Does anyone here have a Siberian Husky? going to look at a pup

[firsttimer]

I'm going to look at a male 8 week old pup Tuesday , what am I getting into?

Before you say to rescue one , I can't find local anywhere , believe me I tried.
I found one female 1 year old but the foster home told me they won't adopt her
to anyone that has another dog in the home.

[sharp_stick]

1. Very very active dog

they need a lot of room to run and play. This isn't an apartment or sit in a small yard animal. If you don't mind taking them out for very regular walks and even better running in off leash areas they're happy.

My neighbor from several years ago had to take one from his sister who tried to leave it at home alone while she worked. She tried crating him during the day and he didn't take to it well. I'm not sure if that's a breed issue but I don't think they enjoy being confined, especially alone, they are very social.

We had two when I was growing up and they were very fun loving and enjoyable dogs. I grew up on a farm so they had plenty of room to run whenever they wanted too. They aren't usually aggressive but they can be kind of jumpy, kids pulling on ears and tails can be nipped.

They are also pretty big shedders, being an outside winter dog and they like the cold, they will produce a winter coat that they lose in the spring.

[s-cubed]

2. You have to be extraordinarily vigilant: if they get loose,

they can go for miles. MICROCHIP! They shed like crazy, be prepared for mountains of hair. I haven't had one myself, but friends have. Be very careful about breeder. Look up known heriditary problems. Ask to see parents, and what health problems, especially hip dysplasia. If breeder breeds dogs for sledding, that's a good sign relative to health problems. In general, I recommend breeders who are breeding real working dogs vs. show dogs, for example, field retrievers.

Have you checked petfinder.com for a pup? You can specify how far you are willing to go.

[Packerowner740]

37. If they get loose? They WILL get loose. The breed loves to roam.

I used to have a matched male and female and if I could possibly think of a way they might escape, they will think of the same thing and they will escape And as stated they will go for miles. But they always came home.

[MrsKirkley]

3. We've had our Husky for over a year.

He likes to sing (howl) on command and when he hears sirens. Huskies are very friendly dogs that need to be trained not to jump on people. Otherwise, they could easily knock someone over before trying to lick them to death.

[abelenkpe]

7. Training is very important

Especially with huskies, but really every dog and human family relationship benefits with training cause then everyone is on the same page.

[CountAllVotes]

4. You might post your query in the Pets Group

Lots of knowledgeable folks there. It is a bona fide group. You'll find it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1161

Re: A Siberian Husky ...

We had one of these when I was a kid. I don't remember a whole lot about it except that it had a lot of fur to contend with and was what I'd call a high maintenance breed.

If you really want one of these, you might check petfinder.com -- make sure you don't end up getting one from a puppy mill situation. Ask as many questions of the person you plan to get a dog from as they ask of you!

Best of luck.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. They are hard to keep at home.

You pretty much have to keep them on a line all of the time they are outside. They will just go over a fence and take off.

They are also on the 10 most dangerous dog list along with malamutes and wolf dogs.

They are smart and very pretty but I wouldn't want one.

Oh, and just in case you hear this nonsense. A friend of mine got a husky at 4 weeks old because the breeder told her that they do better if you take them while they are young. Total nonsense. Breeder was just in a hurry to get rid of the puppies. Never take a puppy before 8 weeks. They need the socialization.

[abelenkpe]

6. Had one when I was a teenager

Super sweet affectionate dog. Actually the only dog i ever really liked (i have issues with dogs having been bit when i was three but our husky? Total sweetheart!) He needed lots of outside time. Used to jog in the morning with me before school and I'd take him to the dog park in the late afternoon for a hour or so. He kept me fit! They do shed like crazy.

[sammytko]

8. There are so many huskys up for adoption here in s. texas that it is shocking!

And one rescue lady said a BREEDER moved in across the road from her - husky breeder.

There are also a lot of postings of lost and missing huskys. I guess the poster who said that they are runners, is correct.

But like another suggested - check the breeding facilities. I've seen several cases recently of breeding gone bad - dogs with three inch long nails, couldn't move - those were poms - then the Chihuahua case - 100s of them. Its terrible.

[Marrah_G]

14. I do not understand why anyone would put a husky in a climate like that

Imagine living there with a fur coat you could never take off.

