Talk to me of Siberian Huskies

[Pep_n_Ann]

Hubby and I are thinking about getting a Siberian Husky puppy. He had a couple as a kid and I have always loved the breed. We are not first time dog owners and I have raised 2 puppies before. 1 herding dog and 1 hound. We have a large fenced yard, and DH enjoys running and we bike together. He would take the Husky running with him and we would take it on the bike rides.

Our family consists of our 6 yr old daughter, a 2 yr old hound, a 10 yr old small breed mix and 2 cats. We both work full time, but different shifts, so puppy would only be home alone for about 6 hours.

We are aware that they shed and will need lots of grooming. We live in the Pacific Northwest, so we don’t get a lot of super hot days to make a one uncomfortable.

Any experience with the breed? Anything stand out in our setup that won’t work well? Any health issues to watch out for?

[Where_sMyWhite]

Check the national Siberian Husky club’s web page. They should have detailed information on potential health risks, recommended breeder testing and something about if the breed is right for you and your family.

If they don’t, I’d wonder why the national club is a bit behind the times (as I’ve seen this type of information on other national breed clubs including some of the less common breeds).

[Amelia]

Huskies are beautiful. But they are not for me and never will be.

My best friend loves huskies and would have 100.

They are very independent, very stubborn, very hard-headed, very hard to contain. Some say they can never ever be trusted off leash (and can get out of most fences easily)–but my best friend was able to successfully train her last one to stay in the yard without it. It took hours of work every single night for over a year to accomplish this. Luckily, my best friend is more stubborn than her Cherokee was.

Her dog was relatively healthy, but passed unexpectedly from unknown causes (in her sleep) at around the age of 8. I don’t think this is the norm though. She was a sweet girl–and beautiful. I adore their looks, but just know that the personality isn’t something I’m willing to work through. I don’t have that kind of time/energy. lol. My labs are enough for me. lol.

[Marshfield]

Not known for the easy trainability in a pet type home. A friend of mine has one who just turned two. She’s a dog trainer as her second career. Even so, she’s been hugely challenged by Gnocci. Still cannot be trusted off leash.

[Pep_n_Ann]

@Marshfield

Not known for the easy trainability in a pet type home. A friend of mine has one who just turned two. She’s a dog trainer as her second career. Even so, she’s been hugely challenged by Gnocci. Still cannot be trusted off leash.

Good to know!

[jetsmom]

Can jump/climB 6 ft high chain link. Can have a high prey drive. A puppy would probably learn to live with cats, but since prey drive is less about aggression and just an instinctual, sudden act triggered by a flash of movement, loud noise, etc, you need to be aware of it. A chih was killed at the dog park last yr by a husky that lives with a small dog. It ran by him about 15 ft away when 2 other dogs got into a noisy tussle, and the husky just spun and got it, killing it. High energy situations and excitement can trigger prey drive in a normally nonaggressive dog.

[jetsmom]

Oh…and they dig…a lot.

[Pep_n_Ann]

@jetsmom

Can jump/climB 6 ft high chain link. Can have a high prey drive. A puppy would probably learn to live with cats, but since prey drive is less about aggression and just an instinctual, sudden act triggered by a flash of movement, loud noise, etc, you need to be aware of it. A chih was killed at the dog park last yr by a husky that lives with a small dog. It ran by him about 15 ft away when 2 other dogs got into a noisy tussle, and the husky just spun and got it, killing it. High energy situations and excitement can trigger prey drive in a normally nonaggressive dog.

Also good to know. I was planning on getting chickens next year. I wonder if that would still work out?? chickens would be fenced in, but I would like to let them out to free range in the afternoon.

[Pep_n_Ann]

@jetsmom

Oh…and they dig…a lot.

I wonder if this is boredom or even something a well exercised dog will do?

[MsM]

Used to work with Animal Control. Huskies were the number one suspects in cases of livestock being attacked by dogs. Very high drive and difficult to contain. Chickens would very likely be an issue. Oh, and they can be quite vocal too!

