I'm looking at getting a Siberian Husky that is between pup and 2 years is this a good first dog?

Question

I jog a lot and am going to be home a lot so spending time with her or him won't be an issue. I was just curious. Thank you.

Answer 1

While excellent for an active lifestyle (i.e jogging, hiking), Siberians are not good dogs for first time dog owners. They can be stubborn, they can be destructive and noisy when bored, and they don't have the "I live to please you" personality that most people expect from a dog. They like to push your buttons, and if you aren't used to dealing with highly independent, highly intelligent dogs, they will play you like a harp.

They MUST be fenced or on-lead at all times.

More information on the breed:
http://www.shca.org/shcahp2b.htm
http://www.shca.org/shcahp2a.htm
http://www.kaylenbergsiberians.com/Ready.htm

I have 32 Siberian Huskies in my kennel. If have lived with, shown, raced, rescued, and trained them for many years. So what I'm saying is a matter of fact and experience. The links above are excellent. Check them out in your research.

I adore this breed. But I recognize that they aren't for everyone. If you decide to go with a Siberian, talk to responsible breeders (preferably more than one) before you buy. Visit kennels. See as much of the breed as possible. Since you're willing to consider an adult, think about rescuing a dog from a Siberian rescue group.

Good luck!

Answer 2

This is not a dog for a first timer. Huskies are sweet dogs, but they are really tough to train, and are very independent. I am an experienced dog owner, and assisted a trainer a few years ago, and I'm still having trouble training mine. Go for an easier breed, almost any other breed would be, and get some experience before jumping into getting a husky. There is a reason this is the breed most often sent to shelters. Also, huskies do not seek attention like a lot of other breeds, so it's not that you are spending time with them as much as getting them exercise. To have a calm husky you need a minimum of 1 hour per day of SERIOUS high intensity exercise. Really think about this before getting one. They are hard to handle

Answer 3

YES, They are wonderful.

Now just a quick couple of hints:
1. FRUMINATOR, a divice purchaced at most pet supply stores removes the under coat gently and safely.
2. Choke chains won't do, Huskys have a tendancy to choke them selfs on choke chains, Instead I would recomend a harness that the leash attaches to in the front so if the pupy pulls it will just turn them around facing you. Mine works great!
3. Strong preditors, these dogs have no troble surviving in the wild, they are good at running prey to the ground, so get a good leash, and hold on tight.
4. High fence, big yard. It is true they jump high and like to run so make sure you are equiped with a large yard and a high wall, but going for a bike ride with them is a good way to wear them out when they get anxious.
5. BE PREPARED FOR THE LOVE'N!, these dogs are very lovable and love to give affection! Likewise they require a lot of attention. I would recommend getting a second dog, they will be less demanding and as a pair they keep each other company- Huskys typicaly get along with any other freindly dogs.

Answer 4

I am under the impression that they are not the best first dog. They need firm and consistent training, require a lot of exercise, can be cat aggressive, and are escape artists. You might want to look into training him how to cart or pull once he is fully grown to give him a job to do. A securely fenced in yard is a must.

That's not to say it can't work, though. Look on petfinder.com and you'll find many Siberican Huskies and husky mixes who are in need of a home. If you are willing to put in the extra effort in training and exercise, they can make a great companion and a good jogging partner for you. They are on my list of breeds that I want to own in my lifetime. <3

Answer 5

I'm guessing that the retired sled puppy you're getting is an Alaskan. I have thirteen Alaskan huskies in my kennel. Of the hyperlinks ulva offered the wikipedia one is essentially the most correct. From the puppy proprietor's factor of view the variations are probably superficial. Alaskans are the excellent throughout running sled puppies on the earth. They are quicker and generally fitter than Siberians. They have longer legs than sibes and longer our bodies to permit for better pace and staying power. Their coats are generally thinner so they're much less inclined to overheating in the course of lengthy runs. Most Alaskans have a double coat and will manage being external all wintry weather. Some Alaskans have upright ears, others do not. It makes no change for his or her running capability. The persona is very similar to a Siberian. I can believe such a lot of mine off lead one after the other. If 2 are unfastened without delay, they are long gone earlier than I can do whatever approximately it. Alaskans generally tend to have better meals standards than Siberians. Siberians have been at the start bred to be ready to outlive on little or no. This used to be most important to the Chukchi persons. Alaskans have been built for racing. Modern mushers don't seem to be within the steady survival mode that historic persons have been. For the equal purpose, Alaskan huskies aren't as impartial as Siberians or as prey pushed. I undertake out such a lot of my retired puppies to emerge as household pets. They housebreak with no trouble and each and every one has are compatible in good in its new dwelling. One of my retired racing puppies is a carrier puppy for a disabled guy. She wears a percent and includes matters he can not given that of his walker. She additionally brings him the telephone whilst it earrings and retrieves the newspaper from the top of his driveway each and every morning. These puppies like having a task to do. It does not make so much change what that process is. One option to evaluate the variations among northern breeds is that this. The Alaskan malamute is sort of a trailer truck. The Siberian husky is sort of a pickup truck pulling a camper and the Alaskan husky is sort of a Porsche Cayenne pulling a lighter camper. The variations in conduct can be small. If the puppy has been dwelling external all its lifestyles, it should have a tough time adjusting to dwelling within the apartment in the beginning. Teaching him to not move the toilet within can be handy. Taking care of an Alaskan and caring for a Siberian is the equal. The Alaskan could consume a bit of extra however the want for high-quality meals, occasional baths, professional hands and fingernails care, everyday recreation, vaccinations and virtually the whole lot a puppy demands is the equal. Most Alaskans have thinner coats than Siberians, so grooming can be less difficult. I could certainly not exchange my Alaskans for Siberians.

