The Seppala Siberian Sleddog Ideal
Copyright ©1998, 2003 by J. Jeffrey Bragg.
All rights reserved.
IT WAS PRESERVED and refined as a workingsleddog first by the renowned dog driver Leonhard Seppala, and later in Canada. Registered there as the "Siberian Huskie" in 1939, the bloodline was carried forward by a succession of dedicated Canadian breeders. The Seppala dog's original type and working ability was preserved for posterity in this country, although it has more than once come very close to extinction.
THE ORIGINAL SIBERIAN DOG and its descendant the Seppala Siberian Sleddog have always had to struggle for their very existence. In Siberia the struggle was for survival in a harsh environment, against blizzard, famine and disease. Today in North America they struggle still, against oblivion, extinction, or assimilation into the larger population of the Siberian Husky breed, whose values are overwhelmingly those of the show-ring rather than sleddog ability.
NOW AT LAST Seppalas have recognition as a breed in their own right, sponsored by a federally-chartered animal pedigree association, The Working Canine Association of Canada. Through the efforts of two lifelong protectors of Seppalas, they now have "evolving breed" status with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In 2005 the International Seppala Association was incorporated to provide a worldwide presence for Seppalas and an international registry of ancestry for historic legacy sleddog breeds including Seppalas.
THIS WEBSITE is dedicated to the goal of saving Seppalas for posterity. The few lucky people who have owned real Seppalas usually feel strongly about the uniqueness of these dogs. Unfortunately there is much misunderstanding about what Seppalas really are. Many dogs represented as Seppalas are really just racing Siberian Huskies. Show-dog fanciers and Siberian Husky breed books often deny that Seppalas even exist!
INFORMATION is our best hope for a secure future for these marvellous working dogs. Few people ever get to see an entire team of real and authentic Seppalas, as they are scarce and usually found in remote locations. On this website there are many lovely photos of Seppalas, plus a large quantity of information about them. "Pure Seppala" sleddogs definitely still exist, and we are happy to present them to you via the Internet!
If you are new to our site please click HOW TO NAVIGATE AND USE THE SSSD WEBSITE which will help you use the site more enjoyably. Also please read ABOUT COPYRIGHT. A quick introduction to the breed, WHAT ARE SEPPALAS? will give you just a thumbnail sketch, while A FIRST LOOK AT THE SSSD PROJECT contains a quick explanation of the unique position of this unusual new dog breed.
These pages are just the introduction. Once you've read them, you are ready to explore the world of Seppalas! From our GENERAL INFORMATION page you can access a wealth of detailed information about many different aspects of this new breed. (Click here to continue!) JUST A SUGGESTION: one good way to get acquainted with these wonderful dogs on your first visit to our website might be to take a turn through the PHOTO GALLERIES!
SLEDDOG LEGACY ONLINE -- http://www.seppalasleddogs.com/legacy/index.html
A NEW, INNOVATIVE, continuously-published online newsletter for the recreational dogsledding and legacy sleddog breeds communities, FREE and PUBLIC! No sign-up, no membership fees, no obligation. Underwritten and brought to you by the International Seppala Association and The Seppala Siberian Sleddog Project, this exciting new publication offers real-time news, opinion, articles, announcements, genetics and breeding information, and more. Specifically for Seppala Siberian Sleddogs and Chinook Sled Dogs, but not by any means limited to those breeds, this is YOUR newsletter for sleddog breeds and family dogsledding sport. Please submit your sleddog news items, litter announcements for sleddog breeds, and suggestions by email to: jjeffrey (at) seppalasleddogs (dot) com.
(Uelen's Beowulf of SA x Powder of Markovo)
(XPACE's daughter)
