SEPPALA SIBERIAN SLEDDOG — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION Registries / Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information
Registries:	The Working Canine Association of Canada (WCAC) — The WCAC identifies animals of the Parental Generation of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog and maintains pedigree and stud book records of subsequent breedings. International Seppala Association (ISA) — Incorporated 15 February 2005 under the Yukon Societies Act to act as an international record-keeping organization for Seppala Siberian Sleddogs and other legacy sleddog breeds. The ISA collects, keeps and makes available ancestral records and pedigree data of individual sleddogs in the breeds they support. See the Association's SSSD Eligibility Policies for their rules for Seppala Siberian Sleddog eligibility.
Note: Although they were always bred as a separate strain, the Seppala Siberian Sleddog shared a stud book registry with the Siberian Husky until 1997 when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) recognized the Seppala Siberian Sleddog in Canada as a separate "evolving breed". Presently, under the Canadian Animal Pedigree Act, the Seppala Siberian Sleddog is "identified" as such but not "registered." The Act states that a breed is not considered "purebred" until such time as AAFC standards for population numbers and genetic stability have been met and accepted by AAFC as a "distinct breed." About Breed Registries: The most recognized all-breed registries include the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), the Kennel Club [U.K.] (KC), and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) — which is not a breed registry itself but known as the World Canine Organisation and includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees. — The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a breed under development and is not recognized by any of these all breed registries but may be recognized by others not indicated here. For further details about dog registries in general, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America. Because the Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a breed under development, the importance of learning about the breed and the Breeder before you buy cannot be stressed enough. In addition, it is strongly recommended that the breeding rules and regulations for those registries that do recognize the breed be reviewed. There are several excellent articles available on the Internet to help in your research of this breed. The links provided here are strictly for information purposes and convenience in finding relevant details and/or breeders and should in no way be viewed as a recommendation, endorsement or support of any one site over another.
Breed Description:
Height:	Mature Male: Average height at the withers is 23 inches, with a normal range between 21 and 25 inches. Mature Female: Average height at the withers is 21 inches, with a range of 19 to 23 inches.
Weight:	Mature Male: In lean working condition, the average weight is about 52 lbs. but can range from 38 to 65 lbs. Mature Female: Average weight in lean working condition is about 42 lbs but can range from 30 to 55 lbs. Weight should be in proportion to height.
The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a direct descendant of sled dogs imported from Siberia, developed and bred by Leonhard Seppala in Alaska and Maine from 1914 to 1931. The breed is relatively unchanged since the 1930s and is bred strictly for its working abilities and not for appearance — these dogs are never seen in the show ring. The Seppala is a versatile sleddog who serves in various ways, including: freighting, dogsled transport, sleddog racing, recreational dogsledding, skijoring, and dog packing. In all his work, he demonstrates endurance, speed and strength. He is an energetic, active, unaggressive, and trainable dog. Seppalas are also people-oriented and very affectionate, with a strong desire for closeness and a relationship with their human masters. Even in kennel situations, they need a caring and loving relationship with their owners. While some Seppalas are outgoing, others may be reserved with strangers. The Seppala has a stable temperament and is always gentle and docile. Any tendencies toward shyness, nervousness, or aggression are uncharacteristic of the breed. One important characteristic of Seppalas is their natural sleddog ability. Pups may be introduced to the harness as early as 3 1/2 to 5 months of age and many show an immediate inclination to pull. Adult dogs have a steady and serious work attitude, showing great determination even under the worst conditions. They are courageous but not reckless, aware of danger but without fearfulness. Their co-operative nature in harness training is an outstanding characteristic. It should be noted that the Seppala Siberian Sleddog is an instinctive hunter of small game. This trait cannot be bred or trained out and, therefore, he should never be allowed freedom off-leash because the temptation to go for a free run and hunt is overpowering. Historically, Siberian native dogs were usually freed in the summer months and expected to fend for themselves which is believed to be the source of this strong drive to hunt. Medium in size, both smaller and of a more refined physique than the Alaskan Malamute or Greenland Dog, the Seppala is nonetheless quite strong and enduring. Seppalas are capable of hauling loads of as much as 100 pounds per dog on snow for considerable distances. The coat is very dense, smooth and of medium length and comes in a variety of colours, from all black to pure white with shades of grey, fawn, reddish-brown and banded wolf. Markings are widely varied and distinctive. Eyes may be brown or blue, or any combination of the two colours. Because the Seppala Siberian Sleddog is bred for his working abilities rather than his appearance, there is no narrowly defined breed type specified. The predominant characteristic of the Seppala is correct working mentality. He should be a natural, born sleddog; intelligent; responsive to serious training and discipline; and get along well with other dogs. Physically, he must be balanced and in proportion; have good feet with an easy and efficient gait; and have pulling power in harness. When choosing breeding stock, the Breeder should always make his decision based on utility and functionality. TOP Health Issues: Generally speaking, Seppalas kept free of parasites and nourished with small quantities of a high-quality diet, are a robust, natural breed with excellent health and long-lived. Most individuals will survive to an age of 13 to 15 years. The most common cause of death in old dogs is cancer, usually abdominal. Nutrition: Seppalas eat small quanties of food compared with other breeds, and require high-quality nutrition