Questions about Siberian Huskies?

Question

I am really thinking about getting a siberian Husky when I get a house, but I had some questions about them.

1.) I have heard from some they shed a lot, but others say they don't shed that much. Which is more accurate and what would be the best way to maintain their coat?

2.) Are these considered good family dogs?

3.) What should I look out for when looking for a puppy?

4.) What exactly does it mean when the dog is "registered?"

5.) What sort of temperament do these dogs usually have?

6.) Are these dogs pretty smart?

Also, any additional help or thoughts you could give me would be great. Thanks!

Answer 1

1. They shed some.... and then 1 to 2 times a year they blow coat which looks like a dog exploded in your house. If you don't groom them several times during the coat blowing they will shed continuously and may mat.

2. They're great family dogs. Very active however.

3. Responsible, reputable breeder who belongs to the Siberian Husky Club of America http://www.shca.org/ and has signed their code of ethics. Health certs on the parents for OFA hips and elbows, CERF for eyes, and heart & thyroid clearances.

4. The dog should be registered in the kennel club of the country you live in: AKC - US, CKC -Canada (NOT the Continental Kennel Club which is all puppymill dogs)

5. They are bright, mischevious, active dogs who do best with a job in life. They are a true pack animal bred to travel and often are BAD runners. They are clever and it takes someone who understands dogs to get through to them. They are NOT a good first time dog owner's dog.

6. Very very smart. Often much more clever than the people they live with.

Answer 2

Alyssa has covered it pretty well, but I would add a couple of points.

They were bred to pull sleds over long distances, As a result, running is a part of their nature. If one gets loose, they may run for miles, then have absolutely no idea how to get back home. It's essential that you keep them in a secure area, and never have one off lead in public, unless you are in an area where they cannot get away from you.

They are very intelligent dogs, very independent, great problem solvers. They learn quickly, but also tend to get rather bored with it. Also, they were bred to pay attention to their surroundings more than to their handler, so they will not keep their attention riveted on you, as a rule. This makes them an interesting challenge to train. Because they don't train easily, some people assume they're dumb. That's a misktake.

Siberians have highly developed predatory instincts. This means that the neighbor's cat, or any stray critter, duck, chicken, etc., that wanders into their territory is most likely dead meat.

As far as being watch dogs, they will watch someone break into your house, they will watch them haul off the TV and silverware, then offer them a drink. If you need a watch dog, Siberians aren't it. As a rule, they are very non-aggressive toward humans.

They will tolerate heat better than it might be supposed, as long as they have a sheltered place to go, and plenty of water. Of course, they stand cold weather very well.

If you get a puppy, make sure it's sire and dam have OFA and CERF registration, to help avoid skeletal and visual problems. Look carefully at the purchase contract to see what health statements and guarantees are being made.

Great dogs, but do require that you understand the breed. A certain amount of prior dog experience certainly helps.

Answer 3

A1) They are sort of in between those two with shedding. The only time they shed a lot is when they have skin conditions.

A2)Yes. they are excellent family pets. Really good with young children.

A3) You should look out for any bald spots, black or brown build up in the ears,dry feces around butt hole, and a bad temperament(such as nipping VERY hard, won't hold still long enough for you to pet him, etc.).

A4) Most of the time it means that the dog is registered in a club of some sorts, like AKC.

A5) They usually have good temperaments in general, but, depending on where you get the dog,they can be real pains in the butt. I would recommend getting a pup from a breeder. Ask to see the damn (mother) of the pup. Make sure she is in VERY good condition. If not, or if she is unavailable for visitors, then PLEASE do not get the pup.

A6) A VERY large yes. I have a 10 year old Husky and she even knows how to open the fridge door and get me a can of pop! If you train your new dog right, it will be VERY smart.

Good luck! ; )

Answer 4

Huskys have a double coat, so they'll be big time shedders during fall and spring. They do make great family dogs, they're high energy dogs so make sure you provide enough exercise, some huskys are wary around strangers. As for puppies, it's really hard to say, it depends on what traits your looking for, if you want a laid back type, which I don't know if there are any, try to find one. When you get your dog registered, it normally means make sure you register your dog with the county that you live in. Huskys are excellent breeds and yes, they are very clever.

Answer 5

1. Some Huskies can get along with cats especially if you train them when they are pups to get along with cats. Huskies in general like small prey my Husky ate 2 water snakes, a rat and a Terrier that attacked him. Train your Husky the leave it command. Huskies are one of the smartest dogs so they can learn however just train them 15 minutes per day because they will get bored. 2) Yes, 2 walks a day is fine - you may need to run. Your lucky if a Husky will fetch they generally just bring it back once and stop fetching. 3) Some Huskies can be trusted off leash however the majority are roamers and will love the chance to run. Your find they might even smile and say sucker as they run off. 4) Huskies do like you to lay down the rules. They don't like being hit and will ignore you if your violent. Learn to be the alpha dog and your be fine.

Answer 6

They are very smart dogs, but also very independent. They can be stubborn to train at times because of this and need firm fair handling. They are often dominant dogs who need their owners to be strong pack leaders or they may take up that job themselves. Siberian Huskies are not generally considered good choices for first time owners, or for those who will not train them fairly and consistently and who aren't well educated about the breed. Huskies are often less tolerant of other dogs and have a high prey drive. They need good socialization as puppies so help with dog aggression and should go to puppy classes as soon as they have all their shots. They also need socialization with people as well. They can be a bit vocal at times. They do not do well left outside as they are great at escaping fenced yards. They do blow their coats about twice a year and need daily brushing. They need LOTS of exercise every day to be happy, and as a working breed will need a job to do. They can do well with families with older children if well trained, but with any dog children should be supervised. A good breeder of Huskies should be actively showing their dogs and have the sire and dam registered to a reputable association, but not all registries are equal. When looking for a puppy your breeder should be able to help you choose a dog who best fits your lifestyle, and be a wealth of information about the breed.

