Might want to give this a quick read through.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/212532/anyone-here-with-a-herding-dog-do-they-herd-your-chickens
Have to admit, the few I have met that were a bit more on the mellow side were female.
Such an interesting threadā¦Iāve never known any of these breeds but they sure make mynCorgis sound perfect for my household!
Personally, I would never have one with cats in the house. Iāve known many that were cat killers and some after living with the cats since they were puppies.
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Beautiful escape artists. Back in the day, there were always 2 breeds of dog at any given shelter - a beagle and a husky. Both are notorious for following their hearts right off property. Gorgeous dogs, but prone to predatory behavior toward smaller animals.
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I got one puppy mill husky from a pet shop as a rescue when I got 2 smaller dogs from the shop in a mall. The husky was a little rough with the cats, but one of my cats, the siamese, would just grab Tasha by the neck and hang onto her. All my alley cats and the siamese were young then. Iād not get a husky with an old cat around as Tasha would run over the cats. She got along ok with all the dogs (total of 6) but she was rough with one small sheltie female. Otherwise, she was OK. But Iā'd not get another husky. She lived to be about 12, but started having seizures and had to be put down.
Tasha never fought with dogs or cats nor did she attack or bite humans. Just ran over dogs and cats.
Not trying to be snarky, legitimately curiousā¦what WOULD be an appropriate home for a husky?
LOL! I would say active adult(s) who have owned working dogs before. Live in a cool climate, have a secure cement-floored wire-enclosed run. Want to spend lots of time hiking or sledding as well as gazing into those beautiful eyes! No close neighbors who might not enjoy the āyodelingā.
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I was going to say something similar. Active adults and/or family with older children, not 1st time dog owners. Willing to put in some serious time/training and/or work with a pro as needed. Secure yard and/or kennel. Would probably say unless knowledgeable about the breed I would not combine them with young children, cats or other small animals.
Thatās just a baseline. I am certain there are many who live happily with children and with cats or small dogs. But maybe thatās not the āidealā home.
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OP, our neighbors have an American Eskimo Dog. He is delightful. Smaller than a husky, great with their kids and old cat. It knows sit, stay, and come, and several tricks so itās trainable. Does well at the dog park.
The only drawback to the breed I can see is they donāt like a hot, humid summer.
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Interesting indeed, Iāve found that female dogs are āgenerallyā better at domestic life than males. A guy I worked with had male dogs all his life, until someone gave him a female lab. He said he was sorry he put up with the male nonsense for so long. His female was easy to train, bonded with the family immediately, and never went carousing. 
From your replies it sounds like your mind is pretty firm on that Siberian. Any outdoor kennel needs a floor as well as a roof, they escape, a lot. Husky type dogs for pets is like herding dogs for pets. It can work out if you find that one in a million, but usually a high energy, free thinking dog winds up in a normal family situation and then gets into trouble because the family canāt handle that much ādogā.
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Iāve seen very happy dogs pulling skiers. There are competitions for that, is it called skijoring? And near me is a woman that takes in husky breeds and cross breeds. She teaches them to pull carts, carry backpacks, and of course a team sled. She says like so many working breeds the key is to give them actual jobs. (all her dogs stay outside in kennels, no house training)
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Yeah, they are Hubbyās dream dog. I think we will end up with one eventually, so better to be prepared and know what we are getting into.
Introduce him to Alaskan Klee kai.
Smaller more manageable dog than a full size husky.
Have a GOOOOOOD way to keep them in the yard. And, no, they are not easy to train. Smart and stubborn, shed a lot, can be loud. Gorgeous dogs, but definitely not for everyone. My friend has 4 and they all have issues with getting out (jumping, running, diggingā¦ every time she fixes something they find another way). The two that are the worst are both females (plus one who isnāt as bad), so canāt say I agree with the āfemales are less proneā to escaping. They are also very vocal. I think their vocal tendencies are cute, but personally couldnāt deal with it 24/7.