rich in fats, Omega-3 fatty acids, and protein. Low quality supermarket dogfood is not good for them, particularly if it contains beet pulp and/or soya meal. Low-grade food with high filler content is poorly tolerated and may cause diarrhoea, poor coat and generally poor condition. Inadequate nutrition will often manifest as veterinary problems that may be erroneously attributed to other causes. Supplementation with brewers' yeast, marine oil, seal oil, fish meal, or eggs may be in order in some cases. Reproduction: There are a number of unique features to their reproduction. Females rarely have two heats a year; more often they have only one, generally in late summer or autumn. Litter size varies from four to eight whelps normally; a litter of six is average. Whelpings are usually natural, and Seppala dams are typically excellent mothers. They may need a little help at whelping time, though, as Seppala pups tend to be very large at birth, often weighing as much as 20 to 24 ounces when born. When the dam is fed right, whelps grow rapidly in the nest, often putting on 3 to 5 ounces each day. Then, once weaned, they grow more slowly. These may well be arctic adaptations to favour nestling survival in a cold climate and to accommodate to scarce food resources. Hereditary Diseases: The most common hereditary diseases are the range of eye problems common to all arctic breeds. The most serious of these is primary glaucoma; most Seppalas are potentially at risk to some degree, as narrow iridocorneal angles and mesodermal dysgenesis are endemic to the population. The incidence of actual glaucoma cases is not high, but breeders and owners need to be aware of the possibility. Corneal dystrophy has been observed, as have cataract, pigmentary keratitis and pannus, but none of these are common. It should be noted that CERF examination and certification do not cover the predisposing factors to canine glaucoma, and therefore do not offer any protection in that regard. Hip dysplasia, osteochondritis and osteoarthritis are rarely seen among Seppalas, in contrast to many other medium-sized breeds; their running gear tends to be very sound. Parvovirus/Parasites: Like most outdoor breeds, Seppalas are susceptible to parasitism — hookworm and tapeworm should be watched for, as should canine coccidiosis, particularly in young, growing stock. Parvovirus is a risk, especially in a parasitised dog; the combination of parvovirus and internal parasites is usually a fatal one. Vaccinations: Seppalas need vaccination, but over-vaccination should be avoided! Immune systems can be compromised by over-vaccination with heavily polyvalent vaccines given repeatedly. Anasthesia: Veterinarians should be warned before any Seppala is subjected to general anaesthesia; the breed is rather sensitive to several common agents and may require quite a lot less than the usual dosage as determined by body-weight. Respiration and cardiac function need to be closely monitored during surgery, and general anaesthesia should not be undertaken without serious cause. Additional Health Resources: Health and Nutrition — Canada's Guide to Dogs growing section on several health and nutrition related issues. Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs If you are considering the adoption of a Seppala Siberian Sleddog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.) TOP Breed Standards: Seppala Siberian Sleddog Breed Standard, 1995 (Revision 1/97) — From the International Seppala Association. Seppala Siberian Sleddog Standard — From the International Seppala Siberian Sleddog Club, Inc. TOP Grooming Information: A Seppala in full coat requires no grooming other than periodic trimming of the toenails to keep them short. The smooth, weather-resistent coat maintains itself. Bathing is not necessary. When a Seppala starts to "blow its coat" and shed, however, you'll think your dog invented hair! A stainless-steel dog comb with straight back and one-inch round pins is needed, together with a flat "slicker" grooming card with small bent-pin bristles. Daily application of these tools throughout the shed will at least keep the dog from looking like a junkyard mattress with stuffing coming out. But a shedding Seppala is not a dog for the clothes-horse or the house-proud person — the fine, long-staple undercoat clings to clothes and furniture and accumulates beneath chairs, beds, and sofas. One positive benefit — you can save it, card it, spin it and knit beautiful sweaters and toques with it!" Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada. TOP Training Resources: How to Train Sleddogs — by J. Jeffrey Bragg of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog Project. Indepth article including equipment required; information for the novice on building a team; puppy training; harness breaking; lead dog training; training in the fall and winter; and more. Training — For information on training your dog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada. Training Tools & Equipment Choose from a wide variety of items from Dogwise.com TOP Additional Information: The Seppala Siberian Sleddog Project — Breed Development Project — The project seeks to protect and preserve the Leonhard Seppala sleddog. — "The goal of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog Project is to preserve the historic Seppala sleddog and re-establish the closest possible approach to the Original Siberian Sleddogs imported into Alaska from eastern Siberia from 1908 to 1930." — Note: This is a must see website for further information about this developing breed. Learning More About Siberian Husky Bloodlines — Includes information pages on 29 bloodlines of Seppalas and Racing Siberian Huskies — who the breeders were, where and when, their foundation stock, the nature of their breeding, and from one to five or six sample pedigrees for each. Everything Husky — Your source for information and links on Mushing, Skijoring, Pulking, Dog-packing, Siberians, Malamutes, Samoyeds, working mutts, and anything else you can think of in the realm of Northern breed dogs or dog-powered recreation or competition. Female lead dog Tonya of Seppala Photo courtesy of J. J. Bragg Sled Dog Central — A comprehensive site providing essential resources for mushers world wide. Clubs, Sports & Activities — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on various dog sports and activities that you may be interested in getting involved in with your Seppala, including dog sledding and skijoring, as well as a list of non-breed specific dog clubs and associations across Canada. (Note: For breed specific clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.) Working Dogs — Dedicated to the working dog. This section includes tributes; information on various dog jobs including Assistance Dogs, Police K9s, SAR Dogs, and Herding Dogs; plus listings of organizations from across Canada.