Puppy information and litters.

If you have just come on my web site, the one page I ask you to read, is this one. Please try to read it to the very end, I hope it will give you something to think about.

December 2008, Twiggy(Zoox Tigalu) the grey/white bitch pictured below has been mated to Edi (Zoox Prinmore Pride JW 2CC ) pictured on the right. Twiggys first litter is now 2 years old and they are all working very well in harness, bringing in some excellent results. Twiggy is sired by the import CH Kefeus Tigalda Tsilga at Azgard. Edi's pups are also showing a great deal of promice and are in training on some excellent teams. They have also done very well in the showring.

March 2008--Ch Zateizzi Chleozha by Zoox (Koona) and Zateizzi Realy a Zoox (Ali) both had super litters to Zoox Prinmore PrideJW (Edi) ------ Koona was Res Top winning Bitch SHCGB 2004 and was Best Bitch at a SHCGB open show 2003, 04 & 05. Ali has 2CC's under her belt and Edi was Top Puppy SHCGB & SSHC 2004 and has 2CC's & 2RCC's.

KooEdi Ali

Pictured above are Koona and Ali's pups (sired by Edi) having fun in their large pen, and below are the 2 boys that went to Canada. Dawson watches Yukon having a swimming lesson from Jazz our Shepherd! Solara and Jolly the 2 puppies we kept have both qualified for Crufts at their first show and have both won best puppy awards at championship shows. To read more about these pups , go to the Update page and read the 2009 section.

Dawson and Yukon pictured above just before they flew to Canada, and below aged 9 months in harness.

Pictured below is Solara playing with Jolly, in the showring and working in harness.

All our dogs and any dogs we use at stud are hip scored and eye tested, and have a friendly nature. Visitors are always welcome. We have nothing to hide, we trust the same is with you.

Contact me for more information.

PUPPIES

All puppies are adorable, but make sure that you take the time to meet adult Siberian Huskies, and get a feel for the breed before you get a sweet little puppy. Even little puppies can prove to be a handful, make sure you know what you are letting yourselves in for, and be sure you have the time to give to this demanding breed.

Siberian Huskies are working dogs (bred to pull sleds) and need a lot of exercise. Because of their desire to hunt, you can NOT trust them off the lead. If you want a dog that you can play football with or let off the lead to chase balls in the park, then a Siberian is not the breed for you. The best way to exercise Siberians, is to work them in harness, failing this, are you prepared to walk many miles daily or train them to trot alongside you on a bicycle? Please remember, Siberians should Never be allowed to run free.

They have lots of energy and thrive on companionship, if left alone they will destroy your home, and who can blame them. If you are tempted to let them off the lead, then they will probably run and disappear, and you will be very lucky to see them again. They are lethal hunters, and will not just chase, but will kill anything they can catch, be it hens, ducks, rabbits, goats, sheep and even deer. They should always be kept on the lead, I have known many people over the years who have let their Sibes run free, nearly all of them eventualy came to grief. Some were run over, they have no road sense, and many were shot by farmers, but to my mind, even worse than that, some just disapear, never to be heard of again, I can not imagine any thing worse, than not knowing what has happened to a lost dog, so be warned! Siberians love to dig (gardeners beware), they dig a hole, you fill it in, then they dig another hole, and so the game goes on, it's just in their nature. Despite all this, they are a delight to live with. They are the most affectionate breed and given the opportunity, love to share your bed. They are fun loving and have a zest for life that needs to be seen to be believed, you need to be active, so couch potatoes , forget it.

They come in a variety of colours and markings and no coat or eye colour makes a puppy worth more!!. Remember colour is not really important, but breed type, temperament, soundness, health and working attitude are, so don't choose your puppy just because of it's colour or markings.

Not all good breeders have web sites, so don't be misled into thinking a fancy web site, means you have stumbled accross a reputable breeder. At the end of the day, a web site is telling you a story--but is it Fiction or Fact? I hate to say it, but a lot are fiction!! Check out breeders with the Two Siberian Husky Clubs, and see if they are member. Club memebrs must abide by the clubs code of ethics.

It has come to my notice that there are some non club members who are selling their puppies as being bred on the "well known Zoox line". When I have looked into this ," IF" dogs of my breeding are in the pedigree, they are usualy so far back, to be only some 3% of the pedigree, any influence my dogs had in those puppies make up, has long since been lost. In some cases the pedigrees have been falsified to make the puppies seem as if they have come from my lines, but they haven't. Please contact me, if you are interested in a litter which you have been told has my breeding in it, I will be able to tell you if the pedigree has been falsified regarding my lines. The "breeders" who resort to such antics are trying to sell their mediocre puppies off the back of well known kennels ( and not just mine), they will try every trick in the book to sell their puppies to an unsuspecting public, because they, themselves, have never achieved anything in the breed. You can always contact the breed clubs or myself for advice regarding breeders. It is a sad state of affairs when there are more non reputable breeders advertising puppies, than there are reputable ones, but this is very much the case with this breed, so beware!

Also do not believe everything you read on forums run by non club members. These forums are often run by people who are themselves very new to this breed, and often information given is far from correct. It was brought to my notice that on one of these such forums, some so called "breeders" were saying, that my puppies cost 40% more than the price they were. Where they had come up with this mystical price, I do not know, perhaps they were just trying to put people off contacting me, so they could sell them a puppy!. On a different forum some other "breeders" were saying that Zoox dogs are only bred for working, and that they were no good for showing, that was just after three of our breeding became Champions in the show ring in one year. It seems to me that these people really haven't got a clue what they are talking about. Could it be a case of sour grapes? To be honest it doesn't really bother me, because those of you that really want to know about our kennel, will be able to see what we have achieved by looking at our web site. You can also check us out by contacting the breed clubs or other reputable breeders. When looking for help, it is far better to look on the two breed club web sites and forums, where most of the information you are looking for should be found, there are links to these on my contact page.

3 pups all different colours with Chris Barry when she came to collect her foundation bitch - who became Champion Zoox Zalamazu of Azgard. Zu was Top Brood Bitch 1995, 96,97, 98, 2000 and runner up 1999. Chris and her partner Andrew run the very successful Azgard Kennel. Puppies are not worth more because of their coat or eye colour, it is perfectly normal for them to have one blue and one brown eye, as seen on our Home page, where you can see Dax's enchanting eyes.

