1. Seppalas are versatile general-purpose sleddogs. Originally they came from eastern Siberia. Strictly working dogs, they are never used as show-dogs.
2. They are the direct descendants of sled dogs imported from Siberia, developed and bred by Leonhard Seppala from 1914 to 1931 in Alaska and Poland Spring, Maine. Some of their near ancestors were directly imported from Siberia in 1992. Dogs of this type can still be found in Yakutia and some other parts of eastern Siberia). Many of the SSSD Project dogs are descended from recent Siberia imports.
3. Seppalas are relatively unchanged since the 1930s -- they have never been selected either for appearance or for sprinting speed, unlike other breeds and varieties developed partially from similar rootstock (Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Huskies, for example).
4. They are moderate in size, usually weighing from 14 to 25 Kg. (30 to 55 pounds), usually standing from 50 to 60 cm. (20 to 24 inches) at the withers. In body proportions they are usually slightly longer than they are tall, not as heavily built as Alaskan Malamutes or Eskimo/Greenland Dogs. Their eyes are brown or blue, or any combination of the two colours. They have a dense arctic coat, very smooth in outline and never shaggy, medium in length. They come in a wide variety of colours and markings.
5. In temperament they are merry, active, unaggressive and highly affectionate; some are quite outgoing, others rather reserved. They are co-operative, trainable, and very people-oriented. Although they are not used as gundogs, they have a strongly developed hunting instinct.
6. Since 1997 Seppala Siberian Sleddogs have been recognised in Canada as a separate "evolving breed" by agricultural authorities. They are now set apart from the Siberian Husky breed with which they formerly shared a stud book registry, although they were always bred as a separate strain from the show-dogs.
7. Sometimes racing Siberian Huskies are called "Seppalas"; these dogs are not really Seppalas at all, although many of them have a certain amount of Seppala ancestry. Many, if not most, racing Siberians also have show-dog ancestry. Real Seppala Siberian Sleddogs, so far, come only from Canada.
8. Authentic Seppala Siberian Sleddogs originate with the Seppala Siberian Sleddog Project in Canada and/or the International Seppala Association; they have no connection with either the so-called "Chukchi Sled Dog" of the "National Sanjankah Dog Association" or the "Racing Seppala" of the "International Seppala Siberian Sleddog Association." Both of these are imitative rip-offs of the original SSSD Project, bred from various mixed bloodlines involving racing Siberians, wolf hybrids, Alaskan huskies, Malamutes, etc. Both groups first established their Internet presence using material plagiarised from this website.
