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 have 2 husky’s and this morning i let them out on my fully fenced acre and they killed a ferel cat in the yard i was devastated. by the time i got to them the cat was gone.. they did drop the cat. but i want to try and discourage this- also one of them will catch birds in mid flight any suggestions
Hello Pam,
Both my Sibes have very high prey drive. They dig for mice and other rodents in the backyard, and they will also chase birds and squirrels. That is part of their breed heritage.
Here are some of my experiences in fighting the “squirrel instinct”.
http://shibashake.com/dog/the-squirrel-instinct-can-it-be-retrained
Hi I was really thinking about getting a Siberian Husky, until I seen the fact that they aren’t loyal to their owner. Is there any way I can change that and make the dog become loyal to me and intimidate others that try go near it? I would like to use my dog(when it has grown up of course) to protect me as well as to have as a great pet. I live in Dublin, Ireland and would like to know if you can tell me where to buy a husky puppy. Thanks, Elliott
I suppose it depends on what you mean by ” intimidate others that try go near it?”
Some people teach their dogs to bark or vocalize on command. This is often enough to ward of undesired attention.
Nevertheless, both my Sibes really love meeting and interacting with people, much more so than other dogs. They enjoy their people time and it is not something that I would change. There are many other breeds that would serve better as guard dogs.
As for getting a purebred dog, I would look at the Kennel Club breeder list. Registered purebred clubs also have lists of breeders that follow good breeding practices.
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/findapuppy/Default.aspx
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2101
If you want your dog to intimidate others you are the wrong kind of person to have a dog.
i have a huskey and a BABY on the way i think he will be okay let’s hope so!
I just had a question. I want to get a Husky so bad. But i just wanted to know if they were able to be trained to hunt small game animals. (ducks, squirell, rabbit, ect.) I already own a Coon dog so i was hopin my pup could follow what he does. Any little bit would help me. Thanks!!
Both my Sibes have high prey drive and they naturally hunt small game. However, when they are in pursuit of prey, they are singularly focused on that task and will be gone in the blink of an eye. They will just chase and not respond to anything else. This is why Sibes are not to be trusted off-leash in an unenclosed space.
Brittany, it’s been 5 years since your comment but I just had to reply. I’ve owned huskys for many years and currently have 2 that were both rescued. As the article clearly stated, huskys should not be off-leash, which hunting requires. Since they also have a high prey drive, which the article stated, whatever is being hunted probably wouldn’t be in the best of shape after being killed. I hope you found a dog that’s appropriate for what you have in mind and if not, search at your local shelters or rescues. Please, adopt don’t shop. Many, many huskys are killed every day at shelters because people didn’t educated themselves about the breed or did, but then hought they could change the things that makes them huskys. Backyard breeders and pet stores (puppy mill dogs) only want to make money and don’t care about the dog’s current or future lives. Spay, neuter, adopt, don’t shop.
I forgot to mention getting two is the only solution I have came up with, but it isn’t rocket science to understand as puppies it wouldn’t be possible to give the appropriate attention, being that of only 4-5 hours a day. Adopting two trained younger Sibes is realisticly all I’ve worked with so being fair to the dogs and realistic to myself I’m not too sure if at all this is possible, so again, just need your expertise on this. Would the Sibe find enough company with one of its own should I be gone for the time I mentioned below ?
Thanks in advance.
Hi there,
Currently own a female German Shepherd, Skye, we got her from a local rescue and it was pretty obvious she needed a good few operations and a million tins of food to catch up on her weight. It was all worth the heartache at the start given how she is now though. Being a little more lazy in her mid-late years she’s still the most keep herself-to-herself, happy going house dog we always wanted. The only thing I regret is not being able to see her first two years. Not due to her horrible standard of living but merely the puppy. I think her natural response to commands originally came out of fear, of course she knows different now, but who knows going back to day one. She’s still terrfied of the hoover and the shower, though !
But nevertheless I will be looking at a place of my own soon. I’ve read over a thousand articles on the Sibe because they have the intelligence of dog I’m used to and I think they look beautiful but never felt the need to reply to any until now. My only issue is I work my bollocks off a good 39 hours a week with a good 1 hours travel a day. Say from 11am-9pm Mon-Fri I’m not going to be there. Now our Skye is used to being alone at times, even though I’m still with family, there’s times she’s alone for as stated, a good 8-9 hours a day. Whilst is isn’t often her behaviour is no different. She’s still a lazy bugger ! How much of a problem would this be? I’ve never really felt guilty at any point my family are away and I’ve been to work, or vice versa, because she’s the smartest dog I know, surely she understands.
So, yeah, I guess I’m looking for your expertise in a possible work around? I don’t wish to miss the puppy days of my first dog but I certainly can’t work from home.
Thanks in advance !
