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.
Siberians can make very good family pets. If properly trained, they can be very good with people, children, and other dogs. Indeed, Sibes are commonly known for their friendliness toward people.
Although they may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart of Casanova. All my Huskies 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.
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 very 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, “Siberians 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, “Siberians 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.
- I start with a soft brush, and lightly comb my dog’s body for a short period of time.
- I do this often, and pair it with food rewards.
- Once my puppy is comfortable with the brushing process, I very slowly extend the length of our grooming session.
- Finally, I repeat the process with a more solid brush, such as the Furminator.
Frequent brushing is a good idea to keep our Husky clean, and clear out loose hair. The more hair on the Furminator, the less hair on the floor.
About twice a year, my Sibes blow their coat. During this time, there will be more fur than ever. To keep things under control, I try to brush every day. Remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, rewarding, and not overly long.
2. Siberian Huskies Make Awful Watch Dogs
Because 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, my Husky will usually run up to him, give licks, and beg for food. As a result, Sibes do not make very good watch 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.
My Huskies are naturally happy and trusting dogs, who like to be with everyone. That is one of the things that I love most about them.
The Siberian Husky is not a watch dog, although those ignorant of his true nature may be frightened by his appearance. If you want a dog with aggressive guard-dog instincts . . . don’t buy a Siberian.
~~[SHCA]Leave your home in the care of a “guard” Siberian and he will most likely welcome an intruder with open arms, fetch (for the first time in his life) your valuables and show him the best route of escape–after all, Siberians are great escape artists.
~~[Siberian Rescue Site]
Note – This does not mean that Huskies will never be aggressive toward people. A dog’s behavior is determined both by genetics (breeding), as well as by training, socialization, context, and past experiences. A dog may become aggressive as a result of improper training, bad social experiences, insufficient socialization, and more.
For reasons of safety, it is important to ensure that our companion dogs are not people aggressive. Most companion dogs today guard us, by sounding an alert when unknown or strange people come close to our house. These dogs are not people aggressive. They do not bark, lunge, or growl at passers-by during walks. They are not aggressive toward guests and unknown visitors, who may need to work in or around our house. Their job is simply to alert us, when unusual events occur close to home. Anything more would quickly become dangerous and risky.
Highly trained guard dogs, such as those employed by law-enforcement, may be trained to attack or restrain an intruder. However, they are always under the control of their handler, are extremely well managed, and will only attack on-command or when they think their handler is in clear danger (as defined during training). They also do not bark or growl at pedestrians.
3. Siberian Huskies Have High Energy
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 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 structured 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.
Siberians like having company and activity all day long. It is possible that a Husky can keep himself occupied if we have other dogs, but he may also lead our entire pack into mischief!
Sibes do best when there is frequent human supervision, throughout the day.
Siberians are a gregarious lot and need the company of other dogs or of people at all times.
~~[SHCA]The Husky needs lots of exercise and entertainment. They love to run and play, but must be allowed to do so safely.
~~[Hillside SPCA]
4. Siberian Huskies Are Independent Thinkers
They have a very independent mind and spirit, and will only perform, if we make it worth their 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. I use reward obedience training, and follow the Nothing in Life is Free program. Harsher techniques can make a Siberian distrustful, and ruin the natural free spirit of the breed.
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 Husky today –
- A Siberian 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 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 …
Sibes can be trained to live with household cats. However, they usually have high prey drive, and will likely want to hunt and chase small animals, including squirrels, mice, and cats. Just because a Siberian gets along with our house cats, does not mean he will treat other neighborhood cats in the same way.
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.
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 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 Husky, then visit the Siberian Husky Club of America for a breeder list. Also consider adopting one from a local 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.
Siberian Huskies Are Wonderful Dogs
I love my Sibes. However, just because I think Huskies are wonderful dogs, does not mean that everyone else will think so as well; nor does it mean that they will fit into someone else’s lifestyle.
Clearly, each dog is an individual and will differ in terms of prey drive, energy level, obedience, and more. However, general breed characteristics and information from reputable sources, will give us a better idea of what to expect.
Often, there is conflicting information on the web. Therefore, one good place to start is with the AKC-recognized national breed club – The Siberian Husky Club of America.
