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 like your dog
Hi everyone,
I have been looking to get a puppy, specifically a Sibe. I am trying to do as much research as possible so I can prepare to bring him to a home he will love. Id like some pointers if you have any. I live in a house with 5 friends (all eagerly want this puppy and all have agreed to take care of it while i am at work. My concern is I Live in Boston MA. I am an active person and plan to take him on runs etc. But what would some of the more experience dog owners recommend for me?
Regards,
Heh Sibe puppy-hood is fun and also hectic. A Sibe puppy is going to be a big big ball of energy. Some things that come to mind-
1. Potty Training – Sibe puppies will need to be potty trained. During potty training, supervision is key to prevent mistakes and reward successes. Get ready to have some days with little sleep.
2. Consistency – Consistency in training and rules are important for all of my dogs. I make sure everyone in the family follows the same rules and training with puppy. This can often be difficult because it is tough to say “no” to a Sibe puppy.
3. Walking – Both my Sibes like to pull so I started leash training early. I first train in my backyard. *After* they get all their vaccination shots, we start doing outside training.
4. Socialization – Group puppy classes can also be useful for socialization purposes. Some of the daycare centers near where I live also offer puppy play sessions during weekends. In addition, I try to slowly socialize my pups to people, strange objects, loud noises, etc (in a positive way) – so they build confidence and are not fearful of unfamiliar things.
5. Take lots of pictures and have fun! They grow up really fast!
Bite inhibition training and NILIF are also helpful with my Sibes. Let us know how it goes and share some picture links with us. 😀
Hi,
Thank you for your response! I appreciate all the pointers. Do you have/know of any signs I should look out for regarding the health of the Sibe? I am sure Ill learn to pick up on certain things but I know with puppies you need to be extra careful so Id like to know of signs of early stage problems so i can take action sooner rather than later.
I was told by a friend that “Cage training” is recommended usually, it might be a good idea according to her I am in no way saying lock him up (I would never!). What i mean is to buy him a nice roomy area for him to sleep and at first shut the cage so he knows its his little “home” i guess you can call it. Is this something I should consider? I personally am skeptical of that because I want him to feel free but at same time show him how to respect the house rules.
Again any assistance is greatly appreciated and I will definitely upload some photos of Lennon (future name) when he arrives!
Regards,
Both my Sibes are energetic and love to eat. When there are changes in their food excitement level or activity excitement level, then I know that something is not right. Changes in poop quality can also reflect quality of health.
They are both sensitive to heat though, so during the summer they are a lot less energetic. However, their love for food remains undiminished!
When I first get a puppy I usually take her to the vet, just to make sure that everything is ok and to set up a vaccination schedule.
As for crate training, I usually go slowly and pair it with rewards. This helps puppy to associate her crate with calmness, safety, and positive events. Two of my dogs – Husky Shania and Shiba Sephy sleep in their crates all night in the bedroom. Lara, the youngest one, likes to roam about, so she spends most of the night downstairs. At night, we give each of the dogs a safe chicken-stuffed toy to work on in their crate. We let Lara out when she wants to go downstairs. However, during the potty-training period, we have to take them outside a lot more often. I don’t use the crate for punishment.
Here is a bit more of what I do with crate training-
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-calm-a-fearful-reactive-dog#crate
The crate can be a useful management tool when we are unable to supervise our puppy. We may also need to transport our dog, or keep him in a daycare center, for which crate training would be very useful. I crate train all of my dogs so that when they need to stay in a crate, they are comfortable with it and don’t get stressed out.
Good luck with your Sibe puppy! When does he arrive?
Hey, maybe you can help. I have a four month old husky, and she’s perfect for the most part, except for little potty training issues here and there. but the part that makes me nervous is when we are sitting outside and a person is walking their dog and the dog comes close all of a sudden Arctic (my dog) jumps onto my lap and does this howl growl bark sort of thing till the dog is a quite a good distance away. How do I show her other dogs aren’t all mean or going to hurt her.
With Sephy I did dog-to-dog desensitization exercises. It helped Sephy to re-associate other dogs with calmness and positive outcomes. It is also a good confidence building exercise.