Our puppies like to play with our other dogs. It is important that you socialise your puppy as much as possible. Jack our terrier, has disciplined generations of puppies. Every Siberian I have bred has had the deepest respect for Jack, and puppies that would chase my German Shepherds, would never dare do the same to Jack, even when they became adults, Jack was still the boss. During the summer of 2006 Jack passed away, aged 16. He has left a large hole here at Zoox. Most visitors over the last 16 years will remember Jack for hanging off the branches of our Weeping Ash Tree.

In their natural environment, dogs live in groups with complex hierachical social rules. Are you are willing to understand the world from a canine prospective.

Puppies need room to run around play. Do not keep them locked away in a cage.Those first few weeks are going to be real hard work, are you prepared to put in those hours. Bringing up a puppy can be a challenge as well as an adventure. The first few weeks of your life together will set the pattern for your dogs behaviour in future years.

Zoox and Zateizzi litters together. No two pups are the same, respect your pups individual personality.

We always take puppies for a couple of car rides before they go to their new homes. A good cage made to fit the car is not essential but it certainly makes travelling with your dog safer, and offers security. We get our cages from a company called "Hamsterbaskets". they are made to suit your requirements and the shape of your car.

TEN IMPORTANT FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SIBERIANS
1-Siberians need company, they can not cope with solitary confinement. If you are out most of the day, and intend to leave him on his own, he will destroy your home (good for him) and mentally go up the wall--THEY NEED COMPANY--Locking him in a small cage for most of the day is not the answer and is cruel ( I am not against the use of cages/crates, if used correctly, they are not cruel, it's peoples misuse of them, that makes them cruel.) Puppies and adults need to be able to run around and play, make sure you have the room to keep a Siberian healthy and happy. It is very unfair to keep one dog alone outside. Yes, I know a lot of us do keep our dogs outside, but we have large packs. If you only have one, it should be living in the home as part of the family , but when you end up with more than one, then they can spend some time outside in a secure large shaded pen, but they should still be allowed in the home as much as possible, remember THEY THRIVE ON COMPANIONSHIP..
2-Their abilities to jump climb and dig make them great escape artists, your fencing and security will have to do justice to Alcatraz. If they escape they will probably be run over or be shot for killing livestock. Fencing should be a minimum of 2M high and secure into the ground. If they can not get over it, they will try to get through it or under it, so it must be 100% secure. Conifers and hedges are no good, it needs to be something like chain link or galvanised panels.
3-Because of their desire to run, it is not advisable to let them off the lead. They will hunt almost anything furry or feathery, They hunt to kill. So KEEP THEM ON THE LEAD.
4-They moult heavily twice a year, so if you are very house proud, and don’t like dog hairs, then think again. (perhaps a budgie would be better) We used to keep all their under coat and mixed with Samoyed hair had it spun and made into mittens, jumpers,and jackets. Mixed with silk, I also had a christening robe made with little pearl buttons for my girls.
5-They are very friendly and no use as guard dogs. They will lick the burglar, then go off with him!!
6-They need firm and consistent handling, if you spoil them, you will regret it. Most importantly, THEY NEED LEADERSHIP. If you are a control freak, then forget it. You need to gain the respect of a Siberian, not command it!
7-They are very intelligent, but mischievous and free spirited, and probably too trusting for their own good.Do not abuse that trust or let children tease and torment them . If you are not sensible,and don't act as a leader that they can look up to, then they will quickly take over and run the household, this will end up with unhappy owners and a very unhappy dog, because they are just not equipped to be the boss.It is up to you to take a CALM ASSERTIVE role. This does not mean shouting and screaming at them!!!! You should be calm- assertive and your dog, calm-submissive. They are not babies or children, so dont treat them like one!
8-They will give you all the love in the world, don’t let them down. We will always take them back, if for any reason you can not keep them, BUT, if you are thinking of taking on a puppy or adult dog, then please make sure it is for the right reasons. You could have him for around 16 years, and in that time he should ALWAYS BE A TREASURED MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AND NOT AN OBJECT TO DISPOSE OF WHEN YOU ARE TIRED OF HIM OR A NEW BABY COMES ALONG, OR YOUR "CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE", eg a new job! The main two reasons for people returning their dog are, having a baby and partners splitting up! A few people always let me down, and later return their dog/s, despite the fact they said when they collected them that they would never do such a thing. All I can say is that the dog was obviously never a real part of that family.There are very few "real" reasons for having to return a dog, most are excuses. We have even had them returned when they are as old as 11 yrs old. I would just like to say a big Thankyou to the kind families who open their hearts and take on these dogs, giving them the happy home they so deserve. So please think hard, before taking the step of moving into the mad world of living with Siberian Huskies, make sure it's going to be fun and not heartache for every one concerned!
9-Siberians give you the opportunity to scrap the gym membership, in favour of long hikes in the countryside.THEY NEED LOTS OF EXERCISE --remember they were bred to run up to 100 miles a day in harness!!! Ten minutes round the block, will not do.
10-Most of all, they will change your whole lifestyle, and before you know it, you will be wanting your second or third.
You may go to a show, decide you like it, and then spend nearly every weekend in the summer at a show. You may go to a race, decide it looks like fun, then spend all your spare time training and nearly every weekend in the winter at a race. The next thing you know you have to change the car for a van, and move house to get a bigger garden for the ever growing pack of huskies. SO BE WARNED.

A Huskey Poem

Bet You Can't Own Just One!

Why own a Siberian husky dog? There's a danger you know.

You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.

There's no doubt they're addictive,

wherein lies the danger while living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.

One husky's not trouble and two are so funny, the third one is easy,

the fourth one's a honey, the fifth is delightful, and the sixth one's a breeze.

You find you can live with a houseful, with ease.

So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?

They're really quite easy, but oh Lord, the Hair! With sibes on the sofa, and sibes on the bed, and crates in the kitchen, it's no bother, you said.

They're really no trouble, their manners are great.

What are just one more husky and one more little crate?

The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty the floor is all footprints, the furniture's dusty. The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?

Who minds a few nose prints and a little more hair?

So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room, and a little more time for the dust cloth and broom. There's hardly a limit to the sibes you can add the thought of a cutback, sure makes you feel sad.

