan huskies, which is usually mixed with hound or another dog breed. No wolf. Wolves aren't for dog mushing. Wolves are wild animals. 'Kay?

emmajudy, September 09, 2008 at 21: 15 Member

balto was a siberian husky. nothing more. and most mushers use siberian huskys beacuase of there speed and endurance.

bwilson98, September 12, 2008 at 02: 43 Member

pure husky do some reaserch first before you wast time on a artical that is all false balto was a husky and stlell was a malamute not the best artical sorry

bwilson98, September 12, 2008 at 02: 44 Member

sorry

Native Dreams, September 21, 2008 at 23: 49 Webranker

bwilson98 -> Don't you mean "Steele"? Well either way, Steele is not an Alaskan malamute, he is a Siberian husky. Alaskan malamutes don't have blue eyes and they're bulky, and Steele is not bulky.

Conception