Ask any reputable breeder about their breeding program, and you'll likely be in for a long discussion. Dog breeders are individuals, with individual likes and dislikes. One thing most all have in common is they like to "talk dogs". What matters most is that they have a vision for their bloodlines, and carefully breed their animals for the purpose of achieving that vision. When John & Geri first decided to venture from showing their dogs in conformation to actually breeding toward their vision of the "ideal" Siberian Husky, they first had to discern exactly what they expected to achieve. Only then did they set about breeding for those objectives. The result of this studied approach is evident in the SIBEX bloodlines. To learn more, simply jump to a topic from the selections listed below.
SIBEX Siberians Objectives
SIBEX Siberians is all about three main areas of interest - proper conformation, working ability, and temperament (personality). Early on, John & Geri studied the various bloodlines represented in the dog shows they attended, and right away noticed some dogs seemed to be lacking in certain areas. For example, by comparing the attributes of the dogs in competition to the breed standards set forth by the Siberian Husky Club of America and the American Kennel Club, we determined that SIBEX Siberians needed a little more length of leg to work efficiently in harness pulling a sled - the very job that these dogs were initially bred to do. Subsequent breedings have reflected that ideal. Whether we are contemplating a breeding or bringing another dog into our breeding "program" to improve our existing bloodline, each of those three aspects (conformation, working ability, and temperament) guides our decision-making process. Since other factors, such as coat and eye color, have little bearing on our objectives they receive lesser consideration. Some well-intentioned prospective buyers tell us they "want one with blue eyes" or "want a black and white female to breed to our male" - these are the very folks we strive to educate about the breed and put them on the path toward making informed decisions about what to look for in a quality Siberian Husky. Breeding a litter of puppies should be a labor of love, not something you do to demonstrate the miracle of life to the kids. While proper conformation and working ability are critical to improving the SIBEX bloodlines, we must not overlook the importance of temperament. After all, we must be able to live with the dog, first and foremost. While some measure of "aloofness" is to be expected from such an intelligent dog, we do not tolerate aggression or shyness. Siberian Huskies are pack-oriented animals by nature,
and so the humans in their "pack" must assert their dominance through fair and impartial discipline, when necessary - much as the Alpha leader of a wolf pack might do. Fortunately, John and Geri have decades of training and experience to guide them, and raise their dogs according to established principles of positive reinforcement and other techniques. The result is a healthy, happy Siberian Husky with pretty good "people skills" that can go from the back yard to the show ring or working in harness - a total package.
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Why "Less Is More"
A reputable breeder does not produce puppies for income, and SIBEX Siberians are no different in that regard. If you're interested in a Siberian Husky puppy, be prepared to do your homework and learn about different breeders. You may have to wait awhile to get just the right puppy for your situation. Let's face it - all puppies are cute, and Siberian Husky puppies can be especially appealing. There are a multitude of good, responsible breeders in the United States and around the world, so your chances of obtaining a quality puppy will be greatly increased by learning more about them. Beware of pet store puppies and those that advertise in your local paper - these sources generally cannot offer the extensive knowledge base and health guarantees that can be had from an established breeder. Try this little test to illustrate the point - locate a pet shop in a local mall or similar retail environment and ask about a puppy's pedigree and genetic testing for such ailments as juvenile cataracts or hip dysplaysia. They might be able to produce some AKC registration papers, but chances are you'll get the "deer in the headlights" look from the friendly salesperson. When that happens, (and we're betting it will) leave the store immediately and come back here to our
Breeders page to locate a responsible breeder to suit your needs. All of this leads us to the "less is more" concept - SIBEX Siberians will only breed a litter for one primary reason ; to improve our bloodlines within the established standards of the breed. Each litter of puppies puts us one step closer to our "ideal" Siberian Husky, and we will likely keep the very best puppy of the bunch to stay on and contribute to the SIBEX Siberians gene pool. Just because we keep the best puppy for our breeding program doesn't mean the others are somehow inferior - far from it. It's not uncommon for SIBEX Siberians to get several "show quality" breeding animals from one litter. Even the "pet quality" puppies are of undeniable quality, which may help to explain the next section ....
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The "Waiting List"
It is this very calculated approach to breeding that required us to institute a waiting list of prospective homes for SIBEX puppies. Yes, SIBEX Siberians has a waiting list of potential puppy owners, but that's not neccessarily a bad thing. Since we do not breed puppies to produce income or to meet public demand, we can only make puppies available on a limited basis. For example, SIBEX Siberians has whelped only eight litters of puppies in the last dozen years or so. Those puppies that we choose to adopt out to loving homes may be of "show quality" or may make a great pet/companion for someone. SIBEX Siberians will make every effort to match each individual puppy with loving homes on a case-by-case basis. That's why it is important to use our
Inquiry Form to let us know what you are searching for. Your patience and research will pay dividends for many years to come, so making the right decision from the start is critical. The reward will be a happy, healthy Siberian Husky puppy you can be proud of, whether it be an aspiring future Champion or a beloved "couch potato" companion. How long is the wait, you ask ? The answer depends on many things, but as a general rule we breed one litter every eighteen months or so. Honestly, wouldn't you rather wait awhile to get the best quality puppy you can afford ?
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How SIBEX Raises Puppies
Siberian Huskies have great instincts, and generally give birth with a minimum of drama or fuss. Once we decide to do a breeding, both sire and dam are checked by our veterinarian for overall general health. The actual act of breeding the dogs is done under careful supervision to insure that neither dog is injured in the process. Once the bitch is bred, she is given a special area apart from the other dogs to prepare for the big event. As the "special day" draws near, the female will remain under our watchful eye. When she goes into labor and begins to deliver puppies, we will stay at her side (around the clock, if needed) in case of any difficulties which may require immediate veterinary intervention. Once the puppies are born and weighed, the bitch is given some warm broth and a much-needed "potty break" while we take note of markings and the sex of each puppy. As the days go by and the nursing puppies fall into a routine, we can relax our supervision and let the bitch's instinct guide her. During this time we are constantly evaluating each individual puppy, looking for proper body structure and testing temperaments. We administer all the neccesary shots and worming medications ourselves, all of which is documented on their puppy records. By the time the puppies have opened their eyes and grown some coat, we will likely put them in an enclosed "puppy pen" outside (weather permitting) to play together and be with their mother. One lesson we've learned over the years is that puppies that stay with their mother a little past the usual six weeks begin to learn some valuable life lessons from interacting with their doting mother and socialization with humans - for that reason we generally will not place a puppy in another home until they are at least 10-12 weeks old. This not only gives SIBEX puppies a better chance of growing up to become a happy, healthy Siberian Husky, it also provides us with valuable time to conduct in-depth evaluations of each puppy. Think of it this way - if you are lucky enough to get a SIBEX Siberian you can be confident you're getting the best possible "match" for your unique situation. But we go way beyond all that - in addition, we offer a comprehensive health guarantee spelled out in our
contract that protects both buyer and seller from unforeseen circumstances. Lastly, each person that purchases a SIBEX Siberian is provided with a comprehensive package of helpful information and a supply of Purina Pro Plan coupons and puppy food to get them started. You see, once you own a SIBEX Siberian, you are considered part of our extended Siberian family. We encourage our puppy buyers to send us updates and photos and ask all the questions they can muster. It's always nice to see how our "babies" are adjusting to their new lives and owners.
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