More general article on dog desensitization.
i want one so bad but i cant find one can some one help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I was looking for a Sibe I started with PetFinder. Two other useful sites-
1. Siberian Husky Rescue Site.
2. SHCA breeder list.
Thursday night I recieved a 20 week old male Siberian Husky. The person I got him from gave me enough food for Friday morning and told me he was feeding him Blue Buffalo so I went and got the puppy formula and fed him that Friday evening. Unforutantly Friday night he got a severe upset tummy. I talked to the previous owner and found that he was feeding him the adult food. Sunday I switched him back to his food and the upset tummy just got worse and he started vomiting. This morning (Monday) I took him to the vet and they said it was probably the food and anxiety since he has not played at all since being at our home. They gave him a shot and but him on prescription dog food for the next week. After the vet visit he is no longer vomiting but still will not play. How long does it take for them to settle down with a new family at 20 weeks and start playing and acting like the active breed he is?
Hmmm, that seems unusual for a young Sibe. How did the puppy act with his previous owner? Why is he giving up the puppy? What was puppy’s previous routine and training like?
I got my Sibes as puppies at around 8 weeks old. They were a bit anxious in the beginning, when I got them home, but they very quickly got over that and were playing soon after (on the same day). It is strange that a young Sibe puppy should be so anxious.
Where did the previous owner get the puppy from? Did he buy it from a pet store? Has puppy had all his shots?
How did puppy act when you first went to visit him? Was he shy then? Was he also shy with his previous owner? What does puppy currently do all day? How is his energy level? Does he have a healthy appetite? How is his stool?
Hello. We have a 14 month old Sibe, that we’ve had since he was 8 weeks old. He’s a great dog. We did have problems with him digging giant holes in the backyard, but that has since stopped. Now he has been chewing up my patio furniture cushions. Lately he has also been growling and snapping at my kids, and not in a playful manner. He doesn’t like strangers at all. What concerns me is the growling and snapping, because I’ve been told that once a dog turns on his owners you have to get rid of it. He has nearly bit another child too. What can we do to stop this type of behavior?
Hello Christina,
When does he show the growling and snapping behavior? Is it when there is a lot of activity around him? Is it when he is resting? Does he play with the kids? How do they play? There is usually a reason why dogs growl in warning – sometimes it is out of fear, or they got startled awake, or they are guarding something, etc. If we can identify the source of the behavior, then it becomes more predictable and we can train our dogs to use alternate behaviors to deal with his stress or fear.
Some things that I do with my Sibes-
1. People desensitization exercises.
I teach them to associate people with positive experiences and outcomes. In this way, they always look forward to meeting people. More on people desensitization exercises.
2. Structured and supervised activities.
Sibes are very energetic so I try to set up a fixed routine with lots of structured activities (e.g. long daily walks, play sessions with me, play sessions with other dogs, obedience training, grooming, etc.). This gives them a positive outlet to drain their energy and they are less likely to come up with their own Sibey activities which are likely not very furniture friendly.
http://shibashake.com/dog/hyperactive-dogs-how-to-calm-a-hyper-dog-or-hyper-puppy
3. Rules while meeting and greeting people.
I also teach them clear rules while meeting and greeting people. Similarly, I ask people to be calm while meeting my dogs, and not to grab any sensitive areas which may cause pain. Dogs have very different greeting rituals than we do, and may view certain actions, e.g. hugging, as a threat. I have similar interaction rules at home during play with people and play with other dogs.
How to meet a dog.
Hugging a dog.
Here is a bit more on my experiences with bad dog behavior.
Hi I adopted a beautiful dark blonde and off white Sibe with wicked green eyes. He sleeps with me every night. His decision not mine. lol When I received him he was seriously skinny and still is. He was really nervous around other people until he settled in at the house.
I have changed his diet to include veggies, pasta and some rice to see if this would put some meat on his bones. I also checked his stool to see if there were any worms or eggs visible, nothing? He is 19 months old, active, healthy eating, seems happy enough though he will pee on the floor when I leave him. Any suggestions on his eating and the peeing on the floor oh and the couch 🙁 ?
Congratulations on your new Sibe! He sounds like a very sweet guy.
In terms of feeding, I try to stay away from anything that has wheat, corn, and soy. They are more difficult to digest and my dogs also have allergies to certain grains. My Shiba Inu is allergic to wheat and my Husky Shania is allergic to oats. I am currently feeding all my dogs a grain-free high protein kibble (Innova EVO). Here is more on different dog diets.
As for worms, both my Sibes have gotten tape worms before. They both like hunting for rodents, and that is one common way that they get worms. When they had tape worms, I noticed that their stool had become softer than usual, but they were still active and eating normally. Then a few days later I noticed the worm segments in their stool.
