with donnA beckmAn, sAndy weAver cArmAn, Ann mAriAh cook, dAwn eisele, mArie fAlconer, kAthleen kAnzler, jAn sigler, delbert thAcker & sheri wright
dogs in our show ring. Our national club looks to reward that through the variety of the Sled Dog programs and degrees we offer. We encourage that further through our Working/Showing Award, where you must accumulate confirmation, performance and sled racing points. My husband was lucky enough to be awarded that some years ago. I believe as a breed club we are seriously committed to maintaining that original function and versatility. MF: They are very mischievous and not obedient like the Dobermans and must possess good temperament. KK: Siberians do not stand like statues like a Dobe or Dane. JS: Every breed has its own unique qualities. I’ve become a fan of a lot of the breeds that I judge. Some I didn’t care for much at all before I started judging them, but they grow on you. As my Siberians are old, I sometimes I think about getting another breed but there always seems to be something that says to me, “What would you do without a Siberian?” DT: It the entire package that makes the Siberian different from the other breeds. There are similarities with other Working dogs, but when you consider the athleticism, weather adaptation, ability to perform their function, their sense of humor, type, soundness, companionship, problem solving ability, independence and friendliness, the Siberian is then unique. SW: Though I don’t judge other breeds, I have studied many and from my years of observations the Siberian Husky is still superior moving in both side gate and down and back to many other breeds. We have to be careful that we don’t lose that. 13. And, for a bit of humor: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show? DB: Siberian Huskies are intelligent and often challenging to their owners and handlers. You never know when a Siberian will give you a kiss, spit out his bait, completely ignore you, or bow and play in the ring. Siberians should not be shy or aggressive. But, you can probably bet that your Siberian entrants will not stand like statues in the ring. Their antics are generally good-spirited, as well as embarrassing for their handlers. Please approach judging Siberians with a sense of humor; it will be appreciated by dogs and exhibitors, alike. SC: Let’s go back in time to the early 1990s. Put yourself outside the Siberian Husky ring at Old Dominion Kennel Club under bright blue skies on a lovely, sunny spring day. The Open Dog class was in and it was a large class, so many of the handlers were relaxing the dogs and chatting while waiting our turn to be judged. In the next ring, Pomeranians were going through their paces. Suddenly, a loud gasp went up around the rings and the Siberian handlers who had been chatting looked around to see what was going on. My red dog Bruce had flung himself over the ring gating and into a play bow, tail wag- ging wildly, trying to get the Pomeranians to wrestle with him! I was mortified, hopped him back into the Siberian
ring and learned to pay better attention to my dog from then on. No harm, no foul and the Pomeranian owners thought it was pretty funny! In hindsight, so do I—it was the perfect illustration of Bruce’s personality—friendly, mischievous and slightly sneaky. In the moment, though, I was looking for a rock to hide under. AC: There was an agility trial at our national specialty and one Siberian was doing an awesome job, about to win the division. The dog completed all the elements and was just steps from finishing the course, when it suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to turn back, run to the top of the A-frame and let out a big, proud, Husky howl, thus losing the division by a second or two. The entire audience—all Siberian owners—stood up and applauded. It was such a Siberian moment! The handler just shook her head and laughed. DE: Many years ago I was at a show sitting ringside watch- ing Siberians. My friend had entered the ring and told her young son to stay in his chair. He did, but after a bit he went into the Port-a-Lav right behind our ring. I guess he felt when you have to go, you have to go. After a bit I heard a faint voice saying, “Help me, help me.” Appar- ently the young boy was stuck in that Port-A-Lav. He was safely released, but not a happy camper being stuck in there for quite some time. Now he is a young man in his 20s and clearly does not enjoy being reminded of that day. KK: One event tickled me. I was judging in Ireland and my husband, Norbert, traveled with me. While I judged my husband went sightseeing for the day. When he returned to the show grounds he saw a lovely Pembroke Corgi in the parking lot. He stopped the owner and told him how beautiful his dog was. The owner laughed and said that Norbert’s wife (to this day Norbert can not figure out how the man knew he was married to me) had thought so too as she had awarded the dog BOB and a Group 1. DT: The funniest Siberian experience was at a National Specialty during Obedience. It was time for this female to jump a hurdle and in her enthusiasm she repeated it 6 times before moving on. The funniest non-Siberian expe- rience was when I was ring stewarding and this puppy Doberman bitch grabbed her owner’s slip and took off running, pulling the owner with her to the point her slip was around her ankles. SW: Many years ago a friend was having trouble getting her puppy to stand in the ring for the judge. When the judge finally came to her dog for examination, he just laid down on his side. My friend promptly proceeded to posi- tion her dog’s body in a stacked position while lying on his side on the floor. She looked up at the judge and said, “There you go, it’s called a side stack.” Everyone watch- ing, and the judge, had a good long laugh.
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