The Siberian Husky was developed by the Chukchi people of northeastern Asia as an endurance sled dog, this breed has been shown via recent DNA research that it is one of the oldest breed of dogs.
In 1909, the first large numbers of these Chukchi dogs were brought to Alaska to compete in the long-distance All-Alaska Sweepstakes races, and the Alaskan dog drivers quickly recognized the ability of these huskies from Siberia.- Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc
Many people have heard of the story of a Siberian Husky named Balto who in 1925 led the sled dog team of Gunnar Kassen. Balto and his team were the last leg of a 674 mile journey to deliver diphtheria anti-toxin to Inuit children in Nome, Alaska. This journey is part of the now famous Iditarod Trail, or National Historic Trail.
This week actually marks the running of the “Last Great Race On Earth”, the Iditarod. They started in Anchorage Alaska on 6 March 2010 and have been making their way on the 1,161mile trail. Many of the sled dog teams still use Siberian Huskies.
The Siberian Husky is a working dog that loves to run! They need exercise and don’t really care what the weather is like!
They have a strong predatory instinct and they have the endurance to chase things down. On the whole they are extremely affectionate, alert and adaptable. They do however have a stubborn streak caused by their intelligence and their independent spirit. Training is highly recommended to help create an environment to keep them learning and tired!
There have been lots of movies that star Siberian Huskies: Iron Will, Snow Dogs, Eight Below and Balto are a few. One of my favorites is Eight Below. It was the first dog movie I watched really with a dog trainers “eye” and it was beautiful to see those dogs in action!
The Siberian Husky isn’t a breed for everyone. They are amazing dogs that need a job and they were bred originally for sled dog work. If you own a Husky be prepared to have a heavy duty exercise and training regime. Ultimately they can do any job, like any dog, but they are happiest being active.
This is Boomer, he is a Bloodhound and a current client of Follow Me Dog Training LLC. Boomer has been spending the day with me for a little bit of extra training and fun. We’ve been to the park and to the shopping center and walking him around is kind a lot of fun. Many people know what a Bloodhound is by sight, but it really seems as though it is hard to meet one in person. So I thought I would share a little information about the Bloodhound.
Those big old flews on a Bloodhound make them the perfect scent hound. So much so that when they put their head down, the ears and the skin folds cover their eyes and nose, they become completely focused pulling scent through their flews and into their nose. Even better though is all the drool and saliva trapped there. It is said a Bloodhound can fling their drool at least 20 feet…I totally believe that, I currently have some on my ceiling!
Bloodhounds were originally used in Europe and the Mediterranean to hunt game such as deer and boar. There is literature that has them Mantrailing as early as the 1300’s. Nowadays they are used mostly in America for Mantrailing. They can follow a cold scent that is several days old over miles of terrain. They are solitary trackers (aren’t used in a pack like some of the other hounds) and are usually silent while following a trail and then let loose with their baying and howling when they have successfully found the end of their trail. Bloodhounds are successfully deployed to find missing persons and escaped prisoners on a regular basis.
Bloodhounds are for a unique owner. One who doesn’t mind the drool, that is willing to keep them exercised and challenged, that will socialize them and have fun with them. They are perfect for working in Search and Rescue and as Police K9’s…”Established in America for over a century, it proved early on to be a tireless worker for law enforcement, being so accurate that evidence trailed by a Bloodhound has been accepted in a court of law” (http://www.akc.org/breeds/bloodhound/index.cfm)
Like any other dog, a tired Bloodhound is a good Bloodhound! Training and exercise are key to having a happy and healthy dog. Make sure a Bloodhound is right for your lifestyle before you bring one into your home and look to training the dog right from the get go. We can’t train them not to drool…
Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a free evaluation with your dog today. We train all over the Richmond Virginia area.
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