Siberian Husky Schweiz - Geschichte des Siberian Huskies

Pages from the Past
By: Joy Graeme Messinger, SHCA Historian

Due to the fact that very few photographs of early Siberians have been published, the names in old pedigrees do not mean much to most people. A pedigree is only a piece of paper unless you know what the dogs looked like.
Short Seeley, left us a disorganized mess of photos, registrations and some note books and file cards. Here are a few photos of the early studs she used and some of her breeding, togheter with her notes describing the dogs:
SEPP lll (Togo ex ?) Male. Breeder - Leonard Seppala, whelped in Alaska date unknown. Dark Wolf Grey, Brown eyes. Thick dense coat, lying flat. Excellent feet. Short coupled. Ears well set up on head. Bone medium. Fox brush tail. Average weight 54 lbs. Height 21". Declared by Elisabeth Ricker as one of best pups she had seen. Sold to Mr. Drake, later owned by C. F. Jackson, Durham, N.H. Died 1938 Used at stud by Chinook Kennels on: Tanta of Alyeska; Tosca of Alyeska: Cheeak of Alyeska.
 

SEPP III	SEPP III

 

CHAPMAN'S DUKE (aka Duke) (lci ex Wanda) Male. Breeder - Leonard Seppala. whelped 3/21/27, Alaska. Owner L. B. Chapman, Sandwich, N.H. Grey, Brown eyes. Rangy but excellent conformation. Medium ears set high. Excellent coat and fox brush tail. Thick pads and well shaped feet. Looked like some of the Siberians at Poland Springs approved by Elizabeth Ricker as excellent Siberian type. Height 22 1/2". Used at stud on Tanta of Alyeska.
In 1953 Short contacted Leonard Chapman regarding Duke's background. Printed here is his reply and a letter from Mike Cooney.

Wed Mon 18/53
Howdy Mrs. Seeley:
Rec your letter in regards to Dukes breeding. I did have all Duke's breeding received in part from Mrs. Cooney and Leonard Seppala.
If the ones who are claiming he was other than a pure bred stock, were students of dogs they surely would know that the get of any cross bred dogs would have throw backs. Which there was never in any of this stock. All of their breeding were true to type and conformation. I paid good money for Duke and express $50. I don't pay out this money for cross bred dogs. Moseley Taylor came to there with our sled dogs. He offered me three of his dogs and $100 for Duke and one of the three he paid $150 for. Moseley Taylor knew dogs and l am sure he wasn't paying this amount for Duke if a cross bred dog.
No one could have bought Duke at any price. Those pups you sold Moseley Taylor the foundation stock of Mrs. Lorna Demidoff was I think one of the finest bunch of siberians in N.E. On the dams side (Wanda) back to Sepps old lead dog Tofo and on Dukes side back to his Sweepstake Scotty lead dog that led his team to vicctory from Nome to Candle and return - 407 miles. They just don't have these kind of dogs today.
I am enclosing snapshots. In the hookup Duke is in swing - on left facing the picture alongside the picture alongside the masked face malemute. When I lost Duke (distemper) I lost all interest in sled dogs. He loved me and I loved him. He cared for no one else.
I hed part of his breeding sent me by Mrs. Cooney and some more I got from Sepp at Laconia one winter at the races, Mike Cooney and Sepp were old friends.
I am enclosing a part of a letter received from Mrs. Conney giving Dukes breeding.
The rest of the breeding I did not have as it has been destroyed as I have been out of the game for some time.
Good luck to you and Lorna.
Chap

 

CHAPMAN'S DUKE (left swing)	CHAPMAN'S DUKE

May 3, 1933
This is the addition do Dukes Pedigree as given us by Leonard Seppalla, who was the original owner, Ici was the son of Thor, --Thor was the son of Scotty, -- Scotty was the son of Basko. All these dogs were pedigreed race dogs (Siberian) and Scotty became famous in the Nome races, and was the greatest dog Seppella ever owned. This is authentic, in spite of all Mr. Hurley and his associates may say to the contrary.
Signet, M.J. Cooney

WONALANCET'S DISKO OF ALYESKA (Ch. Turu of Alyeska ex Toska of Wonalancet) Male. Breeder/owners - Mr. and Mrs. Milton Seeley. Whelped 5/10/40. Light wolf grey, one blue eye, one brown eye. Excellent conformation.

