About The Siberian

About The Siberian

The typical well-bred Siberian is a fascinating, spirited, highly intelligent and beautiful animal with a personality that makes him a fine companion for a certain type of person in a certain kind of home. The purpose of what follows is to help you decide whether you should own a Siberian, if that is what you are considering; or, whether you ought to breed your bitch and set about finding suitable homes for your puppies. I trust that will make a more informed decision as a result of your considered understanding of this paper. There are first two things I wish to do:
1)- To explain what kind of people are usually happy with a Siberian, and vice versa! Only a happy home is likely to remain a permanent home. There are far too many Siberians being passed from home to home for the simple reason that the family has separated, that the Siberians were mismatched with their owners in the first place, and/or that the appropriate and essential information was not originally provided by the breeder in the first place; and
2)- To make the point that a dog, especially the Siberian, is a luxury these days, be he obtained at no initial cost, or for a premium price. This is especially important for prospective owners of Siberians, because materials and goods needed to properly contain and care for any dog, and a Siberian in particular, are becoming increasingly expensive, and a Siberian MUST be contained! If you want a low cost pet, please don't get a dog. If you want a free-roaming pet, for heaven's sake, don't get a Siberian!

I will now discuss briefly the salient points about this loveliest of breeds. The Siberian Husky (the only AKC breed entitled to use the description "husky" in its name) is spirited, and independent, easily bored with ordinary obedience training, and inclined to capricious displays of playful disobedience; they are mild and sweet, making great playmates for children, but they are not devoted watchdogs or guardians, and because obedience is not their strong suit, a child cannot simply give them commands and expect them to obey; they make wonderful cozy "igloo"-dogs, and by no means do they need to be kept outdoors; they love companionship at all times if possible, either human or canine; they shed profusely about twice per year; they dig, but not as much as other breeds, and are not particularly destructive unless very bored; and last but not least, and at the risk of repeating myself, they need to be kept in a secure yard, kennel, house, or on a leash at all times. They have virtually no odor, and many people find them to be non-allergenic except when shedding heavily. They are clean, in fact, fastidious, and easy to housebreak by the mildest of methods. In fact, ALL their training is best accomplished by mild, loving persuasion, but clear and firm inducement. A keen sense of humor is essential for enjoying the best traits of the Siberian, and training is best accomplished with humor and light-hearted patience. The Siberian pulls hard instinctively, and is inclined to pull on his leash as if he were trying to "pull" you along with him; this is the WORK for which he was bred and used, and this instinct should not be bred or trained out of him. If his work is unsuitable to you, get a Sheltie instead. Most all of them love to run/pull in harness, and a grown Siberian can easily pull a child on a sled, or one grown man on a wheeled rig for short distances. Again, it is stressed that this is a working/pulling dog. Siberians are not as large as people expect, ranging from 35-55 pounds; some larger Siberians may resemble the sled dogs described in popular adventure novels, but most Siberians are primarily moderate, graceful, and elegant, and it is best to remember that they were bred neither for heavy freight hauling, nor for racing, but for something in between - for transportation of people and moderate loads, over long distances, over days and weeks and months, at moderates speeds, and with below average, but nutritious diets. They were also bred for compatibility with other dogs, a liking for being close to other people, and gentle, independent temperament. In groups, they participate in a rich social behavior, which is a reconstruction of the wolf pack hierarchy, which is absolutely fascinating to watch, and sets each dog apart as an individual character. They are all quite separate individuals, and there is a range of temperament from the bold, quiet dignity of the naturally dominant, to the highly energetic enthusiasm of the most eager, ready-to-go-worker, to the endearing, love-seeking sweetness of the less dominant Siberian. They should never be overly submissive or dependent on a single individual, although when they feel a strong relationship with a particular person, that bond is obvious to all.

The Siberian's desire to run deserves a few moment's consideration. Since they were bred to run long distances, they enjoy running long distances, but in today's world, however, it is cruel and thoughtless to allow these dogs to loose. Siberians in particular are likely to meet with premature death on the freeway, or in a farmyard chicken coop, or elsewhere mistaken for a coyote or wolf. In a non-threatening environment, the Siberian would certainly return home; today, however, when he is turned out to explore on his own, all too frequently he does not return home. But today in our increasingly complex society, and with increasing public pressure for harsher laws regarding canine ownership, and the health and property threat posed by packs of free-roaming dogs, it is paramount that pet owners take responsibility for their animals, and keep them securely at home. Because any dog should be kept at home, if you want a dog to turn out the door and forget, I suggest you forget about having a dog at all, and certainly about owning a Siberian. If you want a dog which will run loose under voice command, I suggest that you choose another breed; Siberians, being natural predators, running loose are too easily tempted by sights and smells of game, other canines, and livestock. If you are exceedingly talented at working with dogs, you may overcome some of these traits in a Siberian, but proceed very carefully, and only if you are very confident of yourself, and if you are willing to place your Siberian at risk. A Siberian has a tremendous curiosity, and each step takes him to another sight, another smell, another sound, another distraction each of which takes him further and further away from you; he does not intentionally set out to run away; he just gets seduced by his imagination and curiosity and intelligence to forget about you.

In harness, in the company of other Siberians all ecstatic with the infectious drive to pull and work together, his spirit to work has to be experienced to be believed; he will go, and go, on, and on. On the other hand, they are incredibly adaptable and affectionate, and although they do especially love to pull in harness, they will happily spend their entire lives as devoted house dogs, choosing the company of their people and the friendly routine of the house. In short, the INDIVIDUAL personality of the dog determines what makes him happy; a careful, knowledgeable breeder can assist you in choosing a Siberian that will be happy with you, providing that you accept the basic conditions: containment, patience and humor, neutering and spaying, and the other aspects of responsible pet ownership.

Some of these thing cost money. However, the sensitivity and affection for animals, the down-to-earth, easy-going common sense, and the nostalgia for primitive beauty that makes people good Siberian Husky owners costs absolutely nothing. If you have these qualities, and if you want a dog in your life to really share your life, partly on his own terms, complete with moments of high spirit and capricious disobedience, developing the rich personality of which he is capable, the Siberian may be a wonderful choice for you. Two Siberians may even be even a better choice for you - now that's worth discussing!

Of course if you are reading this, you are likely attracted by the beauty and romance of the Siberian Husky. They are intriguing, endlessly interesting companions for adults and children alike, bringing much of their arctic heritage into our daily lives in return for our companionship and acceptance of them AS THEY REALLY ARE. There is certainly a place for them in our complex modern culture, if we are willing to understand them and make certain accommodations for them.

The information above is ONLY a beginning. Please do not hesitate to ask the questions that will unfold the rest of the story.

Fredric R. Cornell, M.I.S.
ARTYK Siberians