e diel, 18 nëntor 2007
The Siberian Husky: Dog of the North
The dog was little known in the United States or in Europe until the first "Alaska Sweepstakes" (later known as the Iditarod) was run and a team of Siberian huskies won. In later expeditions to the North Pole, the Siberian was a major player also. This beautiful and intelligent breed became a favorite of the Russian explorers and was extensively used throughout Siberia. For many years it was known as the "Chukchi" dog, but in the United States the name "Siberian Husky " was coined, while in Great Britain the same breed was often called the "Arctic Husky".
The Siberian Husky is a strikingly beautiful dog. The eyes are almond shaped and slightly slanted, the skull is clean and refined, with very soft upright well furred ears lending an intelligent and alert look to the head. Often there is a definite mask and sometimes the eyes are a pale blue or golden yellow in color. The coat is soft and densely furred and can be of any color, usually very symmetrically marked. He is a medium sized dog, classed as a "working dog" with great stamina and speed being the hallmark of the breed. Because of his close association with the Chukchi tribe, being considered a "member of the family", he is a very people oriented dog and does not have as strong a "pack mentality" as for example the Alaskan Malamute and some of the other husky breeds who were bred to pull in a pack exclusively.
The Siberian Husky entered the American Kennel Club registry in 1930 and his popularity has grown beyond that of being only a Show Dog. He is used extensively as a Therapy Dog, doing well in Obedience and Agility and is of course also used still as a racing sled dog. The "Sibe" as he is affectionately termed, is a friendly and completely amiable dog, quite easy to train and very willing to please. Temperamentally he is non-aggressive to other dogs and to people. He is comparatively easy to groom, for even though he has a thick coat it is not excessively long and is simple to maintain for it seldom mats and is completely weather proof. Besides all of that, he is a healthy breed which has very few genetic anomalies or inherited problems. He is an adaptable dog, but definitely needs plenty of exercise, for he was bred to be a working dog and needs to be kept busy or he will find something to occupy himself with. He is above all an "easy keeper" and a happy companion dog who loves to work for his master.
e martë, 13 nëntor 2007
e diel, 11 nëntor 2007
e shtunë, 10 nëntor 2007
How to Train a Siberian Husky
Learning how to train a Siberian Husky can be quite a challenge, due to their strong will and independent thinking. To train them properly, you will require a lot of persistence and patience.
Siberian Huskies are easily bored with repetitive tasks. They will be happy to obey you as long as there isn't something more interesting to distract them. If you're looking for your typical adoring "man's best friend" do-anything-for-you type dog, you've got the wrong breed here! Despite this, they do bond easily and loyally to their human owners, but in their own way.
Siberian Huskies also have some bad habits. They like to wander off and steal food after digging a hole under the fence. The digging instinct is strong and that, together with a need for exercise and a natural curiosity, often leads them into mischief. You will need a strong, well sunk fence if you want to keep your Siberian Husky at home. They have a strong desire to run, so should never be left to run free without a leash, for their own safety. They can forget where home is and just run forever.
How to train a Siberian Husky is therefore a more subtle art. You cannot force them. You must manipulate them so they see you as their leader, their inspiration. The trick is teach them to perceive you as more important than them, without them knowing. The following is a sample of some everyday things you can do to achieve this.
To start with, teach the puppy his name. All instructions should begin with your dog's name, followed by the command. We all pay attention when we hear our name called.
Eat first, then feed your dog. When you play with your Siberian Husky, make sure you end up with possession of the object. Go through doors and passageways before your dog. Rite of passage is important to dogs. Don't allow your husky to sleep on the bed with you, at least not until you have trained him. You don't want him to perceive that he is your equal. If your dog is blocking your path, don't go around him - make him move out of your way instead.
You need to get your husky used to having your hands around his food bowl. Start by adding tasty treats while he is eating, then get to the point where you can remove the bowl while he is eating to add the treats.
You want to get your dog used to seeing you as dominant, but under conditions of trust. Gently put him down on his side or back and touch his ears, paws and so forth and give him a massage to make it enjoyable for him.
It is better to use a harness instead of a collar and chain for your husky. Animals attack at the throat and jugular, so if you are trying to train a Siberian Husky by tugging on his neck, he will be too preoccupied with a sense of alarm and danger, to obey you.
There are many more ways how to train a Siberian Husky, but the above are good starting points for becoming your dog's friend. Remember that security and trust are important to a dog, so good training involves these two elements.
e hënë, 18 qershor 2007
The Siberian Husky: Dog of the North
The dog was little known in the United States or in Europe until the first "Alaska Sweepstakes" (later known as the Iditarod) was run and a team of Siberian huskies won. In later expeditions to the North Pole, the Siberian was a major player also. This beautiful and intelligent breed became a favorite of the Russian explorers and was extensively used throughout Siberia. For many years it was known as the "Chukchi" dog, but in the United States the name "Siberian Husky " was coined, while in Great Britain the same breed was often called the "Arctic Husky".