Captivating in their beauty, grace and childlike demeanor, Siberians catch the eye of adults and children alike. They can be wonderful dogs for the well-informed or experienced Husky owner. However, they are NOT the breed for everyone and definitely not for first time dog owners. Too many wind up lost, in shelters, killed on the highway, abandoned or abused because the owner didn’t understand the breed and it’s challenging traits.
~~[Hillside SPCA]
Hello!
Thank you for the tips! Brody is doing a little bit better everyday, but now he freaks out when he sees other dogs that aren’t part of our “pack”. He still snaps a little at Bubbah and actually made Bubbah bleed the other night over beggin for food while we were eating at the dinner table. I was not happy, but as soon I got up to correct split it up and Brody saw me get up he became very submissive to me without any issue. Brody iis starting to play a little bit with Bubbah, so other than the smaller issues that he’s realizing is a “no-no” he’s doing great! One more thing, he is SO fast! LOL He got off his leash last night and I had to chase him down nearly 2 miles before he gave up!! He loves testing my husband and I, that’s for sure!!!
Again, Thank you for your help 🙂
Bubbah and Brody thanks you too, and lots of puppy hugs and kisses from them as well!!
Hello Alicia,
So good to hear that things are going well with Brody. Thanks for all the puppy hugs and kisses. Those are the best! 😀
One more thing, Brody also doesn’t care for my pitbull jumping up on me.. I think he thinks he’s hurting me because he runs up and nips at him to get off. Is this normal?
I just rescued a red husky from animal control before they put him down later that day, I named him Brody. I’ve never owned a husky and a few things I quickly learned.. He does not like my cat and my cat does not like him. Brody gets mad at my rescued pitbull very easily and snaps at him a lot but thank God my pit (Bubbbah) is submissive. I learned he is treat agressive and with snap and my other dog but will not snap at myself or my husband. In fact he loves us and follows us around everywhere and is already perfectly trained. I just wish I knew how to fix those smaller things, like for instance why does he walk up to my other dog and hold my other dog’s mouth closed with his? If anyone could answer this and maybe how to make him get a long with our other dog that’d be great!
Hello Alicia,
Congratulations on your new Husky and four paws up for saving his life.
In terms of conflicts between family dogs, that usually happens over resources, including food, toys, sleeping space, and also access to and attention from us. Some things that I do with my own dogs-
1. I teach them that I hand out all resources, they have to work for those resources (including my attention), and there is no stealing.
2. If there are any conflicts, I will deal with it so that they do not need to address it themselves with aggression.
3. I teach them that cooperation and staying calm together gets them the most rewards. I do group obedience training with all of them together, and reward them for just hanging out together in a calm way.
Here is more on what I do-
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
I should point out though that I got all of my dogs as puppies, and trained them all to have good bite inhibition. Therefore, if they should accidentally lay teeth on me, it does not cause any real damage. Using a drag-lead is also very helpful for home dog management.
Hugs to Brody and Bubbbah!
My family adopted a sybe 4 years ago. We wanted to get a small dog that does not shed, but when we came across a beautiful husky named maya from a rescue, we couldn’t resist. Because of her background, she did come with a few aggression issues, but now she is truly a part of our family. We have two cats. Maya was two when we got her so we were worried about how she would adjust, but she loves to give them kisses and will only chase one of them if the cat runs (but she would never hurt the cat). It was one of the best decisions we ever made and we couldn’t ask for a better dog.
LOL! Yeah it is amazing how some dogs just connect with us.
