9781422278444

Siberian Husky

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Beagle Boxer Bulldog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Chihuahua Cocker Spaniel Dachshund French Bulldog

German Shepherd Golden Retriever Labrador Retriever Miniature Schnauzer Poodle Pug Rottweiler Siberian Husky Shih Tzu Yorkshire Terrier

By Robert Lockwood Siberian Husky

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com © 2018 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval

system, without permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3848-6 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4222-3948-3 EBook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7844-4 First printing 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2

Cover photograph by Nataliya Kuznetsova/Dreamstime.com. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

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Contents

1 Introducing the Siberian Husky.......................... 6 2 What Should a Siberian Husky Look Like?....... 16 3 What Do You Want from Your Husky?............... 26 4 Finding Your Puppy. ......................................... 38 5 A Husky-Friendly Home.................................... 48 6 Caring for Your Siberian Husky......................... 74 7 Training Your Siberian Husky........................... 84 8 Keeping Your Husky Busy................................ 102 9 Siberian Husky Health Care.............................108 Find Out More.......................................................................... 126 Series Glossary of Key Terms................................................. 127 Index. ...................................................................................... 128

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Chapter 1 Introducing the Siberian Husky T he stunning Siberian Husky looks more like a wolf than a dog—a very natural-looking breed. Worldwide, people are drawn to this high-energy, hardworking, enigmatic dog from the far north. The Siberian Husky was bred to pull light loads over long dis- tances in the harshest of conditions, and he is built for the job. Ev- ery aspect of his conformation reflects the grueling demands placed upon him and, as such, he is a masterpiece of canine physiology. He is a medium dog who is quick and light on his feet. Although he is strong and muscular, he moves with freedom and grace. For the Siberian Husky, the name of the game is speed and endurance rather than pure power, and so he has the construction of a world- class athlete. He has a deep chest, which allows plenty of space for heart and lungs; his shoulders are well angulated and his back is strong and

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straight. His job was to pull a load two or three times his own body- weight, which means that power must come from the hindquarters, propelling him forward, with the forequarters taking most of the impact. Working in sub-zero temperatures, the Siberian Husky needed a warm, thick coat to protect him—and all Husky owners will testify to the fact that he has a coat and a half! The topcoat is medium length and the longer, stiff guard hairs give some protection, but it is the dense undercoat that provides the real insulation. This is shed twice a year— and the amount of hair that will fill your house is truly amazing. The Husky can be just about any color, including solid black or solid white, and everything in between. He often has striking mark- ings on his head that look a bit like a mask. His ruff of fur on either side of the head make it look wider than it really is—beneath all the hair, he is sleek and trim. The triangular ears are pricked and alert, but well-furred to protect them from frostbite. The almond-shaped eyes are set obliquely. The eyes can be blue, brown, or one of each color. The typical Husky expression is one of keenness—maybe with a hint of mischievousness.

Living with a Siberian Husky There was a time when the Siberian Hus- ky was little known outside northern Siberia. Bred to work in a team, pulling loads across ice and snow, he does not appear to have the makings of a pet. How- ever, he has proved doubters wrong and, in the right hands, he is a superb companion dog. This is a breed

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with special needs, and it is vitally important to look beyond his appearance and make sure you can meet them. Unfortunately, too many people are attracted by his striking good looks and rush out to get a Husky without weighing the pros and cons. On the plus side, the Siberian Husky is friendly and outgoing and will bond closely with his human family. He gets along well with children, as long as ground rules are observed on both sides. He is a naturally clean dog and will settle in almost anywhere. However, the Siberian Husky has the mindset of a hunting dog and, given the opportunity, he will pursue any small, furry ani- mal—and will be deaf to your calls. This means he cannot be trusted off-leash except in a safe, enclosed exercise area. This has some very obvious drawbacks. The Husky was bred to run for hours, and the ideal Husky own- er needs to be as keen on exercise as his dog! Ideally, this will mean taking part in an active sport such as mushing, skijoring, or bike-