Each one is special, so useful, and so funny, the food bill grows larger, you owe the vet money, your folks never visit, and few friends come to stay, except other sibe folks, who live the same way.

Your lawn has now died and our shrubs are dead too. Your weekends are busy; you're off with your crew. There's sibe food and vitamins, training and shots, accessories and treats which cost lots.

Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?

Then that favourite comes up and climbs in your lap.

His look says you're special and you know that you will keep all the critters in spite of the bill. Some just for showing, and some just to breed all are for loving, each one fills a need.

Winter is a hassle, but the sibes love it true, and they must have their walks though' you are numb and blue. Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout at the sibes on the sofa, who refuse to go out. The adults and the puppies, the fun times, the thrills, the work and the worry, the pressures, the bills.

The Whole thing seems worth it, the sibes are your life.

They're charming and funny and offset the strife. Your lifestyle has changed; things just won't be the same.

Yes those sibes are addictive

and so is the dog game!

Author unknown

Both these bitches were returned to us in their veteran years, one was 11 years old. These two fantastic families took them into their lives, and gave them the love they so richly deserve.

IF YOUR MAIN CRITERIA FOR WANTING A SIBERIAN IS TO START BREEDING, then please do NOT contact us. All our puppies have breeding restrictions placed on them through the Kennel Club. Not untill you are well established in the breed and have a gained a good degree of knowledge through being actively involved in the breed through showing and or competing at rallies for a minimum of 3 years, should you even consider breeding.There is an excellent article, written by Brunette Greenland on the Rajarani Web site (see contact page) called "To Breed or Not to Breed" on their Info & Articles page. Try to find the time to read this article.Also on the Siberian Husky Club of GB web site, there is another article refering to Breeding, in the section headed Questions. It takes years to get to know the breed, it is 32 years since my affix "ZOOX" was registered with the Kennel Club in1976, and I am still learning.

Some times we have dogs returned, it has never been their fault, in most cases it is simply because they are no longer wanted, no matter what excuse their owners give. This always annoys me, because I go to great lengths to make sure all my prospective puppy owners know what they are taking on board, infact I try to put them off the breed, but they all sit in my house telling me they realise what commitment is needed and that they will never part with the dog and it will be a much loved family dog for life. Then low and behold some time in the future they are on the phone wanting rid of the poor dog, usualy that day. I always feel angry with myself, for having trusted these people with one of my puppies, and it leaves me more guarded when I meet another family wanting a puppy, which is why I am very protective of my puppies. You have to persuade me that you can give the right home to one of my Sibes. I am sorry it is like this, but over the years, I have become more wary of people, the few who have let me down, make it difficult to trust the good people I know are still out there. All I can say is call me for a chat, which is often better than trying to form a dialogue by email.

I do not like to blow my own trumpet, but we are one of the most successful Siberian Husky kennels in the UK. We have put our heart and soul into breeding quality, sound dogs with good temprements, that are fit and healthy with the right mental attitude for working in harness. Their well being must always come first, so please excuse me if on meeting, I seem guarded, it's nothing personal. If you decide having read my web site and perhaps chatted to a few people about our kennel, that you are genuinely interested in one of our puppies, then please get in touch. We look forward to meeting you.

When a dog is returned, it is left to us to find it a permanent loving home.They can be any age. If you can find it in your heart to consider taking on an older dog, then please contact us. Over the years I have met a few people who only want to take on older dogs, these kind families have taken in dogs as old as 11 and given them a happy retirement life, they are the first to say how much pleasure these dogs have given them, and it is so nice to see these dogs in homes where they are treasured and loved. Puppies do not suit every one, so if you are interested in giving an older dog a super home for life, then let me know. We can always put you in touch with Siberian Husky Welfare, where unfortunately there is a constant flow of dogs looking for first class homes. They may be second hand dogs, but in the right home, they will certainly give lots of first hand love!!

We are only looking for first class super owners who will offer our pups a loving home for life and not just for a few years, until the novelty wears off, the first baby comes along, partners split up or the carpet is shredded. If we havent put you off the breed, and you want to find out more, then we would love to hear from you. Visitors always welcome, but please email or telephone first.

phone 0113 2843750

In this modern age, it is so easy to go on line in the morning, and by the afternoon you have bought a puppy and have it home. I have no right to tell anyone not to do this, but what I would like to say, is, take your time, talk to reputable breeders, who are members of one of the Siberian Husky Clubs. Visit some of them and have a really good chat about the breed, don't just go to look at puppies, but meet all their adults, after all, a puppy isn't a puppy for very long, make sure you know what a Siberian Husky needs in it's life, to make it happy, healthy and content.Try to get a feel for the breed, the good breeders will ask you lots of questions, and you can also ask them anything you want to know. Don't presume you will get a puppy from them, you need to prove that you can offer a puppy the right home.You may discover a lot of things you didn't already know about Siberians, and consequently decide that this isn't the breed for you after all. Better done at this stage, than after you have bought your puppy! If possible go to some of the Championship shows or rallies and talk to people. Spend time researching the breed, and don't buy one just because you have seen them on the TV or in a film!. Is a Siberian compatible with your life style, if not are you prepared to change it? Most good breeders have a waiting list, be prepared to wait, if they do not have puppies planned, then they may suggest other breeders you can contact. Good breeders care where their puppies are going, not only have you to be happy with the breeder but they have to be happy with you! We may ask questions you find rather irritating, and seem very guarded at first. This is because we really care about our puppies, and we want the best for them, we would rather keep them, than let them go to homes we feel uneasy about. So if you have nothing to hide, bear with us, after all, we have nothing to hide!

DON'T BUY A DOG TODAY AND REGRET IT TOMORROW---- REMEMBER----A DOG IS FOR LIFE.

