The Siberian Husky

Michael Jennings

Description

The mischievous face of the Siberian Husky is a familiar sight wherever dog lovers gather, and you don't even need snow or a sled to appreciate the breed's many fine qualities. The spirit of this able athlete and able friend can be recognized throughout this bright, new book. Like the other titles in Howell's Best of Breed Library, this book features chapters on all aspects of caring for and competing with a dog. Written for experienced breeders and novices alike, the book is practical yet complete and includes over 100 full-color photos.
Foreword by Phyllis Brayton.

Introduction.

1. Profile of the Siberian Husky—is It Right for You?

2. History of the Siberian Husky.

3. The Official Standard of the Siberian Husky—With Interpretation.

4. Finding the Right Siberian—Puppy, Adult, or Rescue.

5. Living With A Siberian Husky.

6. Keeping Your Siberian Husky Happy and Healthy (Jean Fournier).

7. Grooming the Siberian Husky by Sarah E. Gaunt.

8. Showing the Siberian Husky.

9. Obedience, Agility, and Other Fun and Useful Things (Lois Leonard, Obedience Chair, Siberian Husky Club off America).

10. Training for the Trail (Jane Steffen).

11. The Iditarod: "the Last Great Race".

12. What You Should Know About Breeding.

13. Our Gentle Geriatrics (Jean Fournier).

14. The Siberian Husky Club of America, INC. (Donna Beckman, President, and Delbert L. Thacker, Secretary).

15. Siberians in the Media (Pat Tetrault).

Appendix A: Titles for Which Siberian Huskies Are Eligible.

Appendix B: National Specialty Winners and Owners.

Appendix C: Additional Resources—Books and Organizations.

Epilogue: The Color of the Siberian.

Index.

Sujets

• Breeds
• Pets
• Dogs

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 21 avril 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470331170
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

Howell Book House
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Copyright 1999 Michael Jennings
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information herein. For information, address Howell Book House, Hungry Minds, Inc., 909 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022.
ISBN: 978-1-62045-758-0
Howell Book House is a registered trademark of Hungry Minds, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 99-64199.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Cover and book design by George J. McKeon
Contents
Foreword by Phyllis Brayton
Introduction
1. P ROFILE OF THE S IBERIAN H USKY - I S I T R IGHT FOR Y OU ?
A Word About Pack-Drive and Prey-Drive Owning a Siberian Is Not Easy
2. H ISTORY OF THE S IBERIAN H USKY
In Siberia In Alaska In New England Other Great Siberians and Their People Some Reflections on the Breed s History
3. T HE O FFICIAL S TANDARD OF THE S IBERIAN H USKY-WITH I NTERPRETATION
General Appearance Size, Proportion, Substance Head Neck, Topline, Body Tail Forequarters Hindquarters Coat Color Gait Temperament Summary
4. F INDING THE R IGHT S IBERIAN -P UPPY , A DULT , OR R ESCUE
The Puppy Choice The Adult Choice The Rescue Option
5. L IVING WITH A S IBERIAN H USKY
Preparing the New Home Guidance in a Nutshell Your New Puppy Don t Blame the Dog! How Dogs Learn Pack Structure Socialization Stress
6. K EEPING Y OUR S IBERIAN H USKY H APPY AND H EALTHY by Jean Fournier
Breed Specific Conditions- Red Alert Preventive Care Other Areas of Concern
7. GROOMING THE S IBERIAN H USKY by Sarah E. Gaunt
8. S HOWING THE S IBERIAN H USKY
Acquiring a Siberian Husky Show Prospect Learning to Show Ringside Discretion
9. O BEDIENCE , A GILITY, AND O THER F UN AND U SEFUL T HINGS by Lois Leonard, Obedience Chair, Siberian Husky Club of America
Obedience Agility Tracking Flyball Canine Good Citizen Temperament Testing Backpacking
10. T RAINING F OR THE T RAIL by Jane Steffen
The Equipment Dressing the Sledder The Dog Team The Language of Dog Sledding Caring for the Dogs The Lure of Competition Getting Started Outfitters Bibliography
11. T HE I DITAROD : T HE L AST G REAT R ACE
Experiences Along the Iditarod Trail, by Peter Johnson
12. W HAT Y OU S HOULD K NOW A BOUT B REEDING
The Art of Breeding: Developing an Eye Be Willing to Learn, Slowly Aim for Good Dogs, Not Just Winners Selecting Stock Types of Breeding Assessing and Appraising, an Ongoing Practice Rating Your Dogs
13. O UR G ENTLE G ERIATRICS by jean Fournier
Arthritis Nutrition Obesity Aging Eyes A Vaccination Plan and Regular Veterinary Visits Behavior as a Symptom When It s Time to Say Good-Bye On Coping with Pet Loss
14. T HE S IBERIAN H USKY CLUB OF A MERICA , I NC . by Donna Beckman, President, and Delbert L. Thacker, Secretary
15. S IBERIANS IN THE M EDIA by Pat Tetrault
The Small Screen Beckons
A PPENDIX A Titles for Which Siberian Huskies Are Eligible
A PPENDIX B National Specialty Winners and Owners
A PPENDIX C Additional Resources-Books and Organizations
E PILOGUE The Color of the Siberian
Index
Foreword
Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a Siberian Husky will want to read The Siberian Husky: Able Athlete, Able Friend by Michael Jennings. Unlike any previous book published on the Siberian, this fascinating book includes something for everyone. Whether you re a new admirer of the breed or a longtime devotee, this book will hold your interest from start to finish.
After nearly thirty years developing his own very superior line of Siberians that consistently win in the show ring and excel on the trail, it is clear that Michael writes from a deep love of his chosen breed. He fully appreciates the dogs athleticism and beauty as defined by the Official Standard, as well as the charming, subtle, sometimes clownish behavior that is quintessentially Siberian.
Michael s introduction stresses both the magic of the breed and its limitations. The chapters that follow, whether written by Michael or other breed experts, are highly informative regarding every essential subject from housetraining to race training, and a special chapter which documents one man s Iditarod experience will absorb you totally. From choosing a puppy to judging in the conformation ring, everything you want in a breed book is here for you.
As one reaches Appendix C, Mike s wonderful descriptions of the Siberian personality will hold the reader spellbound. Those of us who are owned by them will smile as we relive the antics he describes. How fortunate we are to have this author in love with Siberians, for Michael Jennings has beautifully described for us the devotion we all feel for this most intriguing of dogs.
Indeed, whether you have shared your life with Siberians for many years, are considering a Siberian, have just gotten your first puppy, or simply want to learn more about these great dogs, you will definitely want this book as an ideal reference and ongoing joy
BY P HYLLIS B RAYTON
(Phyllis Brayton has owned and bred Siberian Huskies since 1946. She has served the Siberian Husky Club of America in many capacities, including the presidency, and is currently chairman of the Judges Education committee. She is one of the breed s most esteemed breeder-judges.)