CH. WONALANCET'S BALDY OF ALYESKA (Ch. Turu of Alyeska ex Toska of Wonalancet) Male. Bredder/owners - Mr. and Mrs. Milton Seeley. Whelped 5/10.40. Light wolf grey, Blue eyes. Excellent conformation.
Disko & Baldy won Best Brace in Show at Raceland (Northshore) MA. 1944

WOLANALANCET'S DISKO OF ALYESKA (l.) and
CH. WONALANCET'S BALDY OF ALYESKA (r).

 

Fritz-The Unsung Hero

 

Fritz war einer der ersten im AKC registrierter Siberian Husky, die Hunde links neben Seppala (Betrachtersicht) auf dem Bild waren nicht registriert und man nannte diese Hunde "Village Dogs", die Hunde rechts von ihm waren hingegen im AKC registriert als Siberian Huskies.

 

 

11. Januar 1929 Simpler spelling

 

Famus dog teams among the dozen enterd in next week's derby

Lake Placid Club's 2d Annual Sled Dog Derby to be held Jan 16-17 wil mark the opening of the season for sled dog racing in the United States. Some  of the best known drivers of the country ar among the 12 entries. Leonard Seppala, famus Alaskan sweepstake winner and owner of perhaps the fastest string of dogs in North America wil take part again in this race which he won last year. Mrs E.P. Ricker, jr of Poland Springs, Maine, who leads all other women in this sturdy sport is the only woman enterd. She wil drive her own team of Siberians from Seppala's kennels over the long course which may be from 15 to 25 miles on each of the 2 days. She asks no quarter and drives so wel that last year she finisht 2d in the derby and defeated a field of seasond men. No one who has not watcht a dog derby, or better stil taken part in such a race, knows the excitement of seeing the eager dogs holding taut every nerv and muscle waiting for the quiet-spoken word of the driver which shal send them off over frozen miles. The initiate recall the plesure and ar looking forward to the 2d derby to be held next week. The derby wil be sanctiond by the New England Sled Dog Club and that club's president, Moseley Taylor of Boston, is sending a team which wil be driven by Hiram Mason of Tamworth, N H. Walter Channing of Boston, a prominent officer of the New England Sled Dog Club and a pioneer promotor of sled dog racing as an amateur sport, has enterd 2 teams, 1 of which he wil drive himself. The other wil be driven by Thomas Dabney. Harold Pendergast of Conway, N H who raced here last year is returning with his dogs. Barry Wheeler of St Jovite, Province of Quebec, wil be the only Canadian entry. 5 local teams ar entered in the race, 3 from Placid and 2 from Saranac Lake. Jacques Suzanne's huskies ar a picturesk addition to Placid senery familiar to all visitors. Dr. Francis J D' Avignon's team and dog farm ar beginning to rival Suzanne's as a local center of interest, tho his represent merely his personal hobby. Clark Hayes, Lake Placid game warden and devoted woodsman, has traind a good team of Greenland huskies. Francis B Cantwell of Saranac Lake and John D McIlhenny, jr of Saranac Lake ar sending teams for the 1st time. Dr H A Souter of Boston is coming to be a juj of the race. Each team must be composed of not more than 7 dogs. Once started neither driver nor dogs may be chanjed during the 2 day race, and a dog once dropt from a team for any cause may not be reinstated.

