Sled dog breeding

[SternRose]

just a reminder for everyone, we are talking about SLED DOGS. you want completely different things then AKC show dogs or pets. Looks don't matter. you don't care if the pup comes out grey or brown with brown eyes, blue or both.  its ok to cross breed. it you want to bred your Alaskan with a greyhound so it will be a better sprint dog then do so. 


Alaskan huskies were crossbred many times. the basic blood lines are the native alaskan dog with wolf the greyhound.

yes purebreds are great but if you don't have a dog that has the speed or endurance you need, find one that does

That's why I wish a sled dog breeder was on here.

 

[Americano Blue]

I am using the Siberian husky as an example because it is a sled dog. It's AKC conformation guides were written with that in mind and reflect what the perfect Siberian husky sled dog should look like and why. Sled dogs bodies are put together a certain way for pulling power, speed and the ability to do their job well. No matter if your sled dog is pure bred or not, knowing how it's body conformation helps it do it's job is very important to any successful breeding program. If I were using pugs as a guide then I could see why you would question my advice. But I am using a sled dog, not a pug so the information is relevant to the question asked.

still different. you aren't breeding them as dogs meant to pull 150+lb across the snow in negative weather

 

[Starfire669]

That's why I wish a sled dog breeder was on here.

This is a chicken website, not a dog breeding site. Maybe search for a sled dog site and start asking questions there. Though I bet you will get the same advice that we have given you here.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
there are plenty of "show" breeders who also work their dogs in the job that was intended. A dog should have no problem going from the show ring to the harness.

 

[Starfire669]

still different. you aren't breeding them as dogs meant to pull 150+lb across the snow in negative weather

You miss the point again. A sled dog is put together the same way, they need large chest for breathing while running in harness, thei neck and shoulders need to supply power while pulling a load. Their legs should move a certain way for maximum energy efficiency, their stride should be smooth and effortless, again for maximum energy efficiency. Regardless of temperature these characteristics are the same for ANY sled dog pure bred or mixed bred. There is a reason for the old saying "form follows function".

 

[SternRose]

This is a chicken website, not a dog breeding site. Maybe search for a sled dog site and start asking questions there. Though I bet you will get the same advice that we have given you here.

Everything you guys said about the testing and all that I contacted my local sled dog friend and she said you don't have to do that crap. Then she's got her show dogs and she said but if ur gunna AKC show you better do that crap. She just won't answer any more of my questions. I think she's in Alaska right now

 

[Starfire669]

Quote:
there are plenty of "show" breeders who also work their dogs in the job that was intended. A dog should have no problem going from the show ring to the harness.

My dogs can pull. They may not be quite as fast as working lines because they aren't trained in it (it is way to hot in Texas to even think of making them pull a sled), but they have the desire and instinct to pull. They may be show lined dogs, but they have not forgotten their purpose. They are true to their breed.

 

[Starfire669]

Everything you guys said about the testing and all that I contacted my local sled dog friend and she said you don't have to do that crap. Then she's got her show dogs and she said but if ur gunna AKC show you better do that crap. She just won't answer any more of my questions. I think she's in Alaska right now

That "crap" testing is for your protection as well as the well being of your dogs. How can you tell if the hip socket of your pup is deep enough to withstand the strain of pulling without X-rays? By the time they are limping it is too late. Also if you breed and sell pups and a number of them develop problems later in life, people will tell their friends NOT to buy from you because your pups aren't healthy. Some people may not buy from you if you don't provide paperwork showing that the sire and dam have been tested and found negative for certain inheritable diseases. So that crap testing does actually show that you are a good breeder who puts the welfare of her dogs first, which will then allow you to pick and choose who you sell pups to because you have good reputation.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
and that tells me that she is a breeder that you should avoid. do you know why there are genetic problems in dogs? because of breeders who don't check for them. saying "oh my dogs are healthy" is nothing if you can't back it up. I can't look at someone and know that they have high blood pressure but that doesn't mean that they aren't sick. You don't know what you have until you have it on paper.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Just as an aside. What vets (and vet students) learn is how to be humble. We learn that we are often wrong about things and we need to open our minds to other techniques and ways of doing things. For example, there's a bunch of ways to spay a dog and lots of opinions on which way is the best. As a future vet, you need to learn how to listen to all views and then research to make an educated decision.

And yes, even vets can be bad breeders.