Hello, all!

I've looked at the post of what to look for in breeders, and I've looked, but with everything so high-tech now, I don't know who to trust.  Especially since my last husky, it was my parents buying it!!

I know to check about the hips and other health things, but I just want to know of some good husky breeders in Texas!

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!


Edit:  I live in the Houston area, and I'm pretty much willing to travel anywhere thats not over an 11 hour drive, so pretty much OK, LA, MS, and AK.

Oh, and I got more information from my parents, and they got one of our huskies from Indimar Siberians, the other husky we got no longer breeds :/ . But has anyone heard anything of Indimar recently?

Hi April welcome to the forum. My best suggestion for you is to go to SHCA website, they post breeders in good standing all over the country. I do not suggest in using AKC. http://www.shca.org/shcahp4f.htm that link will take you to the breeders that are current to SHCA's breeding standards. There are some who are not on the list, but again I would avoid AKC's listings. And I am going to be terribly honest, Texas is a hot bed for byb's, there are not many responsible breeds in our state. If you find one not listed on SHCA then by all means ask us here and we will give our honest opinions. Good luck and ask any questions you may have.

I know of several good breeders in Texas but they are all in East Texas.

Mirage Siberians, Desari Siberians, Icewind Siberians

Also depending on where you are you can check with your local kennel club to see if they have any breeders closer to you. Texas is a huge state so narrowing things down or traveling are you best options.

April, as Ashleigh comments it would help us to have a better idea of where you are -or- how much of the state you're will to traverse to get said pup.
I'm over in west Texas and, if memory serves, the nearest breeders I'd consider would be over toward San Antonio (600 miles). If you're in the Houston area, Ashleigh might be able to direct you in LA.
I realize privacy is a consideration, but sometimes it does help to have an idea of where you are "in Texas" literally covers a lot of ground.

I will travel pretty much anywhere east of Texas, and I found a breeder called "Bama Huskies" I haven't looked into them much yet, do y'all know if they're sketchy or not?

Aw, be that way, April ... we're having a great stretch of 80's and 90's over here in west Texas and the wind has even dropped from the 50 mph range to the teens ... 'course there aren't many breeders over this way.

Okay, a quick look at "Bama Huskies"
The good:

• They've been breeding, they say, for 19 years.  That is a plus, they do have experience.
  
• Their dogs seem to be raised, from the pictures, in open kennels and en familia.
  

Hmmm .. that was a short list, wasn't it??

The questionable:

• They list 14 - that's fourteen! breeding females.  
  
• They say they breed champions - but none of the dogs on their web site have any indication having "CH", etc in their names.
  
• They don't appear to either work or show their dogs.
  
• They breed wooleys ... that's a fault in the show ring and should not be bred!
  
• Read their health guarantee ... any genetic fault must occur within the first year to be covered.  Really???
  
• ... I quit ...
  

They show an AKC compliance inspection ... others may comment on this but I find it odd that with 19-20 years of breeding, this was their first inspection.

All told, I get a "good feeling" about these people; a good feelings isn't what I'd want to base the next 15+ years of living with and loving a Husky on.

Ill drive to anywhere in Texas, since it's just so big!! And thank you for the information! I have emailed Icewind Siberians and am just waiting for a response.

Okay, I went looking and their web site is down ... bummer!
I did look at a couple of others and Mirage (who has a referral for Icewind on their site) looks to be an excellent place to start talking.
If you haven't been actively talking with breeders, it's a good place to start.  Often you can get a feel within minutes whether this is someone with whom you want to do business. Almost any breeder worth their salt will gladly take their time to chat about themselves or their dogs.
What do I like about their (Mirage's) site.  They list the OFA CERF numbers on the dogs and while they aren't current on the dog (Rusty) I looked at, they at least have been done.  They list the pedigree of the dog on that same page.

They have 10 dogs overall and while not all are currently being shown (some are listed as neutered pets) at least they don't all appear to being bred.

I think I'll keep this link as an example "this is what a good breeding site should look like."

Al, the AKC compliance inspection typically is for a complaint to AKC about a breeder. One of the reasons why I mentioned not to go to AKC for their list of breeders, typically they are listed because of a complaint, or some other negative reason, then get inspected by AKC and then get put on their list as being good because well now they are compliant, lol. It can get sticky, and from what I have learned about breeders, going to the specific breed club like SHCA for huskies, and word of mouth tends to lead ypou to the better breeders. Mirage, Icewind and Desari were the ones recommended to me back when I was looking as well, so those would be the ones I would look into and see what they have available, and start communications. Good luck April

Rene, that's what I thought I remembered re the AKC inspection but I wasn't certain enough to put it in writing, thanks for confirming what I thought.

While Icewind's site is down, I suppose that it's obvious that I was impressed with the Mirage site ... and I think everyone knows that I'm not that easy to impress.

Going back to Bama Huskies for a moment; I think these are folks I could like personally, I don't think I'd want to buy a dog from them - if that makes sense.

I personally have met all three of the breeders of the three kennels I recommended.

I wouldn't touch Bama Huskies with a 10 ft pole. They are you typical large scale byb.

April, there are plenty of reputable and ethical breeders much closer to you. You will have to be patient and wait because these breeders do not have litters all the time. But I promise you it will be worth the wait for a healthy dog with a good temperament from health tested lines.

Also you may get lucky and they may be able to recommend you to someone who does have a puppy available. That actually happened to me when I spoke with Liz from Mirage Siberians. I'm not looking for a puppy at the moment but she let me know she knew of one available.

Thank you so much for all the information!! I talked to Mirage and I emailed Icewinds from the refferal and am just waiting now.