About Your Pet Puppy

About Your Pet Puppy
You bought your puppy from a reliable and respected breeder, and he is a healthy, loving and attractive animal which will make you a fine companion, and he is fully guaranteed against any inherited defect which might prevent a long and fulfilling life. He comes from the best breeding stock available; we are proud of him and ask that you use ARTYK in his registered name.

At this point, however, for reasons having to do with the welfare and improvement of the Siberian Husky breed, and today's shocking excess of unwanted and "homeless" purebred dogs, we both (you and ARTYK Siberians) have signed an agreement that he/she will not be used for breeding, and we have discussed with you our reasons as they specifically apply to your pet puppy. The American Kennel Club approves of such an agreement in lieu of the transfer of papers to the new owner(s) until such time as the animal has been satisfactorily spayed or neutered. Perhaps some additional explanation of the advantages of owning a non-breeding pet will help to assure you that you are doing the right thing by simply loving and enjoying the beauty and personality of this puppy without adding more (perhaps unwanted) Siberians to the world, or, accidentally, mixed breed dogs, to the already skyrocketing population of canines.

As a neutered male, he will be more content and attentive to you if he does NOT have the never-ending awareness and urge to seek bitches in season, which seem to be everywhere, often running loose. One way to preserve this contented state is to not allow him to breed, and to have him altered (neutered) at such time as your own personal veterinarian advises. There is no evidence that not breeding him, or alteration, results in any psychological harm; even in the wild state, in the case of wolves for example, only some pack members mate, and these few themselves prevent their pack-mates from doing so, and, therefore, this way of life is very natural to the wild pack canines. Those who do not mate take full part in pack life in other roles, supporting the survival of the mating pairs. Only the domestic dog, allowed to roam at will and lacking the healthy selection instincts of their primitive ancestors, breed uncontrollably and without forming any lasting behavioral bond. Who needs this? Certainly not your puppy!

If your puppy is a bitch, she too will be more content and attentive when she does not have to go through the tension and frustration often associated with seasons, and you will find it easier to enjoy her without the mess and the nuisance of noisy, persistent male dogs congregating at your doorstep for two weeks at a time, twice a year or so. Always, when we have decided that a bitch we own is not to be used for breeding, we have her spayed, even though we have the facilities to keep her secure and are accustomed to having bitches in season year-round. Did you ever notice the double fencing fencing around our kennel buildings? This is not only to prevent our Siberians from escaping, but also to prevent strays from finding their ways inside, and "camping" outside the runs! The spayed "aunties" make the best companions for our older puppies, as they have the sweetest temperaments of all, with no "axe to grind". In short, spaying and neutering should be thought of as a means by which you can improve your dog's life, and your own as well. The expense of alteration is small, and it will likely "more than pay for itself" in unstained carpet, intact fences and less frustrated canine and human temperaments. We have taken this added financial expense into account, and have allowed a lower price for your puppy to compensate for your additional neutering expense. And remember, by not breeding your pet, you will be making a true contribution to animal welfare as a whole. Most of the unwanted and stray dogs come from "puppy mills" and/or from pet stores who breed purebreds heavily, and without regard to quality and/or genetic testing or screening; a second major source is pet owners who breed their animals indiscriminately without realizing and accepting the responsibilities of placing the puppies and are, therefore, faced with giving them away to people who will likely repeat the entire unfortunate sequence of events. The unchecked rate at which dogs multiply makes it likely for literally thousands of puppies to result within a very few years from the careless ownership of a single litter. The way things are going, many of these unwanted and "homeless" dogs will end up in pounds, negligent homes, on the sides of highways, or otherwise forced out of survival.

Breeding dogs has become a complex, expensive and demanding practice, which should be supported by genetic information, screening, and a thorough knowledge of the desired traits of the breed. The breeder must be prepared for considerable expense of time, effort and money in the maintenance, feeding and vaccinations of puppies for as long as necessary to find each the correct home. The casual breeding performed by friends or neighbors who happen to own Siberians (or other dogs) of opposite sex seldom produces anything but more Siberians, and there are already too many which are too mediocre in quality. At this point in time, more than at any other, our breed is in danger of the kind of damage sustained by irresponsible breeding in some other breeds where the end result is large numbers of crippled dogs, or unstable or bad-tempered ones; in some breeds the incidents of inherited eye anomalies causing blindness at a very early age is extremely high. It is known that the Siberian can be effected by some of these disorders, and thanks to the dedication of the reliable breeders, the incidence is checked for the most part, but these traits are genetic and will only increase with careless or unknowledgable breeding. These fearful concerns are also applicable to hip dysplasia and seizures.

Remember - you are doing a great and real service to animal welfare by not breeding your pet, and in doing so you are showing perhaps the finest kind of love for the animals which mean so very much to us all.

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