with donnA beckmAn, sAndy weAver cArmAn, Ann mAriAh cook, dAwn eisele, mArie fAlconer, kAthleen kAnzler, jAn sigler, delbert thAcker & sheri wright
an incredible sense of humor. They are exceptionally cheerful dogs, even when faced with dire circumstances. They can put a smile on anyone’s face. They do best with people who share the same traits. In many respects, they are cat-like, but they have the added benefit of being affectionate like dogs. DE: The Siberian is naturally a pack animal by virtue of their history and their temperament should hold true to that. While they may be aloof at times, they should never be aggressive or shy. The Siberian can certainly test you and be clowns, but the naturally friendly personality and affable nature lends themselves to be popular as a companion. But don’t be fooled, you need to be in charge or the Siberian will take advantage of you and get into mischief. They love to dig and run. MF: They are very family-oriented and are pack animals with lots of fun, play and great longevity. KK: They are great companions because they are cheerful, adaptable to all climates, good with kids and they are funny. JS: First of all, the Siberian is an attractive breed, with romance tied into their historical role as a tough, arctic sled dog. They are moderately-sized, good-natured, generally healthy and once you learn to handle the shed- ding, they are an easy dog to maintain. People who get a Siberian fall into one of two categories. They either become devotees of the breed or they can’t understand why anyone would have one. The devotees love the intel- ligence, the independence and the comical side of the breed. Those who do not understand the breed find them “untrainable” and difficult. Developing a bond with these dogs makes all the difference. Another positive for the breed is longevity. It is not uncommon for the breed to reach 14 or 15 in pretty good health. The Siberian Husky Club of America starts Veteran classes at age 9 and has three age groups: 9-11, 11-13 and over 13 years of age. The breed is pretty hardy. DT: The Siberian is always up for an adventure. I feel this makes them an excellent companion. They want to be with you. SW: Though the Siberian has a strong and independent per- sonality, they also have a very comical and endearing one as well. A well-bred and properly raised Siberian can give many years of enjoyment as a loving and loyal compan- ion. They are energetic, playful and very loving to their family. They can be quite talkative, even a little sassy, but always entertaining. 2. There’s a major motion picture being made about a member of this breed. What gives every Siberian Husky that movie star quality in the ring? DB: I think that the Siberian, as a breed—due to the smaller size relative to many other breeds, as well as the utilitarian build and furnishings—sometimes has the tendency to get a bit lost in the Working Group. By the
breed’s appearance and nature, it may not be as flashy and eye-catching as some other Working breeds. I think, however, that within the breed, there are individual specimens that stand out in the Breed, Group and Best- in-Show rings. These are the dogs that epitomize our breed standard; not in the extreme; but rather in their soundness, movement and breed type. Whereas those of us who have spent a lifetime with Siberians think that the breed is outstanding, great examples of the Breed are seen as standouts by all. SC: The very first dog show I ever attended was in 1979— Rock Creek Kennel Club—and I had no idea how it all worked. A new friend was explaining what class was in, what the judge was looking for, how Winners worked and by the time the judge finished the classes, I was pretty confused, but impressed by all of the beautiful dogs. When Best of Breed went into the ring, it was a large class by today’s standards, but one dog stood out. I could not take my eyes off of him. I told my friend that even though I had no idea what was going on, that dog would be my winner if I were the judge. That dog was CH Innisfree’s Sierra Cinnar and it clearly didn’t take a genius to pick him! He had movie-star quality in the ring and many other Siberians have it, too. Siberians are gen- erally friendly, inquisitive dogs, which makes it fairly easy to train them to bait and look adorable. The best ones float around the ring, wag their tails and love to show off. Hard to take your eyes off of a dog like that—and by the way, Cinnar won that day. AC: They love showing off! They show with smiles on their faces and a quick, light step that says, ‘Look at me!’ They are huge hams and often enjoy upstaging their handlers. DE: Siberians always believe they should be in charge and while they are quick learners, they do not necessarily feel the need to acquiesce to every command or direction. Siberians believe they are the star. MF: They are very much an athlete and companion Working dog with lively expression. KK: I adore my breed, but I do not know if they have a mov- ie star quality in the ring. They are one of the most con- sistent breeds for soundness. Siberians have been used for years in the movies—my first recollection was the TV show “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” and many movies including Iron Will and Eight Below. People love to watch them on the screen and in person. I do not think of my beloved breed so much as glamorous—more like captivat- ing. They are so close in look and some behaviors as their wild cousins like the wolf and coyote. I marvel that we are allowed to live and enjoy their company and antics. So, maybe it is their closeness to wildness that keeps owners and the audience captivated by this wonderful breed in person and on screen. JS: That’s easy… the good looks and the vibrant personality they can exude. DT: The Siberian’s temperament fosters a star quality.
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