THE SEPPALA SIBERIAN SLEDDOG BREED STANDARD (1995) was developed from "The Seppala Siberian: A Breeding Standard (1970)" which was first published in 1976 in the book The Seppala Siberian: A Breeder's Manual by J. Jeffrey Bragg. That document was the breeding standard that guided the Markovo rescue effort in the early 1970s.
THE SSSD BREED STANDARD (1995) was written to guide the breeding of Seppala sleddogs into the new millennium and to support our application to Agriculture Canada for evolving breed status for Seppalas. It is unique among standards of northern breeds in that it is truly a performance-oriented standard rather than just a blueprint of superficial points of type and conformation, or a catalogue of faults. Unlike most other breed standards, it is descriptive rather than prescriptive. The Seppala Siberian Sleddog standard describes a working sleddog breed in detail. It is not a recipe of cosmetic points or preferred breed type for show exhibitors. It emphasises desired features of working ability, temperament and character. It is a detailed but "open" standard allowing a generous range of physical variability, on the principle that in working dog breeds form should follow function, subordinated to that function instead of being subject to arbitrary points of show dog conformation or beauty.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN other, spurious Seppala breed standards on the Web, as for example the one shown on the website of the so-called "International Seppala Siberian Sleddog Club" (ISSSC). Such standards have no authorisation or validity. Neither Continental Kennel Club (which is but one of scores of commercial, for-profit "registries" supporting puppy-mills and Cockapoo breeders) nor its licensee activity club ISSSC has the slightest authority to set or to change the breed standard for the SSSD. There is only one legitimate, authorised breed standard for the Seppala Siberian Sleddog, which is the one that was recognised and accepted by agricultural authorities from the moment the breed was established. Only the Working Canine Association of Canada has the authority to establish or change the breed standard for the Seppala Siberian Sleddog.
THE SEPPALA SIBERIAN SLEDDOG BREED STANDARD (1995) is available as a PDF file on this Website. Site visitors are invited to make single hard copies for noncommercial informational purposes only. THIS STANDARD IS COPYRIGHTED and may not be used as a standard for other breeds, in whole or in part.
