Few other dog breeds are as impressive in appearance as the Siberian Husky. Their gentle temperament and playful nature make them excellent family pets, as long as you can provide them with the exercise and companionship they need. They are a truly unique breed with their hardiness and weather resistant double coat, protecting their skin from extreme temperatures in the hottest or coldest of conditions. While they are known for their striking blue eyes, not all dogs are this colour, some are brown or two-eyed, one blue, one brown. As a proud owner of 6 of the breed, here are some tips that I have learned from both research and experience.
Do
- Get a husky companion for your Siberian if possible. Siberians are pack dogs and get bored easily. They don’t like to be left alone. If you do, you may find large dug holes in your garden when you return home, as Siberians can be quite destructive when bored. If you introduce them to another pet, then they have a better chance of adjusting as puppies. They will mix successfully with cats and other dogs as long as you introduce them young. Our 6 Siberians live in peace and relative harmony with four cats.
- Fence in your yard securely, making sure the foundation is deep and the fence is too high for them to jump over. Huskies are keen diggers and world-class jumpers and are great escape artists. Also, their favorite pastime in the garden seems to be digging in their water bowls.
- Make sure your husky gets enough exercise. As they are working dogs, Siberians are not a good fit for energy efficient homes. However, if you have a pet dog, they will enjoy playing “cum” with each other and will often exhaust themselves running around your yard, if it is large enough.
- Invest time and patience in training them. Siberians are very intelligent but also willful dogs. They may not do something unless they see a reason to do it, not just to please their owner.
- Keep him on a leash at all times when outside in an open area. As many Sibe owners know, huskies like to run and run, and they lose all sense of reality. Unfortunately, many huskies get lost or injured due to this determination, for by the time they realize they have outgrown their owner or are too far from home, it is too late. Worse still, they could find themselves running into the path of a car.
- Have them checked regularly for hip dysplasia starting at age 6. While the breed does not have a wide range of documented health problems, they are prone to hip dysplasia, especially if they do not have high levels of fat and protein in their diet. The lifespan of a husky is generally 12 to 15 years. While they are known to withstand the coldest temperatures, their double coat also offers protection to their skin from the sun in hot weather, although with their very dense coat, your Husky’s favorite position may be sitting in front of the unit. air conditioning, lying down. on his back with all four legs in the air!
- If, like me, you live in a developing country (or area) without Western standards of veterinary care, check very carefully the type of anesthesia your Sibe will be given. Have your vet do a test if necessary. Serious reactions in huskies are possible if they are not given an equivalent to human anesthesia. I speak here from experience. Fortunately, I had read about the dangers early on and therefore had to prevent them from being castrated as the right type of anesthesia was not available. However, there came a time when one of my Huskies needed immediate surgery for a life or death situation and I almost lost her due to her poor reaction to anesthesia. Her entire face and body swelled up and required emergency care. I now live in an area where good quality anesthesia (human type) is available and the local vet understands the peculiarities of the breed; so since then they have all been neutralized without any problem.
Whose
- Get a Husky if you want a watchdog. Due to their kind and loving nature, they are friendly to everyone, even strangers. They make excellent “watchdogs” though, they will see a burglar break into his house and greet him enthusiastically, then watch him walk off with his TV, computer, etc., and give him a friendly lick to get him to follow his lead! path!
- Worrying too much about getting ready. They are very low maintenance and require a minimum of daily brushing. However, twice a year they shed profusely and then need more attention.
- Expect your Husky to bark. Instead, they have a great ability to talk, court, howl, and croon and can make complete sentences when interacting with their owners and to initiate play. These dogs are very talkative, you never know what sounds they are going to make next, and they seem to have a growing vocabulary as the years go by. Some of mine are now able to make complete sentences, talk about the weather and the like!
- Overfeed them. Siberians are thrifty (and picky) eaters, so they don’t require as much food as you’d think. Due to their sensitive digestive systems (remember they are sled dogs) they may do better with fish-based products and white meat rather than red meat. They also need fish oil in their diet to maintain a healthy coat and nails. This could be in the form of sardines or many dry foods and veterinary supplements contain Omega 3’s today.
Invest time and love in caring for your husky and it will reward you with its friendly, cuddly and cheerful nature. They are loyal, intelligent dogs, good with children, affectionate with everyone, and rarely bark.
For a related article on Siberian Husky uncommon facts for owners, visit http://dog-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/huskies_5_not_so_common_facts