If you contact a proper breeder they are not making a business out of it. A proper breeder has the love of the breed as first concern, puppy farmers do it for the
money.
PLEASE do not buy a pup from someone you suspect of running a business as it is unlikely they will provide you with support once they have your money.
Most of us started out with just one dog and the first husky I had almost destroyed my house but that was probably my fault for not providing her with proper
accommodation at the time - she taught me a lot and her breeder was always there to give advice when I phoned.
I repeat - please do not buy a puppy from a puppy farmer, contact a caring breeder who will give you advice and support.
Author: Sharon Sargent

EDUCATE YOURSELF


As thoughts turn to spring and warmer weather you might also be considering the patter of tiny puppy feet. We at hope-UK would like to try and point you in the right direction, and save you from what might become heartache and misery - to one of joy and happiness.

First and foremost research the breed you are looking to buy. Do not just go and buy the first puppy you see. This is not good advice even if buying from a reputable breeder.

Please do not resort to going through the block ads in local papers. Yes, it might seem like the easiest solution - but be warned you could be buying into a whole lot of misery, both financially and upsetting.

Stay away from any breeder who offers you a multiple choice of breeds. This is not how puppies should be kept or sold.

You are looking for a small breeder who really only has 1 perhaps 2 different breeds, and will let you come and see the puppies with their Mum and will answer all of your questions. Never ever let anyone bring the puppy out to you - you need to see the puppy and Mum together. If the person selling you the puppy tells you that this is not possible walk away.

Never be tempted to purchase your puppy from a pet shop. We cannot stress enough that the pet shop trade is a life of misery for the breeding bitches, stud dogs and puppies. The wastage from this inhumane trade is sickening. You might think that you are saving any puppy that you purchase from these shops - but all you are doing is condemning even more puppies and older dogs to a life of more suffering. These poor puppies are bred on Puppy Farms. Puppy Farms are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, pet shops at the Farm itself, or are sold to agents and dealers. Please stay away from them.

So you have finally located your breeder and you have made arrangements to go and see them. They sound really nice; they also run a boarding kennels and tell you that dogs are their life. When you get there they tell you that the mother of the litter of puppies is not well - and it is best if they bring you out a puppy to see. Be very careful... This could mean that these people have a pet shop license and buy puppies in, to sell. If this is the case they are still bred on puppy farms. Start asking questions; ask to see all of the puppies. Take a look at the conditions they are living in, look at the condition of all the puppies (if you are allowed to see them). Are you able to tell what age the puppies might be? Do they seem happy and socialised or do they cower away. Do they look clean? Ask who their Vet is? The breeder (always assuming that they are the breeders) might be telling the truth, the bitch might be ill... then again there might not be a bitch at all.

It is not easy is it? But if you do all of your home work before you go and see the puppies, you should be better armed and able to spot anything that is not right. If in doubt ask for time to go away and think about it! A good breeder will not put any pressure on you.

To go back over some of the points:

1. Be careful if using the papers to locate your breeder.

2. Never buy from a pet shop or persons who buy puppies in to sell (this can be from a boarding kennels even a private dwelling address).

3. Research the breed you are interested in. Many dog magazines have contacts for breed advice, ring and ask what you should and should not be looking for. Do you know of anyone who has the breed you are interested in - if so then ask them where they bought their puppy? A good recommendation has a lot going for it.

4. Check that the person you are about to contact does not have multiple listings for several breeds. These days they use different mobile telephone numbers. Ring a few if in any doubt and see if it is the same person that is answering.

At the end of the day the choice of where and who you buy your puppy from is down to you. All we at hope-UK can say is this...

Puppies purchased from pet shops and people who buy into sell are not any cheaper then buying from a good reputable breeder. The puppy you buy is hopefully going to be a long term member of your family. The newspapers, the internet is full of people who have done just that - and they have lived to regret it. In many cases it has cost them dearly in Veterinary expenses. Many have lost their dog at a very early age due to inherited defects and poor rearing as a puppy.

The choice at the end of the day is obviously yours - but please make the right choice. Only by refusing to buy these sad little puppies will this trade ever cease.




