Siberian Husky - Before Buying a Siberian Husky Puppy

Siberian Huskies are beautiful dogs. They look like wolves, and have thick, and soft coats that make them infinitely cuddly. Siberian Huskies also have piercing eyes, and wonderful masks that give them a roguish and unique look.

Siberian Huskies can make very good family pets. If properly trained, they can be very good with people, children, and other dogs. Indeed, Siberian Huskies are commonly known for their friendliness towards people.

Although they may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart of Casanova. All they want to do is greet everyone and give them licks.

However, many Siberian Husky owners have trouble with this breed and many Siberians get surrendered.

Consider these Siberian Husky facts, before going out and getting a Siberian Husky puppy, The Siberian Husky is a very special, and lovable breed, but they may not be the right breed for everyone.

Siberian Huskies Shed - A LOT.

Be ready to have dog hair all over the house - floors, carpets, clothing, furniture, everywhere.

If you are allergic to dog hair, or like your home to be really clean, then the Siberian Husky is not for you.

When I was looking for a Siberian Husky, I talked to a few breeders in my area. The first thing they all said was, "Siberian Huskies shed a lot". I mentioned that my other dog, a Shiba Inu, also has a double coat, and also sheds, but they all said, "Siberian Huskies shed a lot more".

And they do! A whole lot more.

Therefore, it is very important to train your Siberian Husky puppy to enjoy the grooming experience.

Start with a soft brush, and lightly brush your dog's body for a short period of time. Do this often, and pair it with food rewards. Once your Siberian Husky is comfortable with the brushing process, you can slowly extend the length of the brushing session, and switch to using the Furminator.

Frequent brushing is a good idea to keep your Siberian Husky clean, and clear out loose hair. The more hair on the Furminator, the less hair on the floor.

About twice a year, Siberian Huskies blow their coat. During this time, there will be more fur than ever. To keep things under control, try to brush every day. Remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, rewarding, and not overly long.

Siberian Huskies Make Awful Guard Dogs.

Because Siberian Huskies look like wolves, many people assume that they are fierce dogs. Some people may even think that they are wolf hybrids.

However, a Siberian Husky is more of a lover and less of a fighter.

When confronted with a stranger, a Siberian Husky will likely run up to him, and try to give him many licks, preferably all over the face. As a result, Siberians make terrible guard dogs. They will not only welcome everyone into your house, but will also give them the royal lick treatment.

If you want a dog that is only loyal to you and your family, then the Siberian Husky is not for you.

The Siberian Husky is a happy, goofy, and trusting dog, that likes to be with everyone.

Siberian Huskies are Extremely Energetic.

Siberian Huskies are extremely intelligent and athletic. After all, they were bred to pull sleds for extremely long distances, in the freezing cold. So be prepared to provide your Siberian Husky with a lot of mental and physical exercise.

A young Siberian Husky needs activity almost all day round. At around one-year old, my Siberian Husky 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 Inu can't 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 dog play sessions, obedience training sessions, and still has energy left over to explore and dig in our backyard.

If bored, a Siberian Husky can become unhappy. He will likely escape or use your belongings and your house as chew toys. Unless your backyard is extremely secure, a Siberian Husky can easily jump over or dig under a fence to find adventure elsewhere.

If you are away at work for most of the day, then the Siberian Husky is probably not for you.

A Siberian Husky likes having company and activity all day long. It is possible that a Siberian Husky can keep himself occupied if you have other dogs, but he may also lead your entire pack into mischief!

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

Siberian Huskies are Independent Thinkers.

The Siberian Husky has a very independent mind and spirit. He will only perform, if you make it worth his while.

If you want an obedient dog, that lives to please you, then the Siberian Husky is not for you.

A Siberian Husky is not a "yes sir, no sir", kind of dog. To live well with a Siberian, you need to be fair, but firm. Be consistent with enforcing your house rules, or your Siberian Husky will take over the house.

The best way to train a Siberian Husky is through the control of resources. Teach him that the best way to get what he wants, is to first do what you want. Use reward obedience training and follow the NILIF program. Harsher techniques, can make a Siberian distrustful, and ruin the natural trusting and free spirit, of the breed.

Siberian Huskies are independent hunters. Their original breeders, the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia, would let their Siberian Huskies free during the summer months to hunt for food on their own.

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

1. A Siberian Husky 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 Husky 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.

Siberian Huskies are bred to run and pull. This makes them more difficult to leash train than many other breeds. To train a Siberian to walk on a leash, you need to have an immense amount of patience. Always be firm and consistent with the no-pulling rule, and reward good behavior.

If you do not have a large backyard, bring your Siberian Husky to an enclosed park, or soccer field, so that he can have some nice off-leash time to run, run, run.  

Siberian Huskies are Not Easy to Potty Train.

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.

Siberians do not have that natural sense of cleanliness. In fact, they do not mind playing and running around their own waste products. Therefore, you must make it worth their while to potty outside.

Supervise your Siberian Husky puppy at all times until he is fully potty trained. Reward him well for pottying outside with high priority dog treats, play, and praise. If you are consistent with your potty training, your Siberian Husky will learn quickly, and be happy to go outside after a few weeks.

If you still want a Siberian Husky, then visit the Siberian Husky Club of America for a breeder list. Also consider adopting one from your local Siberian Husky rescue.

It really makes a BIG difference to get a puppy from an accredited breeder.

Please do not buy a puppy from online buy-a-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 puppy mills.

If you are concerned about the initial cost of a Siberian Husky puppy, consider that backyard breeders and puppy mills frequently produce unhealthy and unbalanced puppies. They will end up costing you a lot more in terms of vet bills, dog training bills, and property destruction.