Siberian Huskies

[Nileska]

I have 30 years experience showing ,breeding and training Siberian Huskies I am now retired from all the competition
and only have a few retired show dogs plus some home forever rescues left. I would like to help with breed,care and training info for Siberian people. NOTE! one of the prerequesites is a sense of humor!

[Sandy, Cheyenne's mom2]

I had a Siberian Husky (purebred, registered) who was one of the most sweet natured, loving dogs I've had (Bandit). Note, I said "...one of the...". Bandit loved all animals, specially the babies. We once brought home a 4-week old Calico kitten who's mother had been killed by a coyote. Snickers & Bandit immediately adopted each other and were inseperable. Our rabbit doe also let Bandit look after her babies almost right from birth (around 3 or 4 days). You are right about the sense of humor - aren't they terrific? Husky's must sense my love for them - I "found" (they came to me) 2 of them - one last summer and one this summer. Too bad I had to give them back, I'd never hesitate to have another!

[Nileska]

Hey Sandy and Chyenne; Bandit must have been exceptional. Most Huskies think of small critters as lunch.I did have one Malamute/Siberian girl who was raised with a kitten the same age. They got along ok except when the cat would play dirty tricks on the dog! We also had a rescue woolie who loved everybody and everything as is typical with woolies, but I never did try her with small animals. Huskies as a rule are out for a good time and they WILL have one whether you want them to or not. Therefore a bit of obedience training comes in handy. Our first Sibe went through obedince training school twice before he was ready to compete in trials. Our second began training at 2 months and finished her CD at the age of 6mo 3wks then herCDX within the year,followed by a UD then finished all 3 titles in Canada..Huskies are probably not the best choice if you are after high trial scores because of their tendency to be creative. If you want a reliable performance every time you need a Golden Retriver. I once left the ring to a standing ovation [not a high score but the crowd loved Atuk's performance] but thats another story.That's all the doggie tales for now . Later ya'all.

[Sandy, Cheyenne's mom2]

Guess I should qualify my post a bit. I should have said she loved all small animals at home! While running free in a field one time, she caught a gopher, only the darn thing caught her too! As she broke it's back it bit her in the lip and she had to come to us to detach the thing! She also liked to chase mice out at the lake, and once tried to get into a farmer's chicken coop. I don't think it was to play! My SamXLab came back to the cabin to tell on her, and that was the end of her complete freedom at the lake! But home? she knew they were her housemates! Yes, she was exceptional - everyone is surprised at how loving she was to the little critters! (I'll see if I can manage to scan a photo or two.)

You must be an excellent trainer to have your Sibs do so well! Bandit did quite well in obedience classes, but did put her own twist on things. At least everyone thought she was funny! I know you started this thread to advise people wanting huskys, but had to share my beautiful dog! The breeder wanted me to show her, and to breed her to his silver, but we wanted her companionship!
Sandy

[Nileska]

Hey Sandy and Co; We have to remember,Siberians were the sled dogs of the Chukchui people who lived on the Chamakatchka peninsula in Siberia. The Chukchui kept big stores of frozen seal meat to feed the dogs in winter when they [the dogs] were working. In summer however the dogs were left to find their own food which explains the hunting and prey instinct so common in the breed. The women of the tribe managed the breeding by neutering all but the best males .

As far as the sucess we enjoyed in obedience, I had the help of a partner who was quite good at ob training and is today an AKC judge for all classes of obedience. After we went our seperate ways she continued in ob while I focused more on confirmation [breed showing] while still also training and competeing in trials. About that time I married an old friend who was a member of my ob training club and a big power in Keeshonden. We imediately began showing together in the US and Canada. In one large show at Louisville KY I was In the ring with Kiskatu [ a big class which i eventualy won] when my wife passed by on the way to the ring with her Keeshond, a while later she was back waveing a hand full of ribbons and a big silver champagne cooler. As of Nov 15 we will have been married for 26 years [the date was chosen because there were no dog shows within a 100 mile radius so a lot of our friends could come] . First things first ya'know.

More dog tales [tails?] later; Regards, Richard

[Anonymous15235]

an old friend of mne from high school show and breed Huskies back in 99-00 they had the number 1 ranked AKC Husky he was just beautiful!

