Written in 2005 –<\/p>\n
My parents and grandparents had bred dogs and shown horses long before I was even a glimmer.\u00a0 So, by the time I had gotten my first Siberian in 1996, along with a more formal introduction to the dog show \u2018world\u2019, I had already been exposed to many of the particulars.\u00a0 Subsequently, I wasn\u2019t overly concerned by the warnings from many members of the Siberian Community saying, \u201cYou\u2019d better have thick skin if you want to get involved!\u201d…\u00a0\u00a0Well, that was an understatement!\u00a0\u00a0A more accurate warning would\u2019ve been \u201cYou\u2019d better have at least a 10 inch thick layer of callous if you want to get involved!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Politics\u2019 are inherent to many aspects of life beyond that of government.<\/p>\n
Politics The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society.<\/p>\n Play Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n Act for personal or political gain rather than principle, as in I don’t think this judge is fair…he’s playing politics.<\/p>\n With that information in\u00a0mind, some \u2018behind the scenes\u2019 activity was to be expected.\u00a0 What I was not prepared for, however, was just how down-right MEAN<\/strong> some people in the Siberian Community can be!<\/p>\n I selected the titled above, the Inhumane Treatment of Humans<\/span>, because, to this day,\u00a0it still amazes me how folks who so determinedly advocate for proper treatment of four-leggeds can, at the same time, be as equally determined to undermine the same efforts of anyone who does not subscribe to their politics.\u00a0 I had to laugh when I looked up the definition of \u2018inhumane\u2019, as the example in the definition briefly addressed some of my amazement and ultimate discontent:<\/p>\n inhumane<\/strong><\/p>\n adj : lacking and reflecting lack of pity or compassion; “humans are innately inhumane; this explains much of the misery and suffering in the world”.<\/p>\n If that example is indeed true -humans are innately inhumane- then, I suppose simply accepting the malicious, vindictive tendencies of many people in the fancy would suffice.\u00a0 However, when so often we read and hear statements from our more experienced predecessors in the breed about how the \u2018newbies\u2019, \u2018novice\u2019, and \u2018newcomers\u2019 lack respect, think they know-it-all, and are systematically dismantling the breed; while at the same time reading and hearing statements from new folks about how the veterans are too controlling, provide poor, if any, mentorship, and have unrealistic expectations,… I cannot help but wonder if some of the\u00a0conflict isn\u2019t more so related to a lack of common courtesy and basic ‘people’ skills (not dog skills).\u00a0 That would be a\u00a0pretty simplistic theory, but it seems to include some possible contributing factors, nonetheless.<\/p>\n Other factors could include competition and money.\u00a0 Since there are varying degrees of competition associated with showing and breeding dogs, it\u2019s understandable (though not professional)\u00a0that some people would be \u2018out to get\u2019 one another.\u00a0 And along with showing and breeding, and ultimately selling dogs, there is a money component.\u00a0 No matter how much people would like to romanticize the whole process, there\u2019s business involved.\u00a0 Is that reason enough for people to, in turn,\u00a0being to act\u00a0comparably to a pack of\u00a0wolves- growling, hair-raising, posturing, asserting, all trying to be \u2018top-dog\u2019?<\/p>\n Maybe.<\/p>\n So, what becomes the \u2018fuel\u2019 for all of the cruel and cutthroat exchanges that occur in the Siberian Community?\u00a0 People would never admit that it is because they want to win, be the best vicariously through their dogs, or make money, (assuming that is truly part of the problem), but\u00a0they use other tools such as slander, lying, speculating, and bashing other people and their dogs, irregardless.<\/p>\n My nickname for the Siberian Community is \u2018The Mob\u2019.\u00a0 Not the organized crime outfit \u2018mob\u2019, but \u2018a large disorderly crowd\u2019. \u00a0Many mob judgments of other breeders are based on the gossip that circulates, and ultimately the crowd becomes an \u2018angry mob\u2019. \u00a0I believe that Siberian Community (Mob) is disorderly because although there are guidelines for ethical breeding standards, they are not clearly defined, and they are not monitored in a concise manner.<\/p>\n The Siberian Husky Club of America outlines their breeding standards and\u00a0Code of\u00a0Ethics\u00a0here:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.shca.org\/shcahp4b.htm<\/a> With all that technology has to offer, we can check for hip screenings and eye screenings online.\u00a0 However, there are many other aspects of what the fancy seems to consider to be reputable breeding practices that are not fully addressed there in the SHCA guidelines, and it is within those vague areas, and even some of the more apparent areas, that members find additional \u2018fuel\u2019 for the fires created.