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]
I love siberians after reading this i feel in love with them i plan to get one in the futher because i am only 11 years old and what does casanaova never mind i’ll look it up. Thank you for your help
if my husky is pregnant with other dog not husky do puppy go be husky or like them father
A puppy will receive traits from both parents.
i think so
do husky pregnant with other dogs or just with husky beacus i have 1husky feamel she is 1year and i think he is in day of pregnant
do husky pregnant with other dogs??
Yes, Huskies can be bred with other dog breeds. In general, I spay and neuter all of my dogs. Here is why.
i am sorry but does your husky only have one arm :/
Yes, and she does not let that slow her down one bit. Wish she is more careful with herself but she is a Go-Go-Go girl.
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-amputation-siberian-husky-shania
what are the two dogs that made the huskies?
Hi! We just got a male sibe from a couple that had 2 and had puppies. He had just turned 6 weeks and we took him ( too young maybe but needed to get out of that filthy house) I was scared he would develop some kind of disease living in that dump. Anyway! Niko is super healthy and energetic and we are crate training him. Still cries at night mostly because he needs to go out and pee. He is actually VERY good at letting us know he needs to go potty. He just walks to the back door and starts sniffing around. That’s the sign 🙂
Also, I’ve had a male chihuahua flounce he was 2 months ( he is almost 5 years now) he is 2 lbs lighter than Niko hahaha and they play around all over the house. Niko can get a bit rough but does a good job on not hurting Ninja. I am just scared that eventually Niko will be too big and hurt Ninja while playing. Ninja will not grow heavier than 6.8 lbs Niko is already 8+ lbs
Do you think it will be ok? I’m just concerned about little Ninja.
Also, we have 2 cats. One is indifferent to Niko and the older one does not wit him near at all. I am not too concerned because they can always get away in high places in our house. Anyway, any advise?
Thanks! Loved the article btw
Hello Mirza,
Congratulations on your new furry family member!
That is awesome! I really love Sibes. They are wonderful, super smart, and absolutely amazing. 😀
In terms of play and interaction between my dogs, I set up clear play rules and dog-to-dog interaction rules. I have a three legged dog, so I am very consistent and strict about these rules. I teach each new dog what the rules are, right from the start. In this way, everyone knows exactly what to expect from each other, what to expect from me, and what I expect from them in return. This creates certainty, and certainty helps to reduce stress and conflicts.
During play, I supervise closely and I manage the general level of excitement by throwing in many play-breaks. More on how I manage play-time.
Small dogs can get accidentally hurt by a larger dog during play, especially an energetic larger dog. During puppyhood, my youngest Husky got a sprained ankle during play because I couldn’t stop them fast enough, and my Shiba accidentally bumped into her. It was an accident and it wasn’t serious, but a smaller dog is really at a big disadvantage because they cannot run as fast and are not in the same weight class. Therefore, I am very careful now when there is a big size difference and limit play to smaller areas where I can effectively supervise, manage excitement levels, and quickly stop play if needed.
More on the first 10 days with my Husky puppy.
Big hugs to Niko and Ninja! Please share some picture links with us when you have the time. 😀
I love huskies sooo much i want one soo bad!! They are so pretty(:
Hi.
I got a husky puppy last week, she is 6,5 weeks old and her name is Lea. She is very cute and has two blue eyes.
The first night me and boyfriend took her in our room, we make an improvised bed for her and put her there, she came out and walked around the room, then she peed all over the floor (luckily it is wooden so I could clean it easily right away!). She was very quite the first night and slept alone, but not in her bed but in the sofa in the room. The next day we took her in her place, we have a small garage in the backyard and we prepared it for our Lea, cause we want her to leave outside and be strong. We also work a lot so the house isn’t a wright place for her. The first day out in her house was dificult, she “cried” a lot, and was only calm when I was there with her. After two days she got used to living in her own “house” and finds her way of spending time while we are at work. After I finish working, I come home and spend some time with her in the backyard, I still don’t take her out on the street or in the park cause she recently got her injection.
I only worry for this: I can’t spend all day with her, and I leave her sleep alone. Is it ok? I see her very active playing and running when we are outside, she learned to climb stairs. But she bites everything, she bites my hands, her toys, finds wooden sticks and chews them. I had the same problem with my doggy last year in the village, while he was growing he chewed everything.
When my Lea received the injection she was really fine, she played all the afternoon, which made me happy cause she is healthy till now.
She eats puppy food, I give her 100gr a day as the seller told me, but she wants more, Im scared to give her. Also I give her multivitamins, she loves it, but she can eat only one a day.
I visit her many times a day after I come home from work, I feel really bed when I leave her alone, do you think she will love me when she grows up?
About potty training, I think she is too small yet so I can teach her. She pees all around, only not in her bed, I’m planning on buying her a sand, but I’m not that worried about that cause she’ll leave outside. We build her a house now, when she is big enough we gonna place her house in the yard..
