Siberian Huskies For Dummies Read online

  Siberian Huskies For Dummies®

  by Diane Morgan

  Siberian Huskies For Dummies®

  Published by

  Wiley Publishing, Inc.

  111 River Street

  Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

  www.wiley.com

  Copyright © 2001 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

  Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

  Published simultaneously in Canada

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

  Library of Congress Control Number: 00-107689

  ISBN: 0-7645-5279-1

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6

  1B/QT/QV/QU/IN

  About the Author

  Diane Morgan is an Adjunct Professor of Literature, Religious Studies, and Philosophy at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to her books about Siberian Huskies, Basset Hounds, Poodles, and Beagles, she writes about Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Tennessee Williams, and pigs. She also writes the Dummies Daily eTips for Cats and Dogs (go to www.dummiesdaily.com for more information or to sign up to get tips from Diane every day). She is a founding member of Basset Rescue of Old Dominion.

  Diane lives in Williamsport, Maryland, where she shares her home with eight dogs, two cats, and a variety of goldfish, none of whom can pull a sled. She has never been to Siberia.

  About Howell Book House

  Thank you for choosing a book brought to you by the pet experts at Howell Book House, a division of Wiley Publishing, Inc. And welcome to the family of pet owners who’ve put their trust in Howell books for nearly 40 years!

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  Howell Book House was established in 1961 by Mr. Elsworth S. Howell, an active and proactive dog fancier who showed English Setters and judged at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show in New York. Mr. Howell based his publishing program on strength of content, and his passion for books written by experienced and knowledgeable owners defined Howell Book House and has remained true over the years. Howell’s reputation as the premier pet book publisher is supported by the distinction of having won more awards from the Dog Writers Association of America than any other publisher. Howell Book House/Wiley has over 400 titles in publication, including such classics as The American Kennel Club’s Complete Dog Book, the Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, Blessed Are the Brood Mares, and Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog.

  When you need answers to questions you have about any aspect of raising or training your companion animals, trust that Howell Book House/Wiley has the answers. We welcome your comments and suggestions, and we look forward to helping you maximize your relationships with your pets throughout the years.

  The Howell Book House Staff

  Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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  Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

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  Project Editor: Elizabeth Netedu Kuball

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  Cover Photo: © Szilvia Frigyer / iStock

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  Dedication

  To the Chukchis

  Author’s Acknowledgments

  It’s impossible to write a book like this one without incurring a lot of debt. And I owe so many people so much that I’m glad they didn’t charge me. First of all, my heartfelt thanks to all the people at Wiley who made it happen: Amanda Pisani, my friend and editor extraordinaire, who thought of me for this book; Dominique De Vito, who trusted me to carry it though; Scott Prentzas for handling a tough project in transition (and for finding the pictures!); and Elizabeth Kuball, my Project Editor, for her skillful work in making this book a pleasure to read.

  To all the members of Sibernet, the online group with all the knowledge, experience, and kindness to answer all my questions, I owe my deepest appreciation.

  To Paulette Jones, who took the time and trouble to explain the thrills of sled racing, and most of all for her expert technical editorship. Any errors in the text are mine, not hers.

  To Peg Wheeler, for her love of and dedication to this beautiful breed. Many Siberian Huskies owe her their lives.

  To my beloved companion John Warner, for his sage advice, staunch support, technical help, and careful reading of many drafts of this book. He kept me sane, sort of.

  Contents

  Title

  Introduction

  How This Book Is Organized

  Icons Used in This Book

  Where to Go from Here

  Part I : Getting to Know Siberian Huskies

  Chapter 1: What Is a Husky?

  The Difference between a Husky and Other Similar-Looking Animals

  The Siberian Husky Breed Standard

  Chapter 2: Husky History 101

  It All Started with the Chukchis

  The Russians Are Coming!

