Siberian Huskies are beautiful dogs. They look like wolves, and have thick, soft coats that make them infinitely cuddly. They have piercing eyes, and wonderful masks that give them a roguish and unique look.
Siberian Huskies can make very good family pets. If properly trained, they can be very good with people, children, and other dogs. Indeed, Siberian Huskies are commonly known for their friendliness toward people.
Although they may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart of Casanova. All they want to do is greet everyone, and give them licks.
However, many people have trouble with this breed, and many Sibes get surrendered every year.
Consider these Siberian Husky facts, before going out and getting a puppy. The Siberian Husky is a very special, and lovable breed, but they may not be the right breed for everyone.
Siberian Husky Fact 1
Siberian Huskies Shed – A LOT.
Be ready to have dog hair all over the house – floors, carpets, clothing, furniture, everywhere.
If we are allergic to dog hair, or like our home to be really clean, then the Siberian Husky is not for us.
When I was looking for a Sibe, I talked to a few breeders in my area. The first thing they all said was, “Siberian Huskies shed a lot”. I mentioned that my other dog, a Shiba Inu, also has a double coat and also sheds a fair amount. However, they all said, “Siberian Huskies shed a lot more“.
And they do! A whole lot more.
Therefore, it is very important to train our Husky puppy to enjoy the grooming experience.
Start with a soft brush, and lightly comb our dog’s body for a short period of time. Do this often, and pair it with food rewards. Once puppy is comfortable with the brushing process, we can slowly extend the length of the session, and switch to using the Furminator.
Frequent brushing is a good idea to keep a Siberian Husky clean, and clear out loose hair. The more hair on the Furminator, the less hair on the floor.
About twice a year, Siberian Huskies blow their coat. During this time, there will be more fur than ever. To keep things under control, try to brush every day. Remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, rewarding, and not overly long.
Siberian Husky Fact 2
Siberian Huskies Make Awful Guard Dogs.
Because Siberian Huskies look like wolves, many people assume that they are fierce dogs. Some people may even think that they are wolf hybrids.
However, a Sibe is more of a lover and less of a fighter.
When confronted with a stranger, a Siberian Husky will likely run up to him, and try to give him many licks, preferably all over the face. As a result, Sibes make terrible guard dogs. They will not only welcome everyone into your house, but will also give them the royal lick treatment.
If we want a dog that is only loyal to us and our family, then the Siberian Husky is not for us.
Huskies are happy, goofy, and trusting dogs, that like to be with everyone.
Siberian Husky Fact 3
Siberian Huskies Are Extremely Energetic.
They are intelligent, athletic, and were bred to pull sleds for extremely long distances, in the freezing cold. Therefore, be prepared to provide a Husky with a lot of mental and physical exercise.
A young Siberian Husky needs activity almost all day round. At around one-year old, my Sibe puppy sleeps for perhaps 3-4 hours during the day, and about 10 hours during the night. That leaves about 10 hours during the day where she is on the go.
She drains her energy most by playing with my other dog, a Shiba Inu. However, even my Shiba cannot fully keep up with her.
In addition to the playing, she works for all of her food, has long walks in the park several times a week, has dog play sessions, dog obedience training sessions, and still has energy left over to explore and dig in our backyard.
If bored, a Husky can become unhappy. He will likely escape, or use our house and belongings as chew toys. Unless our backyard is extremely secure, he can easily jump over or dig under a fence, in order to find adventure elsewhere.
If we are away at work for most of the day, then the Siberian Husky is probably not for us.
Siberian Huskies like having company and activity, all day long. It is possible that a Sibe can keep himself occupied if we have other dogs, but he may also lead our entire pack into mischief!
Siberian Huskies do best when there is frequent human supervision, throughout the day.
Siberian Husky Fact 4
Siberian Huskies Are Independent Thinkers.
He has a very independent mind and spirit, and will only perform, if we make it worth his while.
If we want an obedient dog, that only lives to please us, then the Siberian Husky is not for us.
A Sibe is not a “yes sir, no sir“, kind of dog. To live well with him, we need to be fair, but firm. We need to consistently enforce our house rules, or he will take over the house.
The best way to train a Husky, is through the control of resources. Teach him that the best way to get what he wants, is to first do what we want. Use reward obedience training, and follow the Nothing in Life is Free program. Harsher techniques, can make a Sibe distrustful, and ruin the natural free spirit of the breed.
Siberian Huskies are independent hunters. Their original breeders, the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia, would let their dogs free during the summer months, to hunt for food on their own.
This has two very important consequences for living with a Siberian Husky today -
- A Siberian Husky is not to be trusted with cats, or other small animals. He can be trained to live with cats, but his instinct is to hunt them;
- A Siberian Husky is not to be trusted off-leash. If he sees a small animal, he will likely bolt after it, and forget about cars, commands, and everything else. By the time he comes to his senses, he may be lost and far from home.