You only need to look in the Free Adds and general "dogs for sale" web sites, to see how many older puppies and adult Siberian Huskies, not to mention Siberian cross-breeds are up for sale. Most of this is due to irresponsible breeders/pet owners, breeding without any real knowledge of what they are doing, they sell puppies, sometimes as young as 4 weeks old to people who often don't know what they are taking on board, and before you know it, they can not cope and want rid of the puppy/dog. The so called breeder certainly doesn't want it back, so it is advertised for sale, some of these unfortunate dogs get passed from home to home, and I have known of some that have had up to 6 homes by the time they are 6 months old.Some end up in puppy farms, never getting any love, but being bred from when they are still puppies themselves and from then on, twice a year untill exhausted, then sold on to another puppy farm or worse! It is becoming an all too often sad saga. If the poor puppy/dog is very lucky it may end up in Siberian Husky welfare, where a band of dedicated people will try to make sure that it's next home, is a home for life . All good breeders insist the dog is returned to them, if the worst happens and you can no longer keep him, be prepared to sign a contract agreeing to this.

When I talk to people who have bought from puppy farms or breeders, who have no sound knowledge of the breed, but just breed to make money, they often remark on the bad conditions. I ask "why did you buy from them?", they often say, because they felt sorry for the puppies and other dogs, and more often than not, they had been made to put a large deposit up front to secure the puppy, and would lose that money if they backed out. My answer is, didn't you realise that by buying from them, you were making money for them and so of course they will go on to breed again, and why on earth would you put a deposit down on something you hadn't even seen, and from some where you hadn't even checked out!! Many reputable breeders sell their quality puppies for less than the bad breeders and puppy farms ask for their mediocre puppies, and they rarely ask for a deposit. It costs no more to look after and bring up a well bred puppy than a mediocre one, in fact it could be less, because it will have had a great start in life being well reared, and correctly fed. So spend a little time and check out the person you hope to get a puppy from, ask other reputable breeders if they know of them, or get in touch with the breed clubs. IF no one bought from these indiscriminate breeders, who have no thought about the future of this wonderful breed, then they would eventually have to stop breeding. ------food for thought.----

There are a lot of very good breeders out there who put their life and soul into this breed, they really care about the future of the breed, all I ask, is that you search them out, it may take a little time, but when you consider you are thinking of adding a Siberian to your family that may live for around 16 years, then what is a couple of months "doing your homework". Good Luck.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER, A BACK STREET BREEDER AND A PUPPY FARMER?

Responsible breeders have a wealth of knowledge, gained through years of being actively involved with the breed in the show ring and on the race scene. They have learnt over many years , what makes a good Siberian, in other words they have served an apprenticeship in the breed before they considered breeding. They choose their breeding stock very carefully , and strive to continualy improve on what they already have. They aim to breed the best Siberian Husky they can. They breed from quality, well tempered bitches to dogs that compliment the bitch, and don't use him just because he is in the same kennel or lives down the road! They test all their stock for hereditary health problems, and make the results available.They provide a suitable environment for the bitch to whelp and rear her puppies. They are very concerned that all the puppies are found first class suitable homes, and with that in mind will interview prospective buyers, and pass on all the bad points of living with Siberians as well as the good. They will almost try and put you off having one of their puppies, because they want to make sure you know what you are taking on board if you get a Siberian.They will want to know all about you, asking about your life-style, children, other pets, fencing around your property etc.They will provide you with honest answers to any question you care to ask. They provide written diet sheets, helpful information, pedigrees, KC registration papers, and much more, all of this will be given to you when you collect your puppy, if the written pedigree and KC registration certificate is not available, be very suspicious. They will always be there to help out with any worries or problems, and are always happy to hear from you. If the very worst happens, and you can not keep the dog, they will take it back.

They do not breed for financial gain, sell to dealers or pet shops. They do not sell to people they have never met before, or suggest a meeing at the motorway service station, under the pretence of saving the purchaser a long trip. It's more likely that these "breeders" want to keep their address hidden, because low and behold when they hand the puppy over in the car park, they say they have forgotten the paperwork for the pup, but promise to post it on their return home. The new owners never hear from the breeder again, and have no way of getting in touch because they do not know where they live and only have an email address. They keep sending the breeder emails asking for the papers, but receive no reply. Needless to say they never get any paper work for the puppy. Responsible breeders do not charge more for a pup of a certain colour or eye colour. They do not charge you more if you want one with KC papers, because all their pups are registered as a matter of course. They do not try to give you the "hard sell" or advertise their pups in the local free paper.

Avoid back street breeders, they have no real knowledge of the breed, but own a bitch and decide to breed because it will help pay for their annual holiday, or a new car. More often than not, they also have one male and always mate the pair together, sometimes every time the poor bitch is in season, and because "the breeder" knows nothing about dogs in general, she let this poor bitch have her first litter when she was just a puppy herself. If they don't own a dog, they will find one locally, which is also owned by someone who knows nothing about the breed. The back street breeder has no idea if the pedigrees of the dogs are compatible and usualy has no idea about hip and eye testing for hereditary problems. They know nothing about what makes a good Siberian, and have little idea of how to raise puppies successfully. A healthy litter is often the result of good luck, rather than good judgment. These breeders will be unable to provide sound after sales help to their buyers. When the purchaser starts to have problems, they are on their own, with no back up or any one to turn to for help. The back street breeder does nothing with their dogs, they will tell you they are treasured pets! What they mean is they don't know any thing at all about the breed, but have discovered having a few litters is a great way to make a quick buck. If the odd puppy dies or is ill, so what, they are still bound to come out of it with something in their pocket. A back street breeder may have a bitch/s, who may or may not be KC registerd and are usualy of mediocre to poor quality.

Lets look at a possible scenario unfold.

We will call our back street breeder Sammy, she knows nothing about the breed standard or anything at all about the breed, but because her mate down the road has a male, she thinks it will be nice to have a litter of puppies. The male dog isn't registered, he and his parents and their parents were never hip scored, and unknown to anyone he has very bad hips, in a year he will be so lame that he will be put down, but because he spends his whole life chained to a tatty kennel in the back yard, no one has even noticed he is already limping. He has never had his eyes checked, his owners dont even know about such things, let alone care. Sammy's bitch also hasn't been Hip scored, or eye tested, and unknown to anyone she has hereditary cataracts. Both are very poor examples of the breed, but Sammy has no idea of this, and she doesn't care, both dogs are pedigree (as far as she knows), so that fits her criteria to breed.