  Olaf Swenson Saves the Day

  The All Alaska Sweepstakes Race

  The Influence of Leonhard Seppala

  The Great Serum Run: Mission of Mercy

  The Development of the Siberian in the United States

  Part II : Looking for Your Soul Mate

  Chapter 3: Finding and Choosing a Siberian

  Determining Whether a Husky Is Right for You

  Finding a Puppy and a Breeder

  Choosing the Right Puppy

  Exploring Other Sources for Getting a Husky

  Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Puppy

  Collars and Leashes

  ID Tags

  Food and Water Dishes

  Pet Doors

  Outdoor Kennels

  Grooming Tools

  Dog Beds

  Gates

  Crates

  Chew Toys

  Part III : Living with a Siberian Husky

  Chapter 5: Welcome Home!

  Surviving the First Day and Night

  Deciding Whether Your Husky Will Live Inside or Outside

  Paying Attention to the Outdoor Husky’s Special Needs

  Giving Your Pup the Exercise and Discipline He Needs

  House-Training Your Husky

  Cleaning Up After Your Husky

  Chapter 6: Understanding What Your Husky Is Trying to Tell You

  Picking Up on What Your Dog Is Saying

  Interpreting Your Husky’s Body Language

  Figuring Out Your Dog’s Facial Gestures

  Watching Your Husky’s Tail

  Knowing the Difference between Dominant and Submissive Behavior

  Making Sense of Weird Behavior

  Noticing Your Siberian’s Sleeping Style

  Chapter 7: Socializing Your Siberian

  Interacting with Your Puppy

  Introducing Your Siberian to Children

  Introducing Your Husky to Other Animals

  Chapter 8: Training Your Dog

  Training the Family Before You Train Your Dog

  Setting Your Training Goals

  Agreeing on Commands

  Teaching Your Husky the Basics

  Taking Advantage of Formal Obedience Training

  Chapter 9: Dealing with Dominance and Aggression

  Understanding Canine Dominance and Aggression

  Dealing with Dominance

  Recognizing Common Behaviors

  Establishing Your Dominance

  Avoiding Dog Bites

  Chapter 10: Breaking Bad Habits in Your Husky

  Separation Anxiety

  Digging

  Chewing

  Counter-Cruising

  Trash Dumping

  Running Off

  Hunting Other Animals

  Charging the Door

  Jumping Up

  Part IV : Keeping Your Husky Healthy

  Chapter 11: Feeding Your Husky

  Knowing Your Husky’s Nutritional Needs

  Reading the Labels

  Taking a Look at the Main Types of Dog Food

  Considering Supplements

  Figuring Out How Much to Feed Your Dog

  Looking at Performance, Maintenance, and Low-Calorie Foods

  Chapter 12: Grooming Your Dog

  Brushing and Combing

  Bathing

  Dealing with Shedding

  Paying Attention to Your Husky’s Entire Body

  Finding a Professional Groomer

  Watching Out for Fleas and Ticks

  Chapter 13: Establishing a Good Relationship with Your Vet

  Choosing a Vet

  Knowing What to Expect on the First Checkup

  Recognizing How You Can Help Your Vet

  Chapter 14: Preventing and Responding to Health Problems

  Viruses

  Leptospirosis

  Kennel Cough

  Canine Hip Dysplasia

  Arthritis

  Eye Problems

  Epilepsy

  Diabetes

  Hypothyroidism

  Cancer

  Zinc Malabsorption Disorder

  Allergies

  Dental Problems

  Bloat

  Aging

  Chapter 15: Responding to Emergencies

  The Complete Pet First Aid Kit

  Accidents

  Bites

  Bleeding

  Bloat

  Breathing Difficulties

  Broken Bones

  Coughing

  Diarrhea and Vomiting

  Heat Stress

  Poison

  Porcupine Quills

  Seizures

  Wounds

  Part V : Bringing Out the Sled Dog in Your Siberian

  Chapter 16: Getting Your Husky into Sledding

  Sledding 101: The Basics of the Sport

  Getting a Sled Dog

  Sledding for Fun

  Chapter 17: The Last Great Race: The Iditarod

  The Start of the Iditarod

  The Iditarod Today

  Part VI : The Part of Tens

  Chapter 18: Ten Reasons to Have a Siberian Husky

  Huskies Always Smile

  Huskies Make Terrific Exercise Partners

  A Siberian Husky Can Pull You Wherever You Want to Go

  Siberians Have No Doggie Odor

  Huskies Are Educational

  Huskies Provide Social Mobility