H A Roberts A visitor next week FRITZ

Handsome sterling silver prizes hav been given by Clifford R Hendrix of N Y whose interest, encourajment and aid hav helpt establish the dog derby as an outstanding feature of the Club winter sports program. In its 1st year the derby created intense enthusisasm that bids fair to be doubld this year, with twice the number of entries. Undoutedly the dog derby wil continue to be an increasingly popular spectacle.
There wil be an interesting pitting of canine brother against brother when the race comes off. 'Fritzie,' the lead dog of Dr D'Avignon's team, was last year the leader of Mrs Ricker's team which took 2d prize. Fritzie came orijinally from Seppala's kennels of Siberians, as did most of Mrs Ricker's dogs, and 2 more of Dr D'Avignon's team. Seppala's own team ar from the same kennels.
Seppala's race by dog team to Nome with diftheria antitoxin for relief of the epidemic-ridden city has become historic. Shannon was another driver in the early laps of that famus relay race against deth. 'Blackie' from Shannon's team is now ownd by Dr D'Avignon.
Varius breeds wil be represented in the teams, the Siberians alredy named, Alaskan huskies of Suzanne's team, Greenland huskies and German shepherd dogs of Clark Hayes'team. Hounds and cros-bred dogs bilt for speed wil run for Alter Channing and Harold Pendergast. No dout there wil be numerus other strains represented also but these ar not known to the writer.
It is expected that the route wil be practically the same as that followd last year. Much of it lies along the summer bridle trails from the Club to Newman's farm, on to John Brown's farm and past the grave of the fiery abolitionist, past Intervales ski jump hil and along the west branch of the AuSable river to the Wilmington road, and up this state hyway to Lake Placid. This was the circuit that was traverst on each of the 2 racing days of last year's derby. A stipulation of the racing committee ist that the dogs shal not be sent out thru deep, unbroken snow. In case of a hevy snowfall the track must be broken.
Some of the visiting teams ar alredy here and hav begun training for the derby.
 

Eastman Kodak Co Mrs E P Ricker, jr racing her team Mrs Ricker wil be the only woman entrant again this year 1928 FRITZ IN LEAD

H Armstrong Roberts Leonard Seppala Alaskan sweepstake winner BONZO

 

A Short Alaska History Of The Siberian Husky
by Earl & Natalie Norris

The Fall of 1908 was history making in the North for that year Goosak, a Russian fur buyer, arrived in Nome with a team of nine Siberian Huskies to enter the 1909. All Alaska Sweepstake Race of 408 miles with its $10,000.00 first prize.
No one was impressed with Goosak's little dogs, weighing only 40 to 52 pounds, compared to their longer legged, heavier competitors. The people of Nome referred to them as "Siberian Rats."
Goosak persuaded Louis Thrustrup to drive his team. This team, even though the odds were 100 to one against it in the betting, made a tremendous showing and nearly won the race, placing third. Rumors ran rampant in Nome that gamblers had paid off the driver before he reached the finish in order to save them from ruin...it was said had Thrustrup won, it would have broken the Bank of Nome. Goosak's dogs were subsequently sold to an Nome fur trader, Charlie Madsen. But, the Siberian dogs had made such an impression on the Honorable Fox Maule Ramsay, a young Scotsman interested in mining in Nome that summer, he went to Siberia, up the Kolima River, and purchased sixty of the best dogs he could obtain.
In April, 1910, at the start of the third Sweepstakes, Ramsay had three teams in the race with one driven by John Johnson, one by Charlie Johnson (entered in the name of his uncle, Col. Weatherly Stuart of London), and one driven by himself. When one of Ramsay's teams, driven by John Johnson, made the all time, never beaten record of 74 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds for the 408 miles, and Fox Ramsay, himself, placed second, all the amusement changed to admiration for the little Siberian. From that time on, the Siberian dogs attained an enormous popularity.
However, the concept that the Siberian Husky first came to Alaska with Goosak is mis-leading. Lieutenant Zogoskin, a Russian, writing of his travel in Alaska from 1842 through 1844 referred to the Kamchatka lead dogs his party was using. According to Zogoskin, the art of driving dogs, by the Alaskan natives, was in its infancy. There were no lead dogs. The small teams of three and four dogs followed a person, rather than being driven by someone. The Russians imported dog keepers an drivers from Okhotsh, as well as Siberian dogs. What influence, if any, these animals had on the Alaskan stock is speculative. But, it is possible the blue eyes and Siberian characteristics common to many dogs along the Yukon were there before the 1900's.
Amudson, the Norwegian explorer, planning an expedition to the North Pole, utilizing dogs, contracted a Nome miner, Jafet Lindenberg, to buy and train dhe dogs. When the poar trip was abandoned (Peary had just reached the pole), the dogs, mostly Siberians, were turned over to Leonard Seppala, a Lindenberg employee, to be raced for Lindenberg.