Thanks for sharing Maya’s story with us. She sounds wonderful and it is awesome that she found such a good home. 😀
hi every one well king is a really nice dog he used to attack us and biting with blood but know thanks for these tips he is a relly lovely dog I really love him 🙂
Hi,
Ok, I’m about ready to give up, I was doing so well with my 7 month old siberian husky puppy, and all of a sudden, in the past few weeks, she has become horrible in the car, standing on my center console from the backseat, and I struggle with getting her to go into her crate when it’s time for bed, or time for me to leave for work, when all of this wasn’t an issue like a month or so ago. She still continues to get me up in the middle of the night to pee at least once but most of the time it’s twice, but my trainer said to ensure she has access to water in her crate at all times. I can’t even lure her into her crate with boiled chicken! When she used to go in all on her own. I really haven’t changed my routine or anything, only difference was she got spayed back on January 5th, of this year. And the car ride thing, she used to get in a lay down, but now just stands with her front paws on the console, a few times I’ve had to suddenly brake and her nose hit the shift. This was even with a zipline I bought from Petco recently as the trainer strongly suggested she be strapped in, if not in a crate. Now, after getting that zipline, which must be too big for my car, (Toyota Matrix) she won’t even get in it, to go to class! I have to pick her up, when before she used to jump in fine…I even tried a peanut butter kong which she absolutely loves and that wouldn’t get her to go in on her own! I’ve thought about crating her, especially since I am driving with her to Florida later this month, but I am concerned that she’ll scream the entire car ride. I don’t know what else to do or try to make this a more positive experience. And it’s very hard to try to get her kennel in my car everytime we have training class as it’s the Large one, adequate for her full grown size, so it’s kind of hard to maneuver in and out and in and out. I even tried to do the open and close the door thing that my trainer is suggesting to prevent her from door bolting until I give her the release word of “OK”, which she does fine at home with in her crate with that door, but last night, I practically closed the door on her nose, which almost freaked me out. And I also have this great, freedom no-pull harness, but she cries when I try to put it on her, she’s already broken a cheap collar from PetSmart so now I have a Lupine on her, but still, she needs a harness, and I did what the trainer recommended, putting it on the floor and letting her sniff it, then giving her a treat, then putting it on her, giving a treat and taking it off….I still continue to have to chase her around to get it on her when I really need to, when we have to go to training. And I read about your technique with walking loose leash, the stop and go, but if we’re at a park, or even in my development, and she pulls, and I stop, she just sniffs the grass, or something on the sidewalk or road etc. So it doesn’t seem like the point is getting across to her. There is another dog at home that she plays with fine, a 6 year old border collie, I have no complaints about that at all. I just think she challenges us and I don’t know how to stop it, and I can’t always re-direct her chewing on the furniture or other stuff with a treat or kong because the other dog is always there. My boyfriend says they (siberian huskies) have got to be one of hardest, if not the hardest dogs to train. He thinks she will never walk loosely by my side on a leash because their breed is known for pulling. I can’t do pulling or agility quite yet with her as it is my understanding, from another trainer I once inquired about it from, that she is not fully developed and done growing.
Any suggestions/recommendations you can offer would be greatly appreciated, as I would love to get her into being a Therapy dog someday, as well as cart/sled pulling, skijoring, bikejoring, canicross.
Thanks!
Hello Nicole,
Yeah, as puppies grow up, they will start to gain confidence, become more independent, and test their boundaries more. Sibes are a more independent breed, so they may test and challenge more than the average breed.
1. Crate
My Shiba Inu showed similar behavior in terms of getting into the crate. Initially, he was ok with getting in on his own. However, after some time, he learned that getting into his crate usually means we are leaving the house, and he has to spend his time alone in the crate. Once he learned this, wild horses could not drag him into the crate – during the day. But he was ok going in at night, because he knows we will be there with him.
One thing that helped is to do crate desensitization exercises at various times during the day, when I am home to supervise. In this way, Shiba learns that going into the crate does not necessarily mean that people are leaving and has to stay home alone. Initially, I started with very short crate times, then I very slowly lengthen the duration.
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-calm-a-fearful-reactive-dog#crate
2. Food Rewards
With my Sibes, I have noticed that food rewards are a lot more effective when it is rare, and also when they are a bit hungry. This last year, I put Husky Shania on a mini diet because she was putting on a bit too much weight. She is a 3 legged dog, so I have to monitor her weight carefully. A nice side effect is that food rewards have become a lot more effective. Also, I only use certain rare rewards for more difficult tasks. Teeth brushing, for example, usually gets them something special that they only get for doing teeth brushing.
When I give them treats, I make sure to reduce their regular kibble intake by a comparable amount. I also break food rewards up into very small pieces.
3. Other Rewards
I try to use a variety of other rewards, in addition to food. For example, my Shiba loves playing chase games so I use that as a reward for him taking a bath.
My Sibes like going for long walks, so I use that to get them to wear collars and harnesses. I also use it to stop them from eating outside poop.
A key part of reward training, I found, is to use a variety of motivators, and try to identify which rewards are the most effective for different situations.
