Anyone that has owned an Alaskan Husky, what do you think of the breed?

Question

We would love to get an alaskan husky and have done ALOT of research on them. The one thing that sticks out to me is the fact that this breed cannot be let loose or they will run away and not be able to find their way back home. Is this true? Can't you train them to be let loose and stay near you like you could with other breeds?

I'm sorry everyone I mispoke, I meant to say Siberian Huskies.

Answer 1

Huskies do run when let loose. It is not a myth. However I have seen individual able to train their huskies to stay in the yard without fences, chains, etc. It takes a lot of time to train a husky, but it isn't impossible. Huskies are very smart animals. If they do roam or run away some of the do return home, but most of the time they don't. Either because they get picked up by animal control, other people, or killed. I have had a problem with one of my huskies when he got loose. He would not come when I called and would continued running. You might spend hours chasing after the husky or searching for him/her. I do have to add that huskies DON'T HAVE to live in cold climates. Even thought their coat is thick for colder climates, their coat also allows them to live in warm climates because it insulates them from both cold and warm temperatures. I hope this helps you with your question.

Answer 2

Are you referring to Alaskan Malamutes or Siberian Huskies? These are two different breeds that are very similar in temperaments and nature.

So the answer to your question is "Yes". It's true that they will run off and cannot be "recalled" by the owners.

Malamutes and Huskies are also known to be fence climbers and fence jumpers. They will also dig out of the yard.

If you want to own a Husky or Malamute you must be prepared to provide plenty of "controlled" work and exercise. For example, you could train it to pull a cart or a wagon and take it on daily outings. (Make sure your pet is full grown before you require it to pull any amount of weight as you can damage their joints and bones while they are growing.) However, many people find that they do not have the time it takes to keep their Husky "busy".

If you feel that you have the time and wherewithal to keep your Husky busy throughout its adult life, then you would probably enjoy each other immensely.

Answer 3

My 1st Siberian was with me for 15 years, and I now have 2 Siberian pups...one just a year old, the other a year and a half. I have had dogs of all types for 50+ years, and Siberians are by far my favorite. They are intelligent, loyal, and immensely entertaining. They are bred to run, and will do so at every opportunity.......BUT, they CAN be trained and the notion that they can't find their way home is ridiculous!!!! They can find a "needle in a haystack", and, if treated well at home, will always return. They ARE very stubborn, and because of their intelligence, LOVE to play (head) games with their masters. If they are habitually restrained, they are the most inventive "escape artists" of the dog world. If you have the space to let them run free, do so, and they will establish and stay within their own territory. If you do NOT have the space, find another breed. My younger puppy will not leave my side if I'm out with him, and if he's out alone, will not leave the yard. The older one has a territory of about 5 sq. miles that he religiously patrols, but returns home when called or every couple hours, whichever comes first. Un-neutered males do not get along well with other male dogs, and are likely to fight with, and often kill, other creatures. They bond strongly to their people, and if well treated, can be trained to do anything you ask of them. The key points to keep in mind with Huskies are: you MUST have plenty of room for them to run, or exercise them regularly and actively; you MUST treat them well and make them WANT to please you; you MUST accept the fact that they are generally smarter than we are and will constantly test you; and you MUST be willing to spend ALOT of time with them when they are young if you want them to live by your rules. If you can do all of the above, you will be hard pressed to find a better companion....if not, get a cat.

Answer 4

Yes, they are notoriously HARD TO TRAIN. Not because they're dumb, because they're not--they're unbelieveably smart. They're very stubborn, single-minded, strong-willed and physically strong. They're also gorgeous, sweet, playful and great dogs.

They are very good at escaping from your yard. If you have 6-foot fences with no holes, they will just dig under them or jump over them. The only guarantee is to have 8-foot fences or taller with concrete underneath, not dirt. Or to build a big kennel with a ceiling, but that would be miserable for the dog.

You may be able to get the dog to behave off-leash, but only after EXTENSIVE professional training and a firm establishment of your pack ranking with you as the alpha and the dog as your subordinate. Even then, I would be very, very careful. You still have to watch the dog like a hawk. If a cat or small child went running by, the dog would very likely take off after it. It's not necessarily a reflection of you as the owner or the dog as an individual, it's just the nature of the breed.

If you're serious about getting this dog, be aware of the special attention it'll need. More exercise than other breeds, more strict and thorough obedience lessons, probably never being able to let it off-leash, and you'll probably never be able to trust it with a cat, small dog or small child.

But I understand your desire to get one. I would love a husky or malamute if I didn't also want children.

Perhaps a good compromise would be to rescue a dog from a shelter that looks like a husky, but has other breeds mixed in to mellow out the wild streak. Or contact a rescue organization that specializes in that breed, but get an older dog, who's mellowed out with age.

Good luck to you!

Answer 5

They really aren't a pure breed. They are a type of mix including several breeds. There are some strains that have been bred for many generations, but they still aren't recognized as a pure breed. I don't see how anybody could generalize that an entire breed of dog is so stupid as to not be able to find their way home. As far as I'm concerned, you get the dog young and train it and it can do anything that a regular dog could do.

Answer 6

They are great dogs if you can stand the hair. They blow coat twice per year and the hair comes off by the sack full.
They are also escape artists, they will go over under or through almost anything to run loose. They live to run and were bred to do so. Most are not very trust worthy to be off lead in a non fenced area. They do not recall well and prefer to do as they wnat not what you want.
They are great dogs but you have to take some precautions with them.
Some can be trained but over all they are known as runners and escape artists.

Answer 7

Well I had a beautiful huskey. They need alot of room and they aren't to keen on boundaries. Also keep them away from the road, unlike people they do not look both ways. But they are very smart dogs, if trained right, also they are great guard dogs. Very protective, they are so pretty especially the pure white with blue eyes. I had one white with blue eyes named Molly and unfortunately she died, hence keep them away from the road, hopeful you have alot of space for a dog like that, they love to run, if you are close enough to the dog they may not leave at all, mine always came back to me, when she was still here. She was a great dog.

Answer 8

All i know is if you live in a hot humid climate, that dog is going to be miserable and will have skin problems. Hope you are in a very cold environment.

Answer 9

they r amazing animlz
they r known to run away but if u get them when they r really young then u can train them!