 
Goosak's Siberian racing team...the dogs that started it all.
 

Thad is how, during the latter stages of the Nome Sweepstakes, the wiry, little Norwegian came into possession of some of the Siberians. Seppala won the last three Alaska Sweepstakes and went on to many racing records, both in Alaska and "outside". Today the name of Seppala is synonymous with that of the Siberian Husky.
When Nome was gripped in a diptheria epedemic in 1925 and the life-saving serum over 600 miles away, a dog team relay was formed to hasten its arrival. Seppala had left Nome early to meet the serum at Nulato on the Yukon River, but, due to speedy relays, he met a team with the serum on the eastern shore of Norton Sound, and after his all day run, and in the midst of a blizzard, Seppala turned his tired team around, and with his leader "Togo", made the perilous run back across the Sound. A team of Siberians led by "Balto", driven by Gunner Kasson, completed the last leg of the relay. A statue of "Balto" stands in New York honoring all the dogs of the serum run.
In the late twenties, Seppala traveled to New England and eastern Canada, stying with Mrs. Elizabeth Ricker of Poland Springs, Maine, who had built up a kennel of Siberians, including the last imports out of Siberia (brought over by Olaf Swenson in 1929). Seppala raced all over the East, including the 1932 Olympics, which staged a demonstration sled dog race in Lake Placid, New York. Many people acquired dogs from Seppala and when he returnet to Alaska, he left his remaining animals with Harry Wheeler, owner of Gray Rock Inn, St. Jovite, Quebec, whose famous kennel, with the suffix "of Seppala", is known to all breeders of Siberians. All the registered dogs bred today in the American Kennel Club registry can trace their ancestry to these dogs.
The Hurley strain Siberians, prominent in Fairbank's racing during the thirties, were originally owned by the late Frank Dufresne, formerly head of the Alaska Game Commission. The dogs were bred from two white Siberians, "Jack Frost" and "Snow-white" and were sold to the late Julien Hurley, a Fairbanks lawyer and judge. Some of these dogs were sold to New England and Michigan kennels, but today the strain is non-existent so far as is known. The first Siberian Husky bench show champion was "Northern Light Kobuk". 775815. purchased by Oliver Shattuck of New England from the Hurley kennel. But, it was from the stock of the Wheeler kennel that many kennels obtained foundation animals, including Chinook Kennels, Cold River Kennels, Foxstand Kennels, Gatineau, Monadnock Kennels, and Alex Belford, father of the famed racer,  Dr. Charles Belford. Only two of the above are operating today.
Harry Wheeler sold his complete kennel in 1950 to Don McFaul, owner of Gatineau Kennels, Maniwaki, Quebec, and McFaul, dropping the Gatineau suffix, therafter, used the Seppala name. In the winter of 1963. this kennel sold out and the dogs returned to Alaska with Natalie and Earl Norris, the purchasers. Here, we have used the "Seppala" stock as useful out-crosses to the dominant "Anadyr" line.
Going back a few years, there was no one actually breeding pure Siberians in Alaska in 1946 when Natalie Jubin (now Mrs. Earl Norris) arrived with two A.K.C. registered Siberians bred by Short Seeley of Chinook Kennels. One of these, "Chinook's Alladin of Alyeska", became the chief foundation stud, during his life-time, of Siberians bred in Alaska. Due to this dog's tremendous drive and working ability, plus well-balanced conformation and overall typiness, he was chosen as the Siberian to double up on. Seppala was breeding dogs in Fairbanks, but