I have gotten a few comments about cats lately, so let me be clear …
Siberian Huskies can be trained to live with household cats. However, Sibes usually have high prey drive, and will likely want to hunt and chase small animals, including squirrels, mice, and cats. Just because a Sibe gets along with our house cats, does not mean he will treat other neighborhood cats in the same way.
Siberian Huskies are bred to run and pull. This makes them more difficult to leash train than many other breeds. To train a Husky to walk on a leash, we need to have an immense amount of patience. Always be firm and consistent with the no-pulling rule, and reward good behavior.
If we do not have a large backyard, bring our Sibe to an enclosed park, or soccer field, so that he can have some nice off-leash time to run, run, run.
Siberian Husky Fact 5
Siberian Huskies Are Not the Easiest Dogs to Potty Train.
Certain dogs, like the Shiba Inu, are naturally clean, and absolutely do not like soiling their living space. Because of their natural cleanliness, they are extremely easy to house train.
Sibes do not have that natural sense of cleanliness. In fact, they do not mind playing, and running around in their own waste products. Therefore, we must make it worth their while to potty outside.
Supervise our Siberian Husky puppy at all times, until he is fully house trained. Reward him well for pottying outside with high priority dog treats, play, and praise. If we are consistent with our puppy potty training, he will learn quickly, and be happy to go outside after a few weeks.
In addition, as Gigi points out, potty training difficulty is very dependent on what the dog or puppy is used to, in his previous environment. Puppy mill and pet store puppies are caged, most of the time. As a result, they will be harder to house train, because they are accustomed to going in their crates.
Where to Get a Siberian Husky Puppy
If we still want a Siberian Husky, then visit the Siberian Husky Club of America, for a breeder list. Also consider adopting one, from a local Siberian Husky rescue.
It really makes a BIG difference to get a puppy from an accredited breeder.
Please do not buy a puppy, from online puppy sites or pet stores. Most of their puppies come from backyard breeders or puppy mills. Buying from them, will only help support and continue, the dog cruelty of these unscrupulous puppy breeders.
If we are concerned about the initial cost of a puppy, consider that backyard breeders and puppy mills, frequently produce unhealthy and unbalanced puppies. They will end up costing us a lot more, in terms of vet bills, dog training bills, and property destruction.
Bring the breed up properly, and you should have no problems. They really are lovely dogs.
~~[ Vanessa ]
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i love sibrarian huskys.their so adorable
my siberian husky 4 years old i want to breed her , she started her period april 24, 2013 when she ready to breed . is this a good week. thank you 5/13/2013
It is best to talk about this with a registered Husky breeder.
http://www.shca.org/shcahp4f.htm
Hi…i have a five month old husky…..she is starting to mouth very hard, and snaps at people for seemingly no reason….i dont know how to get her to stop…when shes in these moods i cant grap her as she hurts and goes beyond listening….its scary for my children…..apart from these times shes really lovely and is quite obediant, also great on her lead…..any advise appreciated.
Here are a few things that help with my dogs -
1. I do bite inhibition training to teach them to control the force of their bites.
2. I set up a fixed and consistent set of rules as well as a fixed routine. I get them to follow my rules by using the Nothing in Life is Free program.
3. When a dog is still in training, I put a drag-lead on him (only with a flat collar and only under supervision). In this way, I can better control him when I need to. Grabbing my dog to punish him led to redirected aggression, and also caused him to be wary of human touch.
Here is a bit more on how I trained my Husky puppy.
Given that children are involved, it is probably best to get help from a professional trainer.
http://www.apdt.com/petowners/choose/
My Siberian Husky, Faolan, is 8 years old and in great shape. Lately, he goes into these periods where he doesn’t want to eat and that means anything. No treats, no boiled chicken, no dog food, nothing. He didn’t eat last night and now this morning. He’s full of energy, runs, plays but doesn’t feel like eating. Is this normal for this breed?
Thanks in advance.
Peter
Hmmm, my Shiba Inu will sometimes skip one or two meals, but not my Huskies.
The only time my Huskies don’t want to eat is when they have some digestive or physical discomfort. In the past, my Shiba would sometimes skip one or two meals, but even then, he would still eat boiled chicken, cheese, and other good stuff.
Could it be a toothache? Have you looked at his teeth and gums? Has he skipped meals before or is this the first time? I would also call up the vet and see what they say.
Hi,
I just purchased a beautiful husky 3 weeks ago. I have an Akita and had a German Shepherd that passed away a couple yrs. ago. I never realized that a
husky could be even more stubborn than my Akita and I thought my German Shepherd was high energy…..nothing like my husky. He plays rough and my children have been hurt by his sharp baby teeth. I know he doesn’t mean to hurt anyone but if you have little children you need to think twice about getting one. I have fallen madly inlove with this sweet rough playing baby so he’s staying but he definitely tries my patience. I’m hoping with continued training and patience he will turn out to be as wonderful as my Akita and as wonderful as my German Shepherd baby was.
