A friend of mine recently aquired a pup, free to good home.
I understand that husky's cannot be let off the leash due to their high run away and never come back drive. Will this pup, after a year of training classes etc (he comes to classes with me and my Bulldog bitch) Will this dog be likely to take on the Husky side of turning deaf once off the lead or more like the lab with the ever attentive, eagre to please attitude and be safe running free in the fields near our homes?

I think your friend will find that the dog will retain its husky attitude with regards to not coming back. I believe it has been attempted several times to cross breed out the Sibe trait, but the urge to run is so strong that they still do it. S/he will probably find as a pup it comes back OK, but Sibes are slow to mature, as I believe, are labs, so by 18 months or so, it'll most likely stop coming back. Personally, I don't think it is worth the risk. You can bet it'll be the one time they need the dog to come back urgently that it will keep running! Some Sibe experts will probably be along in a mo, but they will most likely tell you the same thing. Whatever they say, tell your friend to listen; they know what they are talking about!

Regards, Claire