Siberian Huskies: 10 Dos and Don’ts for Their Owners

Few other dog breeds are as impressive in appearance as the Siberian Husky. Their gentle temperament and playful nature make them great family pets, as long as you can provide them with the exercise and companionship they need. They are a truly unique breed with their hardiness and weather-resistant double coat, protecting their fur from extreme temperatures in the hottest or coldest conditions. Although they are known for their striking blue eyes, not all dogs have this color, some are brown or have two eyes, one blue, one brown. As a proud owner of 6 of the breed, here are some tips I’ve learned from both research and experience.

Make

• Get a companion husky for your Siberian if possible. Siberians are pack dogs and are easily bored. They don’t like to be left alone. If you do, you may find large holes dug in your garden when you return home, as Siberians can be quite destructive when bored. If you introduce them to another pet, then they have a better chance of adjusting as puppies. They will successfully mix with cats and other dogs as long as you introduce them young. Our 6 Siberians live in peace and relative harmony with four cats.

• Fence in your garden safely, making sure the foundation is deep and the fence is too high for them to jump over. Huskies are keen diggers and world class jumpers and are great escape artists. Also, his favorite hobby in the garden seems to be digging in his water bowls.

• Make sure your husky gets enough exercise. As they are working dogs, Siberians are not a good choice for low energy households. However, if you have a companion dog, he will enjoy playing “chase” with each other and will often exhaust himself running around your yard, if he is big enough.

• Invest time and patience in training them. Siberians are very intelligent dogs but they are also willful. They may not do something unless they see a reason to do so, not just to please their owner.

• Keep him on a leash at all times when outside in an open area. As many Sibe owners know, Huskies like to run and run and lose all sense of reality. Sadly, many huskies get lost or injured because of this determination, for by the time they realize they’ve outgrown their owner or are too far from home, it’s too late. Worse yet, they could find themselves running into the path of a car.

• Have them checked regularly for hip dysplasia starting at age 6. While the breed does not have a wide range of documented health problems, they are prone to hip dysplasia, especially if they do not have high levels of fat and protein in their diet. The lifespan of a husky is generally 12 to 15 years. While they are known to withstand the coldest temperatures, their double coat also offers protection to their skin from the sun in hot weather, although with their very dense fur, your Husky’s favorite position may be sitting in front of the drive unit. air conditioning, lying down. on its back with all four legs in the air!

• If, like me, you live in a developing country (or area) without Western standards of veterinary care, check very carefully the type of anesthesia your Sibe will be given. Have your vet run a test if necessary. Serious reactions are possible in huskies if they are not administered an equivalent to human anesthesia. I speak here from experience. Fortunately, I had read about the dangers early on, and therefore had to prevent them from being castrated, as the proper type of anesthesia was not available. However, there came a time when one of my Huskies needed immediate surgery for a life or death situation and I nearly lost her due to her poor reaction to the anesthesia. Her entire face and body swelled up and required emergency care. I now live in an area where good quality anesthesia (human type) is available and the local vet understands the peculiarities of the breed; so since then all have been neutralized without any problem.

Whose

• Get a Husky if you want a guard dog. Due to their kind and caring nature, they are friendly to everyone, even strangers. They do make excellent “watchdogs” though, they will see a burglar enter his house and greet him enthusiastically, then watch him walk off with his TV, computer, etc., and give him a friendly lick to get him on his way! path!

• Worrying too much about getting ready. They are very low maintenance and require a minimum of daily brushing. However, twice a year they shed profusely and then need more attention.

• Expect your Husky to bark. Instead, they have a strong ability to talk, court, howl, and hum, and can make complete sentences when interacting with their owners and to initiate play. These dogs are very talkative, you never know what sounds they are going to make next and they seem to have a growing vocabulary as the years go by. Some of mine are now able to make full sentences, talk about the weather and the like!

• overfeed them. Siberians are thrifty (and picky) eaters, so they don’t require as much food as you’d think. Due to their sensitive digestive system (remember they are sled dogs) they may do better on fish based products and white meat rather than red meat. They also need fish oil in their diet to maintain a healthy coat and nails. This could be in the form of sardines or many dry foods and veterinary supplements contain Omega 3 today.

Invest time and love in the care of your husky and he will reward you with his friendly, sweet and happy character. They are loyal, intelligent dogs, good with children, affectionate with everyone and rarely bark.

To view a related article on rare Siberian Husky facts for owners, visit http://dog-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/huskies_5_not_so_common_facts