Siberian Huskies are beautiful dogs who love people and love life. They can be great family dogs if properly trained. However, because of their high energy and high prey drive, they require a lot of daily exercise and are not to be trusted off leash. When bored, a Husky may chew, dig, and escape to look for adventure elsewhere.

Before getting a Sibe puppy, find out all you can about the wonderful nature of Siberian Huskies – the good, the bad, and the quirky.

The Siberian Husky Breed – Good and Bad[

Siberian Huskies – The Good

1. Siberian Huskies are love bugs.

Sibes are very affectionate dogs. They are especially friendly with people, even strangers.

Husky Shania has very many friends in our neighborhood and she enjoys going to say hello to them every day. Her most favorite friend in the world is the Awesome Cookie Guy. Whenever we pass his house, Shania always stops and waits. When her Cookie friend spots her and comes out, he comes bearing gifts – a yummy low-fat cookie for Shania!

Shania also comes to me when I am sad or upset. She will lie down next to me or lay her head on my lap and give me licks.

The people trusting nature of Siberian Huskies make it easy to find caretakers for them when I get busy, or when I need to leave on emergencies or vacations.

Siberian Huskies are love bugs.

2. Siberian Huskies are athletic and have a strong zest for life.

Lara and Shania are frequently on the go.

Sibes love meal-time.

Lara and Shania are frequently on the go. They enjoy re-landscaping our backyard, attacking bushes, pulling down trees, running, jumping, and digging. They both enjoy playing chasing games and are always ready to go out for a walk and explore. They get very excited whenever anybody comes to visit and enjoy spending play-time and rest-time with their pack.

As part of their zesty life program, Huskies also love to eat.

Both Lara and Shania will eat and eat and continue to eat more if they can. To keep them healthy and slim, I set up a fixed eating schedule and only give them their allotted amount of food. If I give them treats, then I reduce their regular meals a bit so that they keep a fairly constant caloric intake.

Sibes are not shy about stealing food or begging for food. Both Lara and Shania will steal each other’s food if they can. They will also steal from my other dog, Shiba Inu Sephy.

I always supervise them closely during meal-times. Food stealing can encourage food aggression, so I train my dogs not to steal and teach them that if there is any stealing, I will handle the situation.

Siberian Huskies can also get impatient about food and may get slightly overzealous when taking food out of your hand. Bite inhibition training is a must.

Siberian Huskies are athletic and have a strong zest for life.

3. Siberian Huskies are clever and independent.

Sibes are smart and will quickly learn new commands and figure out interactive toy puzzles; especially when food is on the line.

Lara learned how to Sit on command as soon as we got her home (8 weeks old). In fact, if we use positive reinforcement techniques, we can start obedience training puppies  as early as 6 weeks old. However, puppies should not be removed from the litter until they are at least 8 weeks old.

With clever and independent dogs like the Siberian Husky, it is most effective to use reward training techniques. I teach my Huskies that the best way to get what they want is to do what I want first. Here is more on how I trained my Husky puppy.

Sibes will do good work for food.

• If they want to go play in the backyard, they must first do a simple Sit next to the door.
• If they want their food toy, they must first do a Handshake.
• If they dig where they are not supposed to in the backyard then they lose their backyard privileges.

Since we control all of our dog’s resources, we can encourage good behaviors and discourage bad behaviors by tying those behaviors to our dog’s most desired resources.

With reward training my Sibes are always motivated to work. They are never hand-shy and love being with people. Siberian Huskies have a wonderful independent spirit, so we should not shock them, choke them, or physically dominate them into submission.

Siberian Huskies are clever and independent.

Siberian Huskies – The Bad

1. Siberian Huskies shed a whole lot.

Brush away the evil.

Sibes blow their coat once or twice a year. During this time they will shed most of their undercoat and replace it with new fur. Frequent brushing will help to control some of this shedding and keep our Husky comfortable and clean.

