Rosettes to Ruin

[lakotasong]

I apologize if I offended you, and I'll revoke what I said about neurosis -- but I stand by my belief that Malamutes have retained their working ability much better than Sibes have. The ratio of *CONFORMATION* Malamutes with drive is simply greater than the ratio of CONFORMATION Siberians with drive.

Do you or have you ever worked either breed in harness regularly (thousands of miles, year after year)? Mentored under any major kennels? Your statements lead me to believe the answers will be no, but I'm curious.

 

[Erica]

Do you or have you ever worked either breed in harness regularly (thousands of miles, year after year)? Mentored under any major kennels? Your statements lead me to believe the answers will be no, but I'm curious.

Nope, I haven't, but I will feel free to make blanket statements about both of them.

Siberian Huskies that I've met who are brilliant in harness are not crossover dogs. I don't particularly have a problem with this, especially since I don't know the standard well enough to dictate whether or not what's winning is exactly what's standard or good. Is it? I would guess not, as heavily boned, short and long dogs aren't exactly what I would want.

Where Malamutes have their problems, good looking specimens who are capable of winning (though I won't say much for some of the specials currently out there) in the conformation ring are also great pulling dogs. I would tend to say that the amount of crossover Malamutes is greater than the amount of crossover Siberians. But I have jack sh*t for experience: hundreds of miles, not thousands; one dog, not dozens. However, I've heard somewhere that people tend to be like their dogs.... I guess I'm a little outspoken, even when there's no reason to speak.