The mating takes place and the pups arrive. With Sammy's lack of knowledge, if the whelping had gone badly, the bitch could have died, and that may well have been the end of Sammy's desire to breed, however eight pups are born in the corner of the sitting room, where the bitch gets little privacy to get to know her babies. Many visitors come to see the puppies they all pick them up and the children are constantly taking them away from the bitch, despite all this the bitch does her best to feed and keep them clean. When the pups are 4 weeks old, Sammy finaly realises that she must also provide some food for the puppies, they are badly weaned onto the cheapest food Sammy can find, because feeding eight hungry mouths will cost a fortune. They aren't wormed and become sickly, it is only after one dies that Sammy discovers she should worm the puppies, she buys the cheapest tablets from the pet shop, and worms them just the once, not realising that she has not carried out the correct worming regime the pups are riddled with worms and become quite ill. With the death of one puppy, she makes one trip to the vet, it is all getting very expensive so she wants rid of the pups as soon as possible.

They are 5 weeks old so are advertised in the Free ads, "Pedigree Siberian Husky Snowdogs, lovely chunky puppies, reared with children, make great family pets, easy to keep, ready now". Someone phones wanting a dog and bitch to breed from. No problem, Sammy does not care if they want to mate a brother and sister, these new owners have the same attitude towards dogs as she does and even before they have collected their puppies, they can see pound signs in front of their eyes, the whole cycle is going to be repeated. Someone else wants a dog puppy because they already have a bitch and they want to breed, once again, another back street breeders is about to be born. Another person wants a nice quiet dog to live in her flat with her 6 cats and pet rabbit, Sammy does not mention that there is the possibility that the Siberian may just attack and kill the cats and rabbit some time in the future, not to mention that a flat is far from ideal for a working dog. Another couple want their first dog to be like one they have just seen in a film, and it must have blue eyes, as it happens one of the puppies just fits the bill, but because it has blue eyes it will cost the purchaser an extra £50. Five are sold, and go to their new homes, they are just 6 weeks old and in poor condition, no help or information is passed on, after all Sammy has manged just fine and no one ever gave her any information when she got her puppy!! As she advertised the pups as "pedigree" she has written out some pedigrees. However the pedigree she has for her bitch is hand written and she cannot make out a lot of the dogs names, so Sammy improvises, after all, no one will know!!!

The remaining pups are getting bigger and causing lots of mess, they are locked outside in the garden shed, where they have no room to run and play, their dam is now in very poor condition and all three are riddled with worms. In an effort to get rid of the last pups, Sammy takes them down to the local pub, and manages to sell one to someone who only went in for a drink, but they strike a good deal and the pup goes as a playmate for the children.They have no idea what they have bought, two weeks later they have had enough and sell him on to someone else . Five months later the RSPCA is called to a house where a dog is chained up all day, and keeps howling. The puppy, now 7 months old, has been left in the back yard while the family have gone on holiday, the neighbour said he would feed it, but he hasn't. The pup is in a sorry state, and taken away. When his owners return they sign him over to the RSPCA, glad to be rid of him.

The remaining puppy is advertised again," Siberian husky puppy, pick of litter, very sad sale, make great breeding bitch", A puppy farmer spots the advert and offers half the asking price, Sammy accepts, after all she has still made a profit. Four months later and this young bitch comes in season, she is kept in a small 4x4 ft dog run, with another bitch, who is always stealing her food , and a dog who mates her. There are seven dogs in the other two dog runs.The puppy farmer thinks there is nothing wrong with breeding from such a young bitch, as far as she is concerned she allows her dogs to do what nature intended and if nature did not intend for bitches to be bred from at 6 months of age, then they wouldn't come in season at that age. Because of this mentality she also sees no reason why her bitches should not be mated at every season. She has been "breeding" for 3years and this is her 16th litter!! She has continouse running adverts placed on different sites on the internet and always manages to sell her puppies to people who are on the look out for a cheap deal.

The young couple who bought the brother and sister from Sammy can not cope with them, the pups have pulled the wallpaper off the walls, they have chewed furniture and are still messing in the house, so they are now left outside, where they howl to come in, which has annoyed the neighbours. It has all got too difficult for the young couple and they ask Sammy to take the pups back.Sammy doesn't want to know, so once again the pups are back in the free ads, where the pair are bought by someone else who knows nothing about dogs, let alone Siberians. Again he can not cope and they are again advertised, they are sold seperatly, the bitch ends up in a puppy farm, to be bred twice a year, untill she is of no more use. By the time she is 3years old she has had 5 litters of puppies and is almost blind with hereditary cataracts. She is passed on to another puppy farmer who doesn't care she is almost blind, and she continues to breed from her.This poor bitch has never known love and affection, or walks in the fresh air.The male puppy goes to a family who are out all day, they have no idea that he is a social pack orientated breed that thrives on companionship. He is bored, miserable but full of energy and destroys the kitchen, so his owners buy a small cage, and leave him in it all day while they are out at work, not only is he in it all day, but also all night, he ends up a prisoner and is only released for a couple of hours a day. He goes crazy and howls and screams, he is put in the back garden, which is badly fenced, he escapes and is run over and killed, his ordeal is over!

Sammy has no idea of the fate of her puppies, but she has bought a new sofa and had a holiday on the money she made, so next time her bitch comes in season, what does she do, but go through the whole thing again. It's easy money and that's all she really cares about.She tells everyone on the phone that her bitch is a much loved pet and the pups are lovely chunky pups, and that's about all she tells them.But this time she keeps one of the bitch puppies, now she has two bitches to breed from, she has just become a puppy farmer! Her friend who owns the "stud dog"soon realises there is money to be made with his dog, so he advertises him on the internet -- "good stud dog which has produced big litters of lovely chunky puppies", he also has a puppy bitch from Sammy's next litter,--why ? to breed to her father, to produce some more "nice chunky puppies".( Just out of interest, no where in the Siberian Husky standard is the breed described as "chunky"!!)

PUPPY FARMER is a derogatory term used to describe breeders who produce large numbers of puppies for commercial gain. They pay little regard to the well being of their puppies and will sell to anyone who has the cash. They ask no questions and do not care what fate awaits the puppy. Some times the whole litter will be sold at a very early age to a dealer who then passes them on again to pet shops and large pet hypermarkets. Some puppy farmers may end up with a large scale operation and have new kennels built where they can house even larger numbers to breed from, they have puppies for sale all the time.They have all coat colours, some have blue eyes, and because the puppy farmer says that is rare in the breed, they sell them for more money! Some are long coated, some are KC registered some are not. Sometimes they have two or three litters at the same time, giving a total of, lets say 17 puppies. It is possible that these are then registered as one litter. These bitches will all be mated again in six months time and their pups are again possibly registered as one litter, but under one of the other bitches names. This way they can say they are not puppy farmers as they only breed 2 litters a year, where in fact they are probably churning out between six to nine litters a year.It's doubtful that any of the breeding stock have been hip scored or eye tested. Some of these places may even have a license.