Even though they may only blow their coat twice a year, Sibes actually shed all year round. There is Sibe fur everywhere in our house, including carpets, tile floor, counters, tables, chairs, blankets, and beds. Hair can also get onto kitchen utensils, food, and drinks.

Another issue to consider is pet allergies. Many people are allergic to dog or cat hair. Although Siberian Huskies have little doggy smell and are not one of the most allergy-causing breeds, a serious pet dander allergy of a family member should have you reconsidering a dog for your choice of pet.
~~[Siberian Husky Club of Canada]

Because they shed so much, try to make brushing and handling fun for your Husky. I always pair brushing sessions with food so that it becomes a fun and rewarding experience. I start with a soft brush and slowly switch over to using the Furminator which is awesome at getting out a dog’s undercoat.

Try to make brushing and handling fun for your Husky.

2. Siberian Huskies are awful guard dogs.

Sibes may look wild and fierce, but they make awful guard dogs.

Sibes look wild, like wolves. For this reason, many people think that they make fierce guard dogs.

In truth, however, a Husky is more likely to invite strangers into your home with open paws and give them many licks.

Siberian Huskies are happy, goofy, and naturally trust all the people that they see.

My Siberians may sometimes make a fuss when people are at the door, but it is out of excitement rather than a warning cry.

Also, my Siberians will happily follow anyone home as long as they have some yummy pieces of food.

Siberian Huskies are happy, goofy, and naturally trust all the people that they see.

3. Siberian Huskies have very high prey drive.

Husky Shania is a very accomplished huntress.

When we first got our backyard landscaped, we had a big Earth Critter Attack. There are a fair number of rodents including gophers, voles, and mice that live in our area and they decided to throw a big party on our newly planted grass. Holes were appearing everywhere and the organic scent-based pest control we used did not seem to have much of an effect.

We were worried that our yard would not even last the year but then huntress Shania went into action. After a few days of hunting and marking, we noticed that the Rodent Gang had moved their party location somewhere else!

However, this high prey drive also makes it extremely risky to let a Sibe go off-leash in a non-enclosed space. If she spots a deer or squirrel, she will be gone and away before you can shout Stop. Siberian Huskies are very athletic and can cover large distances in a fairly short amount of time.

High prey drive also means that a Husky will have a strong instinct to chase and hunt cats and possibly also small dogs.

Siberian Husky Shania hunting for earth critters.

4. Siberian Huskies love to pull, pull, pull.

Siberian Huskies love to pull, pull, pull – and not just in Tug-of-War.

The easiest way to leash train a Siberian Husky is to start when they are young and still small.

Sibes were bred to pull sleds, and today, they still love to PULL!

One of the biggest challenge with my Huskies is teaching them how to walk without pulling and/or to only pull on command.

The easiest way to leash train a Husky, is to start when she is young and still small. I have tried a variety of techniques with my dogs and what has worked best are the red-light,green-light technique and the 180-turn-around technique.

I started leash training puppy Lara almost as soon as we got her. First I trained her in our backyard. After she was fully vaccinated, I started leash training her around our neighborhood.

While leash training a Sibe, it is very important to be totally consistent. I stop as soon as puppy Lara starts to pull and if she pulls too much, I turn around and walk in the opposite direction. This teaches her that the fastest way to get to where she wants to go is to walk along with me at a measured pace.

The fastest way to get to where she wants to go is to walk along with me at a measured pace.

5. Siberian Huskies love to sing.

Sibes have a great singing voice. However, neighbors may not particularly enjoy it when Siberians decide to sing or howl to the moon.

Husky Lara is a very vocal dog. She barks when excited, frustrated, scared, and sometimes when other dogs are barking. I have to spend more time and effort training her to stay quiet because her natural instinct is to vocalize.

Husky Shania is a more quiet dog. She almost never barks and the only time she vocalizes is when she is playing with my other dogs. She also sings beautifully when she hears a squeaky toy.