To confirm, I took a stool sample in to my vet for tests. However, I found out that the worms do not always show up in their stool; they only shed sometimes. Therefore, the lab test came back negative, even though my dog had tape worms. Worms and other intestinal parasites are always a pain because the vet tests may not always catch them.
As for body weight, my Sibe Lara is also very slim. She is very very active so I think she burns away a lot of her calories.
In terms of peeing on the floor, here are some of my potty training experiences with my Sibes.
Big hugs to puppy!
hi, our family is thinking about re home a 1-2 year old Siberian husky female (white) from dogs trust, it says in the description that she is well trained and will enjoy her walks and not escape from the leash, but is that true? We have wanted a dog for quite a while now but there’s one member of the family that isn’t too keen about it, we are trying to persuade her to see if she will come around. All this information has been very useful and may push her further forward into getting one. Thank you!x
Good luck! Hope it works out. Let us know how the visit goes.
hi i have a 2 1/2 yr old female all white siberian husky.. she is very bad sometimes! i constantly work with her but she doesnt seem to understand. i have 3 yr oldmale who is sweet as can be and doesnt give me any problems except he nips when in play mode. can you give me advice on settling my females behavior down? she jumps on furnature when being scolded in a play stants. before we got her she was abused and had 2 homes!
thank you!
When my dogs jump up on furniture, I give a no-mark (Ack-ack) to let them know that it is an undesirable behavior. Then I tell them what to do instead, e.g. “Off”, and lure them off with a treat in hand. If they get off, then I reward them with the treat and a fun game.
Sometimes, in-training puppies may not yet understand what I am asking them to do. In this case, I gently lead them down using their drag-lead and reward them when they get down.
It usually takes a while for new dogs to learn the lay of the land and my house-rules. A dog with a difficult past will likely take even more time and patience. Once my dog learns the rules and knows what “Off” means, then I am more strict with him. If he keeps getting onto furniture and ignoring my warnings, then I stop play or put him on a brief timeout.
But I only do this for more experienced dogs who should know better, and not for dogs that are still in-training.
Sometimes, Shiba Sephy will jump onto furniture during play because he is too excited. To discourage this, I introduce many obedience breaks into their play session. I just call them over to do some simple obedience exercises with me. They get rewarded well, so they usually don’t mind taking a small break from their play. Play breaks help to calm things down, and prevent any of them from getting overly excited.
Here is a bit more on calming hyper energy.
I Have just rescued the atypical Siberian Husky. 10 days ago I got a call from the local P.D., dog picked up and they were calling Animal Control who would euthanize in 2 days. I would have to bring him back if anyone called, but I rushed to get the “puppy” so the call wouldn’t be made to the A.C. Puppy looks to be about 7 months old??Looks to have baby teeth still. Extremely well trained, walks on the leash like a gentleman, sleeps next to my bed, no accidents in the house. Gives my outdoor kitties nose sugars, they aren’t thrilled.Is not as energetic as I feared, is actually the most laid back dog for a Siberian I’ve ever seen. He’s red and white with blue eyes,too skinny, maybe growth spurt?Leggy But pure Husky, people followed us all thru Petsmart admiring the red wolf!But SO mellow!? Napping now.
What an awesome story!
At the moment, he must be very happy to be getting regular meals and some TLC. He may show more of his Sibe puppy-ness after he gets used to his new digs. 😀
I am so glad that he found a good home.
what is the cost of a Siberian husky pup ?
also I was wondering how much would it cost for food and insurance every week as I love this dog breed but financially I don’t know how much he/she will cost.
They ranged from about $600 to $1k when I was first looking for a Sibe.
Cost of food will vary widely depending on food type. My dogs are allergic to various grains, so I only give them grain free, high protein kibble. Those cost a bit more. They need regular Heartgard medication and I also apply flea and tick prevention medication. Then there are various incidentals including bully sticks, boiled chicken, toothpaste, Greenies, etc. They also go for yearly vaccination shots and teeth cleaning which can range from about $100 to several hundred (when teeth cleaning is needed).
I don’t get insurance for my dogs, so I don’t know what the payment and coverage structures are like.
Unexpected vet bills can be quite high when accidents happen. One of my Sibes got bit by a rattlesnake recently, and the total cost was about $2k. She had to stay over at the emergency hospital for over 2 days so that was pretty expensive. Some dogs have recurring allergy issues, others may get hurt while playing, etc. As they age, there will likely be more unexpected vet bills. We try to keep up an emergency dog fund for such occurrences.
Finally there is also the cost of training, which can be quite high. Hiring help for dog walking and dog daycare can also be expensive.