Cheers for Antioch Siberians!

For several months, my boyfriend Eric and I had been looking all over the
southeastern U.S. for a perfect Husky breeder. We read all the books, and knew
what to look for. We didn’t have much luck at first. Some kennels were in, what I felt,
horrible condition. One woman did not provide any shade or wading pool for her
kenneled pups…and it was late-May in Shelbyville, Ky! Another woman seemed
more preoccupied with getting our money than making sure her puppy was
going home with a caring, well-prepared family. The last straw was when one
breeder thought it necessary to inform us of all the “silly” legal trouble she was
in, and how many times she had been “falsely accused” of mistreating her dogs.

The search was a frustrating one, and Eric and I were about to give up.
We had planned to look again when we had regained the stamina to do so.
Then one day, bored at work, I did one last Google search for Siberian
Husky breeders in our surrounding area. That is when I came across the
amazing Antioch Siberian website. At first glance I could tell that
the creators of this site were enthusiastic about the breed and made every effort
to help potential buyers learn as much about Huskies as possible.
The site was updated frequently, they had pictures of all available pups
and their parents, and included information to help determine whether
a Husky was the right dog for us. They even added an icon
that told me when they were online and available to chat.
I felt their care and concern for the well-being of their puppies emanating
from the computer screen. As if my excitement over finding a great website
weren’t enough, I found a picture of the PERFECT puppy for Eric and I.
A 12-week old red-and-white male. He was just what we had been looking for.

I contacted Antioch Siberians right away via email. Cynthia replied almost immediately.
We chatted over email for several days, she always responded within hours.
She answered all of my questions and sent lots of pictures. I could tell
she was interviewing me as well, which I welcomed whole-heartedly.
She didn’t want her beloved puppy going home to just anyone, of course!
We arranged a date and time for Eric and I to drive down from Louisville to come and
pick him up. Poor Cynthia! The day we came down, one of her Huskies
had just given birth and had to be taken to the vet. She had been up ALL night,
but still welcomed us to her home. Her outdoor kennels were immaculate, with toys,
plenty of shade, and wading pools. Younger dogs were kept separate from more
aggressive older dogs. All of her dogs were beautiful, healthy, and very happy. She had
also taken the time to give the puppy we were interested in a bath, despite
the chaotic evening she had the night before. Of course, we fell in
love with the puppy at first sight. We chatted for over an hour. We were
convinced from our end, but we wanted to assure her that her adored puppy would
be in going home to a caring family. After the purchase and AKC paper exchange,
we agreed that we would keep in touch and let her know how the pup was doing
and, of course, send pictures. She was very sad to see him go.

We named him Louie. And honestly, bringing him home has been one of the best
choices I’ve ever made. He bonded to us very easily. He was easy to train on a leash
as Cynthia had been working with him on that. He is highly energetic, but respectful
of our authority (which isn’t very common in Huskies from what I hear!).
Louie started off very independent, but now loves sleeping in the bed and cuddling
with us on the couch. He is turning out to be an excellent jogging partner!
We have no other pets, but he gets along great with my parents’ Westie and
our friend’s Golden Retriever. His first vet visit was a breeze. His shots were up to
date (Cynthia made sure we got a copy of his shot record) and there were no health
problems. He is VERY well-behaved. Eric and I took Louie with us on a
weekend camping/boating trip where he didn’t bark, howl, jump on
or lick anyone, or try to jump off the boat. All of our friends are amazed at
how disciplined he is for being 4 months old. Eric and I couldn’t have
asked for a more perfect addition to our family.

To sum it up, buying from Antioch Siberians was a wonder-full A+ experience.
We were confident in our choice throughout the entire purchase. Working with Cynthia
was godsend, after dealing with a long chain of sketchy breeders. She cares deeply for
her pets and it shows in her dedication to her website, the maintenance of her
kennels, and her quest to find perfect families. Communication lines
were always open, and still are as a matter of fact! Eric and I do not anticipate
purchasing another dog, at least for a long time. However, I full-heartedly
encourage anyone looking for a perfect Husky and a caring breeder who is ever-willing
to communicate to work with Antioch Siberians. You will not be disappointed.

If you have any questions to ask or want to know more details of my experience
purchasing from Antioch, please feel free to email me. My name is Brooke Parrott
(brooke.parrott@louisville.edu). I live in Louisville, Ky and look forward to hearing from you.