(Winter Churchill Photography)
Introduction
Every purebred dog is a story, sometimes a very long story. In fact, purebred dogs were in many cases our ancestors most ingenious inventions, and in some cases that includes Stone Age ancestors. Certainly that is so with the Siberian Husky, a breed probably some 3,000 years old. But to own one is to become part of that story, a history older than recorded human history. And that, when you view it in a certain light, is sort of magical.
In fact, there is much that is magical about the Siberian Husky, and I hope that is partly represented in this book, particularly in the many candid photographs, for certainly the Siberian is a great pleasure to the eye. But I hope there is also much that is simply practical to the raising and training of these sometimes quite mischievous animals who are often hard to outsmart.
Siberians seem a little more primitive, a little closer to wild animals, than most domestic dogs, and owning one or more of them can be a bit more of a challenge. That is one of the basic points of this book. The other is that, once you ve accepted and adjusted to that fact, it can be fun and rewarding in ways you never quite imagined. The breed comes, quite literally, almost from the dawn of man and remains, in some ways, almost as inscrutable.Yet few breeds make people laugh more or are quite as much fun simply to watch as are Siberians. Their grace and athleticism is often awe-inspiring, and their gregarious charm is utterly infectious.
I do have a bias, however, and that is to the athlete underneath these beautiful animals-a bias that is no doubt more evident in the slightly more esoteric chapters on breeding, showing and the Standard. In the beginning, the Siberian was a sled dog, and when all is said and done, he should still be a sled dog. If that athlete is allowed to slip out from under those beautiful coats and markings, his health and vigor will vanish, too.

there is much that is magical about the Siberian Husky (Gene Merritt)
I ve collected here some of the most charming, candid photos of Siberians being Siberians I have ever seen collected in one place, and I ve asked a number of longtime friends to contribute their expertise in particular chapters: Lois Leonard on Obedience and Agility, for instance; Pat Tetrault on The Siberian in the Media ; Jean Fournier and Sarah Gaunt on health care and the special needs of the older Siberian; Jane Steffen on Sled Training ; Denis Ferentinos and Mary Ferentino on behavioral and training issues; Delbert Thacker and Donna Beckman on the Siberian Husky Club of America; and Peter Johnson on his Iditarod experiences.
I am also grateful to JoLynn Stresing for her wonderful drawings for the Standard analysis section, and to the many other people who contributed photos, information, and advice, particularly photographers Gene Merritt, Joe Asarisi, Cheryl Scheall, Sue Shane, and JoLynn Stresing for the many wonderful images each contributed. I d also like to thank Karen Morin and Lois Leonard for their help in compiling the appendices.
A breed as popular as the Siberian Husky obviously has something going for it, but popularity alone cannot keep a breed healthy and thriving. There must be a commitment by its fanciers to maintain that health and vigor, to maintain that balance between beauty and athleticism that gives the breed its spirit and its magic. I hope this book helps every friend of the Siberian Husky to keep that essence strong.

(Cheryl Scheall)
C HAPTER 1

Profile of the Siberian Husky-Is It Right for You?
The Siberian Husky is one of the most ancient and noble of all purebred dogs, but he is not the ideal pet for everyone or every family. His sled dog heritage provides him with an innate desire to run, a very high energy level, and a degree of independence that is sometimes maddening. He typical