Let's watch another possible scenario unfold.

Mr and Mrs Impulse buyer, having spent Friday night looking up "breeders" on their laptop, make a shortlist of three to phone. They have seen pictures of Siberian Huskies, and think the breed is lovely, they have already decided what colour they want. The first person they phone has puppies that are only a week old, thats no good they want one now. The next person asks them if they know anything about the breed, and suggests that maybe they should go to talk to some one about them before they think of getting one. What a cheek, they know what they want and don't need to talk to any one. The third "breeder" sounds promising, they have a puppy that is the colour they want, price is the only other topic discussed and a visit is arranged for the next day.

So the one and only reason Mr and Mrs Impulse have gone to this place is because of the puppies colour, they have no idea they are off to a large puppy farm where things may look fine in the little room they are asked to wait in, but they know nothing of what goes on behind the closed doors. They are not shown round the whole kennel, but just down one small block where dogs are kept on their own in clean but small dog pens, they have no toys or anything to stimulate them, and they go mad when they see the visitors, but they are not allowed to go in and meet the dogs. They are ushered past some large barns where they can hear lots of dogs barking, but they are not allowed in there. They are taken into a reception room and asked to wait. On the walls are pictures of Siberians winning rossettes at shows and running in races. These pictures have nothing to do with this "kennel" but have been put up to impress prospective buyers and give the impression that this kennel is actively involved with the breed. This is far from the truth, the only thing that this place has ever done with it's dogs, is breed from them. The barns are full of small dirty pens where many dogs are housed, they never go out in the sun and spend all their time in terrible conditions, but Mr and Mrs Impulse have no idea of this. They aren't even shown the mother of the pups, or the litter, but the one pup they are shown is the colour they want, he is cute, fluffy, black and white with big round blue eyes( long coats and round eyes are both bad faults in the breed). He has a pedigree, and on the last generation there are 2 champions, wow he must be good. The puppy farmer tells them that they have another family interested this puppy, so if they want him they must buy him now. He looks to be just what they want, they have no idea that the pedigree is incorrect and that he is bred from a very aggressive bitch, who has not had her hips and eyes tested for hereditary problems, but they buy him, because he is the right colour, and proudly take him home.

The puppy is really too young to have left his litter mates and mother, his new proud owners treat him like a spoilt child. When he is 8 months old he bites Mrs Impulse, the unruly pup thinks he is the boss in this house, and he becomes almost impossible to control. Mr and Mrs Impulse finaly realise they are out of their depth and need help. They phone the "breeder", who tells them she hasn't time to talk to them and hangs up. So they go back on the laptop and search the internet looking for some one to help. It takes them a couple of days searching and talking to other breeders before they are given the name of quite a local reputable breeder, who agrees to help them, by now they realise what fools they have been. Thankfully the reputable breeder takes them under her wing, and invites them round to her home. Here they see a happy pack of Siberians leading an active happy social life, where the dogs live and play together. Mr and Mrs Impulse go into the very large dog run to play with them, it is daunting at first, but they soon relax when they realise what friendly happy dogs they are. The pack is glad to interact with strangers. These dogs are not kept in small individual sterile kennels, with no room to play or interact with their own kind, they are happy and social, their dog pen is large enough for them to run at full speed, they have trees to shelter under and chew, they can dig to their hearts content, they have a large table to sit on and and after their initial exuberent greeting seem calm, relaxed and well behaved. Mr and Mrs Impulse had no idea how speacialised Siberians were when they decided to get one, they are now on a steep learning curve, and learn a lot on their first visit. With the reputable breeders help, they start to get the measure of their unruly pup. She shows them how to handle him and makes it all look easy, they leave feeling at last, there is light at the end of the tunnel. They have grown very attached to the unruly pup and want to make the partnership work. The reputable breeder spend 5 hours with them on their first visit, they learn lots, they are told of the rallies that are held , they never knew such things went on, and decide to go and watch a race or two.

. They are bitten by the bug, that is -sled dog racing. They soon realise that their present puppy has about as much desire to work as a couch potato, so they ask if they can be considered for a puppy from the reputable breeder. She isn't due to have a litter for at least 6 months, but they are happy to wait, no more impulse buying for them. At a show they meet the stud dog that has been carefully selected by the reputable breeder, he is a handsome bouncy friendly young dog who has done very well in the show ring and is proving to be an excellent dog in harness, he lives 250 mile away from the bitch, both prospective parents have had all their health checks and now its a waiting game.They use that time to study the breed, they go to watch more shows, and chat to many new people, other Siberian enthusiasts, they make new friends. Some have been in the breed for 30 years, thats before they were even born! They join the breed clubs and go to a seminar on training sled dogs. Eight months later, they get their new puppy, and they have already ordered another puppy ( the same sex of course) to work with this one, from another reputable breeder that they met at a race, he came highly recomended by many well known people in the breed. They have been round to see him a few times and his puppies will be ready in another 6 weeks time. Their lives change forever, they now spend many weekends through the summer at shows and most winter weekends at a race. They even take doggy holidays, no more trips abroad. What has happened to their first Siberian, being a monorchid he was castrated, he is still rather aggressive with people he doesn't know and he just watches when the other two work in harness.On the whole he is much better behaved, and loves to play with his two new house mates, he leads a cushy life.Despite all his failings he is lucky, his owners love him. He will never sire litters of mediocre puppies, and that has to be a good thing.