I have two chihuahua mix dogs and a cat but I really want a husky for an outside dog. I have done lots of research but I’m just wondering if people find it difficult to take care of 3 dogs in a household. Also, my husband never grew up with dogs so it was tough to convince him to get these two inside dogs (which he now loves!), how do I convince him to get another (bigger) one?? Thanks!
I currently have 3 dogs and they are *a lot* of work.
A Sibe, especially, is very energetic and will require a lot of exercise and structured positive activities. I have to walk my Sibes every day for about 1.5 hours, we play fun chasing games in our fully enclosed backyard, and we do grooming sessions. I supervise them and manage their excitement level when they play together, so that there are no accidents. If a Siberian Husky does not get enough structured exercise he may become destructive or escape from the yard.
My Huskies love to dig and they are very good at it. They will need to be trained only dig in certain areas, or our yard will soon be full of holes. They can also dig under the fence, so we will need to make sure that the fence line is secure wrt. underground escapes.
A Siberian Husky is independent and will need structure, routine, and training.
A Siberian Husky has high prey drive and will need to be carefully trained to get along with small dogs and cats.
All this will take a lot of time, effort, and expense.
Not sure if my Husky is an odd ball or not, but – he is very protective. He has only offered to bite someone once, but it was when him and I were talking a walk and this person reached towards me to hand me something and my Husky jumped up and “snapped” at his hand. It was more of a “get away” type thing, and I’m not sure that he would have actually bit.
He actually gets along very well with my cat and my chihuahua. The cats, he tends to think are HIS cats- in he likes to clean them, cuddle them and follow them around the house.
We let him out without a leash. We weren’t able to do this when he was younger, but he will be 12 this year and rarely ever offers to leave the yard without a leash. If he does and I’m out there, he will come right back- when my husband tries to get him to come back that is a different story. lol ((odd fact is that my husband has had this husky since he was a sophomore in high school and I didn’t come around until he had already graduated, but this doggy sure loves his mommy! haha))
Also, about being protective- when my mom and dad come over my husky will stand between my father and I when we are outside of the house, and when we come inside he tends to position himself between my dad and I but will lay down and look other places, etc. Keep in mind, my dad is one of the quietest, happiest, nicest people that ever lived- so its not like he is threatening or anything. He will go up to my dad, but his paw on him, cuddle him, play with him…anything… But, when that pizza guy comes to the door- I’m lucky to be able to get to the pizza. lol
Could also be jealousy,spunds funny but i have a husky and have tested this and they are extremely jealous?When my partner and I hug my husky howls and jumps up on us until we part,then hes fine again,Its so funny but thiscould be why your husky seems “protective”.
I just got a 1 year old husky and i was wondering if there is any way he can get used to being alone for about 1 1/2 hour. he also really hates being outside without someone there So how can i prevent him from doing his “business” inside when I’m gone.
Here is what I did to potty train my Husky puppy. When I am unable to supervise, I use a puppy enclosure (for younger puppies) or a crate. However, I make sure to be around most of the time to supervise, play with, and train my new dog.
To get my dog more comfortable with his alone-time, I use desensitization techniques.
okay i have a serious question here, I just got a husky, he is eleven weeks old. I am trying to leash train him but all he does is pull on the leash or just does not listen, he comes when i call his name, I praise and reward him and everything but every time i try to take him out for a walk or run, i end up having to go back home due to the fact that my husky just hates the leash, or he doesn’t follow me. what advice do you have for me? I need help, pleeaasseeee
While leash training my Husky puppy, I make sure to start at small and make the experience very positive. I first start by desensitizing my puppy to the collar and to his lead.
Then, I do leash training inside the house. The house environment is safe, quiet, and comfortable, so Lara can get used to walking on a lead, and focus on walking without pulling. Once my puppy is comfortable with the lead inside the house, we do leash training in the backyard.
After she is confident walking on a leash in the backyard, as well as fully vaccinated, then we start to do training outside – first in quiet areas that are low stimulus.
I set my puppy up for success so that she gains confidence, becomes comfortable with walking on a lead, and learns not to pull. When she is comfortable walking in quiet areas, then I very slowly increase the outside environmental challenge.
Here is a bit more on leash training techniques and how I trained my Husky puppy.
Hello, my name is Matilda.
I’m 15 years old and currently a freshman in high school. My mom finally agreed to let me get a husky after years of begging. I know that having a husky takes alot of commitment but I’m willing to commit as much free time as I have to the dog. Walks after school and before bed. Also in the morning when my sister gets home from work. I have so many questions about potty training and also when is a good age to start taking them for walks. The dog will be a month or two when I get it. But I also have a four year old fixed female chihuahua. How will the husky act around her ? My mom said she doesn’t want the husky to be a inside dog forever. We have a pretty big backyard , but we also have a 10 year old (human years) mixed male chihuahua in the backyard, its kind of big and we think its mixed with pug. Should we introduce the husky to both the inside and outside dog at the same time ? The husky we are getting is a male. I would really appriciate some advice. I really want to prove to my mom that I can take care of the dog. Thank you.