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Interesting timing on this thread! I am adopting a husky on Friday, and came to this section of the forum for the first time wondering if there was anything about huskies
I will say - I am not a first time dog owner and am not a first time husky owner. I owned a husky about two years ago, but lost him through a nasty break up. I had adopted him at a rescue where he had been returned multiple times before. He had been rescued from a situation in which he was abandoned by being chained in someoneās yard. So think already neurotic husky behavior plus extra abandonment issues on top of it. The rescue had adopted him out three times previously and each time he had been returned the next day. He was snappy with other dogs, and food/toy possessive. When I went to meet him, he completely ignored me, peed all over the place and jumped in THE SINK of the adoption room. So naturally I adopted him. It took a LOT of work and time, but he ended up being a really good dog. But manā¦that dog could escape out of ANYTHING! He climbed (or jumped?) 6ft fences, broke collars, escaped from cratesā¦he even learned how to OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR.
Escaping was the biggest issue I had with mine. When analyzing your yard, think like a Siberian. If you think your fence is big enough - itās not. If you think your crate is strong enough - itās not. I would recommend putting extra wire to make your fences taller and having wire beneath your fences as wellā¦so if (when) they dig, they encounter a barrier. Youāll likely end up with 18ft fences between the underground and above ground barriers LOL
Like i said, I had all these issues and am still adopting my second Siberian on Friday. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. You either love them or hate them :). Oh, and by the wayā¦the shedding is NO JOKE!! I havenāt had a husky for TWO YEARS and remenants his hair is STILL IN MY CAR, even after multiple cleanings :). S/he will drive you insane, but if properly exercised and mentally stimulatedā¦ they make amazing dogs and awesome companions. FEEL FREE TO PM if you have any more questions, or end up adopting and needing emotional support LOL. Keep us updated
When wondering if a particular breed would make a good pet or fit your lifestyle, think about what the dog was bred to do. Siberians were bred to run very long distances, pulling a heavy sled, in the worst of weather. The drive to run, pull and GO somewhere with little direction from their human is very strong, and physically they were meant to work hard for long periods of time.
My vet once said of Dalmations - they were bred to run all day and bite people. Pugs were bred to be companion/lap dogs.
If your lifestyle can work with a dog who has been bred to be independent, strong and active, and you understand that you will probably be a good owner.
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Huskies are good for busy people. Not so much for not-busy people. They can be wonderful dogs if they are managed appropriately.
Like everyone else said their biggest drawbacks are they are escape artists and HIGH energyā¦ and yes, very prey drive oriented. Theyāre SPITZ breedsā¦ thatās what spitz breeds doā¦
I would talk to breeders and long-time owners first. Personallyā¦ Iāve had nothing but great experiences with the breed and did not have the same experience of them being ābaby killersā that other posters are sayingā¦ butā¦ they do want to eat chickens and cats. . alsoā¦ I would be more worried about them going after cats than kids - they are very loyal to their people and children. Obviously no one should leave their children unattended with dogsā¦
Depending on who trains and owns them they can be wonderful or unholy terrors - some are just fine off-leash, others cannot be trustedā¦ and yes, they dig ā they LOVE snow and like to encapsulate themselves in cool earth/snow. They are very boisterous, intelligent (wily!), and can be excellent guard dogs because they are very watchful. With huskies, the breeder is important and is the difference between a spastic demon and a real Siberian. There are level-headed, bred-for-temperament siberians out there that are not at all the neurotic, stircrazy dog most people think huskies are.
A husky in a running home would keep them busy and tired - they just need JOBS. They like to GO GO GO, they want to be busy, doing things, having a job, going places - not for the sedentary at all. But if you want a running partner, or specifically, your husband does, there are plenty of other breeds just as suitable.
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And donāt be lulled into thinking a crossbred will temper those Husky characteristics that have been covered in this thread.
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That really is the heart of what I realized I got myself into at the six month mark.
To the dogs credit, he was never a whirling dervish. It was the mental challenge that I was unprepared for and thought he might grow out of it. Nope. We just reached an agreement. Kind of situation where the dog figured out everything a bit too quickly and then would stare at you and bow to play, if you tried to repeat it. He was mischievous literally to the day he died.
That is why dog agility games might be fun, but might also be a heartbreaker
Like others have said, though, the weirdest part is I almost consider doing it again. Almost.