My Husky breeder tells me that there are some Sibe bloodlines that are more noisy than others. Lara’s mother, for example, comes from a more vocal bloodline.

Siberian Husky Shania and Shiba Inu Sephy having a nice singing session.

6. Siberian Huskies are a big time commitment.

Siberian Huskies like being with people and they also need something to do.

Sibes are very energetic and affectionate. They like being with people and they also need something to do. Otherwise, they will get bored and get into at least 10 kinds of trouble.

All my dogs work for all of their food, either through obedience exercises, grooming sessions, play sessions, or through interactive food toys. In addition, they go for 1.5 hour daily walks and wrestle with each other several times a day. Sometimes, I join in on the fun and play flirt pole or the water hose game with them.

When bored or lonely, a Husky will figure out her own activities, which may lead to property damage or escape expeditions.

Do not get a dog, especially a Siberian Husky, unless you have a lot of free time to spend with her. If you must work long hours, consider dog daycare or hiring a dog walker. Sibes do best when there are many interesting activities throughout the day and frequent human supervision.

Siberian Huskies are a big time commitment.

I Love Siberian Huskies

Sibes are awesome dogs. They are always ready of adventure, and they will be there to give you licks and support when you need it, or even when you don’t.

I got my Huskies through the breeder list from the Siberian Husky Club of America. I also considered adopting from my local Siberian Husky rescue, but did not find one that fit well with my Shiba Inu.

It is best to avoid backyard breeders, pet stores, and online pet stores. Such establishments almost always sell unhealthy puppies with poor temperaments.

Siberian Huskies are always ready of adventure, and they will be there to give you licks and support when you need it.
Source: Siberian Husky Pictures.

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.

Siberian Husky Facts.

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.

Although Siberian Huskies may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart of Casanova.

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”.

Sibes shed a lot!

It is very important to train our Husky puppy to enjoy the grooming experience.

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.

My Huskies – Shania and Lara.

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.

Sibes make awful watch dogs.

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.

A Husky will not only welcome everyone into our house, but will also give them the royal lick treatment.

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.

Husky puppy Shania and Shiba Inu Sephy doing obedience training.

Huskies at play.

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]

Siberians do best when there is frequent human supervision throughout the day.

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.

Huskies are independent hunters.

This has two very important consequences for living with a Husky today –

1. 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;
2. 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.

If we do not have a large backyard, bring our Husky 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 Husky Puppy?

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.

Be kind to a Husky puppy. DO NOT buy from online-buy-a-puppy sites or from pet stores.

Siberian Huskies Are Wonderful Dogs

I love my Sibes.

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]

Sibes Are Wonderful Dogs

Which is better – Shiba or Siberian?

You decide – a cookie is at stake!

Which is better - Shiba or Siberian?

1. Pretty Face

Shiba vs. Siberian - Pretty Face.

Shiba Inus look like foxes and Siberian Huskies look like wolves.

Both breeds of dog are extremely good looking, so it is a matter of taste as to which you like better.

Shibas are a small dog breed, with the males weighing about 18-25 pounds, and females weighing about 15-20 pounds. Sephy weighs about 32 pounds! He is a BIG Shiba!

Siberians are medium sized dogs with the males weighing about 45-60 pounds, and the females weighing about 35-50 pounds. Shania weighs about 43 pounds.

Many people get Shibas because of their small size which makes them more ideal for living in an apartment.

2. Brain Power

Siberian Shania working hard at all her toys.

If you look at the breed descriptions for Shibas and Siberians, they are both listed as very intelligent and independent.

Siberian Shania is intelligent because she is very good at figuring out how to work her interactive food toys. She is always refining her technique, and very quickly, she identifies the most time efficient way to get the most food out per time.

Too tired to eat 🙂

Shiba Inu Sephy?

