Frost Valley Siberians

About Siberian Husky Breed

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Thorough research of a breed is recommended before adding any dog to your family. Although, there is nothing like a Siberian husky, please do your research to make sure that this breed will fit into your lifestyle and family. They are not for everyone!!! They deserve a family who will be theirs for a lifetime, so please make sure you are 100% committed to your puppy. The best way is to know as much about the breed as you can. Here is our list of the top characteristics of a Siberian husky to help get you started.
 

1. Huskies are not meant to be left outside alone or they will become very depressed and destructive. They are very much a pack dog, and need to belong to your family which means that they need to be allowed in your heart and your home.

2. Experts agree that a Siberian husky should NEVER be off-leash. Siberian huskies are bred to run and when off-leash, this instinct takes over. It may not happen right away, but one day they head for the horizon and don’t look back. Along with this, they have an indifference to coming when called. Because of this, most Siberians that end up in rescues are strays. I recently read about a husky that was trusted off leash for five years, very well behaved and then one day took off and they are still searching to find him. It is just never worth the risk. 

3. Siberian huskies love to dig. A Siberian has a natural proclivity to dig holes for shelter. They dig holes in the snow to stay warm, or in the dirt of your backyard during summer to cool off. If holes in your landscape are not acceptable, this may not be the breed for you.

4. Siberian huskies are escape artists. If their head can fit in a hole, their body will follow. A fence of at least 6 feet tall with added rocks or cement at the bottom to prevent them from digging out is recommended and even then may not be enough.

5. Siberian huskies are not meant to be chained outside, it hurts their spirit and can lead to behavioral issues. I believe it is cruel to chain them up. Make sure you have a fence worthy of them as described in number four. If you cannot have a fence, a zip-line or trolley system is a alternative to a chain that allows them to run back and forth without be yanked. 

6. Siberians can be prey-driven if not raised with small animals from a young age. Birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other small animals are open season. Siberians have to be socialized around cats and very small dogs or they could become fair game. If properly raised, they do very well.

7. Siberians can be a high energy dog. They are part of the class of dogs known as working dogs. They lead an active lifestyle and appreciate an owner with an active lifestyle. They need to be actively engaged and challenged to stay happy. They love agility if you are up for a challenge. Adult scooters once they are old enough are another way to exercise them well without using too much of your own energy.

8. Siberian huskies shed or “blow their coat.” One dog will shed about one garbage bag full of fur or more at least once and sometimes 2-3 times a year. Weekly combing is highly encouraged all year long. During a blow their hair will be everywhere, so invest in a good vacuum and be prepared to use it often.

9. Siberian huskies are out-going and friendly. They do not make a good guard dog because they love strangers!!! Unless criminals were afraid of being licked to death, a Siberian husky does not make a good dog for protection. People are intimated by their appearance so sometimes that will help, but that is the extent of protection they can be expected to provide.

10. Siberians are considered a medium to large breed of dog. Standard size females range from 35-50 lbs. and males range from 45 to 60 lbs. There will always be huskies that are over or under standard size which can occur with overfeeding, underfeeding and poor nutrition. 

11. Siberian huskies are very intelligent and can be strong-willed animals. They have the independent nature of a cat and this is what helps them make life or death decisions while pulling a sled. While this can make training them challenging, puppy classes and obedience training are a must. It is a great way to keep your dog active and to form an even closer bond with them. It also helps keep them safe.

12. Siberians are free of typical dog odor and don’t bark incessantly. They have a unique husky “woo” or howl that comes out occasionally and can be heard miles away. Many are talkers and may sing along with you. They are a very happy dog and they know they are adorable. That’s why I love them!

13. Many huskies end up in shelters because people decide they don't have time, or room, are moving, having children, etc. This is unacceptable. Bringing a husky into your life needs to be for the life of your husky, so make sure you read 1-12 and understand the challenges they can bring along with their grace and beauty. They will give you their heart and deserve the same from you. 

For more information, you can contact "THE SIBERIAN HUSKY CLUB OF AMERICA " at WWW.SHCA.ORG Or read the information below from their website

 

The Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc., the AKC-recognized national breed club, is vitally interested in helping every potential dog owner find the breed ideally suited to his particular tastes and requirements. Above all, we want every Siberian Husky puppy to be placed where he will be appreciated for his special qualities. Therefore, we feel it is advisable to tell you just what a Siberian Husky IS and ISN'T.

The Siberian Husky is, and has for centuries been, a purebred DOG -- not a wild, half-wolf, cross-bred creature, as the uninformed may suggest. The breed was originally developed by the Chukchi people of northeastern Asia as an endurance sled dog. In 1909, the first large numbers of these Chukchi dogs were brought to Alaska to compete in the long-distance All-Alaska Sweepstakes races, and the Alaskan dog drivers quickly recognized the ability of these huskies from Siberia.

