RE: Rescue dogs - rather long

[Robert Myers <rmyers@inetone.net>]

This will be my last quattro post on this subject.  Please forgive the
non-Audi "noise".  Remember, the <Delete> key is handy.

At 03:08 PM 2/25/97 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Robert Myers writes:
>
>>If anyone might be interested in having some nice 
>>dogs here is an opportunity.  These dogs are "Alaskan
>>Huskies" - that is, mixed breeds with a lot of Siberian 
>>Husky in the mix - and should make nice pets.  
>
>WARNING - WARNING - WARNING:  These dogs may 
>well be 'nice' but will only be 'nice pets' for certain specific
>households.  PLEASE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR!!

It is true that huskies are not for everyone.  It is also true that Mark's
generalizations are just generalizations and are not true for all huskies.
I have been in contact with the lady who has the dogs and she will be
certain to describe her dogs' particular idiosyncracies to anyone who
contacts her.  

---parts of Mike's "tirade" [:-)] snipped---
>
>One set
>of characteristics is true for ALL of these dogs:
> - They are very friendly & loving - great with kids.

Very true!

> - They are lousy guard dogs (they love strangers).

Also true.  Except they *look* so ferocious that few will try you.  They
*will* defend you if you are actually threatened.  Burglars?  If a burglar
actually does get up the nerve to enter the houseful of noisy dogs it's "Hi.
Scratch my ears and I'll show you where we keep the silver."

> - They are VERY LOUD - yipping and scream/howling 
>   at anything & everything (few bark however).

They make wonderful melodious music with their singing.  :-)  They also let
me know when someone enters my driveway.

> - They are virtually untrainable.  They won't come 
>    when called, roll over, beg etc (unless food's
>    involved - when they become VERY trainable).

Partially true.  My dogs, however, are an exception.  See more below.  Two
of my dogs will come, sit, lie down, stay, shake hands, wait (for food),
speak.  They will also pull a sled or cart quite nicely or will carry a
heavy load in a backpack with lunch and drinks for both people and dogs for
a day long hike.  The third?  Well, she's sweet but perhaps a bit retarded.  :-)

> - You CANNOT keep them in.  Anything. They WILL 
>   get out.  
---snip---

Part is training.  Part is space.  Part is living conditions.  My dogs share
my home with me.  We do not keep them in a kennel.  We have a 4 foot
chain-link fence around our large yard which will keep the two older dogs
inside quite nicely.  The younger one will stay in the yard unless it is
hunting season.  He is VERY gun-shy and, if he can't get into the house,
will clear the fence on the way up to escape that horrible booming noise
that seems to be coming from everywhere at once.

> - Anything furry and smaller than they are is food.
>   They'll KILL cats, other small dogs etc (then come
>   back to you looking sheepish, wagging tail, blood
>   dripping from mouth).

Cats?  Yes.  (It's mercifully quick, however.)  Small dogs?  This hasn't
happened for (to?) me.  They also keep the rat population, the groundhog
population and the mouse population in our yard and barn in check.

> - They can go nuts (bouncing off walls) if not WELL
>    exercised and regularly.

Mine are very laid back.  They come into the living room, get a drink of
water from their bucket and lie down to nap or watch television (yes, they
do).  Soon they are snoring, a very soft gentle buzz.  A very peaceful sound.

> - Do NOT keep them in an apartment!
>
>Having said all that, I love my dogs.  They are beautiful, independant, 
>intelligent and ornery, self opinionated, loud mouthed ... hey, wait a 
>minute ... are you sure you Qlister guys are not all Siberians?

Good question, Mark.  :-)

This afternoon my wife and I took our three huskies for a walk in the
national park across the road from our home.  At different times during that
walk each dog was off-lead.  Each dog walked "with" us for some distance.
Each stayed well within 100 yards of us and each checked on our progress
regularly and each came to us when we called.  Each sat for us to reattach
their leads.

Note, we did not make the mistake of allowing two dogs free at one time.
That would have led to the disappearing act that Mark alludes to.

BTW, Mark and any others who might be interested, there is a mailing list
for people interested in the northern breeds of dogs.  To subscribe send
mail to:

listserv@mail.eworld.com

with this message:

subscribe sleddog-L

Sorry for the non-Audi bandwidth.  If you stuck with this this far, bye for now.

___
   Bob
*****************************************************************
*  Robert L. Myers    rmyers@inetone.net      Home 304-574-2372 *
*  Rt. 1, Box 57                         FAX/Modem 304-574-1166 *
*  Fayetteville, WV 25840                     WV tag Q SHIP     *
*  Obligatory quattro and sleddog-L references:                 *
*  My 3 huskies enjoy riding in my '89 200TQ                    *
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