[sammytko]

26. I know! Its terrible. I don't even want to live here in the summer.

[Marrah_G]

9. They are NOT easy dogs

Please, please, please go read up on the breed. So many end up homeless because people did not do their research.

They are escape artists, they can be destructive, they need A LOT of exercise, they do not like being left alone, they are stubborn and smart, and they are NOT the dog for a first time dog owner.

Yes, I own a husky. Please message me if you have questions.

Edit: Actually, just the fact that you are asking these questions makes me beg you to reconsider your choice of breeds. They might look cool, they are cool dogs, but they are not easy dogs and if you fuck up early on, you are in for trouble. Please reconsider!

[firsttimer]

16. He won't be alone , I have another dog

I do go to work everyday but I have a pet door on my kitchen door where my dog goes in and out when ever he wants.

My back yard is fenced with a 7 foot tall chain link , about 50 feet wide by 120 feet long.
I wouldn't have the pup just yet have access to that though. I have a spare bedroom
where I can contain him and a crate. My sister lives down the road so she can stop in
to play with him when I'm at work .

My dog isn't a digger but I do have the fence in the ground a couple of inches.
I'm wondering if that's good enough?

[Marrah_G]

20. Seriously, please go read as much as you can about the breed

Everything you posted is good.... but you really need to do your research. These dogs are alot of work. There are some other breeds that have the similar sled/wolfy look that might be easier.

My big question to you is this: Why a husky?

[firsttimer]

22. I can tell you about my life style a little bit maybe

I'm not married , don't plan to be either

I spend just about all my time off with my dog . I camp and hike in the White mountains
with my dog . It was 2 degrees here yesterday , where was I ?
On a lake ice fishing with my dog.

I'm an outdoor guy and some what of a loner .

To me he sounds like a great companion for the things I like to do , my other dog is getting older.

I don't know what else to tell you.



Edit to add I will say this.. what concerns me the most is what I read about off leash training with them.

I walk off leash with mine

[left is right]

24. since you camp, anyway

you could rig up a light weight back pack for him to carry or even a sled type thing that he could pull. It will make him happy that you have put him to work

[The Midway Rebel]

40. I would never walk my Siberian Husky off leash unless at a dog park or fenced in area.

They love to run and when they get loose they forget their names or that they ever even knew you. They can travel 50 miles a day on their own. For a husky, there are things in this world much more interesting than your dulcet tones calling their name. There is a reason this breed is so often found in animal shelters and this is but one of them.

They are notoriously IMPOSSIBLE to train off leash. Some expert dog trainers will work with them just because they like the extreme challenge.

We had an adopted Sibe that once escaped to run seven miles and kill a flock of 27 chickens. Good luck, please adopt.

[sammytko]

29. I think it needs to be deeper

Another rescue lady I know has her fences into the ground at least a foot. They use a trencher.

[exboyfil]

31. All true

My in laws had a huskie-lab mix. I used to walk for miles with it in a snow covered field (back and forth). She loved it, and I did not have to worry about slipping on the ice on a paved street. Abby is gone now and the field is a bunch of houses, but we did have great times while it lasted.

[xchrom]

10. i love, love, love them. real characters they are.

all dogs have draw backs -- and some draw backs seem to be breed specific.

your husky will be a VERY smart dog -- it's why they are good at escaping.

they can also be a little aloof and independent.

also -- they will talk to you -- even argue with you.

a dog park is something that would be wise to have as a resource.

[onehandle]

11. Big, aggressive, playful. Needs lots of room to behave. nt

[nolabear]

12. A Husky is a dog that needs a job.

They're smart, loud, hairy, very pack-oriented and active as all get-out. Here in Seattle there re a lot of them around, for better or worse. I like them a lot but like Border Collies they can obsess and if you can find a way for them to have training in an active, outdoor sport that will give them the feeling that they're doing what they were born to do (PULL), then you'll have a ball. If you're sedentary and live in a hot environment with neighbors who don't like vocalizations and excitement, you'll have to work at it.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. They need a sled to pull. n/t

[MrsMatt]

25. Or just a person

Skijoring would be good too.

