BOOK REVIEWS:

Siberian Huskies, by Beverly Pisano - TFH Publications

THIS book gained status as the best selling book on Siberian huskies in America.

It is illustrated with about 200 photographs and drawings and presents the reader with a sensible guide on how to choose a Siberian husky, points and behaviours to look for and to favour or reject.

A short history begins with the origin of the name Siberian Husky... They did originate in Siberia but travelled to Alaska with the Eskimos. And Huskies was the name of their owners as well - the Eskimos first being called the Husky people, because of their strength and endurance.

A description of the breed is followed by a description of what to look for if you have decided on a husky. Their appearance can differ widely because facial markings accompanied by their blue, brown or combination eyes can make them seem attentive, alert, casual, disinterested, fierce, gentle or anything else at either end of the scale.

One thing for certain is that they are one of the most handsome breeds internationally... and if you decide on a Husky you automatically also decide on a high fence. The husky is light and nimble, and can jump higher than the average owner expects it to.

With the large number of pictures there is not a huge amount of text to read, but what there is really is significant. After making your selection there are sections on grooming tools, registration and advance preparations that must be done, including the choice of a vet and boarding kennels. Feeding requirements, dental care, puppy needs and housebreaking are followed by a very comprehensive section on training and potential problems.

Breeding and whelping also takes a large section, with notes on puppy growth and breeding to take advantage of the best points of both the sire and dam. The World of the Dog Show is a chapter that caters for the novice in the information given. The importance of the right gait and posture means that the owner should attend shows and observe the action of dogs in the showring, and strive for a similar level of training, health and grooming.

Dog show etiquette is discussed with emphasis on good sportsmanship - your dog may be best of the bunch with one judge and the next day miss out altogether in the same bunch but with a different judge. You just have to remember that is the way of the showring and there is no such thing as the perfect dog.

Recreation is another area where each dog will have preferences and as with any other breed it is good to try leisure activities and find out what your dog excels at and obviously enjoys. Many Huskies love to sled race ... it is part of what they were bred for and will build up the strength of the mature dog to make him/her move more easily and show a more muscular action in the showring.

As well as sled racing there is agility training - an area where Huskies also excel as they are a very nimble breed. Obedience is another consideration and the Husky really needs this type of training. They are not known for their natural obedience - rather the opposite!

Field trials can also give a good amount of exercise, variety and interest - whatever you choose for your Husky make sure you have tried it and your dog has showed interest in that form of recreation.

This is a book well worth adding to your library and keeping in a handy place to check information as you need it. You will find yourself going back to it over and over again.

Dog ownership is always a challenge of the pleasant kind and owning a Husky is perhaps a little more challenging than most, but with an enthusiasm for the breed and with the help of your local kennel club, the local Siberian Husky Club, and more experienced owners, the only other thing you will need is a copy of this book to consult for the little problems and queries that arise every day. - EP