4. Nothing in Life is Free program
I follow the NILIF program with all of my dogs. This means that they have to do something for me before I give them anything in return, including food, toys, attention, and freedom.
5. Leash Training
When I stop, I also bring my dog in so that she is next to me. I just shorten the leash and therefore limit her freedom. We do not move again until she first does a Sit. She is not allowed to roam while we are in stop position.
When we start moving again, I usually give her a shorter amount of leash. If she walks nicely for a while, then I give her more freedom. When I want her to slow down, I briefly tighten the leash, and that is her cue to slow down. If she does not, then we stop.
I play around a lot with the length of the leash. The shorter the leash, the more control I have, and the less freedom my dog gets, and vice versa.
I am currently using the Premier no-slip collar for all my dogs during walks. It is great for preventing collar escapes, which my Shiba is really good at. 😀
Heh, yeah they are certainly a very independent breed and they can be a challenge to leash train. My two Sibes walk pretty well on-leash under normal circumstances. When they see moving deer or cat though, they will still pull. Both of them have pretty high prey drive.
I just stop and wait until the deer or cat is out of sight, and Sibe has calmed down some, before moving on. 😀
Hugs to your Sibe girl! Let us know how it goes.
Thanks a bunch!
I rescued a Huskie who had 3 owners within 13 months. He was totally out of control and was very fear aggressive….. the blood we have lost! I had 8 cats and now have 5, he has never harmed any of them. I do have a German Shepard who I let take control of him, and he is now a gem. The bred can be difficult, but if I had had him from a puppy, I am sure that that the horror huskie that I recused would never have been created. At first he use to escape, but now he does not; he simply does not want to, he is loved after all. Bring the breed up properly and you should have no problems. They really are lovely dogs
You sum things up really well! I think I will put it in the article. Thanks much and thanks for sharing your Husky story with us.
I have the cutest siberian husky living with my family and I and she is so crazy and hyperactive but what puppy isnt going to be like that. She’s about seven months old and Everyone loves her but not the things she tends to do in the backyard…. I’m refferring to her escaping and trying to look for adventure when no one is able to be at home at that moment. She also digs holes but we can tell she is intelligent because all the wholes are in a straight line with the same amount of distance between each one and the depth is just as similar as well. She has learneds the word, “kisses” from me personally and when i say kisses se’ll come up and lick my mouth. she is so beautiful and even though there cant be someone watching her every move everyday she still loves us and finds ways to entertain herself even if it is tearing up the yard and just making a total mess. GET A HUSKYYY! :):)
I am tired of sibes getting a bad rep. Mine is now a year old and is the most awesome dog I have ever known. I got her when she was 8 weeks old. She was a dream to house train and lives happily with another dog and 2 cats. The one cat never bothers with her so she is not aloud to chase him (and she accepts this). The other cat loves playing with her. The cat has never, ever been harmed. You have to be a certain kind of person to have a sibe. They are definately misunderstood. Mine is the most well trained and behaved dog I have ever seen at 1 year old. Mine also sees right through people. She is very loving and affectionate, but has shown distaste for “fake” acting people. They are a very intelligent breed and I think some people are afraid to own one because they realize the dog has more intelligence than they do.
Hmmm, very interesting with the cats. How does she act with new cats that she does not know?
Does she chase squirrels and birds?
Both my Sibes have very high prey drive, so they always want to go after squirrels, birds, and some cats.
I got my first sybe when I was 12. Have been in love with them since then. 20 yrs ago my sister gave me her sybe, they couldn’t control him, he was 10 months old. Ended up he was from a puppy mill. Duke had so many health & temperment issues. I was able to keep him for 6 yrs, but had to finally put him down. 3 months ago we decided to get a dog, of course I only wanted another sybe. this time I did my homework & bought from a reputable breeder. It was so hard to make up my mind that I brought home 2. Best decision I ever made. Potting training was easy, the breeder had a hand in that, they already knew all neccesary commands. We have had to make some changes in our lives, more walks, nothing left laying around, worth it.
Impressive! I think I can only deal with one Sibe puppy at a time. 😀 What are the names of your two? Are they male and female? Would love to see them if you have pictures.
That is a very good point! Potty training difficulty is also very dependent on what they are used to at the breeder’s house. I will have to add that in the article. Thanks!
Yeah I agree. Sibes are awesome dogs.