[Nileska]

Hey Marco and CO! I was showing quite heavily at that time so I probably know your friend or at the very least know who she was. If I had to venture a guess I would say Trish Kanzler whos mother, Kathleen,I owns INNISFREE KENNELS.

In 1993 I acquired a young red boy of their breeding , a "Roadster" grandson who had been born in 92 at Innisfree.
When he was about 2 years old and matured a bit I began to show him. He finished rather quickly, earning one of his majors at a specialty. With his championship secured he went on to compete in Canada,finishing in 2 weekends.
During his career as a special he was,for a time, ranked in the top 50 Siberians by virtue of the number of dogs defeated in breed and group. Trish was allways handy for advice and encouragement along the way.

So DO let me know who your friend and schoolmate is! Regards; Richard

[Anonymous15235]

Actually his name was "kuna" or Hakuna matata.. their kennel is in Peoria Arizona they are still in the show and breeding business how ever we had a falling out.. The owner of the kennels at the time was Joe Adams, and his daughter (my friends mother) Karen wilson

[Nileska]

Well, I guess I do'nt know your friend, my range when i was showing was from Toronto to Atlanta and from New York to Kansas. We live in southwestern Ohio 20 miles east of Dayton. The aforementioned Trish Kanzler owned and handled the only Siberian to win the Westminster KC show .{The "Superbowl"of dog shows]. He is the sire of many Champions and the great grand father of my most sucessfull showdog.

[Anonymous15235]

i'll look up their website for you they show their dogs all over the country. they had a handler Ron is all I know that used to travel and do the shows out of state and took himt o show him for all his majors..

[mimichpell]

I love my husky - he is a terrific dog. He has been almost completely blind since he was 6 months old, and even corrective surgeries haven't resolved the issues. He's almost 8 now and he is still out killing small animals in the yard. A few months ago he killed a skunk...now that was fun! My question is do you have any recommendations on quieting his talking. He always has something to say and it can get to be too much sometimes. He yells at our other dogs and at us any time he wants anything. He actually has a language - I know when he wants to go out vs a bone vs a walk. I don't reward the behavior often because I don't want to reinforce it, but it can go on for 20 minutes if I ignore him. Any recommendations?

[Nileska]

Yes Mimi there is something you can do. ENJOY IT,that is one of the delightful things that they do along with singing.

Mine used to welcome me with a group howl when I came home from work at 4am .I was concerned that the neighbours would be upset. I learned later that they enjoyed hearing them "sing",even at 4am.

Huskys usually dont bark a lot but make up for it with other vocalisations, you can try carrying on a conversation with him, he would like that.[and pay attention when he talks to you !]

Someday you will remember his songs fondly. My lead singer is now gone and the rest of the pack has not sung for so long the neighbors are begining to ask questions

Sorry I cant solve your "problem" but endure it with good humor, it's really quite amuseing you know

Woofs......Richard and the Siberians of Nileska.

[RubyJeansMom]

I agree with Richard...you will miss it when it's gone and it's one of the endearing traits of the Husky.

I've owned one pure-bred Husky and two mixes...they all loved to talk.
Dusty my pure-bred Husky was always talking/singing and I loved it. Joey my GSD/Husky mix was very vocal also, I just lost him in November and miss his "siren"...he also had his own language, I could tell just what he wanted by the particular noise he made. Ignoring him never worked.

Now I have Kessler, a Basset/Husky mix, he's just discovered his voice recently and I am really enjoying it.

RJM

[Sandy, Cheyenne's mom2]

Hey, Richard. I've just tried to upload two pictures of my Bandit with her four-week old kitten "daughter" but they were rejected as the file was too big. Still want to attempt to get them on here, they are just too cute not to share. As a "side-note", my son has a Keeshond which he unloads on me when he and his family go away and can't take her. She carries on quite interesting conversations too, but not as talkative or "musical" as a Sib.
Sandy

[princelover]

Richard,
Although I do not claim to know anything about Siberian Huskies, I find them to be a georgous breed and I hope to convince you to post some pictures of them. I love to look at them.

Also, I love your new Avatar. It took me a while to be able to see it as it seemed to come and go quite often. Again, I love to look!!!!! I hope one day to figure out this avatar thingy so I can get one posted. I am still having problems trying to put pictures in my dog's albums.