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joring, which will give him the perfect outlet for his considerable energy. It is also important to bear in mind that a dog with a high drive and a strong prey instinct will regard all small animals as fair game, and that includes the family cat, rabbit, and guinea pig. With hard work and training, a Husky can learn to live with a cat, but he can never be entirely trusted. He may come to understand that the fami- ly cat is off limits, but he will not show the same restraint with your neighbors’ cats, which could cause major problems. And finally, that dense, warm coat is a plus and a minus. It sheds a lot . And if you live in a climate where it is warm year round, your Husky will not do well. Even in a place where the seasons change, he will enjoy the summer less than the winter. On the plus side, the Siberian Husky was bred to work in a team, and he is generally friendly and sociable with other dogs. The Husky is a highly intelligent working dog and he needs to use his brain. If he is bored or frustrated he will quickly make up is own agenda—and you will not be impressed. A Husky will resort to barking, howling, and destructive behavior—and he will make your life a misery. However, with the mental stimulation that comes from

training and taking part in an organized activity, a Husky will realize his poten- tial as a first-rate companion dog. Husky History The Siberian Husky has a histo- ry that stretches back thousands of years, when the Chukchi peo- ple of what is today northern Si- beria developed a dog who could be both helper and companion. DNA tests have revealed that the Husky is one of

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the oldest of all known dog breeds. In the frozen vastness of Siberia, the Chukchi traveled from their settlements in the Kolyma River Ba- sin to the coast to hunt seals. When they had a catch, they needed to transport it home. It was no easy matter to cover these long distanc- es in sub-zero temperatures. The Chukchi needed to find a way to transport their precious cargo quickly and efficiently. The solution was to breed teams of dogs who could pull sleds over long distances. They needed to be able to keep up a moderate speed and also to keep going for long periods. When there was the opportunity to rest, food was scarce, so the dogs needed to survive on modest rations and sleep outside in the harsh conditions. The dogs had to work and live together in close proximity, so they had to get along with each other. A sound temperament was therefore of paramount importance. In terms of working ability, they needed to take orders, but lead dogs also needed to show initiative, sometimes ignoring instructions if the terrain was unsafe.

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Quite a tall order, but over successive generations, the Chukchi developed a dog who was perfect for the job. These dogs were so highly valued that they became more than working dogs. They were invited into the homes of the Chukchi and became loyal and loving

family companions. Coming to Alaska

The Chukchi way of life continued undisturbed for many centu- ries, and the Siberian Husky was unknown outside his native home. But when gold was discovered in Alaska in the late 19th century, there was a sudden and urgent need for dogs who could pull sleds. In the desperate rush to get to the gold, money was no object and sled dogs changed hands for exorbitant sums. It is not known exactly when the first Siberian Huskies arrived in Alaska, but the first documentary evidence is dated 1909, when a team of Huskies competed in a long-distance sled race called the All-Alaska Sweepstakes. A Russian fur trader named William Goo- sak had imported his team from Siberia. His dogs were much light- er in build than the other sled dog teams that were entered, and his dogs were labeled the “Siberian rats.” Starting at odds of 100-

to-1, they surprised every- one when they finished third. The Siberian Husky earned a reputation for speed and endurance. The following summer a ship- load of 70 dogs bought at the Siberian village of Markovo on the Anadyr River were imported by a wealthy young Scot, Charles Maule Ramsay.

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In 1910, a team of Siberian Huskies driven by John “Iron Man” Johnson won the grueling 400-mile All-Alaska Sweepstakes, and Husky teams also came in second and fourth. For the rest of the de- cade, the breed captured most of the racing titles in Alaska. Leonhard Seppala Leonhard Seppala was born in Norway in 1877 and followed the gold rush to Alaska in 1900. In 1913, his employer, a mining compa- ny operator, hired him to raise and train a group of Siberian puppies. The following year, Seppala’s Siberian team won the Nome Sweepstakes. He dominated all of Alaska’s major races thereafter, winning consistently with his Siberian sled dogs, which he contin- ued to import, breed, and train.

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Those who raced unsuccessfully against him claimed he had hyp- notic powers of control over his dogs, so unbelievable was the per- formance of the teams he drove. He settled in the United States and went into partnership with Elizabeth Ricker at her Poland Spring kennels. They bred from Seppala’s existing dogs and also imported new bloodlines from Siberia. This eventually became impossible un- der Communist rule, but Seppala had done enough to get the Siberi- an Husky established in a new home.

The Nome to Anchorage Run In 1925, there was an outbreak of diphthe- ria in Nome, and the local doctor reported that his supply of serum was running out. Serum could be provided by a hospital in Anchor- age, but how would it to get there in the depths of winter in sub-zero temperatures and winds of 80 miles an hour? It was decided to transport the serum by train as far as Nenana, leaving a journey of 674 miles to Nome. The only possible trans- port was by dog sled, and it was estimated that the journey would take a team a mini- mum of 25 days. To cut down the time, a relay system was devised, with fresh dogs and drivers waiting at roundhouses along the route. Heroic feats were performed by a num- ber of dog sled teams, including Leonhard Seppala’s team, led by 12-year-old Togo, who completed the longest leg—84 miles in one day—in the worst conditions. The final section was completed

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