Seppala Siberian Sleddog

40-50 lbs
22-23"
Canada

In the right setting, in the right climate such as the icy Artic regions, you could be forgiven for thinking the Seppala Siberian Sleddog was a wolf! They have the same lean, muscular body, the same ears, a similar coat and similar eyes - until you notice the friendly, surprisingly gentle expression. The Seppala was developed from imported Siberian sled pulling pooches, and Leonhard Seppala - a legendary dog driver - was credited for their outstanding development. The Seppala dog stole race after race, their fame earning the dog and Leonhard worldwide fame. Although mostly a working dog, they love to be part of a family, bonding strongly with their owner and known to be kind and gentle with children. They are no pushover though; they require a strong, consistent owner who earns their respect or they will become willful and disobedient. As part of a pack, this dog enjoys the company of their peers and gets on well with most dogs. They do have a strong prey drive, so smaller furred animals may not fare so well. Eager, obedient (for a respected, strong owner) and dedicated, this breed exhibits strength, speed and endurance, which is what makes them so exceptional as a sled dog.

purpose Purpose
Working Dog, Sled Pulling
history Date of Origin
1914
ancestry Ancestry
Northeastern Siberian Sled Dogs

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Health

Average Size
Male Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats
Height: 22-23 inches Weight: 40-50 lbs
Female Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats
Height: 22-23 inches Weight: 40-50 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Cancer
Minor Concerns
  • Allergies
  • Eye Problems
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Various Eye Conditions
Occasional Tests
  • Biopsy
  • Serum Chemistry
  • Optical Examination
  • Blood And Urine Analysis
  • Regular Full Physical Examination By Veterinarian
  • Ultrasonography and Blood Tests
  • Skin Scrapings and Biopsy

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Breed History

The Northeastern Siberian sled dogs that adapted to cope with merciless gale force winds, blizzards and a frozen wasteland are the very ancestors of the Seppala Siberian Sleddogs. Renowned dog driver Leonhard Seppala has been credited with creating this dedicated breed of dog. He was an immigrant from Norway who went to Alaska to seek his fortune in gold but became known instead as one of the most successful dogsled racers of his time. Dogsled racing at the Nome's gold fields was a popular pastime so when a Russian fur trader named William Goosak brought a team of ten Northeastern Siberian dogs to Nome, Alaska – it caught the local's attention. They immediately looked at the smaller dogs with disdain and called them the Siberian Rats. Their jeers and taunts halted abruptly when the ‘rats’ won at the 1909 Nome Sweepstakes race. At the time, Seppala owned a two dog sled team; then in 1913, he was entrusted to care for a team of Siberian Huskies which were then known as the Chukchi Huskies. From 1914 to 1917 Seppala worked to become a legend by dominating the Alaskan sweepstakes. In 1925 the town of Nome had an outbreak of diphtheria, and Seppala became famous by taking his team of dogs, along with some others,  in a series of dog relays which covered over 340 miles in whiteout conditions and furious icy winds to deliver the antidote to the stricken town. He became an immensely popular figure, and he established a kennel at Poland Spring to continue the development of the breed. But by 1969 Seppala's dogs were facing extinction. Thankfully these loyal dogs got a reprieve when the Markova kennels in Canada and the Seppineau Kennels in the USA banded together, and to this day, the Seppala Siberian Sleddog lives on.

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Breed Appearance

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is an Artic breed of dog who has an unnerving wolf-like appearance. Beautiful in appearance, it is their ability and their work ethic that is more important to owners than their looks. The Seppala has evolved into a pack dog, who is content to work collaboratively with a team of dogs to achieve what their owner requires them to do. They are medium to large, with well developed shoulders, neck and chest which has developed through their work over the ages of hauling sleds. Long sturdy legs and a long tail that may be curled over their back when excited differentiates this dog from the Siberian Husky, from whom they were considered the same breed. But as the Husky developed for the show room where looks were important, the Seppala was kept separate to maintain their strength, skills and ability in the frozen Arctic regions. Now they are considered two different breeds of dogs. The Seppala has an elongated head, lovely almond eyes that can be brown or blue, and they have a neat black muzzle. Their thick dense double coats protect the dog from the cold, and their alert pointed ears don't miss a trick. They are alert, beautiful, elegant dogs that are devoted to their owners and family

