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A Eurohound is a crossbred dog, from the Alaskan husky and a pointer. The Eurohound first successfully entered the competitive sled dog racing world in Scandinavia. It is one of the most formidable sled dogs in the world, combining the husky's centuries-honed sledding ability and a pointer's enthusiasm and athleticism in amounts dictated by careful breeding.
Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding between two established breeds with two tightly bred but unrelated gene pools is done for the purpose of heterosis (hybrid vigor) but also can include breeding the first generation cross back to one of the purebred breeds in order to enhance specific traits. In the Eurohound, a first generation cross (fifty percent pointer, fifty percent Alaskan Husky crosses) have short coats, suitable for sprint races, which don't involve resting or sleeping on the trail. When the first generation cross is crossed again with the Alaskan Husky, the resulting generation can have thicker coats, suitable for longer distance teams.
Breeds used
The Alaskan husky sprint dog has been tightly bred for performance since sled dog racing began in Alaska. The German Shorthaired and English pointer gene pool is restricted by the fact that they are registered breeds, but they too were bred for performance; the Scandinavian pointers from which the first Eurohounds came had been used historically for sled dog racing and hunting.
Appearance
As the Eurohound is a carefully bred performance dog rather than a purebred modern breed, its appearance can vary. Fairly common features of fifty percent crosses are half-dropped ears, black with white blazing as shown in the photo, or solid with patches of spots. Some completely spotted dogs appear as well. Once the percentage of pointer drops, the dogs start to look more like Alaskan huskies. Weight is around 18-24 kilos (40 to 50 lbs.)
Terminology
Although more accurately and traditionally called "crossbred", crossbred dogs are sometimes referred to more fashionably as "hybrid", for unknown reasons. In biology, a hybrid animal is one with parentage of two separate species, differentiating it from crossbred animals, which have parentage of the same species. Hybrids are usually, but not always, sterile. All dogs, including crossbreeds, are of the species Canis lupus familiaris. Crossbred dogs are not a hybridization with another species.
Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding between two established breeds with two tightly bred but unrelated gene pools is done for the purpose of heterosis (hybrid vigor) but also can include breeding the first generation cross back to one of the purebred breeds in order to enhance specific traits. In the Eurohound, a first generation cross (fifty percent pointer, fifty percent Alaskan Husky crosses) have short coats, suitable for sprint races, which don't involve resting or sleeping on the trail. When the first generation cross is crossed again with the Alaskan Husky, the resulting generation can have thicker coats, suitable for longer distance teams.
Breeds used
The Alaskan husky sprint dog has been tightly bred for performance since sled dog racing began in Alaska. The German Shorthaired and English pointer gene pool is restricted by the fact that they are registered breeds, but they too were bred for performance; the Scandinavian pointers from which the first Eurohounds came had been used historically for sled dog racing and hunting.
AppearanceAs the Eurohound is a carefully bred performance dog rather than a purebred modern breed, its appearance can vary. Fairly common features of fifty percent crosses are half-dropped ears, black with white blazing as shown in the photo, or solid with patches of spots. Some completely spotted dogs appear as well. Once the percentage of pointer drops, the dogs start to look more like Alaskan huskies. Weight is around 18-24 kilos (40 to 50 lbs.)
Terminology
Although more accurately and traditionally called "crossbred", crossbred dogs are sometimes referred to more fashionably as "hybrid", for unknown reasons. In biology, a hybrid animal is one with parentage of two separate species, differentiating it from crossbred animals, which have parentage of the same species. Hybrids are usually, but not always, sterile. All dogs, including crossbreeds, are of the species Canis lupus familiaris. Crossbred dogs are not a hybridization with another species.
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