New Puppy!!---(Pictures included)

[Glacier]

Well, I was trying to keep my mouth shut on this one, but I'm loosing the battle. Attitudes and actions like this are the single biggest problem in the mushing world. Rehoming/dumping dogs that "aren't good enough" is the reason why I have 23 dogs in my yard. Almost everyone of them wasn't good enough for someone else. Their loss, my gain! It's the reason why over 3000 huskies a year die in the Fairbanks, Alaska shelter. Almost every one of those dogs is a working sled dog that didn't meet their mushers' standards. That doesn't count the thousands more that never make it to a shelter or never have the chance to be rehomed. It's the reason why I will never be a serious, competitive musher. The attitude disgusts me.

My dogs live and die with me, regardless of their interest in pulling. Of the 23, only 15 pull. My retired leader is currently lounging on the couch. Heyoka, who should have been a great freight dog but hates to work, is running around the yard, playing with Mac. I gave Heyoka's harness away last year, never considered giving the dog away! If you had adopted Yukon from the shelter I work with and then rehomed him, you immediately go on our Do Not Adopt list and would never get another animal from us.

And now I'm going outside to take my not good enough sled dogs for a 20 mile run.

[borzoimom]

Holy Cow!!! 3000??? I DIDN'T know that!! ..

[Lori Jordan]

Lovely picture i love the one with all the stuff animals !

[DrKym]

OUCH! I think the new pup is gorgeous! (and I do remember months ago you saying you would be adding more to your life ) as for Yukon, I am so glad you took the time to think of his life. It takes so much to look past our own wants and see what will truly be best for someone/thing else. Knowing him better than anyone else, you were unselfish enough to see past what you wanted from him and what would make him supremely happy. Being a companion. I am certain he will excel in it as he had so much time and love from you during his puppyhood! Lucky new Mom and Dad! Keep us posted as to how he is enjoying a pampered life(probably watching watching the Iditarod and giggling to himself while lounging on the couch ) Good luck with Kodiak, and would love to see new pics of the team! *hint hint*

Kym

[tikeyas_mom]

Well, I was trying to keep my mouth shut on this one, but I'm loosing the battle. Attitudes and actions like this are the single biggest problem in the mushing world. Rehoming/dumping dogs that "aren't good enough" is the reason why I have 23 dogs in my yard. Almost everyone of them wasn't good enough for someone else. Their loss, my gain! It's the reason why over 3000 huskies a year die in the Fairbanks, Alaska shelter. Almost every one of those dogs is a working sled dog that didn't meet their mushers' standards. That doesn't count the thousands more that never make it to a shelter or never have the chance to be rehomed. It's the reason why I will never be a serious, competitive musher. The attitude disgusts me.

My dogs live and die with me, regardless of their interest in pulling. Of the 23, only 15 pull. My retired leader is currently lounging on the couch. Heyoka, who should have been a great freight dog but hates to work, is running around the yard, playing with Mac. I gave Heyoka's harness away last year, never considered giving the dog away! If you had adopted Yukon from the shelter I work with and then rehomed him, you immediately go on our Do Not Adopt list and would never get another animal from us.

And now I'm going outside to take my not good enough sled dogs for a 20 mile run.

ALL I have to say is.. Touch'e.. I wish Yukon could come live with me.

[Husky_mom]

despite the sadness Yukon didn´t work, I hope he now can get all the attention he deserves without having to do something he didn´t enjoyed (I KNOW he is very loved andit is not fair to leave him behind). he can now be the couch potatoe he might want

as for the newbie.........now I definately have to go visit you!!!..........adn come back with a stuffed suitcase

how lovely I want to steal him!!!...........

[BC_MoM]

Wow, GREAT post, Glacier.

[Husky15]

I have to agree with Glacier on the Yukon topic. Boy, I wish I could take Yukon, I always thought he was gorgeous.

Congratulations on Kodiak. He is such a cute puppy!

[dab_20]

Glacier... I wish there were soo many other people in the world just like you. All of your dogs are so lucky to have you in their lives, to save them from heartless people. I thank you for that.

I do not agree at all with your reason to rehome Yukon, but I wish him the best of luck in finding a furever home and a family who loves him for who he is. He is such a handsome boy.