His owners often go on the internet and look at the web site where they first came accross the puppy farmer. She is still breeding and there are at least another hundred puppy farmers and back street breeders advertising puppies and older dogs for sale, on the same sites she advertises on. Some of these "breeders" have their own web sites, they look very "nice", with pictures of puppies and dogs going for walks, they try to make it sound as if they are experts in the breed, but its what's missing from these web sites that needs to be recognised. They contain no information about the competition record of their dogs, because they dont compete with them ( except maybe the local fun show ).They only breed lots of puppies from poor to mediocre bitches who are mated to their own or their friends poor to mediocre stud dogs. Many have never had their eyes checked for herediary problems, that could lead to blindness, or had their hips x-rayed.There are often little groups of these so called "breeders", who band together, swapping dogs/puppies, using each others males at stud and promote each others "kennels" on their web sites. Most of their dogs are bred on the same typical puppy farming lines, occasionally far back in the pedigree there are some well know dogs or the odd champion, they are so far back that their influence no longer exists, but these "breeders" make a point of mentioning that these dogs are in the pedigree of their pups, trying to sell them off the reputation of the well known kennel, whose dogs are now generations away from what they have just bred from.They sometimes make misleading remarks, like "their dogs can run free off the lead, a quality they pass down to their puppies", they will say anything to make you go to them or their friends for a puppy. They describe their dogs as stunning, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and their dogs are generally far from being good examples of the breed, most are terrible. They don't know this because they have never taken the time to get to know what a good Siberian looks like.These puppy farmers care nothing for the future of the breed, and have become good at the "hard sell", although some are more clever than others. Many advertise their pups as pedigree, particularly if they aren't KC registered, some are KC registered, those will have 6 weeks free insurance. Some even make a point to say they have been wormed and go with a diet sheet. A few make a big issue of the fact they have bred from a bitch who has had her hip and eyes checked, BUT has the sire been tested, and how many generations back in their pedigrees have dogs been tested. Some of the more astute puppy farmers now do Puppy sales contracts, having copied the idea from reputable breeders. All these things should be done as a matter of course, plus much more. The puppy farmer that does all the above can be difficult to spot, if you are unsure as to the reputation of a "breeder", make enquires about them with lots of other breeders ( not ones that link from their web site) or the breed clubs. If you aren't bothered who you buy a puppy from, then its doubtful you will have read this far!

The really appalling puppy farms are easier to spot, they are run down horrid places where the dogs are kept in small filthy pens or cages, and never get any exercise, love or attention. There are often a number of different breeds being "farmed".The adults are sometimes chained up and may even be housed in an old wreck of a car, or if they are lucky kept in some filthy leaky shed.The smell is terrible and there is dog mess every where.The pups are badly housed, reared and fed and have never seen a vet, even though they are sickly. The dogs look sad and dejected, their coats are unkept and you know you shouldn't buy a puppy from this place, but when you see them, you just have to rescue one from this hell hole. The puppy farmer is glad to have got rid of another sickly pup, once they have all gone, he is sending the mother of this litter to his mates kennel, in return for one of his old stud dogs. The bitches he has, have been mated back to their brother or father for the last two years, time for a change!!!

The two types of puppy farm may look very different, one "may" seem smart and clean from the outside, the other is a disgusting filthy place, both may have other breeds also for sale, but the one thing both puppy farmers have in common is their lack of knowledge for the breed and their desire to breed just to make money. They do not care what happens to a puppy as long as they get paid, they do not care about the future welfare of the puppies they breed and as far as they are concerned - sod the future of this fantastic breed.

The fact that puppies from a puppy farm may be sick and/or have hereditary diseases should surprise no one. When the motive behind breeding a dog is for profit, and bitches are used as breeding machines, it stands to reason that testing for hip or eye problems can only harm the profit margin. The puppy farmer isn't bothered if her dog/s may have bad hips or produce eye problems in present or future generations, she just thinks, "its not her problem", after all someone will pay good money for the puppies, no matter what problems may be associated with them, because what can not be seen, no one need know about. So it's not surprising that many defective puppies are being produced.The public unaware of just how big the problem is, keeps returning to the modern pet shop window, the computer. Shopping on-line has become the modern way to shop, thats fine when it's a pair of trainers or jeans, if they don't fit they are returned and the account credited, but what happens when 10 months down the line, Mr and Mrs Impulse buyer decide they no longer want the delinquent Siberian puppy they bought from the local puppy farmer. They try to re- sell him, but when no one wants him and they are sick to death of the crazy dog, they then do what over thousands of other people do, and take him to the local dogs home, where if he is very lucky he may find a good home, most don't.

PLEASE think befor you buy, A DOG IS FOR LIFE, not untill you can not cope with him,or you have had a baby,are Bored with him, or sick of cleaning up the dog hair and mud he bring in on his feet!

Dogs end up in rescue centres for all kinds of reasons, but I doubt that any of them are the dogs fault. Many of these centres, such as DOGS TRUST will never put a healthy dog to sleep, no matter what its age. These dogs come in all shapes and sizes, ages and colours, pedigree,crossbred and mongrels, and they are all crying out for loving homes for the remainder of their lives. If you have decided that a Siberian husky is not the dog for you, then please think about taking on a rescue dog. Last year, after the death of our 16 year old terrier, my daughter Tracey and her partner decided it was the right time to get a dog.Tracey had always wanted to give a rescue dog a home, so off we all went to the Dogs Trust, to look for a small terrier. On the day we went there were no small terriers in at the time, but Tracey was drawn to a brindle dog, not particularly small, but again not too big, he was about one year old, and looked liked he could be a staffie cross. You could say it was love at first sight, and after a few more visits and walks with "Tucker" he came home to live with Tracey and Jason, although he does spend a great deal of time here. Within a month, it was as if he had always been around. He is such a bright dog, and was soon very well behaved. He always has company and gets lots of exercise. He loves to go in our large dog pens and play with the huskies, when he arrived we had a puppy called Lily who was smaller than him, now she is a lot taller, but they are still the best of friends, and although he plays with all the gang, Lily will always be his special friend. He loves to go down to the river with Tracy when she is exercising the horses. He also gets along very well with Spider, my other daughter's lurcher and Max, my brother's labrador, who both come on many holidays here. Tucker is a great dog, we know nothing of his past, except that he was picked up as a stray, off the streets. I just hate to think what would have happened to him, if he hadnt been taken in by Dogs Trust. So go along and take a look at one of their centres. They do a fantastic job, and they are always full to capacity with dogs just like Tucker, waiting for that right person to come along, and give them a home for life.