Usually he just waits around for Shania to work on all the toys. When she gets the food out, he will come around and pick up most of the stuff that she leaves behind. In this way, he gets to have the food with the least amount of effort.

Another important difference is that Shibas are usually more careful and deliberate. In contrast, Siberians are exuberant, with a more devil-may-care attitude.

Shiba’s size the situation up before proceeding, where Siberians just rush in and then try to figure out what the heck to do now!
~~[BruceB]

Sephy is always very careful about approaching new things, he will sniff his food carefully before eating, and he tries to always “look before he leaps”. Shania and Lara are both more likely to leap first and worry later, if at all. 😀

Who is more intelligent?

I think they both are, but in very different ways. Shiba Sephy is more of a rogue and a scamp. In fact, he has used his brain power to great effect against his daycare custodians and his dog walker. Here is Shiba Inu Sephy’s resume.

Siberian Shania will usually work within the system. If you tell her to stop doing something, she will do so, and look for an alternate activity on her own.

Shiba vs. Siberian - Rogue vs. Sweetheart?

3. Energy

Energizer Bunny!

Shiba Sephy and Siberian Shania at play.

My Siberian has A LOT more energy than my Shiba Inu.

Shania is frequently on the go. Even after a 2 hour hike in the hills, she is still going and going – just like the Energizer Bunny! This is even more amazing because she is a three legged dog.

She is always bugging my Shiba Inu to play with her, while he is usually pooped out and sunning his royal self.

If you live an active lifestyle, or want a good exercise coach – a Siberian Husky is a great walking and running partner.

If you prefer to hang out on the couch, then the Siberian will likely drive you crazy.

Shibas are easier to leash train and they require much less exercise. My Shiba gets a 1 hour walk in the morning, and a brief 20 minute walk in the evening and he is good the rest of the day.

4. Temperament

Siberians are friendly and affectionate.

Siberian Shania likes scratch, hug, and pet sessions.

If you are looking for a friendly and affectionate dog, then Siberians are the way to go.

Shania loves being with people and will often come over and hang out with us. Shiba Sephy likes to have his people around in case he needs anything, but he prefers to be off by himself.

Siberian Shania likes scratch, hug, and pet sessions. She will roll onto her back and sometimes let her tongue just hang out. It is very goofy looking.

Shiba Sephy enjoys the occasional scratch session, but if you do it too frequently, he will just get up and walk away …

He is that cool! 🙂

Shiba Inus are great guard dogs and are always on the alert. On the other hand, Siberians are happy to invite anyone and everyone into the house.

Everyone having some good fun!

5. Vet Visits

Vet visits are never fun for any dog, but Shiba Sephy takes it to a whole new level.

He is fine in the waiting room, and he is fine hanging out in the examination room while Shania gets examined. However, woe be to you if you try to get near him or touch him in any way while at the vet’s office.

Shiba Sephy has to be anesthetized for any type of vet examination. One time he just sprained his toe while we were hiking, but he would not let anyone come near to examine him, or even just to look at it closely.

Siberian Shania does not really like to be poked and prodded either, but she is willing to endure a vet examination without muss or fuss. She takes her yearly shots like a champ, and gets to come home in short order. Poor Shiba Sephy has to be anesthetized, and stays over for at least half a day.

Shiba or Siberian?

Which do you think is better?

Shiba Sephy is a rogue, but a very sweet rogue. He shares all of his toys and resources with Shania, and often lets her use him as a fuzzy chew toy. He is usually careful while playing with her, and lets her win most of the time.

Siberian Shania is sweet and always ready to give licks. She loves people, loves getting affection, and is always up for play, a hike, a walk, or whatever activity you have planned for the day.

She is independent and enjoys spending time hunting for insects and squirrels in our backyard. She has never destroyed anything when left on her own, because she usually finds positive activities to keep herself occupied.

Shiba Sephy, on the other hand, is usually up to no good 😀

Shiba or Siberian?