[Midge]

Fostered one for about a year. Never again for all the reasons described above.

[skyon]

If you use a trainer, make sure they are Siberian people. They are different than malamutes etc. My first dog training class was with a golden retriever trainer. That didn’t go so well, lol. Next one had a Sib and it got much better.

Very healthy until 12, died at 13. Same timing as friend’s husky. The off leash is probably what will prevent me from another, but I could snap and do it again, now that I know more about breeding. Curve ball I didn’t expect was how attached these dogs get to their people. Super friendly, but never wanted to stay out unless he could escape and wander. Always wanted to be by people.

[pezk]

As others have said: they are hard to contain, they dig the most incredible holes(landscapers will be impressed), high prey drive though they can live with their own cat but other cats outside? Dead. They are beautiful, love to be outside in winter, and have their own opinions.
think twice before you get one. And some dont bark, ( the ones I knew), they howl.

[Sunflower]

I had a gorgeous fellow. He was the antithesis of all you hear about the breed. He loved water. As a puppy he jumped into a lake and started to swim away. Any body of water was magic to him. He was lazy. So lazy. The original couch potato dog. He never dug a hole. Never say him with any prey drive. Easy going clownish personality. He had one couch in the house he regarded as “his” and would just lay on top of you to get you off it when he wanted to go to bed. When it would snow, he would have an odd primordial moment, where he would want to go outside and howl once, then come back in and go to bed. He would seem mystified by his own impulse to do this. Very hard to housebreak-- actually the Australian Shepherd who was his best friend became the spokesperson to tell us that the huskey needed to go out. I am sure mine was just an anomoly as he was so opposite to what the breed is described as, but he was an incredible easy going fun and affectionate dog.

[CanadianTrotter]

I wouldn’t have a husky with small children in the household.

[wireweiners]

@Pep 'n' Ann

Also good to know. I was planning on getting chickens next year. I wonder if that would still work out?? chickens would be fenced in, but I would like to let them out to free range in the afternoon.

My neighbor has one. It killed all his chickens as a puppy. They are known for chasing livestock.

[wireweiners]

@Pep 'n' Ann

I wonder if this is boredom or even something a well exercised dog will do?

Some dogs just like to dig. I had a dachshund whose hobby was digging holes.

[S1969]

@pezk

As others have said: they are hard to contain, they dig the most incredible holes(landscapers will be impressed), high prey drive though they can live with their own cat but other cats outside? Dead. They are beautiful, love to be outside in winter, and have their own opinions.
think twice before you get one. And some dont bark, ( the ones I knew), they howl.

This is my experience with the few people I’ve known to have them. Both killed cats (outside, not sure whose cats they were). I would definitely make chicken area entirely dog proof.

I would reconsider this type of breed as a running partner unless you live in a northern climate. And run in the winter. This would be a very good question to ask breed enthusiasts who would have a much better idea about working these dogs in different temperatures.

I’m getting ready to go running and its in the 50s right now. I’m already sure I’ll be overheated no matter what i wear.

Oh, as for digging - my dogs love to dig too; I wouldn’t assume that’s a breed trait, and/or one you can avoid with other breeds. I really meant high prey drive, difficult to contain was my understanding of the breed.

[Pep_n_Ann]

@CanadianTrotter

I wouldn’t have a husky with small children in the household.

Can you elaborate on this? What is it about them that you see as a problem with small kids?

[CanadianTrotter]

@Pep 'n' Ann

Can you elaborate on this? What is it about them that you see as a problem with small kids?

Personally I don’t think having a high energy dog around young children is a good thing.

I have also know quite a few people that have owned huskies that have said they are quick to growl and/or snap at small children getting into their personal space.

One incident that happened to a good friend of mine that had a husky then he and his wife had a baby had a horrible outcome. The dog was fine with the baby for two years, one day the toddler was playing beside the dog and started to get up from the ground. He either grabbed ahold of or leaned on(which action it was is unclear)the dog to aid himself in getting up. The dog turned and grabbed him by the face, not just a grab and release, he bit him several times.