Potty training:
With my Husky puppies, the single most important thing with potty training is supervision. I supervise my puppy very closely during the potty training period so that I can take her outside and reward her well for doing the right thing. At the same time, I can prevent mistakes in the house. More on how I potty trained my puppy.
Walks:
I start leash training with my puppy inside the house. Then, we move on to the backyard. I do not walk my puppy outside until she is fully vaccinated. Puppies still have developing immune systems and can get sick from smelling or eating bad poop from other dogs or other animals. Licking at contaminated water puddles etc, can also be an issue.
For dog socialization, we go to puppy class. I make sure that it is a well-run class, which checks for vaccination records for all the puppies.
Introducing a new dog:
Some things that I keep in mind while first introducing a new puppy to my existing dogs-
http://shibashake.com/dog/getting-a-second-dog#meeting
This is what I do to help my dogs get along-
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
**Both my Huskies have high prey drive, so I take extra care while introducing them to smaller dogs. I make sure that they are leashed and very well supervised. If I am unsure of anything or see any kind of stress, I end the greeting. It can also help to get professional help.
Here is a bit more on the first 10 days with my Husky puppy and how I trained her.
this was pretty good information, because I wanted to know more about huskies cause I have one!!!!
I have a question, I have a puppy named Kat she’s almost 2 months, is it normal for her age to be very very hyper? Because of that attitude I cant train her. She potties at training pads at my surprise. Because its her second time using that yet she can already “go” there. But I cant train her because she is so hyper. Is it normal? We cant even go for a walk because she is only 1 1/2 month old
Puppies are going to be higher energy, be more curious, and have shorter attention spans. The good news is that puppies are usually also more food focused and people focused.
With my Husky puppy, I do very short training sessions all throughout the day, usually after a play session. I also use the play session to teach her good behaviors. I try to observe what my puppy likes doing most, and use that to motivate her.
Here is a bit more on how I trained my Husky puppy. I also follow the Nothing in Life is Free program with all of my dogs.
My 2nd dog after getting out of the Army is a Siberian Husky Female Named Madeline Magnolia, I got her in October 2010 after my family stole my First Dog Phoebe, I Trained her well the first 6 months i had her in my Apartment before we Moved to a Ranch in Colorado. There she had 5000 some odd acers to run on and explore, I Take her on 7-10 mile walks one way before turning around and going back, but she would still get bord of that and Excape the Yeard (My Army buddy didnt let dogs in the house) Once when she was 11 Months old she went missing for 4 days and managed to Hunt and Kill a Full grown Doe weighing 125lbs, Madeline at the time only weighed 40LBS. In Janruary we came to Fla to do some busness not expecting to get stuck here for as long as we have. On May 9th the House Keeper Left the dore open and chased Madeline out the door with the Vacume cleaner, that was 10 months ago, I have spent over $7000 looking for her and have not had any luck. In December 2012 I rescued Kaiser a Male Siberian Husky from some Neglectful owners, when i got him he weighed 35lbs, Was infected with Flees, Heart Worms, Hook Worms. After $2000 in vet bills he is now a Healthy 55 LB 2 yearold Siberian Husky who Likes going on Walks, Sleeping all day, Getting Belly Rubs, dosnt like playing much, and LOVES FOOD!. He thinks everyone e meets wants to play and pet him. I know one day I will Find my Madeline Magnolia and she and Kaiser will play well together =D
how do i teach my Siberian Husky/Alaskan malmmute how to heel he just wont listen.he gets to distracted and wants to play i tried to put him in an open area without any other dogs with his leash on and with treats and off the leash with treats too. what do i do? he just wont listen he is only three months old but he was easy to teach him to sit lay down shake roll over and he is potty trained and crate trained. please help me
Does he already know the basics of leash training? I.e., is he trained to walk on a leash without pulling?
What helps with my Sibes is to always start at the beginning, and to set them up for success. With walking, I first get my dog comfortable with having the collar and leash on. Then, I get her comfortable with having me hold the leash. Once we are good with this, I do leash training exercises, which teaches her not to pull while on a loose leash. I don’t do more advanced leash work, e.g. heel, until after we have mastered loose leash walking.
With heel training, I found that timing, position, and technique are all very important. It helped a lot to first do it under the direction of a professional trainer.
i love huskys
Hi Shibashake,
I left my sibe with my mom and dad who are both 80 years old already. I got a call today and they are worried because my sibe named Stolich lost her appetite for the past 2 days and don’t want to eat anything. She drinks water and eat some grass for the past 2 days. By the way she is 5years old (human age). Is it normal for her not to eat for 2 days? She is active and everything’s seems normal though.. What should i do? Thank you!….Stolich
I would take her to the vet ASAP.
