Siberian Husky Facts -
What you NEED to know BEFORE
Purchasing your New Best Friend
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #1 - They Shed ALOT
Be ready to have dog hair all over the house - floors, carpets, clothing, furniture, etc. If we are allergic to dog hair, or like our home to be super clean, then the Siberian Husky is not the breed for us. It is very important to train our puppy to enjoy the grooming experience. Start with a soft brush and lightly brush our puppy's body for short periods of time - do this often and pair it with food rewards. Once puppy is comfortable with the brushing process, we can slowly extend the length of the session and switch to the furminator. Once our puppies grow into adult dogs they will blow their coat twice per year (this is shown). During this time there will be more hair then ever, to keep things under control, try to brush everyday and remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, not overly long and always end the session with a special treat or reward.
Be ready to have dog hair all over the house - floors, carpets, clothing, furniture, etc. If we are allergic to dog hair, or like our home to be super clean, then the Siberian Husky is not the breed for us. It is very important to train our puppy to enjoy the grooming experience. Start with a soft brush and lightly brush our puppy's body for short periods of time - do this often and pair it with food rewards. Once puppy is comfortable with the brushing process, we can slowly extend the length of the session and switch to the furminator. Once our puppies grow into adult dogs they will blow their coat twice per year (this is shown). During this time there will be more hair then ever, to keep things under control, try to brush everyday and remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, not overly long and always end the session with a special treat or reward.
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #2 - They make awful guard dogs
Because Siberian Huskies look like wolves, many people assume that they are fierce dogs. Some people may even thing that they are wolf hybrids. However, a husky is more of a lover and less of a fighter. When confronted with a stranger, a husky will most likely run up to him and try to give him many licks, preferably all over the face. As a result, huskies make terrible guard 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. Huskies are happy, goofy and trusting dogs that like to be with everyone.
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #3 - They are extremely energetic
Huskies 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. My huskies sleep for 3-4 hours during the day and about 10 hours at night, which leaves about 10 hours during the day where they are on the go. They drain most of their energy playing with each other. If bored, a husky can become unhappy and he will most likely become destructive or try to escape. Unless our backyard is extremely secure, he can easily jump over or dig under a fence in order to find a fun adventure elsewhere.
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #4 - They are independent thinkers
Huskies have a very independent mind and spirit and will only perform if we make it worth their while. A husky is not a “yes sir, no sir“, kind of dog. A husky needs an alpha to look up to and if he doesn't have that, he will become the alpha. 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 husky distrustful, and ruin the natural free spirit of the breed.
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #5 - They are not easy 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.
Huskies 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.
Something else to remember; potty training difficulty can depend on where the puppy is used to going potty 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.
SIBERIAN HUSKY FACT #6 - Where to get a husky puppy
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 in the long run.