Hello Adam,
I currently have two Sibes – Shania is almost 5 and Lara is 1.5 years old. I have never gotten two Sibes together before, so I cannot say what exactly that experience will be like. My guess is that it will be challenging, time consuming, tiring, and a lot of work, especially for two young Sibes. 😀
Shania was very energetic her first two to three years. During that time she was always on the go and needed a lot of activity throughout the day. She calmed down some at around 3, and calmed down even more now that she is around 5. Still, she likes to have daily walks and also plays with my other two dogs usually in the mornings and evenings. She is a lot more energetic in cool weather. Heat really takes all the energy out of her and she does not like hot days at all. She stays indoors when it is hot outside and I make sure she stays cool inside and has plenty to drink.
My dogs will often play together and hang-out together but I am around to supervise their active play time. I think dogs can have a lot of fun playing together but if unsupervised, they may also lead each other into mischief. When I got a second dog, it turned out to be more work than I expected because I had to teach them how to interact well with each other, supervise play to make sure that they don’t get over-excited, make sure there is no stealing of toys and food, etc.
I also walk my Sibes separately. During walks, they both want to be lead dog so they pull a lot more when together. They also amp each other up when they are together and get over-excited really quickly if they spot a running deer or cat. This is not to say that they cannot be trained to walk together, just that it will be *a lot* more challenging – with a big emphasis on a lot. 😀
For a really busy work schedule, I would consider getting an older Sibe that is already well trained and well socialized. Breeders will sometimes offer up their retired show-dogs and I have seen some really nice ones.
If I really want a puppy or younger dog, there are several possibilities-
1. Dog daycare.
A good daycare offers small and well-supervised playgroups for the dogs. The dogs are usually grouped by size as well as energy level. A good daycare can be helpful in keeping a dog engaged and also help socialize him to other dogs and people. Daycare can be quite expensive though.
2. Park walks.
We hired a dog walker that did group dog walks at the park. It was a nice way to socialize my Shiba Inu, get him exercised, and provide him with a fun activity. It can be difficult to find a good dog walker though that is responsible and is able to handle an independent breed without resorting to extreme techniques.
3. Pet sitter or get a neighbor to help watch the dog.
Here is a bit more on my experiences with getting a new Sibe puppy and also with getting a second dog-
http://shibashake.com/dog/a-new-puppy-first-10-days-of-hell
http://shibashake.com/dog/getting-a-second-dog
Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes when you get your pup(s).
Hello,
My name is Tara MacDonald I have a 6 month old Siberian Husky, Skeimo.
I don’t know how to train him to come…
If you have any advice please get back to me.
Thank you.
In terms of recall, this article from the ASPCA gives a good overview of the range of techniques-
http://aspcabehavior.org/articles/84/Teaching-Your-Dog-to-Come-When-Called-.aspx
Sibes have an independent nature and high prey drive, which make recall training more challenging. My Sibes are pretty good about coming when called most of the time. However, if they spot a cat or a deer, they are off and it will be a long while before they think about anything else. I only let my Sibes off-leash in a fully enclosed area.
Big hugs to Skeimo!
THAT IS A LIE 2 ADULT MALE HUSKYS HURT MY SMALL DOG AND THE DOG MIGHT NOT MAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE REPLY TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT HIM
Hello Lizeth,
I am sorry to hear about your dog. Were all the dogs on-leash and supervised? Larger dogs can hurt smaller dogs even while at play, therefore training, rules, and supervision are important.
I am not sure what you are referring to as a lie, perhaps you could expand on that.
I am not sure what you mean. If the dog is hurt, I would rush him to his regular vet or to a vet emergency room. Or are you asking what to do afterward during recovery?
Hi,
I have a 8 month female Husky. Moon is afraid of visitors when they come over. She either runs and stay a distant away or hides under the bed. I’ve tired to socialise her with others at her own pace but it doesnt seem to work. It is said that they are sociable dogs but mine seems to be the opposite. She gets along with most dogs, but not with people.
She barely makes any noises. Is that normal?
Kind Regards
Lina
Hello Lina,
People desensitization exercises may help-
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-calm-a-fearful-reactive-dog#people
Part of this, according to my breeder, depends on the genetics of the Sibe. Another bigger part, I think, depends on the temperament and training of the dog. It sounds like Moon may be fearful of people, which may also cause hiding and being quiet.
Once she gains more confidence with positive experiences and people, she will likely become less shy.
How long have you had Moon? Has she always been shy around people? Where did you get Moon from? What is Moon’s routine?
I own a siberian husky, but my dad wants to get rid of her because he can’t handle her running away. I can though, so she is staying to never be gotten rid of.
I am a ____ year old kid (I am not telling you) doing a reasherch project any amazing fact that will wow my class reply soon please.