The Siberian Husky is a strikingly beautiful dog. The eyes are almond shaped and slightly slanted, the skull is clean and refined, with very soft upright well furred ears lending an intelligent and alert look to the head. Often there is a definite mask and sometimes the eyes are a pale blue or golden yellow in color. The coat is soft and densely furred and can be of any color, usually very symmetrically marked. He is a medium sized dog, classed as a "working dog" with great stamina and speed being the hallmark of the breed. Because of his close association with the Chukchi tribe, being considered a "member of the family", he is a very people oriented dog and does not have as strong a "pack mentality" as for example the Alaskan Malamute and some of the other husky breeds who were bred to pull in a pack exclusively.
The Siberian Husky entered the American Kennel Club registry in 1930 and his popularity has grown beyond that of being only a Show Dog. He is used extensively as a Therapy Dog, doing well in Obedience and Agility and is of course also used still as a racing sled dog. The "Sibe" as he is affectionately termed, is a friendly and completely amiable dog, quite easy to train and very willing to please. Temperamentally he is non-aggressive to other dogs and to people. He is comparatively easy to groom, for even though he has a thick coat it is not excessively long and is simple to maintain for it seldom mats and is completely weather proof. Besides all of that, he is a healthy breed which has very few genetic anomalies or inherited problems. He is an adaptable dog, but definitely needs plenty of exercise, for he was bred to be a working dog and needs to be kept busy or he will find something to occupy himself with. He is above all an "easy keeper" and a happy companion dog who loves to work for his master.
e diel, 17 qershor 2007
e shtunë, 16 qershor 2007
131th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
I'd like to adopt or purchase a new dog? Where do I start?
Start by watching the 131th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The entire show is available for sale on DVD from the Westminster Kennel Club website (you can find the URL at the end of this article).
The show presents competitors from every dog breed for the "Best in Show" title. You'll learn a great deal by just watching the show and listening to the descriptions of each dog breed as they are systematically presented to the judges.
There are seven groups of dogs (Sporting, Non-sporting, Working, Herding, Terrier, Hound, and the Toy) being shown at the Westminister Kennel Club show today, with various entrants within each group. All breeds compete for the "best of breeds" titles and then the "best of breeds" winners compete to become the "best of groups" winners. Finally, the "best of groups"winners compete to win the "Best in Show" title.
It's important to note that the judges do not compare one breed with another to make their decisions for the "Best in Group" and "Best in Show" titles. Instead, the judges look for the dogs that best represent their individual AKC standards. The dog that best represents the standard for its breed wins the "Best in Show" title.
The following is a list of all the dog groups and the breeds within each dog group:
SPORTING BREEDS
Brittany
Pointer
Pointer (German Shorthaired)
Pointer (German Wirehaired)
Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
Retriever (Curly-Coated)
Retriever (Flat-Coated)
Retriever (Golden)
Retriever (Labrador)
Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
Setter (English)
Setter (Gordon)
Setter (Irish)
Spaniel (American Water)
Spaniel (Clumber)
Spaniel (Cocker) A.S.C.O.B.
Spaniel (Cocker) Black
Spaniel (Cocker) Parti-Color
Spaniel (English Cocker)
Spaniel (English Springer)
Spaniel (Field)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
Spaniel (Sussex)
Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
Spinone Italiano
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
NON-SPORTING BREEDS
American Eskimo Dog
Bichons Frises
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Dalmatian
Finnish Spitz
French Bulldog
Keeshond
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Poodle (Miniature)
Poodle (Standard)
Schipperke
Shiba Inu
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
WORKING BREEDS
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog
Black Russian Terrier
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Doberman Pinscher
German Pinscher
Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Komondor
Kuvasz
Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Portuguese Water Dog
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Siberian Husky
St Bernard
Standard Schnauzer
HERDING BREEDS
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Bearded Collie
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Border Collie
Bouviers des Flandres
Briard
Canaan Dog
Collie (Rough)
Collie (Smooth)
German Shepherd Dog
Old English Sheepdog
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Puli
Shetland Sheepdog
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)
TERRIER BREEDS
Airedale Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Australian Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Border Terrier
Bull Terrier (Colored)
Bull Terrier (White)
Cairn Terrier
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Irish Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Manchester Terrier (Standard)
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Parson Russell Terrier
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Skye Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
HOUND BREEDS
Afghan Hound
Basenji
Basset Hound
Beagle
13 In.
Beagle
15 In.
Black and Tan Coonhound
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Dachshund (Longhaired)
Dachshund (Smooth)
Dachshund (Wirehaired)
Foxhound (American)
Foxhound (English)
Harrier
Ibizan Hound
Irish Wolfhound
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound
Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen
Pharaoh Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Scottish Deerhound
Whippet
TOY BREEDS
Affenpinscher
Brussels Griffon
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chinese Crested
English Toy Spaniel (B&PC)
English Toy Spaniel (KC&R) Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
Maltese
Manchester Terrier (Toy)
Miniature Pinscher
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Poodle (Toy)
Pug
Shih Tzu
Silky Terrier
Toy Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier