The Siberian Husky.

Bred as a sled dog, the Siberian Husky always had to work to survive but now is popular as a companion dog, says breeds expert Andrew Brace.

In many ways, the Siberian Husky can be considered a victim of his own looks. With a plush coat that comes in many exotic colours, wolf-like appearance and uniquely-coloured eyes, his glamour has made him amazingly popular as a companion dog, especially in Mediterranean countries where the breed can frequently be seen walking in the most fashionable parts of Madrid to Milan. Arguably, this may not be the ideal environment for a dog that has been honed over many generations to serve man as a functioning machine.

The powerhouse and athlete that is the Siberian Husky is known to have served man as a sled dog for more than 3,000 years. Whether the original Siberians of the early days could easily be identified as the breed we know today is debatable, but certainly the Siberian's ancestors would have worked capably for their masters; not to do so would have meant them falling by the wayside. Siberians have always had to function to survive.

While today their aesthetic charms may be considered their major asset with some owners, early Siberians were valued because of their ability to work, and the only other considerations were those of a practical nature, such as coat and temperament.

Thankfully, the breed is remarkably versatile and this ability to turn his paw to virtually anything, coupled with stunning good looks, has pushed the contemporary Siberian way up the ranks of companion and show dog. While all breeders value any contribution their Siberians can make in various walks of life, they remain proudest when their dogs can acquit themselves in harness, doing what the breed was originally intended for.

History.
Who can say when dogs first began to pull sleds for their human masters? Certainly Eskimos were using dogs to pull sleds 1,500 years ago but evidence suggests that sled dogs have been fulfilling the role for more than 4,000 years.

The peoples of central Asia migrated to Siberia and the Arctic and took with them dogs that were probably cross bred with native wolves, and that provided the foundation for a variety of what are now thought of as 'northern breeds'. Today, the Siberian is probably the best known.

The term Husky was coined by employees of the Hudson Bay Company and was used as slang for Eskimo, referring to human beings and not their dogs. Husky was essentially applied to any thick coated draught dogs with brush tails, pointed muzzles and pricked ears. It is believed that the Siberian really began to be developed by the Chukchi people of north eastern Siberia. The Siberian has a long history with this tribe, dating back 3,000 years or so, and was tightly interwoven with the Chukchi's survival and culture.

Sadly, it is difficult to locate records because any stories of significance would have been passed down by word of mouth. Change was not welcomed by the Chukchi who tried to maintain traditions and stick to a way of life enjoyed by many ancestors past.

Inland, the Chukchi people kept reindeer and, to help with the herds they kept dogs, but these were not the same type kept by the coastal dwellers, and it was these people who bred the original sled dogs. The Chukchi were not nomads, but a village people who lived in permanent settlements along the Arctic coast. They had ended up there following a series of Russian wars with the Eskimos over control of the Bering Strait. Forced into more meager hunting grounds, the Chukchi developed a long-distance sled dog that needed little food to cover great distances over pack ice to the open seas and the Chukchi hunting grounds, and then return to the villages.

Relative isolation ensured some level of purity in these Chukchi dogs and the culture remained unchanged until well into the middle of the 19th century. It is recorded that the male dogs were reserved and dignified, while the bitches tended to be more affectionate and intelligent. These much-valued dogs were often allowed to sleep in the Chukchi snow houses and gave warmth and comfort to the children.

Races were commonplace as a test of stamina and endurance and in 1869 a famous 150-mile challenge took place between a Russian officer driving a Russian sled dog team and a native Chukchi team. The Chukchi team won with more than an hour to spare.In the 20th century, other native peoples and Russians entered the Chukchi lands, bringing with them their own dogs and this confused the history of the Siberian Husky.

It is likely that a cocktail, albeit of essentially similar types, went into developing the modern Siberian. In the 1930s, in a further move guaranteed to frustrate any breed historian, the Soviets - quick to recognize the worth of the sled dog for transport - formulated a policy that divided all 'northern' breeds into four types: sled dogs, game hunting dogs, reindeer hunting dogs and small game hunting dogs.

The Chukchi dog was excluded as being too small for the freight hauling sled dogs were expected to fulfill. Later, the Soviets banned the breeding of any dogs that did not fall into these four categories, claiming that only their own draught dogs could claim to be Siberian Huskies.

During the middle of the 20th century, the Soviets systematically destroyed all the small, native sled dog breeds of the various indigenous tribes, so it is as well that breeders such as Goosak, Madsen, Ramsay and Olsen bought their dogs from the Chukchi, for without them the survival of the breed would have been in doubt.

Swenson imported dogs directly into the USA until the 1930s; he had an exclusive contract to bring supplies into Siberia and furs out, and he knew sled dogs well. He recognized the merits of the Chukchi dogs and obtained the best dogs he could.Gold was discovered in Alaska in 1880 and soon prospectors poured in to try to make their fortune. The cold weather cut off the area for long periods of the year, and the only way in or out was with a dog team. These teams were made up of local dogs.

In 1907 the Nome Kennel Club was formed and it organized and sponsored the first All-Alaska Sweepstakes. The course covered 408 miles across varied terrain and through differing weather conditions. The first race was held in 1908 and the Russian fur trader, Goosak, imported a team of small dogs from Siberia. These dogs were considerably smaller than the traditional freighting dogs and Goosak was ridiculed. However the team came third in the 1909 race.

Fox Maule Ramsay, a Scotsman, admired these small dogs; so much so that the following year he chartered a schooner and traveled to Siberia where he bought no fewer than 70 of the native Huskies.Ramsay took these dogs back to Nome, along with two native drivers, and very soon sled racing with dogs took on a whole new complexion.

From 1915 to 1917 Leonard Seppala, a Norwegian prospector who became obsessed with sled dog racing, won the All-Alaska. Seppala became a legend and the best story in which he figures relates how, in 1925, Seppala's team was responsible for diverting a diphtheria epidemic in Nome, having provided the only way to get antitoxin from Anchorage in time.

Seppala began breeding Siberian Husky dogs in conjunction with other enthusiasts, who had later been attracted to the breed, and gradually the breed was recognized by the various kennel clubs and perceived as more than just a racing dog.The glamorous colour patterns and plush coat were such that it was inevitable that the Americans would see in the Siberian a potential show dog and the breed soon became hugely popular as such.

The breed is remarkably young in Britain, the first specimens coming in as the pets of American servicemen. As recently as 1969, the first Siberian Husky was registered by The Kennel Club, a grey and white bitch called Yeso Pac's Tasha, owned by USA serviceman Bill Cracknell.

The Cracknells later imported a male, Savdajures Samovar. Before this, the Profitts, a British couple who had seen Siberians when holidaying in Switzerland, imported a bitch named Togli and a male, Killik, from Norway. When they returned from the USA in 1971 Don and Liz Leich brought with them Ilya and Douschka of Northwood.
In 1972 Douschka was mated to Samovar and the first litter was born for the Forstals, a kennel that to this day remains a stronghold of the breed, both in the show ring and out.

Samovar and the original bitch, Tasha, had produced a bitch called Micnicroc's Nanuska. The Leichs' original brace had been mated to produce Forstal's Kassan.

Kassan and Nanuska took their place in British Siberian history when they became the parents of the breed's very first UK Champion male, Forstal's Mikishar the Amarok, who won his title at the age of 11, proving how long-lasting this breed can be.

The breed has gained a faithful following among British dog fanciers and numbers have held up well at dog shows when some breeds have lost ground. The majority of breed aficionados maintain their determination to breed good-looking dogs that can work, the priority being the working side with the show successes being a bonus.

To this day, despite periodical agitation from the two factions, the breed remains fairly united and the working-versus-show split is something that is perhaps not as obvious as some advocates on either side would like us to believe. In truth, both sides are capable of producing extremes in type that are equally offensive, and neither extreme does anything to further their case.