Answer 6

The odds are NO!

These are not at all an easy breed to handle nor train. Lets jsut say they have trouble getting a basic 1st level obedience degree in the hands of experienced trainers.

They require a securely fenced yard or they will be 10 miles away.


You can read about all the breeds at

http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm?nav_area=breeds

You can search by Group, Breed name or all of them at once.Now, when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column. At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Club for that breed that sets the breed standards.


Go here to read about the Huskies:

http://www.shca.org/

That first link takes you to the National Club for that Huskies whihc is the only club recognized and accredited by the AKC for that beed and it sets the breed standards.

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed. The clubs websites also have:

(1) a breeders list - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read)

(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breed


Do give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue. The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperrment, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), health, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newspapers, chewing.......They have dogs that are purebred and part-bred (1/2 or so of their breed.) Dogs that come through rescue are so thrilled to have a forever loving home having once been abandoned to a shelter or rescue that they are typically extra devoted and loving. Dogs lose their homes for reason that are not their fault: death, divorce, a move and they couldn’t keep them, financial problems….

If you decide to get a puppy, please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder will tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)

A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less as poorly bred dogs tend to have very high vet bills over the years - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

You may find the breeder who has the type of dog you want but no litter on the ground at the moment. Most good breeders have waiting lists -get on it. You may find the breeder and puppy you want but at a distance. Among the really responsible breeders(members of the club) shipping a puppy is quite normal -they want the best possible home for the dog and the written contract is very extensive.

Do ask the breeders on the club list if they have any dogs they bred that they need to rehome - good breeders all require if the owner can't keep one, it comes back to them. It may be a dog they placed and it came back because the owner didn't have time, didn't realize how big it would get, got divorced.... It may be a dog who was a show prospect but as they grew didn't meet their early promise. It may be an AKC Champion they decided not to use in their breeding program because while it did get the Championship, they don't need more bloodstock or find a tiny conformation flaw they don't want to reproduce.

NEVER EVER buy from a pet shop. Those puppies came from puppy mills where the parents are locked in cages, bred until they literally die from it, never vaccinated, never wormed, fed just enough so they don't quite die of starvation, live in filth, never bathed or groomed or cared for, are typically of very poor genetic stock both physically and often mentally. The puppies are shoved off to pet stores with no vaccinations, no worming, no socialization or handling... You are buying nothing but heartbreak at a price higher than what a responsible breeder charged for a pet puppy.

IF A SERIOUS BREEDER OR RESCUE TELLS YOU THAT THE BREED IS NOT SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION - BELIEVE THEM - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE WAY THE DOG LOOKS

Answer 7

I believe a Siberian husky is a wonderful dog and they will learn whatever you teach them. They are extremal smart and the younger u get them the better it is. I had a really nice one who never ran off. he loved to run and walk and play with me and the children in the neighborhood. You must spend time with him and teach him manners, they are not a spiteful dog but they are what you make them as any dog is. Just stay the pack leader with him and you will have a wonder friend and pet.

Answer 8

This is a high energy dog. They also have running away issues because they are very independent by nature. And know what putting a dog with this much energy in a back yard is not considered exercise. Good luck!

Answer 9

These are beautiful, extremely active dogs. Keep in mind, they are natural escape artists. If you are home most of the time, that may not be an issue for you. They are high energy dogs. Being a runner yourself, that would make a perfect match. Best of luck to you.

Answer 10

Very good dogs, and gets really close to their owners. Lots of energy and pep, so jogging is good! I had one about 6 years ago, but she died due to seizures (ran in her bloodline,, I was told). josie was an awesome dog. Now I have a Saint Bernard, Bud, although he is my baby, they are 2 very VERY different breeds! Now back to the question......I would definately recommend a Husky for you tho!!! Good luck and enjoy, they are worth every penny! God Bless!