*********************************

AT SOME POINT any inquiring person is sure to ask,
Do Chukchi Sled Dogs make good pets? It's a legitimate question and the short answer is Yes. In fairness both to the dogs and to their prospective owners, though, we have to add some qualifying details to the short answer. Different people, after all, can have very different notions of just what constitutes a really good pet.

If 'good pet' means a pet-and-forget kind of dog that hangs around the yard waiting for its owners to get bored enough to give it a pat, then Chukchi Sled Dogs just don't qualify. They need a certain amount of care and attention.

First and foremost: THEY SHOULDN'T BE LEFT RUNNING LOOSE. There are several good reasons why we say that. First, they were originally bred to run and to keep running for long distances. When an unattended Chukchi Sled Dog decides to stretch his legs, often he doesn't stop until he's somewhere in the next county! Moreover, they originally were accustomed to trying to find food on their own -- live food! Loose Chukchi Sled Dogs could be dangerous to poultry, pets, wildlife and livestock. Keeping your Chukchi Sled Dog under control at all times is just a natural part of responsible dog ownership.

Chukchi Sled Dogs bad habits include a penchant for wandering, often preceded by the digging of a hole under the fence. Digging is natural with this dog; his forbears dug holes in the snow as nests,and the instinct remains strong. His innate need for exercise and his inherent curiosity often lead him astray. So, a strong fence is necessary to keep him home, preferably a fence that has been sunk a foot or two into the ground. An electronic or radio frequency fence will probably not do the trick, especially if more than one Chukchi lives in the yard. There are many breeds of dogs which, when let out in the morning, will sit in the front yard all day, not the Chukchi Sled Dog. His heritage has endowed him with the desire to run and his conformation has given him the ability to enjoy it effortlessly. But, one quick lope across a busy street could be the last run that he enjoys,ever. They are not likely to be traffic-wise and are likely to get run down crossing roadways or highways without 'stopping to look both ways'. Because of this, we strongly urge that no Chukchi Sled Dog ever be allowed unrestrained freedom. Instead, for his own protection, he should be confined or under control at all times.

Sufficient exercise for proper development and well-being may be obtained on a leash,in a large enclosure, or best of all, in harness. If you feel that it is inconvenient or cruel to keep a dog thus confined, then the Chukchi Sled Dog is not the breed for you.

Even worse, a free-running Chukchi Sled Dog is an easy mark for death by shooting. To some people they look exactly like wolves or coyotes, and they are apt to get gunned down in this way.

Chukchi Sled Dogs that wander can also contribute to the mixed breed dog population, for wandering males will find females in heat, and wandering females in heat will be a target for any male. Owners should seriously consider sterilization to prevent unwanted litters, to somewhat curb the wanderlust, and to prevent reproductive tract cancers from developing.

Apart from the necessity to keep them in a secure fence or otherwise securely confined when they aren't walking on a leash, Chukchi dogs actually have a high degree of pet aptitude.

Today's Chukchi Sled Dog is a beautiful, captivating, eager, outgoing, animated canine companion. They have the ability to charm and hold captive the hearts of many.

Their abilities in addition to companion animals are: Sledding, carting, and running companion, agility, and obedience. This breed has many charms, however they also have strong and difficult behaviors that require a special effort for successful ownership.

The Chukchi Sled Dog has a delightful temperament, affectionate but not fawning. This gentle and friendly disposition may be a heritage from the past, since the Chukchi people held their dogs in great esteem, housed them in the family shelters, and encouraged their children to play with them. Today, it is charming to observe the special appeal that Chukchi Sled Dogs and children have for each other.

The Chukchi Sled Dog is alert, eager to please, and adaptable. His intelligence has been proven, but his independent spirit may at times challenge your ingenuity. For one thing, they are highly affectionate dogs without being pests about it. They have a genuine deep love for their owners, which expresses itself mostly in a great desire just to 'be with.' Many other breeds seem to have a neurotic need for constant attention and reassurance. (Remember that place where the family pet just seemed to try to occupy center stage during your entire visit?) Chukchi Sled Dogs love to be in the house with their family, but very quickly learn to be low-keyed, well-mannered pets.

The Chukchi Sled Dog temperament is outgoing, friendly, and gentle. However, puppies can be a handful until they learn who is boss in the family. They can also be destructive, particularly if they don't have enough to keep their minds occupied.

A Chukchi Sled Dog left alone for long periods may eat the sofa or dig through a door to get to the other side. Chukchi Sled Dogs have been known to do their share of chewing and digging. The former is a habit that most puppies of all breeds acquire during the teething period, and it can be curbed or channeled in the right direction. Digging holes is a pastime that many Chukchi Sled Dogs have a special proclivity for, but in this, too, they may be outwitted, circumvented, of if you have the right area,indulged.

The Chukchi Sled Dog makes a fine family pet as long as the owner is patient, has the time to devote to training and exercise, and can deal with a dog that has a mind of its own. Although they don't bark much, Chukchi Sled Dogs are vocal, they'll sing along with sirens and scream as if being killed if forced to do something they don't want to do.

Although they bond easily and tightly to their human families, most northern dogs are not slavish in their affections. Few are successful in obedience competition, particularly at the higher levels, because they are easily bored with repetition and lack precision in their work. They are happy to obey, but always on their own terms.

Rather than gaze lovingly into the master's eyes, the Chukchi Sled Dog will most likely be content to heel approximately in place, to sit almost straight, to come when called unless there's something else more interesting nearby. It takes a truly dedicated owner to achieve high scores and advanced titles.

Their great intelligence and desire to cooperate makes them delightful companions. They quickly learn to respond to all sorts of commands given in a quiet conversational tone of voice. People are astonished at the way we "talk to our Chukchi Sled Dogs" and at how they seem to respond as though they understand every word.
(We think they probably do, at least when the subject matter interests them!)

THEY SHOULDN'T be left in your house unattended for long periods. That's true of most breeds, really, because canine pets are subject to 'separation anxiety' when left alone, causing them to chew or destroy furniture, rugs, or personal objects as an expression of anxiety neurosis.

Even our kennels of numerous dogs seems subject to this separation anxiety; they infallibly howl dolefully when we leave the premises, either in a vehicle or even on foot.