upon returning after the 1932 Olympics, he had bred up a selected strain of pure white or white with gray saddle dogs from crossing a Malamute to two white Siberian bitches. Pictures of these dogs have become widespread and are often erroneously labeled as Siberians. Ultimately, a few of these cross-breds accompanied Seppala to Seattle where he went into partnership with the Bow Lake Kennels. This stock ceased to be bred when the partners bought registered Siberians. Of course Siberian Husky stock has been inter-bred among the native dogs through-out Alaska, as evidenced by Siberian characteristics cropping up in the native strains, particularily along the Yukon. Since the 1950's racers have been taking registered Siberians back to the villages for cross-breeding an some of the most reknown racing dogs have been the result: the team of Isaac Okleasik of Teller, all bred from one registered bitch, sired by different males, won the1967 Centennial Race...one member of this team went on to even greater notoriety by becoming a leader for Fairbank's racer, Bill Taylor, a North American champion.
Foundation animale, other than "Alladin" were: "Bayou of Foxstand," but two and three generations removed from the original imports, a buff, gray saddle, plush coated, blue-eyed bitch sold to us by Don McFaul of Maniwaki; "Candia", a predominently white, spotted bitch bought from Foxstand Kennels (Bill Shearer); "Starena of Gatineau", a pure white bich (dam of Charles Belford's lead dog, "Timmy", and others in Belford's championship team of the early fifties in New England) and bred by McFaul; the male dogs, "Keetna of Monadnock" and "Pando of Monadnock", the former gray and white, latter bland and white, and though "Pando" sired but one litter, out of this litter came "Ch. Tyndrum's Oslo C.D.X."; "Yaddam of Huskie Haven" and "Ava of Huskie Haven", black and white litter-mates bred by Austin Moorecroft, who traded puppies with us (the red female we sent him is in the pedigree of many of the eastern "reds", we believe).
Speaking of the "reds", the color has been recorded as early as the 1860's by travelers in Siberia. We produced our first "reds" when breeding "Dirka of Anadyr", a buff and gray daughter of "Alladin" back to him in 1948. Many of the reds on the west coast go back to this same female through a "Yaddam" sired son, "Ch. Noho of Anadyr, C.D.", owned by Dichoda Kennels.
In the late forties, racing was again established in Fairbanks (having been curtailed during the war years) by the newly formed Alaska Dog Mushers'Ass'n. There, many kennels had dogs of mixed Siberian blood, but there were no fanciers of pure Siberians left, other than Hortense "Jackie" Landru, author of "Sled Dog of Alaska," who had some of the Malamute-Siberian crosses bred by Seppala at Chananika, but whose nick-name "Jackie" was given her when she raced some of Julien Hurley's dogs when a young woman, and had been especially fond of the lead dog, "Jack Frost." Two couples associated with the Alaska Dog Mushers became Interested in the registered Siberians after witnessing the Anchorange dogs race: Con and Virginia Clark,  (foundation dogs from the Tyndrum Kennels), and Jack and Sid Worbass who had Anadyr dogs. They became enthusiastic breeders for several years, although neither kennel is now in existence. Some dogs of their breeding became the foundation for Albert and Ethel Stoneman, who still breed Siberians in that area and show once in awhile. However, up until recently, the few Siberians in the Fairbank's area have mostly been bred by people with pets and a pure Siberian Husky in a dog team locally was rare.