Eye Color Possibilities
blue Seppala Siberian Sleddog eyes
Blue
hazel Seppala Siberian Sleddog eyes
Hazel
brown Seppala Siberian Sleddog eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Seppala Siberian Sleddog nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Seppala Siberian Sleddog coat
Black
gray Seppala Siberian Sleddog coat
Gray
sable Seppala Siberian Sleddog coat
Sable
pied Seppala Siberian Sleddog coat
Pied
white Seppala Siberian Sleddog coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Seppala Siberian Sleddog straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Breed Maintenance

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog has a beautiful coat that protects them from the icy weather. They are truly beautiful and majestic dogs! However, they do shed that lovely coat twice a year, and when they do, you could stuff a bed with the hair that they shed. So be prepared to brush your dog each day, and leave your vacuum on standby! Apart from that, the Seppala is easy to maintain. They rarely need a bath, which can be a mission to achieve. If a bath is necessary,  use a mild dog shampoo to protect the oily coating on their skin and fur which helps them to withstand the extremes of the weather. Getting them dry on a cool day may need the use of your hair blow dryer! Other than that, just a brush of the teeth, a check of their feet for injury or long toenails, and a flick of a damp cloth in each ear and they are done! They will love the attention and race off to show their buddies how cool they look afterwards.

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Brushes for Seppala Siberian Sleddog
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Seppala Siberian Sleddog requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Temperament

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a working dog by  nature. They need that workout and purpose each day to be at their best. Intelligent and alert, they can get bored easily. This energy and drive are why they make an ideal work dog – and work prevents bad habits from getting a hold. The Seppala is a rare primitive type of working dog and was created specifically to haul a sled through a cold, treacherous country. This breed is never aggressive, not even to strangers, although they will bark to make their owner aware of people on their home turf. The beauty of this wolf-like dog is their affectionate nature; they are quite docile and gentle. The Seppala forms strong bonds with their master, always willing to cooperate with them and their family. They also bond strongly to other dogs in their group, enjoying their company and co-existing peacefully. The Seppala Siberian Sleddog has the determination and high work ethic that keeps them going even in the appalling weather. Friendly, alert and keen by nature, this is one dog that has been saved from extinction through careful management so that we could all enjoy their beauty and exceptional skills.

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Activity Requirements

The Seppala Siberian Sleddogs are superb working dogs, who have a strong pack instinct and need a strong, consistent pack leader (owner) to follow. They love to run and have a high prey drive, often taking off after small game animals. The Seppala makes an ideal running companion; they have the energy to burn and need to exercise so that they don't develop destructive behavior. Born and bred in the cold climate, they can quickly overheat at high temperatures. Therefore, they are at their best in colder climes and country settings where they can roam and indulge their active nature. If you have a Seppala in a city, be prepared to take your dog on a long walk twice a day (keep that leash on so they don't take off after small animals that they consider prey). They love games and get on well with children, so you can use playful activity to keep them mentally and physically active. This dog is one who loves company. A Seppala left to their own devices for too long will get bored and howl down the neighborhood!

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
16 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes
activity minutes

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at six months
Height: 13.0 inches Weight: 17.5 lbs
Female Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at six months
Height: 13.0 inches Weight: 17.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 27.5 lbs
Female Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 27.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at 18 months
Height: 21.5 inches Weight: 44.0 lbs
Female Seppala Siberian Sleddog size stats at 18 months
Height: 21.5 inches Weight: 44.0 lbs

Seppala Siberian Sleddog Owner Experiences

Aubree
1 Year
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My girl is amazing!she is very active and smart. Loves people and loves to chase bunny rabbits.
6 years ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
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