Do Siberian Huskies make good pets for a family with a 2 year old?

Question

Are they to rough with kids? Also, would I have to worry about it attacking my child?

Answer 1

Do you have lots of time to devote to training and exercise?
They have a very good temperament, are usually affectionate, gentle, and eager to please. However, this is not a breed recommended for first time dog owners as they are very intelligent and strong willed and have a great desire to run, and mistakes are easy to make and sometimes difficult to fix with them. They can be very challenging to train. Remember the Siberian huskies were bred as sled dogs, outdoor working dogs. They were also used to herd reindeer. They are very strong and very energetic.

Properly socialized Siberians are most often quite gentle with children (although no dog, including Siberians, should be left unsupervised with small children). They do make good family pets if you have the patience and skill to properly train them.

Hundreds of questions have been asked on YA about Siberian huskies, so if you do a YA search just for "siberian huskies" you should find a lot of information. These links should help.

Answer 2

I rescued my Husky last year, and he is an absolute doll with kids.. he loves them so much and is so gentle with them! This is not generally an aggressive breed.

First of all, if you're thinking about getting a Husky, you need to do your research. These dogs are not typical and they require a lot of excercise and maitenence to keep them happy. If you do plan on getting one after all your researching, I would suggest getting a younger dog, possibly a pup. That way, it's personality and disposition still have time to mold, you can get the pup used to your child, and you can get proper training at a good age for your pup so it grows up to be a well mannered dog. Of course, even with training, Huskies may still be reckless and crazy without the proper excercise to keep them sane. So, you'll need time to excercise it, a simple walk will not do for this breed. It needs to run. Whether it's jogging, running alongside your bike or playing at a dog park, it needs free running for at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day... if you can do more, great! I have a 10 year old Husky, and we were at the park for 2 hours today and he was running the whole time. And he's a senior dog! Imagine how much energy a younger dog will have.

Be sure to do a LOT of research, make sure you have the time and devotion to excercizing and getting your dog trained, and it shouldn't be too much of a problem!

Answer 3

It probably won't bite you, but you will have a very difficult time caring for it if you are afraid of it. Try taking the dog for a couple of walks by yourself, try to teach it a trick, and see if you think you can develop a good relationship with the dog. If the dog realizes you are scared of it, it may develop behavioral problems quite quickly when it becomes yours. If you do decide to take the dog, you should take an obedience class (this is more to teach the owner how to handle the dog, than to teach the dog how to behave, so there would be benefits even if the dog is already trained). Other things to consider: a husky is a tough dog for a first time owner. They're high energy, and prone to dominance problems, need tons of grooming, etc.

Answer 4

Siberian Huskies make fantastic family pets. They are gentle and are generally very well behaved and even tempered animals. I have placed several hundred Siberians, and I can honestly say that in my opinion they are one of the best family oriented breeds to own.
Obviously training is a factor with any dog. There are some wonderful rescue Siberians that have come out of homes with toddlers and infants and are already house-trained, making it that much easier on you.
Visit www.petfinder.com

Answer 5

Well, in previous years I have had 2 Siberian Huskies, both at different times. And to be honest, they both had completely different attitudes. In my opinion, how 'rough' they are depends on their upbringing. The first of the 2 was a very calm dog, hardly ever barked. and never harmed anyone. The second of the 2 was very playful, and barked a lot. In relation, the first was an inside dog that we kept pretty calm throughout puppyhood; however, the second was an outside dog that had a lot of energy. They are very strong dogs, and they sometimes don't realize it. So when the dog gets to be a little older and bigger, you might be a little 'iffy' to pat your lap and call it up so you can pet it because you might just end up on the ground ;)

Answer 6

I know nothing about them but these websites might help you out and learn more about them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_husky (information about Siberian Husky)

http://us.eukanuba.com/eukanuba/en_US/jsp/Euk_Page.jsp?pageID=DBSMP&breedName=147&_requestid=430317 (more and probably better information about the Siberian Husky)

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2520 (information about Siberian Husky on the animalplanet website)

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do (here you can answer 10 simple questions about what type of dog or how hyper you want to have and after you finish you will see a list about all the dogs that have the same interests or personality that you want them to have and the more % (example: 97%) that shows next to their names the more you'll find the perfect dog you want to have for you and your family)

http://animal.discovery.com/beyond/player.html?playerId=203719213&categoryId=211217098 (you can also watch a short video clip that explains about Siberian Husky or other types of dogs. Choose the last list that says "Working Dogs" and click on "PICK A CLIP" by clicking there you will later see a list of almost all the dogs that are from the working group. Scroll down and you will find the video that says "Breed All About It: Siberian Husky" from the bottom of the list)

I hope this helps = )

Answer 7

I think a Husky would make a great pet.
They are stubborn at times but not aggressive. They are not guard dogs but would bark at intruder. It is said that they are very human friendly. Just perfect for you and your family.

And ofcourse they are cute!

I would take into consideration though there need for exercise, would this be possible with your lifestyle. Read DogBreed Info. web page on internet and you will find all you need to know.

Answer 8

Siberian Huskies are not one of the dogs known to attack. If you are at all concerned, maybe you should think about buying a collie instead.

Answer 9

Not in my opinion.
Sibe's are hard for any new person to the breed. They are dominant, stubborn, awnry etc. Kids are nothing to them and they do not respect them.
I am not saying a properly socialized dog cannot work out in the end, but this is not a breed for a first timer with kids.
If you like the wolf type look, try a German Shepard, they are a little better.
If you are thinking of your kids and want a kid friendly dog, there are many dogs, to choose from with less up keep, grooming, exercise requirements, etc.
The Nanny Dog, (Look to the left) a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Boxer, most kid friendly dog out there.
Rat & Boston Terriers and don't forget the pug!
Goldens, Lab, and a good old MUTT
Start with a puppy, since it will be easier to socialize with you and your family.
Best of wishes, save the sibe for later years.

Answer 10

Our husky instinctively knows when children are around. He sits and lets them pet him. He's very gentle with them.