To assert something based on grounded fact is credible, but to proclaim as fact a far-flung notion based on fantasy and whim is nothing short of irresponsibility. Why is it that, in the most enlightened time humanity has ever known, some people find it necessary to try to bluff their way through life with fantasy? Is it because of egoism? I rather think that it is.    Science demands proof of what it claims. Scientific proof requires rigorous studies which can be reliably replicated to provide the identical results time after time after time. In order for a study to be replicable, rigorous documentation needs to be maintained throughout the entire study. The results, when stable throughout countless repetitions, become accepted as “scientific truths”. We live in a culture which shuns unproven hypothesis, and notions asserted as fact; we demand proof, and accuracy and candor. In the province of the purebred dog fancy, we require specialized genetic tests, DNA tests, and codes of conduct (protocol) when breeding; not only are these required by the conscientious breeder, but we want to see the actual evidence itself which verifies that these precautions have been taken. When we sell puppies, we require legal contracts. When we sell stud services, we require legal contracts. We have learned that a person’s “word” just isn’t sufficient collateral upon which to base the welfare of the dogs we breed and sell, yet some people still have the audacity to think that we must accept what they say on their “word” alone. Is this because of egoism? Whatever the cause, when applied to our Siberians, it is perilous for us to fall into the trap of accepting that which we haven’t personally observed. We can no longer accept merely what a person asserts as fact. My mentor often cautioned: “Trust, but verify!”    It is becoming more and more difficult to find credible, personal mentors in the breed because, unfortunately, some people are trying to represent that they have knowledge, undocumented as it is, when, in fact, that “knowledge” is only subjective prejudice, bias, misinformation, and fantasy, yet it is portrayed as the latest and greatest thing since sliced bread. When asked for proof of what they are trying to pass off as truth, they say, patronizingly, “Oh, everyone knows that; it’s common knowledge”. Beware! When we hear such fluffy bluff, we know immediately that something is afoul.    Were “Xyz Kennel” to say that their stud “moved like a dream”, wouldn’t we want more personally acquired information before breeding to that dog? Were they to say that that stud had clear eyes, wouldn’t we want to at least see, with our own eyes, the appropriate ACVO documentation? I think so. When a person makes an assertion about the breed, if we are one who is dedicated to the welfare of our breed, we should ask to personally see all available evidence, whatever form that might take. Most of us do. Why, then, are there still those who continue to assert far-flung notions, and obvious misinformation/partial information, as fact?    The credible person, when teaching/mentoring, will not wait for such evidence to be solicited, and he certainly won’t take offense should it be. He will know that it will be requested, and he will provide it as a matter of course in his mentoring. He has more respect, both for himself, and for his student, than to try to bluff his way through the teaching process. Truthfulness and ethics are the hallmarks of the truly mature ego which places the welfare of the breed before gratification of his “id”.    Most of us accept rumor and gossip as commonplace in the dog fancy, but most of it, when actual proof is sought, is just fantasy, evilness, and/or jealousy. We have learned that when people are “talking about us”, it is the sure sign that we are doing something right; therefore, we, as individuals, can rise above this malicious form of “entertainment”. But, when misinformation is fomented about our breed, which is totally and absolutely dependent upon us, and upon our correct and accurate information (which we may or may not have), it becomes incumbent upon us to ask for “proof”, especially when something “strange” is asserted. This is why credible research, and the proper documentation, and presentation of same, are so critical. Not everything can be proven with scientific certainty, but what can’t needs, at least, to pass the best tests of logic and reason we do have.    