Answer 7

Q's # 1,2,3,5,6: See this website:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/siberianhusky.htm
Q#4: Registered means the mother, father, and litter have been recorded with a kennel club as being pure bred. How much this is worth, depends on which kennel club, and if the parents have been shown and proven to be champions. American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club are decent; Continental Kennel Club means someone sent in a photo and a fee and hte dog was "registered"; essentially those are not even worth the paper they are printed upon.
If you are (I hope) planning to spay or neuter, then the paperwork is pretty pointless anyway, unless you plan to compete in field or agility trials.
http://www.AKC.org

Additional thoughts:
These are a true working dog - they were bred to RUN - pulling a sled - hundreds of miles a day. They need LOTS of exercise, otherwise they may become destructive out of sheer boredom.

Answer 8

1. they shed a lot at one time and then they shed a little for most of the time (seasonal shedding)
2. Depends on training, time dedicated to the dogs.
3. ask your vet, they would be able to help answer that question
4. A few things, could be licensed with the city. Or registered with the breed, if your are making it a family dog it won't matter. (spay and neutering usually avoids those things and get it spay or neutered)
5. Lots of energy for a long time, they can pull sleds for a long time. Playful, diligent, loves to run, fetch. Not a lot of down time, you have to have time to play with it.
6. extremely smart, so keep up with training.
Find a vet in your area and talk to them, they can recommend where to get a puppy, what to look for, and what would be the best fit for your family and time.

Answer 9

1.) All huskies and other sled dogs shed, a lot. They shed daily, and twice a year they 'blow coat' or shed huge clumps of undercoat while switching from spring/summer to fall/winter coats. Monthly professional groomer can help; the high force dryers and professional shedding tools can really get that extra hair off, if you're willing to pay for it.

2.) Sled dogs are typically very dominating and forceful, they require strong handling and training. I would not suggest them for a family with children under 14 years or so.

3.) Puppies should be alert, curious, and playful. They should not run or shy away from things or people. They should be clean, with clear bright eyes, clean pink ears, no feces or urine on their fur or skin, nails trimmed back properly, and generally look clean and healthy. They should also have a nice round belly; a skinny puppy is being neglected. Hold the mouth to your ear and listen for any gurgles or crackles when the puppy breathes. Also, the breeder (NOT pet store!!) should offer you health guarantees, the puppy should be up to date on shots and worming, etc.

4.) Registration is for breeding purposes only. The AKC or Canadian Kennel Club are the only two reputable registries in North America; all others are used by petstores and puppy mills to 'claim' a registered dog, when really, things like CKC, ACA, UABR, etc. will register any dog, purebred or not, if you pay them. Unless you plan to show and breed your dogs, any registration is not really necessary.

5.) Huskies are very strong pack animals, and if you do not show them that you are the leader, they will take the position from you in a heartbeat. They are working dogs, very active, very high energy. They can be destructive if bored, and tend to howl and scream when upset. They can not be trusted alone with small children or pets, especially cats. If handled and trained properly, they can be fun and loving dogs, but if handled improperly, they may become nervous or aggressive.

6.) Huskies are intelligent and very trainable. They enjoy sledding and pulling exercise and are easily taught to do so; it's also a great way for them to burn off energy, so if you get one, consider looking for mushers in your area to teach you the ropes.

One last thing, huskies really aren't meant to live in warm climates, so if you live somewhere that gets pretty hot, I would say this dog is not for you. They can survive a hot summer if kept indoors where it's cool, but if you live somewhere that is hot for more than a few months a year, don't do it. And shaving them to 'keep cool' is NOT an option- shaving a husky ruins it's coat, which is designed to regulate its temperature in any weather. To shave a husky means you can almost guarantee it will overheat.

Answer 10

They shed A TON!!!!!!! They blow their coats twice a year, and shed all year long.GREAT with kids. Awesome family dogs! VERY talkative, they will actually mimic words! They rarely bark, but "woo" constantly. I love it! Mine love kitties, but my breeders daughter has two that kill cats, so they MUST be introduced at puppyhood! INCREDIBLY intelligent, but not at all a retreiver.You will not have an offleash dog, EVER. they think "come" is a game. They are stubborn, strong willed, escape artists, destuctive if bored (and ALL through puppyhood), HIGH energy (2miles min. per day with mine), need a "job" (mine pull sleds in winter and carts in summer), need LOTS of socialization or they WILL become dog/animal aggressive, extremely pack oriented (they need to be indoors with you). But they are THE BEST DOGS EVER!!!!! Please do your research though!!
Added:
i groom my own at the wash your dog place in my area, and i pay $15 vs $75 a pop, so if you can do it yourself you save a ton of money, and you don't have to worry about them being kept in a kennel for hours. (mine go nuts! my male was pro-groomed once and almost broke the kennel from the wall. High seperation anxiety in these dogs) PS_ I am NOT against grooming , just not for my guys. my cats go to the groomer regularly.
Added:
Huskies do fine in warmer climates if properly cared for. I know of 2 full teams that live year round in Reno, which happens to be where we are relocating to next year.Siberians have hollow hair, which helps them adapt to different climates. They do need A/C when it gets too hot though, just like any other dog
Added:
Sugar and Spice-
Neither of my dogs have skin conditions and are extremely healthy and on fantastic foods and supplements, and they shed ALOT. Depending on where you live and if yours are indoor mostly dogs, maybemaybe they shed a little less, but *purebred* Siberian Huskies shed all year long, and it is alot of fur..