Do you think my Lea will be fine this way??
Sorry for the long msg.. Byee..
In general, I leave a puppy with her mother and siblings until at least 8 weeks of age.
http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/25/the-risks-of-adopting-a-puppy-too-young/?hpt=hp_t2
My Huskies do like being outside, but they also really want/need to be with their people. Dogs are pack animals, so they really need people time, this is especially true for puppies. Therefore, I let them come in the house or go out when they like. When my Husky puppy was young, I also spent a lot of time training her, providing her with positive structured activity, getting her used to grooming and handling, bite inhibition training, socialization, etc.
Puppies are curious and energetic, so puppyhood is a great time to socialize a dog, teach them our people rules, and instill good habits. 🙂
At night, my puppy sleeps with me. A puppy has just been separated from her mother and siblings, so I do not want to leave her all by herself. Sleeping with me also helps with the bonding process, and I want to be there to supervise and make sure she is ok. When my Husky is older, I let her decide where she prefers to sleep, but she always has a choice to come sleep with me if she wants to.
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-i-trained-my-husky-puppy
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-potty-training-facts-and-myths
http://shibashake.com/dog/build-a-strong-bond-with-your-dog
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-socialization-what-why-how
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-biting-tips-solutions
hello,
I currently have a female husky shes about 5-6 from what the vet says, well we also got another husky his name is zues and hes almost a year old. I know hes still a pup and all but from my research hes able to breed.. well she is on her id say about week and a half of being in heat, but everytime he tries to mount her she gets very aggressive and basically shes like flat out no. ive been keeping them together almost constant…im wondering if she is too old and doesn’t want to let him or if its just not the right time…our neighbor dog came over and she was all over him like you know she wanted him, but does not act like that towards zues, also im worried about her age and her ability to get pregnant the vet says she should be able to but im still concerned, I don’t want to lose her just bc we want lil sassys running around, at her age how many do u think she can throw out…shes very motherly and everything idk im just worried I guess…any feed back would be very appreciated, just email me anytime…
I do not breed dogs so I don’t know much about the area. Did you get your Huskies from a breeder? If so, perhaps he/she can help? Another possibility, is to contact a local breeder that is registered with the AKC.
Here is the breeder list from the Siberian Husky Club of America-
http://www.shca.org/shcahp4f.htm
Hi,
I have a husky girl who is about 1 year & 2 months old now (had her since 8 weeks from a reputable breeder). She’s my first dog and I’m thinking about getting another dog when she’s 2 years old or so. I really like Shiba Inu’s too! I can’t decide whether to get another husky or a Shiba. I’m worried because Shiba’s seem to be quite a bit smaller than huskies.
I notice that you said your Shiba cannot keep up with your husky puppy? I think my girl can just play all day longggg and my friends dogs get sick of her after a while so I want a breed that can keep up with her. Would a Shiba be a poor match in this regard?
Also, I have heard mixed things about same sex aggression especially with female dogs. My girl has never shown aggression towards any dog but she has also never lived with another dog. Your two Sibes look to be both girls, has there been any issues?
Thanks for your help!
Big hugs to your Husky girl!
I currently have 2 Sibes (both girls) and 1 Shiba. My Shiba has a more dominant temperament, so for a second dog, I got a submissive Sibe female (Shania). Then, later on, I got another submissive Sibe female (Lara), because my Shiba is the one that has more constraints, in terms of getting along with other dogs.
There have been no issues with my two Sibes. They both have more submissive personalities and I am very careful about supervision, especially in the beginning. In my experience, the temperament of the dog, as well as supervision and training, play a bigger role than male vs. female. However, for a second dog, I still got a female (for my Shiba-male), because I wanted to do whatever I could to set both dogs up for success.
More on how I help my dogs get along.
My Shiba (Sephy) plays very well with both of my Sibes. He likes wrestling, chasing, and playing rough, and my Sibes like that as well. However, he is male and a pretty big Shiba (about 32 pounds). Most Shiba males are smaller than that, and the standard has a male at around 22 pounds. Sephy plays with Lara in the mornings and evenings, almost every day.
In terms of energy, my Sibes have more energy than my Shiba. They also like being outside more, so I take them on longer walks. I make sure Lara does not bother Sephy when he is not in the mood for play. Lara also likes playing with me, and she likes running, jumping, and digging in the backyard. 😀
More on Shibas vs. Siberians.
What type of dogs does your girl like to play with? Sephy was my first, so I picked my second dog based on Sephy’s temperament, and his play preferences. He liked playing with larger dogs, and he liked doing wrestling and rougher play. Smaller dogs or dogs his own size usually get overwhelmed very quickly, and are not a good match for him. I think it really depends on the individual dog.
More on how I picked my second dog.
Hope this helps and congrats on your new Husky girl! Sibes are just awesome! 😀