Very early on, I learned to beware of “kennel blindness”. But, what is “kennel blindness”? Simply put, “kennel blindness” is a “dis-ease” (disease) of one’s opinions re the correctness of one’s own dogs. These fanciful opinions are not based on objective fact, i.e., what is known about the breed, but solely upon personal “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases. “Kennel blindness”, as it was explained to me, is a “dis-ease” of the ego which may manifest itself in blinding oneself to objectivity about one’s own dogs, and about the breed as a population. When one allows oneself to become afflicted by this “dis-ease” (indeed, it is a matter of choice), objective reason and intelligence are supplanted by subjective “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases (i.e., egoism) which become highly chronic, and endemic. The will and opinions of the majority become “the enemy”. Common sense becomes unnecessary. Rules and regulations become superfluous. Breed Standards become irrelevant. Facts become re-written. Ethics become non-existent. Known history becomes something to be re-invented. If this malady is beginning to sound maniacal, and arrogant, I fully understand why. The thought process behind this “dis-ease” is fantasy.    What is fact? The Siberian, as a breed, is ancient; this necessarily means that its history is ancient. This is fact. We are fortunate that our breed has an Original Purpose which is known to us, and that this Original Purpose is effectively stated (beginning in 1972) in the Breed Standard as “He performs his original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate speed over great distances.” This is fact. This single sentence, simple and straightforward as it is, succinctly states the breed’s essence. This essence prescribes every other component of the breed. FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION! The above quotation from the breed Standard “is a tremendously important phrase in coming to an understanding of the conformation of the Siberian… .” (Demidoff/Jennings, p. 238) Should subjective “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases become more important than this essence, our breed is forever lost. From the standpoint of genetics, history cannot repeat itself – the breed simply becomes lost forever.    Genetics, by definition, encompasses the complete and unabridged history of the breed. To maintain the fact of this genetic history is to preserve the integrity of the breed. To ignore the fact of this full, genetic history is to begin a new breed.    Just as a competent judge (geneticist, or breeder) must evaluate the dog as a whole and complete entity (not just the portion which is his bias), the truly knowledgeable Siberian fancier must consider the entire history of the breed, not just the portion which seems to justify his bias. We all know of judges who, for one reason or another, don’t have the ability to view the entire picture, and they soon become known only for their biases and lack of objectivity, and quickly fall into disfavor because of that inability as their future assignments, embarrassingly, dwindle to infrequency, and finally exist only as fantasy.    It is my impression that Toy breeds (as an example of breeds without an Original Purpose) are easy victims for anyone and everyone who wants to customize a breed to suit his own subjective “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases. There are battles galore within the parent clubs of these breeds for “power” (ego) to make one’s own dogs “correct”, and virtually all others “incorrect”. Without an explicitly stated Original Purpose in the breed Standard, these breeds fall victim to whim, fantasy, and egoism. Known facts about these breeds, and their histories, become something to be changed at will by renegade club presidents and boards of directors. “Standards” are changed as a matter of whim, and the fads du jour are presented as “facts”. When cases such as this become reality, the entire integrity of the breed becomes non-existent.    Without an understanding, and acceptance, of the breed’s unabridged history, based on fact, not subjective “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases (i.e., egoism), the correct understanding of the breed’s Standard is elusive, and the words “He performs his original function in harness most capably, carrying a light load at a moderate speed over great distances” are meaningless. When this happens, the morbidity of chronic kennel blindness becomes full blown.    Consider This: A breed, a kennel of dogs, or an individual dog in the hands of those who do not understand his Original Purpose, which is only acquired through a thorough study of the breed’s unabridged history (which are the facts of its genetics), are the fantasy of the owner, and the victims of his whimsical ego. To understand, accept, and maintain the fact of a breed’s genetic history is to preserve the integrity of that breed. To ignore, because of fantasy and/or subjective “likes”, “favorites”, “whims”, and biases (i.e., egoism), the fact of this full genetic history is to begin a new breed. Is the Siberian a breed based on genetic fact, or whimsical, egotistical fantasy?   ### -- The above article is published in The Siberian Quarterly: Hoflin Publishing, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Fall 2003 Issue, pp. 75, 76.

---

Back to
Artyk Siberians


All Web Pages and Images ©Copyright 1997-2005 Fredric R. Cornell, MIS
All Rights Reserved

Maintained By HarborNet