In the winter of 1925, when a diphtheria epidemic broke out in the isolated town of Nome, Alaska, a relay of dog teams brought life-saving serum from distant Neana. The heroic endeavor earned national prominence for the drivers and their dogs. One of these drivers, Leonhard Seppala, brought his team of Siberian Huskies, descendants of the original imports from Siberia, to the United States on a personal appearance tour. While in New England, he competed in sled dog races and again proved the superiority of Siberian Huskies over the native dogs. The New England drivers and pioneer fanciers acquired foundation stock, earned AKC recognition for the breed in 1930, and founded the Siberian Husky Club of America in 1938.

The Siberian Husky has a delightful temperament, affectionate but not fawning. This gentle and friendly disposition may be a heritage from the past, since the Chukchi people held their dogs in great esteem, housed them in the family shelters, and encouraged their children to play with them. Today, it is charming to observe the special appeal that Siberian Huskies and children have for each other. The Siberian Husky is alert, eager to please, and adaptable. His intelligence has been proven, but his independent spirit may at times challenge your ingenuity. His versatility makes him an agreeable companion to people of all ages and varying interests.

While capable of showing strong affection for his family, the Siberian Husky is not usually a one-man dog. He exhibits no fear or suspicion of strangers, and will greet guests cordially. This is not the temperament of a watchdog, although a Siberian Husky may unwittingly act as a deterrent to those ignorant of his true hospitable nature. If he lacks a fierce possessive instinct, he also lacks the aggressive quality which can sometimes cause trouble for the owner of an ill-trained or highly sensitive guard dog. In his relations with strange dogs, the Siberian Husky displays friendly interest and gentlemanly decorum. If attacked, however, he is ready and able to defend himself, and can handle the aggressor with dispatch.

Predatory instincts in the Siberian Husky are strong. While the Siberian is normally gentle and friendly with people and other dogs, owners MUST be aware that small animals in and aound the home, such as squirrels, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and CATS, are potential victims of their strong predatory instinct. They are swift, cunning, and patient in their hunting skills.

The Siberian Husky is a comparatively easy dog to care for. He is by nature fastidiously clean and is free from body odor and parasites. He is presented in the show ring well-groomed but requires no clipping or trimming. At least once a year the Siberian Husky sheds his coat, and it is then, when armed with a comb and a bushel basket, that one realizes the amazing density and profusion of the typical Siberian Husky coat. Some people feel that this periodic problem is easier to cope with than the constant shedding and renewal of many smooth-coated breeds.

Chewing and digging? Siberian Huskies have been known to do their share. The former is a habit that most puppies of all breeds acquire during the teething period, and it can be curbed or channeled in the right direction. Digging holes is a pastime that many Siberian Huskies have a special proclivity for, but in this, too, they may be outwitted, circumvented, of if you have the right area, indulged.

The Siberian Husky is noted as an "easy keeper," requiring a relatively small amount of food for his size. This trait, too, may be traced to the origins of the breed, as the Chukchis developed their dogs to pull a light load at a fast pace over great distances in low temperatures on the smallest possible intake of food.

There is one final characteristic of the Siberian Husky which we must point out -- their desire to RUN. There are many breeds of dogs which, when let out in the morning, will sit in the front yard all day. Not the Siberian Husky. His heritage has endowed him with the desire to run and his conformation has given him the ability to enjoy it effortlessly. But, one quick lope across a busy street could be the last run that he enjoys, ever. Because of this, we strongly urge that no Siberian Husky ever be allowed unrestrained freedom. Instead, for his own protection, he should be confined or under control at all times. Sufficient exercise for proper development and well-being may be obtained on a leash, in a large enclosure, or best of all, in harness. If you feel that it is inconvenient or cruel to keep a dog thus confined, then the Siberian Husky is not the breed for you.

In addition to the Siberian Husky, there are two other Arctic breeds, the Alaskan Malamute and the Samoyed, recognized by the American Kennel Club. These three recognized breeds are to be distinguished from the various cross-breds known collectively as Alaskan huskies. The term "husky" is a corruption of the nickname "Esky" once applied to the Eskimos and subsequently to their dogs. The Siberian Husky is the only recognized breed in which this word has become part of the proper name.

In recent years, the registration figures for the Siberian Husky have risen sharply. The SHCA is deeply concerned about this rapid increase in breed popularity, and does not wish to see the demand for Siberian Huskies result in a sacrifice of the breed's high quality. To help maintain this quality, the SHCA recommends that prospective buyers contact SHCA members in their area who are listed in the Referral Directory, a copy of which is available from the Club's Corresponding Secretary, and available elsewhere on this website. These breeders are pledged to adhere to the breed standard, to uphold the Code of Ethics, and to conduct themselves with good sportsmanship in all breed activities. By patronizing reliable breeders, the buyer is assured of dealing with knowledgeable people who are in a position to give the purchaser correct information and counseling during all stages of his dog's development.

The Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc., whose membership consists of breeders, sled dog racing enthusiasts, exhibitors, and fanciers, has never lost sight of its primary objective. It remains dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of the Siberian Husky as a sound, capable, and natural breed, whose characteristics of mind and body make him not only a beautiful dog and a willing worker, but also a devoted and delightful companion.