Kodiak is adorable!

[Anita Cholaine]

Well, I was trying to keep my mouth shut on this one, but I'm loosing the battle. Attitudes and actions like this are the single biggest problem in the mushing world. Rehoming/dumping dogs that "aren't good enough" is the reason why I have 23 dogs in my yard. Almost everyone of them wasn't good enough for someone else. Their loss, my gain! It's the reason why over 3000 huskies a year die in the Fairbanks, Alaska shelter. Almost every one of those dogs is a working sled dog that didn't meet their mushers' standards. That doesn't count the thousands more that never make it to a shelter or never have the chance to be rehomed. It's the reason why I will never be a serious, competitive musher. The attitude disgusts me.

My dogs live and die with me, regardless of their interest in pulling. Of the 23, only 15 pull. My retired leader is currently lounging on the couch. Heyoka, who should have been a great freight dog but hates to work, is running around the yard, playing with Mac. I gave Heyoka's harness away last year, never considered giving the dog away! If you had adopted Yukon from the shelter I work with and then rehomed him, you immediately go on our Do Not Adopt list and would never get another animal from us.

And now I'm going outside to take my not good enough sled dogs for a 20 mile run.

Tamara, after your post, I don't think I could add anything else. I wish there were more people like you in this world.

It's your own decision to rehome Yukon, so I don't think there's much we can do. I hope he finds a forever, loving family, I'll definitely keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Kodiak is such a cutie, but what if he's not good enough as a sled dog? Will you also rehome him?

[elizabethann]

Sorry if some of the replies aren't what you were expecting. But I'm with Glacier on this one.

[T-Ice]

Hello All,

I first want to say that without opinions we would accomplish nothing, so thank you all for your opinions on this topic!
There are many types of people in this world. Some people have too many dogs, even in their opinion. Some have many but are always adding more. Some people have one and would love one more.Some people don't have any and would die to just have one. Some people like like dogs but feel they are too much work. Some people think dogs are creatures of disgust and feel no person should keep them as pets. I know who I am and I think you all know who you are. For the people who have dogs some think of them as creatures of higher power who desrve not to have one human tell them what to do, their owners live at their will, they are alpha superior to all. Some people keep them as couch potatoes. Some people keep them as pets and provide fun and stimulating activities for them do do.Some people keep dogs as working animals only.
Some people make sure each dog has a job to do, believing it not right to own one of these magnificiant animals without having them do what they should be doing naturally. For example I myself (and yes I know I'm going get slammed on this one) don't think it is fair to have a husky as a pet only. Huskies are suppose to have a job to do( in my pinion, of course), a real job. Unfortunatly, and I guess fortunatly also, some huskies are having their working intsicts and desire bred out of them making them easier to keep as house pets. Laid back , Lazy , lovable house pets.
On With Working Sled Dogs: A PT Musher, who also replied to this topic, has many sled dogs. More than half of which are working. This person also stated that she would never find a new home for one of her huskies if it no longer wanted to pull. And this is okay for her. This her her decision and a correct one for her indeed. Meaning therefore she would have just as many huskies as she has now even in none of them pulled. And again this is okay for her. What is not okay is for her to scold other people's opinions, in public (could have PM'd) with the intent to make the other person get definsive, about their decisions on their sled dogs. For some people, myself included, have a hard time keeping a husky if it does not want to pull. Not because I don't love and respect the animal but because I am a musher, With a goal to continue mushing, and in order to mush I need dogs that pull. I could have 100 huskies in my kennel but if none of them enjoy this activity I wouldn't be able to mush. I am a musher, I have sled dogs. I am also a pet owner, I have pet dogs.

I am also one of you, I have an opinion.

[Glacier]

On With Working Sled Dogs: What is not okay is for her to scold other people's opinions, in public (could have PM'd) with the intent to make the other person get definsive, about their decisions on their sled dogs. For some people, myself included, have a hard time keeping a husky if it does not want to pull. Not because I don't love and respect the animal but because I am a musher, With a goal to continue mushing, and in order to mush I need dogs that pull. I could have 100 huskies in my kennel but if none of them enjoy this activity I wouldn't be able to mush. I am a musher, I have sled dogs. I am also a pet owner, I have pet dogs.