I have owned and worked with dogs for about 30 years. Dogs do sometimes not eat for several days. It is more important that your dog is drinking and her energy level is about the same. Sometimes, they are prone to not eat if they have some sort of anxiety (perhaps when you left her at your parents’ house?) Just watch the signs, she may start eating again shortly or you may want to offer her plain chicken and white rice if her stomach is a little upset. If ANY other signs become evident (lethargy, not drinking water) I would immediately take her to the vet. Good luck and I hope she is back to normal by the time you read this post!
@Stolich Maybe she misses you. Our husky is like that also (when he’s being stubborn) I have read that Husky doesn’t really eat much or has a huge appetite but as owners it is something to be consulted to the vet (like what Shibashake said) or the experts. I guess, what happen to your dog (unless she’s introduced to other dog foods or there’s a change in her diet) is something psychological. Dogs by the way, learn this from the elders, eat grass or certain plants/grass when they have an upset stomach or is hungry; I’ve seen our Siberian husky doing that and so our other dogs.
I recently “rescued” a husky from a busy intersection. I have three other dogs, a neutered male Standard Schnauzer (the oldest, 10 yrs), a neutered male minature poodle (middle dog 5 yrs) and a spayed female chihuahua (youngest 4 yrs). The husky is intact and seems to NOT be dog aggressive but did give a warning growl while in the when first introduced which seems normal. My concern is the high prey drive. Do you think I need to worry too much about the smaller dogs? He did try to mount the poodle but the poodle put him in his place quickly. I still don’t allow them to all be in the backyard alone without supervision yet.
Thank you!
Here is an interesting thread about the Husky prey drive and small dogs-
http://www.prodoggroomingsupplies.com/dog-forums/showthread.php?t=73746
I need help. My daughter, her husband, husky and two cats moved in with me. He crates her at bed time and when they aren’t home. I love her and take her out for walks, but sometimes she becomes aggressive with me and bites her leash and rund around my ankles an tries to nip me. I am 60 years old and only 4’11 inches. I don’t know how to stop this. I buy her a lot of toys and throw her ball around the house for her to chase. she is very high energy and tires me out. Help!
Hello Joyce,
Huskies are very high energy dogs. They are strong, need a lot of exercise, as well as structure and boundaries.
Is it possible to do the initial training with your daughter or her husband? Getting help from a professional trainer may also be helpful. When my dogs were young, I also hired a dog walker and sometimes took them to dog daycare. This gives them an outlet for their boundless energy and also helps with socialization.
Here are some articles on my experiences with leash biting.
http://shibashake.com/dog/train-your-dog-to-stop-biting-on-the-leash
http://thedoginc.com/why-dogs-leash-bite-how-to-stop-it
However, each dog and each situation is different, which is why visiting with a good professional trainer can be very helpful. I always make sure that everyone is safe during training, and do not take on more than I can physically handle.
I understand that Siberian Huskies are generally not good guard dogs, but I had an unusual experience with mine. The Siberian Husky is well known as an Arctic sled dog and has been placed in the “working dog group” category by the AKC, so I was very surprised when our Siberian Husky named “Odin” turned out to be a good coyote tracking dog at the ranch in Arizona. The coyote has killed several of our chickens and peacocks at the ranch. Yesterday, my wife Veronica went out to feed the chickens in their pen and found Odin was aggressively barking at something in the bushes behind the chicken pen. When Veronica walked up to the chicken pen she observed a hungry looking coyote covertly sneaking behind the pen trying to find a way to enter. The coyote ran away from Odin, but instead of returning to the ranch house Odin tracked the coyote for more than 1/2 mile into the desert brush behind the ranch house. When Veronica advised me of the situation, I grabbed a rifle and ran toward the sounds of Odin barking in pursuit of the coyote. By this time, our second Siberian Husky “Freya” was also in pursuit of the coyote with Odin. For a short period of time I couldn’t determine Odin’s location as he cornered the coyote in a wash about 1/2 mile away. To my surprise, Freya actually ran back to me and led me to where Odin had the coyote cornered. When I arrived, the coyote ran again but I was able to shoot him. We adopted the huskies primarily because we thought they were beautiful dogs and might be good to scare coyotes, foxes, and bobcats away, or just bark to let us know something was outside, but we never thought a working category dog would actually track a predator into the desert bush like a hunting dog.
Yeah, my Sibes also have high prey drive. They love to give chase. They don’t really have much guard/defensive drive though, which I think is a feature.
i love huskies i have always wanted one if i ever get one i might name him blue or if its a gril well idk yet but i love them i have been looking on for sale websites on them
How to get a good Siberian Husky puppy.
They r so wonderful. I would love to have one too.
Hi i have two huskies. Storm is 14 months and nala is 16 weeks! They are great loving family pets but as you all know they take up alot of the day. They are playfull and very loyal and enjoy playing with my two young children(2 & 4 years). The only thing i will say to anyone thinking of getting a husky is be ready for there rough play. Both mine love to run at each other and jump high in the air. They play together using there teeth a lot and to people who are not used to there kind of play it does look and sound a little scary. But we love ours and wouldnt change them for the world.
I love happy Husky stories! Big hugs to Storm and Nala.
i have a Siberian Husky. she is great, but she is so hard to potty train!!! she will walk out side for fun and she is so energetic OMG..and we will be out for hours..and she wont go to the bathroom.she did 1 time….but for the most part she waits until we get home and tries to go on the news paper. i want to break that habit so bad. and she eats my sisters Cat’s food and wont eat her own dog food.its so annoying. and i think she is going through terrible 2 bc she is biting. and chewing on everything.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.300.300/p403x403/625518_559309197420787_280337393_n.jpg
thats my dog
Here are some things I did to potty train my Husky puppies.
Here are some things that helped while training my Huskies. I also follow the Nothing in Life is Free program. It teaches my dogs to work for their food, redirects their energy into positive activities, and helps me maintain pack leadership through the control of resources.
I have two husky girls, Hailey who is almost 7 years and Starr who is a little over 5 months. They light up my life! My little girl is having a hard time with potty training but I know it just takes time. They love to play together, my 7 year old plays like she’s 7 months lol. They love long walks but unfortunately I live in the north east so our winters can be a little brutal, at least for me anyway. Every word you said about this breed is true but even the challenges are worth it because once you are loved by a husky it’s hard to imagine life without that!
Thank you for your post, being informed may help to keep some huskies out of shelters.
Big hugs to Hailey and Starr! A happy Husky story always brightens up my day. Thank you.
Thank you for putting this up. I know now that it is to early for me to get a husky right now. I am still young and only starting high school next year. I used to have a big dog. Anyways.. I wanted a husky because i had had fallen in love with them since i was very young. Now I know to wait until I’m older and have enough money for a big home for my Husky. Again Thank you for putting this site up ^ ^
Yeah, I have always loved Huskies as well. The eyes, big ears, and cool masks are a deadly combo.
i have 2 days with my 3 month old husk I had a question I was given a potty spot bottle which suppose to make his sense of potty trigger and also works as a spot is this good for the dog ?
I haven’t used anything like this before so I am not sure how effective it is.
Here is more on how I potty trained my Husky puppies.
Hi, thanks for your site! Im a dog walker & pet care provider in Connecticut. I care for two Siberian Huskies quite often, & I adore them, and while looking for something else, wandered onto your site. Everything you said here was absolutely true in my eyes (especially regarding the cats & squirrels).
Loved the pictures as well. Thanks so much for sharing your love & tips on raising a healthy & happy husky.
Christine
What a great comment to get on a weekend! Thank you very much.
Big hugs to your furry clients!
Hi,
My family and I rescued Rex from a shelter two weeks ago. He’s a pretty good dog and I’ve been using your site to help train and understand him better. But my husband and I have encountered the same problem lately. When out on walks he’ll jump up and start biting. He did this when we first met and slowly stopped and now he’s doing it again but sometimes harder and “be a tree” isn’t working. I know he means to play but he does it more aggressively around the kids and I’m not sure what to do. He resists his leash and I get scared he’ll get hit by a car but at the same time accidentally bite my kids. Please any advice? I really don’t want to give him back because I know for sure that he wasn’t being treated well at the shelter.
I forgot to mention that he’s at least 1 yr. old. And was walking pretty decently on his leash until recently. He gives my husband a hard time because he cares for all the kids but the babies are home so he has to care for them all the time but not sure why he’s become more aggressive the past few days.
Hello Annie,
I had a similar issue with my Shiba (Sephy) when he was young. He would get excited or frustrated and start biting on the leash. Then, he started jumping on me and biting on my jacket.
Here are some articles on my experiences with leash biting-
http://shibashake.com/dog/train-your-dog-to-stop-biting-on-the-leash
http://thedoginc.com/why-dogs-leash-bite-how-to-stop-it
The key with getting Sephy to stop his leash biting behavior is to -
1. Effectively prevent him from continuing with it during our walks.
2. Show him that the behavior results in an undesirable consequence.
With Sephy, what finally worked is to quickly march him home. When Sephy starts to bite the leash-
- I no-mark the behavior to let him know that it is undesirable.
- Then, I hold the leash close to his collar so that I have good control and can stop his jumping/biting behavior.
- Finally, I just march him home at a quick pace. We do not make any stops, he does not get to explore, and the fun walk ends.
In this way, he cannot continue with biting on the leash because he has to focus on marching home. At the same time, he has a place to redirect his excited energy, i.e. into the march home. Most importantly, he also learns that biting on the leash or on me, means that the fun, leisurely walk ends right away, and he has to go home.
Some other things that helped with Sephy-
1. I increased the frequency of our walks (so that we would have more practice) but reduced their duration (so we would only walk close to home). This makes it easier and quicker to end walks if necessary.
2. We practiced proper leash walking in the house first, as well as proper door manners, before going out. This gets Sephy into the habit of walking properly and following walk rules before even leaving the house.
3. I try to stay as calm as possible, and just focus on implementing my plan. Sephy gets even more excitable or stressed when he senses that I am not calm. He also picks up on the energy of people who are nearby, so if I am walking with others, I make sure that everyone is calm.
4. In the beginning, I made things as simple as possible and only walked him by myself, and in more quiet areas of the neighborhood. In this way, there are fewer excitement triggers, and we are more likely to have a successful walk. In this way, both of us gain confidence, and then, we can slowly increase the environmental challenge.
http://shibashake.com/dog/pack-leader-to-an-aggressive-dog
Each dog is different though, and there may be a different trigger/source for the behavior. I tried many things before finding something that worked with Sephy.
Hugs to Rex. Let us know how it goes.
Thanks for the advice! Rex has actually gotten much better! He was even congratulated by a stranger on the street when we were walking yesterday. I felt like a proud parent! I’m very impressed at how quickly he has learned from us and wonder do huskies respond so quickly? I’m just happy to say that he’s a keeper. The time we’ve spent with him has been truly rewarding.
That is so good to hear! Go Team Rex!
Yeah, Huskies are a very amazing breed. Both Lara and Shania learn things very quickly as well – they also learn and observe things that I wish they would not learn.
Thanks for giving us an update on Rex. I am so happy that things turned out so well.
Hi! Firstly I would like to say that your site is very helpful and I’m thoroughly enjoying reading everyone’s posts!
My husband and I have contemplated having a husky for many of months, we have done the research and we are fully aware of what we are letting ourselves in for! Nalah is now 5 weeks old and yet to leave her mother, but we have been in constant contact with the breeder, and we visit her on a weekly basis until we get to bring her home when she’s 8 weeks old.
One thing that really upsets me is that majority of our friends & family puts a negative spin on our decision of having a husky, saying that this type of breed is vicious, not good with children, will damage property and overall iniciating that we are not making a good decision. Now instead of enjoying the experience of having a dog I feel that we have to prove some sort of point, which are not our intentions! And I’m a bit wary that once Nalah’s here people will be too scared to visit us! Has anyone else had this experience with friends & relatives? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Don’t worry about what the friends and relatives say, huskies aren’t what everyone believes. In my expierence around huskies, they’ve always been a loving and sweet dog breed. I’m sure you won’t have trouble with visitors, they’ll learn to except your decision!
Hello
firstly I would like to thank you for the useful guide provided as I am sure it will help in the near future.
I have just purchased a husky and I am slightly concerned about toilet training because we live in a apartment without a garden. We have two large parks nearby an we live right on the coast for plenty of walks and exersise but any help in regards to toilet training in our circumstance would be much appreciated.
Many thanks liam.
Hello Liam,
Congratulations on your new Husky puppy!
With my Husky puppies, I trained them on both puppy pads and going outside. If possible, I try to always take them out. However, if that is not possible, then I train them to go on their puppy pads.
Initially, they wanted to bite-on and shred the pads, so some training is necessary to get them to “Leave-It”. But after that, having the puppy pads as a backup facility was quite useful.
Here is a bit more on my Husky potty training experiences.
Hugs to puppy! They grow up quickly, so take lots of pictures.
Hello,
Thanks for your help your site has been most informative.
I got a new puppy around a week ago now, she is 3 months old. I Live in Dubai myself and have followed the various tips on here religiously.
I Did a lot of research and decided to try a combinations of Click/Treat Reward based system, which to my comfort has been a great success. She responds well to the understanding that the clicking noise is a positive and often is followed by one treat.
I Had a little trouble potty training for the first few days but i noticed how she had a massive likeing for this specific (Beef Jerky) Style treat. So i decided to make this a potty time specific treat and that has worked out for me brilliantly!
I Have to questions i was wondering if you could help me with. I Have dismissed this as maybe excitement peeing but im not too sure.
Usually i will leave her in her room whilst i sleep (A fairly sized storage room/really small bedroom) the problem i am having is she often urinates after i just open the door before i can even attach her lease and take her for a walk.
Is this normal? I thinking it is either down to lack of control or excitement at seeing me in the morning.
Also i do basic obedience training with her i.e. sit and stay which have worked well but i find she has a lack of focus sometimes. Is this just an age issue also? was wondering if it would get easier after she is 6 months old.
Thanks a lot for the tips they are amazing!
