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Breeders
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What is a reputable breeder?
They choose breeding stock carefully, with an eye to physical and temperamental soundness. They choose a stud because he is complementary to the bitch and not because he is
nearby, popular or cheap. They breed ony for the purpose of preserving or improving the breed and never for ego satisfaction, financial gain or "because she/he ought to be bred at least once". They provide the bitch with a warm, safe, comfortable place to whelp and care for her pups. Provides pre- and post-natal veterinary care for the bitch and her pups. They begin a vaccination program before the bitch is bred and continues it when the pups are the proper age. They are to supply previous buyers as references and not just those who bought show dogs or who co-own dogs with the breeder. They belong to a local or regional breed club and is willing and able to supply the names of officers and members of that club as references. They are very concerned that all pups are placed in suitable homes. To that end,
personal interviews with buyers are conducted with information requested about life-style, children, other animals, fencing and general knowledge of the breed. They provide proper contracts, guarantees, medical records and pedigree all in writing and understood by all concerned. They accepts life-long responsibility for the pups' welfare, assisting when necessary in finding a suitable new home for dogs whose family circumstances change. They stay in touch with puppy-buyers, ready with advice, referrals, assistance and empathy.
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What a reputable breeder is NOT -
Reputable Breeders Do Not......
Sell puppies under the age of 8 weeks; breed puppies purely for financial gain; sell to agents/dealers/pet shops or sell to buyers they have not met personally and screened for suitability; have more than one or two litters at the same time or advertise multiple litters from a wide variety of popular breeds (those who do are clearly commercial breeders or dealers); charge buyers extra if they want a puppy with a Kennel Club registration; sell puppies without a Kennel Club Registration unless this is clearly explained to the buyer at the time of sale; register puppies with alternative commercial registries such as: The CKC (Continental Kennel Club), which are used mainly by puppy mills and those who cannot comply with strict Kennel Club restrictions (on how many litters a bitch can have, etc). CKC papers are considered to be worthless by many as there is no verification of information supplied by breeders & no restrictions whatsoever. Someone could register a litter of cross-breeds as "Siberian Huskies" with the CKC, using completely fictitious "pedigrees" without any problems at all!; claim the breed has no hereditary problems - every breed generally has at least one or two; go for the "hard sell" approach & try to persuade enquirers to buy one of their puppies as quickly as possible, "before they all go!"; advertise puppies in local free-ad papers/publications like The Thrifty Nickel, or on their equivalent websites; puppy mills/dealers frequently advertise in such papers whereas reputable breeders rely more on word of mouth & recommendations from other breeders or Breed Clubs.
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What is a puppy mill?
A “puppy mill” is a derogatory term used to describe breeders who produce large numbers of puppies purely for commercial gain - such breeders pay little regard to the health or temperament of their puppies & they will sell a pup to whoever wants one, no questions asked. Many of these pups are taken away from their mothers at an early age & are transported long distances to be placed on sale in pet shops - these pups often have health problems & sadly may have poor temperaments due to bad breeding and/or lack of socialisation. Some of these breeders operate outside the law & keep their dogs in appalling conditions, breeding from bitches every season until they are worn out & then discarding them. Other large-scale commercial breeders operate from reasonably clean conditions, are licensed by their local authority & register their pups with the Kennel Club but can still be classed as “puppy mills” as the aim is still to mass produce puppies for profit – there will be no health-screening for hereditary problems, puppies will be inadequately socialised & bitches will still be over-bred. For more information on the trade in puppies & puppy milling in general, have a look at this web site: http://mysite.freeserve.com/puppy_alert/index.htm.
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What is a backyard breeder?
This term covers those breeders with no serious interest in or knowledge of Siberian Huskies but who may own a bitch & decide that it would be nice to have a litter on the basis that it would be educational for the children or will help pay for the family holiday! If they happen to own a male themselves, they will use him and if not, they will use the nearest, available dog. Often no research will have been carried out into whether the dogs’ pedigrees are compatible & there will be no knowledge of possible hereditary problems & very little awareness of how to rear puppies successfully. This can result in a nice, healthy litter (more by luck than good judgment!) but can also result in puppies with health/temperament problems. Sadly such breeders will lack the knowledge/experience to provide any after-sales help to their buyers.
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How do I find a reputable breeder?
A pet store is NOT the place to buy a puppy! To start your search, contact the AKC, plus local All Breed and local breed specific clubs and ask for their roster of breeders that belong to their clubs. Attend a local dog show. Show catalogs list the names and addresses of the owners of entered dogs. You can also talk to the owners and handlers of the dogs (though not when they're about to go into the ring!) and get some leads that way. Learn about your breed before you look to buy one. Read the breed standard, find out about grooming requirements, typical temperaments, health problems that are common in the breed, etc. Irresponsible breeders hate educated buyers! Attend an event such as the America's Family Pet Show and talk to people who own the breed you want. Price alone should not be a factor in deciding what breeder to buy from. While a high price doesn't necessarily guarantee high quality, a very low price often does not turn out to be a bargain in the long run. Find out what typical prices are for show and pet quality puppies of your breed in your area. Be patient. You may have to wait a few months (or longer) to find the right dog from a good breeder. This is a very short time compared with the ten to fifteen years that a dog will live with you.
