How to find a Siberian Husky Puppy
There are many, many places that one can find a Siberian Husky, but not all of these places are reputable sources. Please check out our tips below on how you can find or determine if a breeder you are considering is a Reputable Breeder of Siberian Huskies.
Click HERE for a list of SHCC member breeders in Alberta and Saskatchewan who may have available Siberian Husky puppies or dogs.
Alternatively, please Consider Rescue.
Click HERE for a list of SHCC member breeders in Alberta and Saskatchewan who may have available Siberian Husky puppies or dogs.
Alternatively, please Consider Rescue.
Is that breeder a good place to purchase a dog or puppy?
1. Not ALL CKC members are reputable breeders! Just because the breeders' dogs are registered does not automatically mean that they are reputable breeders, or that the dogs should be bred. It is important to still be cautious, even with CKC registered breeders and CKC members.
2. Make sure to visit the kennel, unless the kennel is across the country and you are unable to fly there to visit and pick up your puppy. A reputable breeder will welcome or may even require you to visit their premises before allowing you to purchase a puppy or dog from them. One or both of the parents (at least the Dam, if an outside Stud was used) should be on-site and available for you to meet. The kennel should appear clean and well maintained, and the dogs should look happy and healthy.
3. The Sire and Dam should both be health tested; Siberians should have their hips checked for Hip Dysplasia and Eyes checked for inherited eye problems such as Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy and Progressive Retinal Atrophy among others. Their hips should be be rated by OFA (the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Good or Excellent (one time, after the dog turns 2 years old) and eyes certified Clear of inherited eye disorders annually by a ACVO certified Veterinary Opthalmologist, and the breeder should be able to show you documentation for these results. It is important to note that there are inherited health problems within any breed, and they do pop up occasionally in all lines of all breeds, but health testing, honesty and responsibility can keep these problems down as much as possible. Good breeders are extremely diligent about health testing before breeding.
4. The CKC requires that any dogs who are registered with the CKC be permanently identified by a Microchip or tattoo before leaving the premises for their new home. Make sure that the breeder is microchipping or tattooing puppies prior to selling them, and that you will be supplied with the microchip or tattoo number.
5. Responsible breeders distinguish between Show/breeding quality and Pet quality puppies. Any puppies sold as Pets will be required by a good breeder to be sold on a Limited (Non-breeding registration), and you will likely have to sign a legal document prohibiting you from breeding the dog. This may seem strange to you but it is very important for protecting the integrity of the breed, and reputable breeders are strict about this. If you are not required to sign something like this and the breeder doesn't care if you breed your pet or not, or even encourages you to do so, then you are probably dealing with an irresponsible breeder.
6. Be cautious of breeders that charge more for a certain coat or eye color, and those who advertise about a specific color. Reputable breeders of Siberians recognize that a Siberian is the same quality whether it is black, grey or red, or if it has blue, brown or amber eyes. Despite the popularity of blue eyed Siberians, reputable breeders will NOT charge more for a blue eyed dog, and will not advertise that they have blue eyed dogs for sale specifically. Reputable breeders do not breed for eye color alone!
7. It should be evident that the breeder does something with his or her dogs besides just using them to produce puppies, whether that is conformation showing, dog sledding, obedience, agility or some other kind of performance activity. Often good breeders are involved in more than one of the above activities, especially with Siberians who are extremely multi-purpose. Many have Siberians living in their homes as pets and companions. If they have a website, you can usually see pictures of them doing these things with their dogs, whether they have show pictures, sledding pictures, pictures of family hiking trips or other similar activities.
8. The breeder should offer a health guarantee against inherited genetic problems, and will accept a dog back at any time during it's life if you are unable or do not want to keep it. Most will even demand that the dog or puppy be returned to them rather than being re-homed by you, and they will all demand that you do so rather than surrendering it to a shelter or humane society.
Reputable breeders do not sell puppies under the age of 8 weeks. This is important for the puppies to learn dog-behavior from their mother and siblings.