[mythology]

15. As other people have noted, they do need a lot of exercise and will escape

We had to line the inside and outside of our fence with rocks and logs to stop ours from digging out and even that more slowed him than fully stopped him. So go for long hikes, take the dog to doggy day care, anything that stimulates the breed's need for activity. Oddly when we tried to get either the husky or the malamute to pull a sled, they looked at us like we were crazy.

Ours also tended to sometimes get a little destructive when he was left home and bored. Really just tearing up his beds. He actually did really well when we got him a crate, except for when the cat would take it from him. He would get quite distraught and demand the humans fix the situation.

The shedding will be a problem, especially if you have carpet. But brushing them regularly does help, except in the spring when nothing helps.

That said, they are great dogs, incredibly social and they love to be with their pack, be that other dogs or humans.

Ours had been neglected before we got him, so he never got over the idea that his last meal might have been his last meal, but I don't think that's indicative of the breed.

The other thing to consider is ensuring the temperature. They tend to not like heat for obvious reasons. Make sure you are able to provide an adequate level of cooling. My parents had this problem when they moved to a place where it got warmer in the summer. The husky and the malamute needed to be provided with fans and sometimes a/c to keep them safe.

[firsttimer]

19. That is what I was concerned about with my fence

It's winter so the ground is frozen but I would have to make a barrier where he wouldn't be able to dig out.
My Shepherd isn't a digger.

[leftyladyfrommo]

41. They climb over the fence.

I don't know about digging out.

[firsttimer]

42. Do you think they can climb 7 feet?

When Ii go to the breeders house tomorrow I'm going to see how she contains them.

She told me she has 5 , she said they all live in the house but she also has a fenced back yard.
I don't know if she ever leaves them unattended in the yard.

[leftyladyfrommo]

43. They can go over 6 feet.

What you can do is use metal elbow joints all along the top of the fence and then run chickenwire or something like that over the elbow joints so that the whole top of the fence has fencing on about a 45 degree angle forming a kind of ledge so that they can't climb over. If that makes any sense. I have had a couple of border collies that climbed over fences and that is what I did to keep them in.

If they dig you have to run concrete blocks or something like that all along the bottom of the fence so they can't dig out.

[firsttimer]

44. It makes sense , like a prison fence

It wouldn't be hard to do , my fence was professionally installed with the posts all cemented in.
I had it installed just for my German Shepherd so he didn't have to spend all day in the house when I was at work.

[snooper2]

17. they like snow more than the sun

I would recommend living north of the mason-dixon line if you get one

[randome]

18. I had a German Shepherd/something mix for about 9 months.

A big puppy. But he was too active and destructive and my daughters did not want to spend much time with him because of that.

I eventually returned him to the county Humane Society where they don't euthanize animals.

I agree with what others have said -be very certain of your choice.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[The Midway Rebel]

21. Get a good pair of running shoes.

And a life time supply of lint rollers, and a new vacuum cleaner.

There are Siberian Husky rescue groups who will bend over backward to get a dog delivered to your area. Please try harder to rescue. This breed gets killed everyday because they are cute, but part wolf and people are not prepared for life with a hoosky.

[firsttimer]

27. I'm not looking for a Hybrid

If that's what you mean. I know a lot of owners give them up as they get older .They realize what they got into
buying a part wolf puppy that looked cute.

[The Midway Rebel]

39. No, I should have been more clear.

As a "breed" of dog, they are very closely related to wolfs many ways. The Chukchi people let them run wild most of the year and they are one of the newest recognized "breeds of dogs". A Siberian Husky is one of the few "pure breeds" that you could turn loose in the wild and they may survive on their instinct.

Just google Siberian Husky rescue and find your state or one nearby. I can't even look at the results, it makes me sick, I already have two Sibes plus feral cats and kittens.

[left is right]

23. didn’t have a husky but did have an American Samoyed

What’s your local climate? A Canadian breeder that my father met on a fishing trip said that he wouldn’t have sold my dad an AS because we lived too far south. He would have been worried that his dogs would have suffered from heat. (We were only as far south as Louisville, Ky)

[kaiden]

28. A fence won't keep a husky in.

And the husky will teach your other dog how to escape, too. When they run, they run for miles...not particularly interested in running back home, either.