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I am thinking about breeding by female Siberian Husky. What advice can you give me?
Before you consider breeding, there are some things you need to do first.
First, your bitch needs to be checked for genetic defects. This includes having her eyes checked by a veterinarian eye specialist. There are several hereditary eye diseases in Siberians, and you might not be aware if your dog is affected as they don't all significantly affect vision. This is an absolute MUST; you don't want to pass on a deformity to your puppies. This vet should be a member of ACVO, an organization of ophthalmic specialists. The common hereditary eye problems in Siberians are Juvenile Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. They don't always show up in young dogs, so your bitch needs to be checked after the age of two. The results of the exam will be written on a special form which you will then need to send to CERF (http://www.vmdb.org) or the Siberian Husky Ophthalmic Registry (SHOR - http://www.shca.org/shcahp7.htm), two registering organizations that publish the names of dogs who have clear eyes. This exam needs to have been done within the last year.
Second, you need to get her hips x-rayed and evaluated for hip dysplasia. Any vet can do the x-rays, but they need to be sent in to the Orthopedic Foundation of America (http://www.offa.org), or OFA, for the evaluation. They will give the hips a rating; hip dysplasia is not common in Siberians, and we'd like to keep it that way. The cost of this is generally over $100, depending on your veterinarian. The dog must be at least 2 years old.
Because eye and hip clearances can't be accurately done before age two, most Siberians should not be bred before then.
Most stud owners will require these tests before considering breeding to your girl, and many puppy buyers are also requiring these clearances. The male should also have been evaluated and cleared for these problems as well.
Third, your girl needs to be evaluated by a knowledgeable breeder, most likely the stud's owner, for overall quality. Not all dogs are worthy of being bred; in fact, most are not. The genetic background and pedigree of the bitch is also important. So is the compatibility of her line with that of the male's.
She also needs to have a blood test for brucellosis. This is a highly contagious venereal disease which will render an infected dog sterile. Most stud owners will require it be done within 30-90 days prior to the breeding. You should also require this test on the male.
Then you need to really think about your responsibilities for the future puppies. Siberians are not a breed suitable for everybody, and sometimes people buy puppies without knowing enough about the breed; as the puppies get older they will become very active, independent, and destructive, and sometimes their owners will want to get rid of them. Are you prepared to take them back or help the buyers find new homes? If you are not, please don't consider breeding. Our rescue is FULL of unwanted dogs produced by uncaring breeders and placed in homes without suitable screening of the owners. Most of the show exhibitors/breeders will not breed to a pet because they don't want those puppies needing to be rescued. And it can happen years down the road.
You also need to consider the possible complications of a pregnancy and the possibility of having your bitch die. Can you afford the $700+ for an emergency C-section? What if the mother dies and you are left with orphan pups? Can you handle bottle feeding and pottying a litter every 2 hours for 2-3 weeks? These things do happen; they've happened to me and to other breeders. Most Siberians are good whelpers and mothers, but tragedy can and does strike.
The cost of a stud service varies depending on the male and his owner. You are probably looking at $500+, more if the dog is a champion or has other titles. Then there is the work and costs of raising the pups to at least 8 weeks of age. Two days after birth the front dewclaws (and rear ones if there are any) on the puppy need to be removed. Unless you can do this surgery yourself, this requires another vet visit. Most vets charge $5-10 per puppy. Puppies eat a lot! Premium dog food costs $25+ for 40 lbs, and a big litter can go through a sack every 2-3 weeks. Puppies should be wormed every week or two starting with week 3. They need to have had at least one shot. Unless you have experience giving shots, this requires yet another vet visit. These can be as high as $20 per puppy. Have you added up the $30+ for each office visit, too? As they get older, puppies become very active. They chew up things, they get into things, they pee, they poop, they scream. They'll need a big, securely fenced pen, and you'll need lots of newspaper. Puppies need to be with their mother and littermates until 8 weeks of age as they learn many important social skills at that age, so you won't want to place them in new homes before then. In fact many states require that you NOT sell puppies before they are 8 weeks old, and many also require Health Certificates which cost around $25+ per puppy! And have you checked out the cost of an ad in your newspaper lately? What if you don't have enough buyers? Can you keep the puppies longer if necessary? And are you sure you can sell the puppies?
If this sounds like gloom and doom, I intended it to. Breeding is a HUGE responsibility; done right, it costs more money than it brings in, and there are no guarantees of anything except the ones you provide your puppy buyers. Sure the puppies are cute and cuddly, but they are also loud, messy, and destructive. They have to be wormed and have shots. They eat LOTS! They poop LOTS!! And they are YOUR responsibility for LIFE!
I hope this answers your question, or at least gives you a perspective to think about. If you are hesitant about any of this, please don't breed your bitch. Get her spayed. She will be a happier, healthier pet with less chance of uterine infection or breast cancer in the long run.
