The story So far
Photograoph: Shane Wilkinson
Their story begins in the early 1980’s. Pauline always wanted a Siberian and after having great difficulties in finding a puppy she settled for another breed with a German Shepherd. It was sometime later in fact 16 years later that she got her first Siberian. Her then only German Shepherd was getting on in years and her thoughts started to return to considering the ownership of the breed again. This time around her timing in looking for a puppy was much better and as the breed in the UK had grown finding a puppy was actually easier. She had thankfully always continued to follow the developments of the breed in the UK and observed the growth of sprint racing developed by individual’s like Sally Leich/Forstal, Norfolk with great interest.
The working side of the breed complemented her personal interest in outdoor lifestyle and adventure.
In 2000 she joined the SHCGB (Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain.) www.siberianhuskyclub.org.uk and in 2001 when Hugh and Pauline got together she finally got her first Siberian called Winterdance Willow Woods, aka Wills from Debi Scott and Alan Hickmott/Boston, Lincs. Thankfully Hugh was fully hooked into her new lifestyle and their interest for the breed has continued to grow together over the last 9 years and taken them to many new countries meeting people and making new friends in the breed. They quickly realised that there is a huge network of people out there, extended family call them what you will, they’re people who are willing to share their knowledge with you if you want to learn, ask the right questions and listen and that’s how the pair got to know people like Simon and Sheila Luxmoore (Who lived near Pauline’s Mother near Raglan.) and Caroline and Chris Kisko.
Sassicaia Shuga Babe, aka Shuga joined them soon after in 2002 (After a recommendation from Sheila Luxmoore as Pauline was looking for another puppy.) from Mary Davidson and Michael Rolston’s Sassicaia kennel www.sassicaia.co.uk in Northern Ireland.
In 2002 Pauline decided to get involved with the welfare scheme of the SHCGB and Hugh fostered a lovely black and white Siberian known as Lupus (Apparently this is latin for the word wolf.) who was renamed Spartacus, aka Sparty to his friends. Sparty really improved things for the kennel because he was so willing to please. Hugh decided he to keep him and with some further training Pauline and Hugh both realised that Sparty had a natural talent as a lead dog. His future at their home was assured.
The following Summer in 2004 the opportunity to have another dog came a long after a second introduction from Sheila again and Spliff the wonder dog arrived from the Polarnights kennel www.polarnights.co.uk of Caroline and Chris Kisko in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. (Another good friendship was forged and developed.)
This is were the fortunes of Pauline and Hugh changed as Polarnights Quaver at Sybasprinter aka Spliff really picked things up to top gear on the working side for the Sybasprinter affix with her drive, determination, focus and enthusiasm for running. She is undoubtedly their best dog and a lovely personality to have in the kennel.
Today their kennel has grown to 15 dogs and the dogs share all aspects of their lives with their owners.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF THE SIBERIAN SEEN THROUGH THEIR EYES