Author: Lesley Hope

We started taking our pups to Ringcraft as soon as they were old enough to go out for walks etc. Its great for socialising your pup with other dogs and other people

However even before you go to Ringcraft you can practice 'standing' your pup for just a few seconds at a time and rewarding with a piece of biscuit or cheese - make it fun for your pup and praise lots for them standing still even if its just for a split second! Also practice getting pup to follow you perhaps up and down the hallway and encourage them to trot at your side for a biscuit - it will be so much easier when you get to Ringcraft classes if you've done a little bit a training first to get the pups attention.

Author: Erika Smales

As long as you know the basic procedures of exhibition in the showring, in my opinion you should start training your pup at home, now. This way you can do lots of very short bursts of training, and they are fun for the pup. I always start training pups to stand from a young age, making it into a game with lots of treats involved. The key is to do it little and often, as a pups concentration span is not very much. As the pup gets older, you make it into less of a game, and get them to stand for longer with less treats. Always reward at the end. When you start going to ringcraft your pup will be well ahead, and can spend more time on the socialising side. Please becareful that when you do go to ringcraft that the trainer doesn't teach your Siberian to stand like a rigid statue, with no personality. Standing still is one thing, but looking like a lifeless shell is another

I also train puppies to walk on the lead at an early age. I start with just an ordinary collar and lead, and start by walking them around with their favourite toy or treat allowing them to go in whatever direction they like to -again like a game. Always stick to a slow walking pace. As the pup becomes more confident and older, I start using a very basic 'show lead', then start teaching the pup to walk around in a big circle, in a triangle and straight up and down. The key to this again is to do it in short bursts, and very often, to reward with something they really like, and to encourage them on all the time. When they are very confident with this, I introduce the most common kind of show lead which is the check chain.

I have often found that the dogs I have had more of a problem with in the showring are ones that have not started their training at an early age. Training at a younger age shouldn't and needn't be intense, but should be done in short bursts. The pups we have at home at the mo are 7 weeks, and, when they come running over, I pick them up one by one, give them lots of fuss and attention, and then, at the end, set them back on the ground holding them and just say stand. They stand there wagging their tails, happy as larry and then go running off to play. It will stand you in great stead for when you start ringcraft, where you and pup will perfect the art.
Author: Krystyan Greenland

The Siberian has a gentle and friendly disposition which may be a heritage from the past as the Chukchi people held their dogs in great esteem. They housed them in family shelters and encouraged their children to play with them. They are alert, eager to please and adaptable.

The Siberian husky is not usually a one man dog, but are capable of showing strong affection for their family. The Siberian husky is not a guard dog, but may unwittingly act as a deterrent to those ignorant of his true hospitable nature, due to his intense personality and appearance. However, as with any dog, it is not a good idea to let puppies and children play unattended. Children and puppies tend to be unaware of their own size and strength and could accidentally injure each other. If you teach your child and new puppy how to behave around one another and you shouldn’t have any problems.


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It is very important to remember that the Siberian Husky is a working breed. His heritage has endowed him with the desire to run and his conformation has given him the ability to enjoy it effortlessly. Because of this, it is important that no Siberian ever be allowed unrestrained freedom. Instead, for his own protection, he should be confined and under control at all times. Since he is a working dog, he must be given something to do. Exercise may be on the lead, at play, and best of all, through mushing.
Above all, if you feel that it is inconvenient or cruel to keep a dog confined and under control like this, then the Siberian Husky is not the breed for you.

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Training Siberian Huskies can be a challenge. They are an extremely intelligent, energetic, and stubborn breed, and you must be ready for the unexpected. Training should start when the dog is young. You should work to establish the rules of the house early, and make sure the puppy knows that you are in charge. For example, if you do not want the dog on the bed as an adult, do not allow it as a puppy and never give in, even once, or the dog will think all rules are flexible. The rule of thumb is that if you train a dog to do something, expect him to do it. Therefore, if the puppy learns that certain things are allowed, it will be difficult to train them not to do them as adults.

Since the dog is pack-oriented, it important to establish yourself as the head of the pack, or alpha, very early. Once you do this, the dog will respect you and training will be much easier. It is very important to understand the distinction between establishing yourself as alpha and bullying the dog into submission. These are not the same thing! The former is simply a communication that the dog needs and expects, while the latter is very negative and detrimental to the dog's well-being. By establishing yourself as the pack leader early, your dog will learn to respect you and look to you for guidance and will know where the boundaries for acceptable behavior lie.
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