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I am thinking about breeding by male Siberian Husky. What advice can you give me?
Before you consider breeding, there are some things you need to do first.
First, your male needs to be checked for genetic defects. This includes having his eyes checked by a veterinarian eye specialist. There are several hereditary eye diseases in Siberians, and you might not be aware if your dog is affected as they don't all significantly affect vision. This is an absolute MUST; you don't want to pass on a deformity to any puppies. This vet should be a member of ACVO, an organization of ophthalmic specialists. The common hereditary eye problems in Siberians are Juvenile Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. They don't always show up in young dogs, so your male needs to be checked after the age of two. The results of the exam will be written on a special form which you will then need to send to CERF (http://www.vmdb.org) or the Siberian Husky Ophthalmic Registry (SHOR - http://www.shca.org/shcahp7.htm), two registering organizations that publish the names of dogs who have clear eyes. This exam needs to have been done within the last year.
Second, you need to get his hips x-rayed and evaluated for hip dysplasia. Any vet can do the x-rays, but they need to be sent in to the Orthopedic Foundation of America (http://www.offa.org), or OFA, for the evaluation. They will give the hips a rating; hip dysplasia is not common in Siberians, and we'd like to keep it that way. The cost of this is generally over $100, depending on your veterinarian. The dog must be at least 2 years old.
Because eye and hip clearances can't be accurately done before age two, most Siberians should not be bred before then.
Most bitch owners will require these tests before considering breeding to your boy, and many puppy buyers are also requiring these clearances. The female should also have been evaluated and cleared for these problems as well.
Third, your boy needs to be evaluated by a knowledgeable breeder, most likely the bitch's owner, for overall quality. Not all dogs are worthy of being bred; in fact, most are not. The genetic background and pedigree of your male is also important. So is the compatibility of his line with that of the female's.
She also needs to have a blood test for brucellosis. This is a highly contagious venereal disease which will render an infected dog sterile. Most bitch owners will require it be done within 30-90 days prior to the breeding. You should also require this test on the female.
Then you need to really think about your responsibilities for the future puppies. What responsibility? Well, you are half responsibile for those puppies your dog sires! So read on... Siberians are not a breed suitable for everybody, and sometimes people buy puppies without knowing enough about the breed; as the puppies get older they will become very active, independent, and destructive, and sometimes their owners will want to get rid of them. Are you prepared to take them back or help the buyers find new homes if the bitch's owners cannot? If you are not, please don't consider breeding. Our rescue is FULL of unwanted dogs produced by uncaring breeders and placed in homes without suitable screening of the owners. Most of the show exhibitors/breeders will not breed to a pet because they don't want those puppies needing to be rescued. And it can happen years down the road. Yes, you are probably looking at making some money, but your responsibility does NOT stop there!
If this sounds like gloom and doom, I intended it to. Breeding is a HUGE responsibility; done right, it costs more money than it brings in, and there are no guarantees of anything except the ones you provide your puppy buyers. Sure the puppies are cute and cuddly, but they are also loud, messy, and destructive. They have to be wormed and have shots. They eat LOTS! They poop LOTS!! And they are YOUR responsibility for LIFE!
I hope this answers your question, or at least gives you a perspective to think about. If you are hesitant about any of this, please don't breed your male. Get him neutered. He will be a happier, healthier pet with less chance of testicular cancer in the long run.
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I don't want a fancy "show puppy", I just want a good pet!
The most important job that any dog has is to be a good pet! There are several qualities that a dog needs to have to be a good pet. It should be healthy and well-socialized (to children, other people, and other animals). In addition, it should grow up to look and act like what you would expect of a dog of that breed- after all, you chose a breed based on the characteristics that it should have. A Siberian Husky puppy should grow up to be a 40 - 60 pound dog. It should not grow up to be a 120-pound dog that fights with other dogs, hates kids, and cannot be housebroken. If someone simply breeds two unevaluated Siberian Huskies together, the offspring may not look or act like a true Siberian Husky should. If these offspring are bred to other unevaluated dogs, pretty soon you will have dogs that are Siberian Huskies in name only but that look and act nothing like a well-bred Siberian Husky. In addition, anyone who buys a dog as a family pet want to ensure that the dog is healthy. Responsible breeders will ensure this by doing the proper genetic testing to ensure that the parents of their puppies are healthy. Less reputable breeders are unlikely to know that such tests exist, let alone do them. In most cases, the people who are truly responsible breeders do show their dogs, in order to determine that they do indeed resemble the breed that they are supposed to be. Show and performance events are how responsible breeders make sure that their dogs both look and act how their breeds are supposed to look and act. And they keep their dogs as house pets, so they know that their offspring will be good pets as well. Every litter of "show puppies" has some dogs that will never be the show ring. They may be Siberian Huskies that are a half inch too big, too much curl in the tail, or a bite that is not a scissors bite. These pups have been raised with as much planning, medical attention and socialization as their show-quality littermates. They make the best possible pets.
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