9. Your new puppy should be dewormed, come with its first set of shots, and be microchipped or tattooed (as stated above). The puppy will be registered with the CKC before leaving for its new home, and it should not cost more to purchase the puppy with papers; the CKC does not permit breeders to sell puppies on a without papers basis.
Visit this link on the CKC website for more information on finding a reputable breeder and make sure to check out their Golden Rules of Finding a Reputable Breeder.
2. Make sure to visit the kennel, unless the kennel is across the country and you are unable to fly there to visit and pick up your puppy. A reputable breeder will welcome or may even require you to visit their premises before allowing you to purchase a puppy or dog from them. One or both of the parents (at least the Dam, if an outside Stud was used) should be on-site and available for you to meet. The kennel should appear clean and well maintained, and the dogs should look happy and healthy.
3. The Sire and Dam should both be health tested; Siberians should have their hips checked for Hip Dysplasia and Eyes checked for inherited eye problems such as Cataracts, Corneal Dystrophy and Progressive Retinal Atrophy among others. Their hips should be be rated by OFA (the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Good or Excellent (one time, after the dog turns 2 years old) and eyes certified Clear of inherited eye disorders annually by a ACVO certified Veterinary Opthalmologist, and the breeder should be able to show you documentation for these results. It is important to note that there are inherited health problems within any breed, and they do pop up occasionally in all lines of all breeds, but health testing, honesty and responsibility can keep these problems down as much as possible. Good breeders are extremely diligent about health testing before breeding.
4. The CKC requires that any dogs who are registered with the CKC be permanently identified by a Microchip or tattoo before leaving the premises for their new home. Make sure that the breeder is microchipping or tattooing puppies prior to selling them, and that you will be supplied with the microchip or tattoo number.
5. Responsible breeders distinguish between Show/breeding quality and Pet quality puppies. Any puppies sold as Pets will be required by a good breeder to be sold on a Limited (Non-breeding registration), and you will likely have to sign a legal document prohibiting you from breeding the dog. This may seem strange to you but it is very important for protecting the integrity of the breed, and reputable breeders are strict about this. If you are not required to sign something like this and the breeder doesn't care if you breed your pet or not, or even encourages you to do so, then you are probably dealing with an irresponsible breeder.
6. Be cautious of breeders that charge more for a certain coat or eye color, and those who advertise about a specific color. Reputable breeders of Siberians recognize that a Siberian is the same quality whether it is black, grey or red, or if it has blue, brown or amber eyes. Despite the popularity of blue eyed Siberians, reputable breeders will NOT charge more for a blue eyed dog, and will not advertise that they have blue eyed dogs for sale specifically. Reputable breeders do not breed for eye color alone!
7. It should be evident that the breeder does something with his or her dogs besides just using them to produce puppies, whether that is conformation showing, dog sledding, obedience, agility or some other kind of performance activity. Often good breeders are involved in more than one of the above activities, especially with Siberians who are extremely multi-purpose. Many have Siberians living in their homes as pets and companions. If they have a website, you can usually see pictures of them doing these things with their dogs, whether they have show pictures, sledding pictures, pictures of family hiking trips or other similar activities.
8. The breeder should offer a health guarantee against inherited genetic problems, and will accept a dog back at any time during it's life if you are unable or do not want to keep it. Most will even demand that the dog or puppy be returned to them rather than being re-homed by you, and they will all demand that you do so rather than surrendering it to a shelter or humane society.
Reputable breeders do not sell puppies under the age of 8 weeks. This is important for the puppies to learn dog-behavior from their mother and siblings.
9. Your new puppy should be dewormed, come with its first set of shots, and be microchipped or tattooed (as stated above). The puppy will be registered with the CKC before leaving for its new home, and it should not cost more to purchase the puppy with papers; the CKC does not permit breeders to sell puppies on a without papers basis.
Visit this link on the CKC website for more information on finding a reputable breeder and make sure to check out their Golden Rules of Finding a Reputable Breeder.