Earl Norris on a training run about 1950. "Aladdin" in lead, The lighter swing dog, T-Serko of Anadyr

A kennel of registered Siberians was operated by Ray and Mable Scoby at Forty-mile Roadhouse on the Alaska Highway who bought their original stock from Joe Traversie (Lakota Kennels). They raced successfully in the Tok area during the late fifties and early sixties, only recently selling out to another Tok kennel. The Tok Dog Mushers field an active racing season terminated in late March by their championship, labeled "the race of champions." A few years ago Roger Reitano moved his Subahka Kennel to Tok from California, and he, and his wife June, (along with most Siberian kennels in Alaska), are dedicated to breeding pure Siberians which can race competively. The Reitanos also are active show exhibitors.
There were several members of the Alaskan Sled Dog and Racing Ass'n. in the Anchorange area breeding registered Siberians. ASDRA was formed in 1949 and the Siberian breeders formed the Siberian Club of Alaska soon after, joined the Parent Club, the Siberian Husky Club of America, held several A.K.C. licensed dog shows, had outings, regular meetings, and worked hard to put the Siberian over as a work and race dog. And, the Siberian stayed on top in the area through the fifties, gradually losing ground to the native husky dogs as the cream of the crop raised in the villages dominated the championship races.
One A.K.C. recognized Specialty Show put on by the local club had an entry of 43 Siberians. As I remember, the largest entry in a show up to that time anywhere. Several club members participated in obedience with their dogs. "Ch. Bonzo of Anadyr, C.D." was not only the first Siberian Husky to be placed Best in Show in an All-Breed Show, but he was Best in Match in the first sanctioned obedience trial and the first Siberian to earn his C.D. in Alaska."Ch. Tyndrum's Osio, C.D.X." became the only Siberian, to date, in Alaska, to earn that title. Both of these dogs, grandson's of "Alladin", were famous racing leaders and were known and remembered by Alaskan mushers for their ability as lead dogs more than their other achievements.

Tyndrum Kennel team driven by Charles Macinnes, owner, racing at Lake Lugille, Alaska, in the early fifties.
"Chena", the lead dog and "Oslo", near swing, are out of Ch. U-Chee of Anadyr, the former sired by Keetna of Monadnock,
latter sired by Pando of Monadnock. Swings and next two pair are littermates. "Keetna" right wheel.

In the fifties the principal kennels in the Anchorange area were Alaskan Kennels (ours), Tyndrum Kennels (Charles and Kit Macinnes), Koiri Koti Kennels (Orville and Doris Lake), Nikohna Kennels (Roger and Reta Gidney), Lakota Kennels (Joe and Gladys Traversie), all of these within howling distance of one another, and Abaska Kennels (Hank and Lorna Buege) further out the Seward Highway. We are the only one still active.
The Siberian Husky Club of Alaska, dormant for a decade, was revitalized by the arrival of Darrell and Angie Reynolds, Karl and Pat Hahn, enthusiastic fanciers, the former oriented more to the mushing scene but active in showing, the latter primarily show oriented. These people helped draw many of the single dog owners, and those with a few dogs, who in turn became interested in seeing the club function. Since the 70's the club has been most active, participating in community affairs, putting on matches which have often been judged by prominent Siberian breeders from the States, Canada, Europe. A Obedience Trial an several members are active in this field.
The club received sanctioning from the American Kennel Club in 1978, which necessitated a name change; we are now known as the Siberian Husky Club Anchorange, boasting some thirty members with the majority owning and driving dog teams. Some are fun teams, several are raced in the limited classes, and some are in training for the unlimited and long distance races. So, the pure Siberian is making progress once again in Alaska, on the trails and in the ring.
Sled dog populations declined drastically in most villages, but not all, during the sixties. For instance, in Tanana, the dog mushers established a race association and selected breeding and interest increased. By comparison, the small village of Huslia, once supporting four hundred dogs, had but two dog teams until recently. Some places had no teams, although many people in the villages keep two or three dogs out of nostaligia or habit. The trend is now turning. Dogs are making a come-back all over Alaska. This may be due in part to the great expense of snow machines and their maintenance, but also to the popularity of the Iditarod 1,049 mile race from Anchorange to Nome and the general racing scene across the state. Dogs with Siberian blood are in demand.
Siberians have been in several of the teams placing well in the Iditarod. Darrell Reynolds drove his Kossa Kennel team in the 1975 Iditarod and Chris Camping Siberians from Alaskan Kennels; 1976 the breed was represented by the team of Jon VanZyle, and spottingly in several other entries. One of the two women to complete the race, Lolly Medley, had three pure-breds finish.
Our own team went through the 1975 and 1976 seasons with but two or three half-breeds, so the percentage of Siberians Making it here is on the increase, but other teams finishing in the money, in the championships have none or but one or two registered dogs running. Hopefully this will change as more people up here are again breeding and working Siberians and this will enlarge the gene pool upon which we can all draw.