Temperament & character.
The Siberian Husky may look cute and cuddly to some, wild and wolf like to others. In truth, this is a primitive breed with very strong instincts. Even today it is happy to live in a pack situation without
any of the perceived luxuries which modern dog owners seem to feel are essential to a dog's well-being.

While some Siberian Huskies are happy to attach themselves to a human being, and obey most commands without question, they are in the minority. Much more common is the Siberian who     
would relish the opportunity to dig his way out of his owner's garden to go off in hot pursuit of a cat, rabbit or any other small mammal that takes his fancy.

This is not a breed that can be left alone for long periods. They crave company, and if they are not going to be kept naturally with other members of their breed where they can establish a natural hierarchy, they need to be part of another family in which they must know their place.

No amount of training will disguise the fact that the Siberian is a hunter. It is this natural hunting instinct that has been channeled into the prowess at pulling. That instinct may be deep-rooted but it will always be there, and all owners should be aware of it.The Siberian is neither aggressive nor nervous; they are gregarious but with mature animals there may be some natural reserve.

The breed needs early socialization and exposure to as many different sights, scents and sounds as possible if it is to grow up well adjusted. It also needs careful monitored exercise when maturing, and the breed will always require above-average mental stimulation if it is not to become bored, dull and destructive.

This is the breed for a 'doing' household rather than a 'looking' household. Siberian owners tend to be active, energetic and not particularly house-proud. They are outdoor types who would prefer to be out in all weathers with their dogs rather than wallowing in the comforts of home. Those considering taking on the breed should be well aware of this.

Special care.
The most important aspect of breed-specific care is probably the need to maintain the breed's activity and versatility.

Buying a Siberian as a companion can, very quickly, prove to be an extremely expensive move. The general pattern is that one Siberian soon becomes two ('he needs company'), then they need exercise,
then comes racing, the rig, the team, and before you know where you are you will have changed vehicles and be searching for a new home. Siberians can be that dangerous, so be warned.

As regards grooming, the breed has an obviously weatherproof coat that requires little maintenance. A thorough brushing with a pin-wire brush once a week will keep the average Siberian coat in good nick. Whether you wish to show your dog or not, it is always advisable to get young puppies used to bathing from an early age. At around ten to 12 weeks, the Siberian is easy enough to handle. If it objects vigorously to bath time, it will soon realize that no harm will come to it after a thorough soaking, and thus the adult Siberian will be no problem to bath before a show or after a particularly dirty run.

Housing the breed is important, and any owner's property should be completely Siberian-proof, which may be considerably more secure than what is considered to be dogproof. If you are seriously thinking about owning the breed, it is wise to ask an experienced Siberian owner or breeder to check out your property - better to be safe than sorry.

Health & welfare.This is a hardy and healthy breed. Its evolution was very much the survival of the fittest. Having said that, conditions occur that may have some hereditary basis. Diseases of the eye, hips, liver and thyroid have been identified but all health matters should be discussed with the breeder before buying a puppy, and any responsible breeder will tell you of existing problems and what they have done to prevent any problems with puppies they breed.

It is strange, considering their history, but Siberians actually love heat, so much so that they can occasionally suffer from sunburn and heat stress. White dogs with lack of pigment are particularly vulnerable to sunburn, so ample shade should always be provided in hot weather.

The breed has a habit of worrying their feet and may lick or chew the areas above their paws to such an extent that the hair will become thinned. Provided this does not develop into redness or rawness of the skin, there is no cause for concern. If licking when there is no reason does become a problem, there are various products that can be applied that will soon deter any over-zealous tongues.

Siberians have a sensitive digestive system. Discuss the entire feeding regime with your breeder and stick to it. Often there is the temptation to overfeed when a perfectly healthy Siberian appears 'ribby' and consequently diarrhea may result.

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