[woodsprite]

30. We had a husky-shepherd mix. A 4-5 mile walk was nothing to her.

We regularly did 2-3 miles a day (hubby and I switched off morning and night) then regular on-leash outings to do her business. We didn't have a fenced yard, but the person we adopted her from said that didn't matter much since she could just jump the fence. She said she had scaled the previous owner's 8' fence and had jumped on the AC to gain access to the garage roof. We did put her on a run, but only used it when we were outside with her so she could play and run. Also dog park trips helped to tire her out for the start of the weekend.

Silver was a very smart dog, thankfully she was trained (mostly) when we got her. We did have to teach her not to jump on people when they came into the house. She was 5yo when we adopted her. Her previous owners had new twins and several dogs, so they put the dogs up for adoption, but like I said, they trained her well.

The shedding is something that might be the biggest consideration. Just invest in a good bagless vacuum with a hepa filter and vacuum daily. They shed profusely, and "blow coat" at least 2x a year (which is when shedding is noticeably worse). If you don't do daily grooming and vacuuming during the time they're "blowing coat", it is possible to get dog-hair tumbleweeds in your house. The "furminator" worked great on Silver, and on our other dog (straight shepherd) Noelle.

We would have adopted another husky or mix in a split second, but wanted to do a rescue and choose Noelle. Or rather she chose us. Best wishes in finding the right pup for you.

Oh, and others have mentioned doggy day care! That is the best! We're older now so don't do as long of walks as we once did and Noelle doesn't seem to like them (shorter, but more frequent). We do take her to doggy daycare on Fridays ($25) and it's the best $25 we spend all week. She gets a full day of romping with big dogs, socialization, and comes home really tired. It's great too because if we ever have to board her someplace, they also board, so she knows everyone and we already have a relationship with them.

[hunter]

32. They are a difficult dog.

A flat fence won't keep them, it has to bend inwards at the top like something you'd see in a zoo. Huskies don't jump so much as they climb. They dig too, especially when they are bored. A fence or wall must extend a few feet beneath ground level.

A bored husky WILL escape and wander for miles and miles. They are not like most dogs who will walk around the neighborhood marking new territory until they run out of pee and then return home.

Huskies sing at the sound of distant sirens in the night. Sometimes they sing for no discernible reason. (We have two singing dogs, one a rescued husky.)

Neutering males is a must!!! Non-neutered males are unsuitable for much beyond heavy arctic work and keeping the wolves away.

Check out norsled.org

http://www.norsled.org/available-dogs/#BreedInformation

[Holly_Hobby]

33. Our new neighbors have a husky

She's older, but still climbs the chain link fence to escape, and into our yard to play with my dogs. She wanders the neighborhood and follows the mailman and kids on bikes. She's harmless, but still could be picked up by Animal Control, or worse yet, stolen, because she's so friendly.

They have a kiddie pool for her in the summer. She's kept in the house while they're at work, but they just can't stop her from escaping and don't want to chain her. She howls continually if chained, but otherwise she's quiet and seldom barks. She will talk back to you if you talk to her.

To see her climb that 6' fence is just amazing, especially at her advanced age. I can't imagine what she was like as a young dog. But I do enjoy her antics and my dogs like her a lot too.

I have Collies and a Sheltie, so I can speak to the double coats. Plan on buying a new vacuum yearly, or yank out your carpet, which is what we did. Mine get brushed daily and get a bath every 8 weeks for hair control, but it's still not enough. You wouldn't believe the places we find hair.

Dogs like Huskys need devoted people because a lot of people can't/won't go to the extremes that some breeds require. Considering your an outdoorsman, and if you're willing to do the extra work, go for it

[MrsKirkley]

34. We've never had any problems with our Husky escaping.

We have a 6 ft fence and Thor has never tried to jump over it or go under it. Sometimes he prefers to spend the night outside and when he does, he's always there the next morning.

[tabbycat31]

35. I love Huskies

I've never owned one (or any dog for that matter, only cats) but they are the most beautiful dogs I've ever seen. I fall in love with them when I see them.

[Drew Richards]

36. If you dont live in a cool climate you are doing a disservice to the breed...they are

Happiest and healthiest where they are bred for..oh and lots of exercise....please read up on the breed.

[LeftyMom]

38. Four MILLION adoptable pets are killed in US shelters every year. That's a lot of awesome dogs.

http://www.petfinder.com/