Sadly not all rescue centres are able to keep dogs for longer than a couple of weeks, and thousands of healthy dogs are put to sleep every year through no fault of their own. Remember --- A DOG IS FOR LIFE ---

MY ONE TRUE FRIEND

When I looked up in to your face, I knew you would love me, just as I would always love you.You had chosen me, you took me home and we became such good friends. In those first few weeks I chewed the remote control for theTV and ate your new Italian shoes, broke into the pantry and demolished most of the contents then promptly threw up on the carpet, but I knew how to melt your heart, I would wag my tail and look up into your eyes, it always worked, and you would pick me up, scratch my neck and give me a cuddle, you were my one true friend. I then proceeded to dig up all the garden, and chew all the plant pots, I would then run inside and pee on your new persian rug, and all you did was sit on the floor with me and tickle by tum, and I knew you loved me. At night time I would sneak up onto your bed and curl up with you, you never pushed me off, "good night my one true friend" . We went for many long walks and you took me every where with you.As I grew you would eagerly show off my puppy pictures to anyone who showed an interest in me. Life couldnt have been much better.We went on the moors and walked all day, we went to the seaside and frolicked on the beach. You introduced me to a donkey, funny smelly thing, we played on the sand untill we were both tired out, we had such fun. Then one day you told me that you had a new job and I couldn't go with you, so I was left at home alone, I cried and cried, it took me a long time to realise that you would always come home at the end of the day. I learnt to wait patiently for your arrival home. Once or twice I chewed a little of the old kitchen carpet, you would come home and give me a disapproving look , but I knew you always forgave me and still loved me, you were my one true friend. We would go for a long walk in the park, where I would jump in the lake and run around having a great time. Then we would have our dinner and curl up infront of the TV, you would make me a warm drink before bed time, you were my one true friend.

When did it all change, you started to come home even later and always had new friends with you. You would only give me a quick 10 minute walk and go off and leave me again, eventualy you spent most of your time with just one special friend, it wasn't me, and I could tell that he didn't really like me, although I did my best to make him a friend. When you went out, he would put me outside in the garden, and he locked me in the small dog run he had bought, where he said I had to stay. I knew you still loved me because you always let me out, but was I still your one true friend ?

I saw less and less of you. When did you stop me climbing on the bed, when did you stop me going upstairs, when did you stop me going in the house, when did you stop taking me out in the car, when did we stop going for our long walks, when did you last take me for a walk, I can not remember. Then one day you went away. I felt so alone, your friend did not want me, but I knew you would come back. Imagine my joy when I saw you come home, and you had with you someone I knew I wanted to get to know, it was a baby. I wanted to be his guardian and friend, to love him and be with him, but no I was not allowed, outside I had to stay, I heard you asking for me to be allowed in, but your friend said NO, a dog must live outside, I thought I was your friend.

At last you came to see me I was so overjoyed, you had tears running down your face, I wondered why. You hugged me and stroked me like you always did, and once again I knew I was your one true friend. I loved the feel of your hand gently rubbing my ears, I rolled upside down and you stroked my tum, just like you used to do, it was such a nice feeling, but then you got up to go, I jumped up to follow you, but you told me NO, and I was alone once again. I called out for you, please come back, please don't leave me all alone, I am so sad without you, but you didnt come back, your friend did, he grabbed my collar roughly and put me back inside my cage, I called out to you again, "Shut up you stupid dog", he shouted, he raised his hand and hit me, I was so stunned, I ran to the far corner and quietly cried. I just didn't understand, what had I done wrong?

The following day you came out with my lead in your hand, I was so thrilled. I hadn't been out of the garden for such a long time, you seemed very quiet so I jumped up to give you a big kiss, I wanted to tell you, how much I loved you.You took me for a car ride, I was just so overjoyed, it was you and me again, as it was meant to be, I hated being left alone. The sun was shinning, and I wondered if we were off to the seaside.I loved going out in the car, I felt so happy, it was just like it used to be, you and me on the open road. At last we arrived, I couldn't smell the sea, but I jumped out of the car keen to see where we were and pleased to stretch my legs and to be going for a walk. I was so happy to be with you, I couldn't stop wagging my tail. The endless days of being all alone in my tiny dog pen, melted to the back of my mind, we were together, as it was meant to be,me and my one true friend. I was bouncing up and down not able to control my excitement at being out with you. You said it was for the best, and I wondered what you meant. I had no idea when you stroked me, that this was to be the very end.

You looked away as you gave my lead to the young girl who met us, I heard you tell her that it was for the best, you had a young baby to look after, and your partner said I had to go, please find him a good home, and you left. I tried to pull away from this girl, I didn't want to go with her, I looked back, please don't leave me, what had I done that was so wrong. I was taken to a building, as we walked inside, all I could hear were the other dogs desperate cries, the noise got louder, I knew straight away, this wasn't a place I wanted to be. The girl led me into a small kennel," I'll let you settle in", she said, I didn't want to settle in. I haven't eaten since I arrived, where are you my one true friend, how could you leave me here, please come back, I'm sorry, what have I done that was so wrong?

I sit each day quietly in the back of this small kennel, I hate it here, all that keeps me going is knowing you will come back for me. People come round and look at me, at first I was excited, thinking it would be you, but now I just want to hide, they tap on the bars and I open my eyes, but it's not you, where are you my one true friend. The young girl comes to see me, I go to her and try to explain I shouldn't be here, she seems to understand, "you've not much longer to go" she says, does this mean I'm going home.

Today the girl has come with a lead in her hand, yipee I am going home, she takes me out of my prison, for the first time since I arrived I gently wag my tail, we go into a room and she gentle lifts me up onto a small table. I look into her pretty eyes and lick her cheek, are you going to groom me before I go home, my coat is shedding and I feel itchy, I hope you are going to groom me. She holds me gently, and gives me a hug, she tells me life isn't fair and that I don't deserve this. I'm not sure why she should be so upset about grooming me. She says soon it will be all over, a lady approaches, I sense something isn't right, and start to feel a panick rising through my body. I squirm and try to get away, but I'm held very firmly and know I have to stay. She holds my leg and whispers in my ear, "I am so very sorry poor chap, but this is your last day", as I look up to her face I feel a little prick, I suddenly feel all sleepy, and flop down in her arms," why have you let this happen, my one true friend?".