I am also one of you, I have an opinion.

But it's ok for you to scold me publicly??? I have discussed this further with sled_dog by PM.

Sled dog rescue is my life's work. This weekend alone I had three phone calls from mushers wanting to get rid of their dogs--one guy his entire team of close to two dozen dogs. It is extremely rare that a full week goes by where I don't get a call from some musher who's got too many dogs, too many puppies, the dog is too old, too young, too unfocused, funny gait, health issues, temperment issues, claims he's sick and has to get out of mushing, or just doesn't want to bother anymore. While I believe there are legitmate reasons for placing a dog, I think they are far more rare than most mushers like to believe. The market for working sled dogs, of any age and any caliber, is extremely limited. The average pet dog owner runs screaming in the other direction as soon as they hear the words "sled dog", even where I live, in the middle of mushing central. Most of the dogs I get calls about end up dead and not always a humane death. Their deaths keep me up at night. So don't expect any sympathy or understanding from me when you dump a dog.

I do hope Yukon gets a great new home where he will be loved and appreciated for the rest of his life.

[Vela]

[QUOTE=T-Ice}On With Working Sled Dogs: A PT Musher, who also replied to this topic, has many sled dogs. More than half of which are working. This person also stated that she would never find a new home for one of her huskies if it no longer wanted to pull. And this is okay for her. This her her decision and a correct one for her indeed. Meaning therefore she would have just as many huskies as she has now even in none of them pulled. And again this is okay for her. What is not okay is for her to scold other people's opinions, in public (could have PM'd) with the intent to make the other person get definsive, about their decisions on their sled dogs. [/QUOTE]


Umm, in one breath you tell HER to take it to PMs and then turn around and scold HER in public? I don't think that is appropriate at all. You are welcome to your opinion, like anyone else, but please don't presume to tell someone else what to do, and then turn around and do exactly the same thing you are accusing them of; and I thank God above for people like Glacier, or there would be a whole lot of sled dogs that's other's don't want anymore languishing at the shelter or put down.

Yukon will, I'm sure, be placed in a loving and caring home. He isn't being dumped at a shelter, but I still feel badly for him that his current home didn't work out for him.

[borzoimom]

Okay- your decission is your decission- To each their own..
However- let me point this out. I had always shown dogs- and Hottie wasnt supposed to be any different. I took him out of the ring at 2 because I was not sure if he got the OCD from the accident as a pup ( throwing his weight into his shoulders and elbows because of the left rear leg) or did it occur because there was a genetic weakness that allowed the condition to be worse than it might have been. Hottie is still here..
Femka- rescue, but also I had planned on obedience with her. While she can do it, its obvious she doesnt like being touched by strangers- especially men.. She is still here..
Galina- came here for training ( I think I was set up) because they had questions about her temperment as being either excessively shy, or simply was just being overly dominated by other alpha bitches at the breeder- the second turned out to be true- and she stayed here. If her temperment had not " come into her own" etc ( even got her therapy dog title a little over a month after arriving here- and shows in the ring with brass.. lol) - Still it was obvious- she would have stayed here as a spayed bitch and companion.
I understand your desire for sledding etc- but the fact is- this is not the first time I have kept dogs that did not work as originally planned. I had two shepherds fail out of police work for not holding a bite long enough. They lived out their lives with me, while I just made more room.
I understand my position was different- after all- the two shepherds were of my breeding- and the only two that failed to be " hard enough" to make it. However- Hottie, Femka, Galina are NOT OF MY breeding- purchased soley for either show, or take for obedience. Should something happen more, they would still live with me..
If you do not have room in your house for a companion inside- that is one thing- but those are my opinions. I only gave up a dog one time- and that was because the dog was a liability - and went to a home without other dogs or children. ( not of my breeding- basically all but given away.I had a 5 year old in the house.)
Yukon sounds like a lover- a softer temperment- placing is not my decission, but I just wanted to throw this out to you in more detail than what I have said previously. I wish him well, and I hope you get what you want. I guess dogs are more in my mind as companions first and foremost- and the rest is just gravy or iceing on the cake..