Things to Consider Before you take on a Husky, Malamute or Sled Dog
Huskies, malamutes and other sled dogs can be a joy to own.
They are beautiful, intelligent dogs of wonderful temperament and a friendly disposition.
They are, however, not the easiest dogs to own.
The husky's good looks are a curse as well as a blessing.
Many people buy their first (and often only) husky based on the breed's striking appearance, without realizing just how much of a challenge husky ownership can be.
Those with experience of the Siberian husky and other sled dogs summarize these breeds well when they say that:
'These aren't dogs that fit in with your life - You have to fit in with theirs!'
For more information, we strongly suggest that you talk at length with other owners if huskies and sled dogs before you take on a puppy or dog.
You should also read as much as possible about your chosen breed. Try searching Amazon for books on Siberian Huskies
Alaskan Malamutes or Sled Dogs as a starting point.
Below you will find a basic list of attributes and characteristics of the breed, and an honest indication of the ways in which owning a husky will affect your daily life.
- Huskies are Boisterous
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- Huskies mouth and nip as puppies while they establish boundaries.
- They play rough and bounce around your house if you let them (and sometimes even if you don't!)
- Training your Husky takes Time and Effort
- Huskies need a firm but fair hand, and respond exceedingly well to positive training methods.
(Positive training is basically training through rewards and encouragement when a dog does something good, rather than telling it off or punishing it when it does something bad - see more on this on our "Training" page).
- Huskies respond especially badly to physical reprimand, quickly becoming very nervous and timid dogs
- Training your husky will be an ongoing task that takes lots of patience, perseverance and a sense of humor!
- Huskies can be Destructive
- Every owner we know has had at least one of their favorite shoes/bags/hats/books destroyed by their huskies.
- Mobile phones/TV remotes/kids toys/anything left within reach will be considered a 'chew toy' and eaten!
- You have been warned; if it happens - it's your fault!
- Huskies Need Company
- Huskies are not dogs that are happy to be left alone for long periods of time.
- Huskies, particularly husky puppies, often get very bad separation anxiety, or become particularly destructive.
- If left alone, huskies often make a lot of noise!
- Generally speaking, there needs to be somebody at home for the majority of the day to keep a husky company.
- Huskies Shed A LOT of Hair
- Huskies 'Blow their Coats' once or twice a year, when they shed their fluffy undercoat over two or three weeks.
- During this time, your house and garden will be strewn with clumps of white hair.
- The rest of the year, huskies shed lightly - your home/garden/car and you yourself will still be covered in fluff, just slightly less of it!
- Huskies love to Dig
- Digging is a favorite pass-time of many huskies - their chosen spots are usually in the middle of the lawn or under your prize rose-bush.
- Huskies can dig a surprisingly big hole in a few minutes, and they will 'landscape' your garden while your back is turned.
- More importantly, they often dig under fences, and will dig their way out of a garden in ten minutes given the opportunity.
- You MUST either sink your fence at least 2 feet below the surface of the soil, or lay concrete slabs or other barriers on the ground around the inside of your fence.
- Huskies Need High Fences
- Huskies can easily clear a 4 or 5 foot fence from a sitting start.
- Your garden should be entirely surrounded by a fence at least 6 feet tall, and you should be prepared that it might well need to be raised higher than this (ours is 8 foot).
- Some huskies can climb up 'weld-mesh' and other fences, and you may need an overhang to contain your husky if s/he is particularly agile.
- Remember that if you have garden sheds or greenhouses, a husky can jump on to these to find an escape route.
- They may also drag garden furniture over to a fence and use it to climb over - Sounds extreme? We're seen it happen (and it's usually the most 'well-behaved' 'docile' pets that do it!)
- Huskies are Incredible Escape Artists
- Many adult huskies can squeeze through a 6inch gap in a fence.
- If a husky can get its head through, the rest of it will probably fit too.
- Huskies will move objects around your house and garden and use them to climb up and over your garden fence to escape.
- They will jump through open windows while your back is turned for 2 seconds - ANY windows in your house left open are a way out.
- They may well learn to open doors, gates, slide bolts open etc. Some will figure out how to open dog crates from the inside!
- Huskies will find their way into all sorts of places
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- Kitchen cupboards and drawers are a favorite. This is often more dangerous than it sounds as they may find and eat poisonous foods such as onions, or find cleaning products and other harmful chemicals.
- Counter-surfing is another favorite activity - huskies love to get up on kitchen work tops and tables for a good nose around - this is also a great way for them to get access to kitchen windows that may have been left ajar!
- Pet Gates
can help prevent huskies getting in to parts of the house you want to keep them out of, but they will be able to jump over them, so don't rely on them as a sole means of keeping your dog safe.
- Huskies Don't Do Recall
- Huskies CANNOT be let off-leash in open areas.
- Your husky may fool you into thinking that they are 'different' and can be trusted. They may come back to you time and again, but there will come a day when they will spot something in the distance and they will be gone... and you will be lucky to see them again.
- If your huskie escapes it may find a sheep and kill it (this happens OFTEN). It may get run over (huskies have NO ROAD SENSE!) or stolen (huskies are VALUABLE DOGS!)
- Huskies Like to Pull
- Like collies that instinctively round up sheep, or retrievers that fetch things without being taught, huskies and sled dogs PULL!
- You can train a husky to walk to heal, but it takes TIME and PATIENCE!
- There will always be instances when huskies get excited or spot something up ahead and revert to pulling.
- Huskies Eat Small Animals
- Cats, rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds are all fair game to a husky.
- As with recall, a husky will fool you into thinking he's not going to eat your cat - They'll even have you thinking they're friends. Then one day the cat will move too quickly or be running through the house and suddenly become 'dinner' in your husky's eyes (just like in the cartoons!)
- Again, as with recall, you might think YOUR HUSKY is the exception to the rule. No, it's not.