Congratulations on your new furry family member!
My guess it that it is partly out of excitement and partly out of having a full bladder. When my Sibes were young, they couldn’t hold it in for the entire night, and often needed to go an extra time very early in the morning.
In terms of excitement urination, this article from UCDavis may provide some tips-
http://behavior.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/local-assets/pdfs/Submissive_and_Excitement_Urination_in_Dogs.pdf
Yeah, I think so. When Lara was a pup, she was very easily distracted. Everything was new, shiny, and interesting to her, so any motion or little noise and she would want to go explore.
Obedience training and structure can help to increase a dog’s focus and maturity will help as well. I start small though, and only very slowly build up the duration of focus commands. That way, she always enjoys her training sessions, and is always ready to do more.
Hugs to your girl! Would love to see some pictures, so please post us a link when you have the time.
After a click should always be a treat:) the clicker marks the behaviour and tells the dog that click=treat. So the moment he/she hears the click, she/he’ll know that the behavior that makes you click, is correct. So clicker is just a easy soulution for perfect timing for rewards. A dog who’s familiar to the clicker and knows what the click really means, wont be confused if the treat is given moments after clicking because (here comes my favorite) you already marked the behavior with the click. So you wont be failing or mistaken if you have to run into the kitchen after clicking and fetching a treat
Hello..
I just have a question about Siberian Husky puppy. My neighbor brought a Siberian Husky puppy and they leave her outside day and night tide up short and at night it gets below 30 degree. I am just really worry about the puppy she looks like about 2-3months old puppy. I am just so curious about is Siberian Husky pups can sleep outside in cold weather without the doghouse. My neighbor don’t even have a doghouse for the puppy to sleep in. If you can answer me asap I will appreciate it.
Thanks,
Jin
I don’t really know the answer to that for sure. It is not something that I would want to test out.
Here is a thread that discusses this question-
http://www.dogster.com/forums/siberian_husky/thread/692797
The general consensus seems to be that Sibes can *tolerate* extremely low temperatures, but there are several caveats. In particular, they may have to build a tolerance for it, and they may not do well when there are constant large changes in temperature; for example from their time inside the house vs. outside. Puppies generally have a shorter coat compared to adult Huskies, and may not be able to withstand the cold as much as an adult dog.
Finally, being able to tolerate extreme cold also does not mean that they enjoy or are comfortable being in extreme cold or being exposed to biting winds.
Here are a couple of articles on chaining or tethering-
What You Can Do to Help Chained Dogs (Humane Society)
Chaining and Tethering (ASPCA)
Good article. While reading your article I was smiling and all because I can truly relate to every description, issues, and/or guidelines of having a Siberian husky. They are really intelligent, our own sibe, Maxi (Maximilian, 1 year old) could already open our gate when he was just 6 months old or younger, I think – eventually had accomplish a soundless escap , fortunately our mixed-breed dog was with him and he (Max) didn’t total wander off. He can understand commands and reprimands (when he’s misbehaves) but he is just stubborn. I think you’re article is a great help to new owners or who want to have their own Sibe. More powers to you and do continue to help other people who wants to adopt or have their own Sibe and I hope you’ll have another article on other breeds too.
Upon reading to some comments…
When Max was younger we let him off leash, we’re in a tropical country btw, and when it’s raining we just let him be in the rain for a few hours/minutes (we can’t let him do such stuffs now because he’s a lot larger than when he’s still a pup, it would just bring a huge mess inside the house after being in the rain and he’s a threat to stray cats passing by our house) because we’ve research that they can withstand -58′C and somehow it’s a “treat” for him to be in the cold since we’re in tropical area but our mum makes a petty fuss over it stating he might catch cold. Upon observing him, I think huskies even pups would likely to know discomfort over tolerance because there are times even it’s raining (and he likes it) he prefers to stay indoor. But we don’t put him outdoors when it’s raining when we’re about to go to sleep, he sleeps indoors actually
Hey,
I am currently considering getting a siberian husky, i have always loved this breed of dog. Your guide has been very helpful, thank you.
I have 1 question though, i work 8am-5:30pm with an hour lunch monday-friday. Would a 30-45 min walk/jog before work and around an hour walk after work be enough exercise for it daily?
i would be able to go home for lunch as i live close to my work place and interact a little with him/her a little.
Hello Chris,
My young Sibe, Lara, needs a lot of exercise. We walk around 1.5 hours daily, she plays mornings and evenings with our other two dogs, and she still does zoomies around the house and backyard. She also likes digging, so we put concrete blocks all the way around our fence line so that she can’t dig out while chasing after earth critters.
Lara is currently almost 2 years old. She does well when there is supervision and structured activity during the day.
Shania is 5 years old, and she does not do as much zoomies. However, she really likes her walks, and we are also out for at least 1.5 hours daily. She is a three legged dog, so we stop more often and smell the roses.