Alaskan Sled Dogs, the Genetics and Selection of Elite Canine Athletes

Alaskan sled dogs are a hybrid canine athlete combining traits of arctic adaptation, speed, endurance, and mental and physical fortitude. They were originally developed as working dogs to haul cargo-laden sleds and served as humans’ primary means of transportation, protection, and companionship in arctic regions. With the advent of modern machinery, Alaskan sled dogs transitioned into elite canine athletes, with one subpopulation capable of sprinting 20mph for nearly 30 miles and another subpopulation able to traverse over 1,000 miles of harsh arctic terrain in just 8 days. They are a recognized breed of working / sporting dogs selected solely on performance, rather than appearance, thus setting the breed apart from most others. They have a complex history of crossbreeding and performance selection making them more genetically diverse and hardier than many other dogs. These factors make the Alaskan sled dog a unique model to study the genetics of ancestry, adaptation, and athletic performance. To date, my research has provided insight as to the historical and recent ancestry of modern Alaskan sled dogs and how that ancestry influences performance. We’ve determined the frequency of genetic health variants and identified regions of the genome associated with two distinctive diseases in Alaskan sled dogs. Our current work is aimed at understanding the genetics of various performance measures and the selection of Alaskan sled dogs for sprinting (<30 miles) or endurance (hundreds of miles). With this information, we aim to implement genetic prediction of health and performance traits in Alaskan sled dogs to inform management and breeding programs of sled dogs. This work will in turn establish a foundation to similarly study and implement genetic selection of other working and sporting dogs in the future.