History of WCAC
Notices and Announcements
2009 President's Message
WCAC Objectives
Evolving Breed?
SSSD History
Gallery
WCAC Documents
WCAC Members
Logo and Seal
ID Certificates
Links
Home

Incorporation of WCAC and AAFC recognition
of the SSSD evolving breed

Ditko of Seppala, a McFaul dog of the Leonhard Seppala strain (1970).

Shakal iz Solovyev, a Siberia import dog of the Solovyev strain (1994).

Waywayseecappo of Seppala, an F2 Seppala Siberian Sleddog integrating the two source bloodlines (2008). Wayway is grandson of Shakal and 12x descendant of Ditko.

THE WORKING CANINE ASSOCIATION of Canada was incorporated on 31 July 1997 under the Animal Pedigree Act (1988) as an animal pedigree association under the terms of the Act. It was incorporated specifically in respect of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as an evolving breed, which was recognised as such by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at that same time.

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog (SSSD) is a versatile working sleddog breed, whose pedigree ancestry traces back directly to the sleddogs owned and bred by Leonhard Seppala in the second and third decades of the twentieth century, and to sleddog stock imported directly from Siberia. The Seppala strain was perpetuated mainly by Alex and Charlie Belford and Harry R. Wheeler, and after them by William L. Shearer III and J. D. McFaul. In addition to the McFaul/Shearer bloodline, new Siberia import stock was added for genetic diversityin the 1990s from the kennels of Sergei Alexandrovitch Solovyev in Ekaterinburg, Siberia.

WCAC By-laws were approved and certified by AAFC on 10 March 1999. The task of the Association is to identify animals of the Parental (P1) Generation of the SSSD (in accordance with the Breeding Guidelines that are part of WCAC's Articles of Incorporation) and to keep pedigree and stud book records of subsequent breeding. Once the breed has reached the Third Filial (F3) or later generations in sufficient numbers, WCAC may petition AAFC to inspect the stock involved and to grant recognition to the SSSD as a "distinct breed" under the terms of the Act.

What is being done now?

The work of identifying the Parental Generation of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog is now largely complete. The task of the moment has become the advancement of the F2 and F3 generations, the integration of the Solovyev import bloodline with the McFaul/Shearer rootstock, and dissemination of breeding stock in Canada and elsewhere, of course along with the vital record-keeping of pedigree ancestry and new breeding, work that is the soul of any animal pedigree association.

WCAC is currently experiencing modest gains in membership as Seppala Siberian Sleddogs spread across Canada. In 2005 a filial association of WCAC, the International Seppala Association, was incorporated in Whitehorse under the Yukon Societies law, to assist WCAC in promoting the SSSD breed worldwide and to keep pedigree ancestry and breeding records for the Seppala Siberian Sleddog outside of Canada. ISA has its own constitution and by-laws, its own ancestry database and a Board of Directors interlocking with that of WCAC. Thus the SSSD breed development initiative is well positioned for expansion into other countries.

Becoming a WCAC member and an SSSD supporter

WCAC continues to need motivated people to help it carry out its objectives; we urge those who feel sincerely interested in the breed and willing to commit themselves to creating a secure future for the descendants of the Leonhard Seppala sleddogs to contact us, to join the WCAC, and to assist us in the hard work of keeping WCAC moving along as a viable animal pedigree association. For further information read our Members page.

Seppala Siberian Sleddogs -- out of the bush and into the future with WCAC!