<\/p>\n For example, the SHCA does not outline how many dogs a person can own to be considered reputable or not reputable.\u00a0 There is no specific criteria on what constitutes having too many litters in any given year, or any given time span, for that matter.\u00a0 At the same time, Breeder Awards are given for those who produce the most champions.\u00a0 Although that may not necessarily require that a person has to produce more puppies in order to increase the odds of producing more champions, statistically speaking, it sure helps.\u00a0 Many people will argue that if a person has been involved in the breed for less than 10 years, then they have no business actually having a litter. \u00a0But, there are no time frames delineated that outline when someone is \u2018worthy\u2019 of producing puppies, nor what steps they must have gone through in order to learn how to do so correctly and safely.<\/p>\n As a result, the Mob (and its batch of rumors and gossip) become the \u2018police force\u2019 for determining whether or not someone\u2019s actions are acceptable.\u00a0 A sense of fear is generated by this system, and causes people to be unwilling to discuss the important issues in the breed, such as the health and backgrounds of their dogs!\u00a0 How many breeders, in addition to posting their wins, also provide information on dogs that don\u2019t pass their eye or thyroid exams?\u00a0 Very few!\u00a0 Because the moment you do, someone will generalize that and turn it into \u2018all of so-n-so\u2019s dogs are affected\u2019!<\/p>\n I can go on… but the point is that although some of these issues would be difficult to define based on the large number of variables that come into play, without a more specific guideline, the door is open for a wide range of interpretations, and ultimately an avenue for people to point fingers, and a double standard.<\/p>\n By a double standard, I mean that, many people will accept certain behaviors from some breeders and not others, based upon their length of time in the breed, or number of champions bred.\u00a0 For example, in some people\u2019s eyes, it\u2019s okay for a breeder to personally maintain 50-100 adults, have 5 litters on the ground at all times, and sell dogs to people with little or no screening because they\u2019ve been doing it for 20-30 years, and have produced 100\u2019s of champions.\u00a0 On the other hand, in some people\u2019s eyes, it\u2019s not okay for a breeder to maintain, for example, 18 adults, and have 5 litters on the ground one time, in an effort to pay for good quality dog food, health screenings and veterinary care, etc. but they would still buy a dog from the first breeder – for the name maybe, or maybe for the 100’s of champions produced – who knows.\u00a0 The point is, you can have someone criticize one breeder, but overlook it with another.<\/p>\n Other people are far more conservative and believe that no breeder should have more than 1-2 litters per year; whereas other breeders may think it\u2019s okay to test breed a dog at a young age to see if they can produce well before spending a lot of money to finish him\/her.\u00a0 And, I know but one or two breeders who claim to have never had an accidental breeding.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that there are many different breeders who have very different practices.\u00a0 Either the ‘Mob’ needs to understand these differences, or the overseeing bodies need to more clearly define the acceptability of the differences.\u00a0 There isn’t much consistency with respect to what the ‘police force’ will and will not tolerate, and from whom, but one thing is certain, and that is that the Mob loves to find a ‘flavor of the week’ – someone that they can all target.<\/p>\n I have personally been chastised and called a \u2018puppy mill\u2019 by a breeder who, during my last visit to his\/her kennel, was busy selling a dog for $14,000, had 5-6 litters in their puppy room in crates with the mothers, and 3 litters in the indoor\/outdoor runs outside.\u00a0 Granted, the 50 some adults they had were well maintained compared to many of the other breeders I had visited.\u00a0 And that works for that person.\u00a0 But, I guess that\u2019s where the different interpretations of what constitutes a reputable breeder vs. a puppy mill become more influential.\u00a0 So, it happens…\u00a0 And, it is really tiring to follow the Mob, and whatever ‘bandwagon of the month’ it is on.\u00a0 It is even more disheartening when people will pass judgement on another without researching the facts, and looking at the humane side of what happens in the lives of people from time to time.<\/p>\n If I ever get the opportunity, I\u2019d like to research other breeds to see if they have as much going on with the politics.\u00a0 I\u2019d also like to research books on dog buying and see if any outline a scoring rubric that can be adapted for Siberians.\u00a0 For example, 0 points if no OFA is done, 3 points if an OFA is done, and 5 points if an OFA is completed on a permanently identified dog (microchip or tattoo).\u00a0 If anyone reading this can direct me to such resources, I would be obliged!<\/p>\n
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\nhttp:\/\/www.shca.org\/shcahp4a.htm<\/a><\/p>\n