huskys are they a good type of dog to buy?

[Bec]

Quote:
I'm not trying to steer you away, but to let you know ahead of time that they are a HAND FULL.

The good sides; they are beautiful, loyal, friendly, and will work hard at whatever task you give them! I can't wait to have them again.

If you do want one PLEASE rescue it.

Read Wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Husky

I have to completely agree here! Very good advice!

I work at a dog grooming salon and we have quite some Husky's come in. I have found all this to be very true!

 

[wood&feathers]

Ditto all the above. My mother has an 11 year old Husky that is a handful. She is great with people but a threat to ANY small animal. She also perfected the art of killing skunks without getting totally sprayed. She is a menace to all chickens, and pretty devious at misleading humans into trusting her.

After all these years of reasonably trouble free doggie-ness, just this year she got in BIG trouble. She got loose when my sister was taking her to the car to come visit our farm. She bolted across the street, straight at the neighbor's tiny mop dog. Our other dog watched in horror as Nina bit the dog across the back and ribs, puncturing a lung. When my sister screamed she dropped it, but the family paid the owners all the vet bills to the tune of $1500.

Don't BUY a dog. There are many purebreds available from rescues and shelters who are homeless through no fault of their own. I just rescued a white Lab from our local shelter who was a give-up. Family in the military gets transferred, couldn't keep him, was gonna be euthanized the next day. He is a total sweetheart and came housebroken and knows a few commands. No faults I can find.

 

[michickenwrangler]

wood&feathers :

Ditto all the above. My mother has an 11 year old Husky that is a handful. She is great with people but a threat to ANY small animal. She also perfected the art of killing skunks without getting totally sprayed. She is a menace to all chickens, and pretty devious at misleading humans into trusting her.

After all these years of reasonably trouble free doggie-ness, just this year she got in BIG trouble. She got loose when my sister was taking her to the car to come visit our farm. She bolted across the street, straight at the neighbor's tiny mop dog. Our other dog watched in horror as Nina bit the dog across the back and ribs, puncturing a lung. When my sister screamed she dropped it, but the family paid the owners all the vet bills to the tune of $1500.

Don't BUY a dog. There are many purebreds available from rescues and shelters who are homeless through no fault of their own. I just rescued a white Lab from our local shelter who was a give-up. Family in the military gets transferred, couldn't keep him, was gonna be euthanized the next day. He is a total sweetheart and came housebroken and knows a few commands. No faults I can find.

Actually, this explains why Blaze, my lab/husky, goes after small dogs. She pinned a dachshund--the dog of one of my mother's neighbors. And once when I was living downstate, I took her to the park. On the far end, a woman was walking with two small dogs. I had to physically restrain Blaze so that she wouldn't go after them.

She's fine with chickens though.

However, we do encourage her to chase rodents and cats (neighbor cats keep trying to get fish out of our pond) so maybe she gets her predator outlet from that.

Yes, get a dog from a rescue. My mother's dog is very ill and she's already put in for another dog at the Golden Retriever rescue and they said that they have to occasionally reject dogs because they don't have enough foster homes. She may foster one or two in the future.​

 

[SillyChicken]

High pray drive
May wander
Very Independent

Would not be my choice of dog unless I lived in cold climate and wanted to sled them or something to keep them active.

 

[sunnychooks]

Here is a website that can give you lots of info. I've owned Siberians for over 20 years and currently have 17 (yes, I race!). The information in the previous posts was dead on. Especially about the high prey drive. If this is the breed you choose please remember that he MUST be confined at all times! Good luck with whatever breed you choose!
http://www.shca.org/shcahp2b.htm

 

[BunnyMomma]

I would not get a Husky.

All the above is true, and they are on the top ten list of aggressive dogs that have killed children and attacked their owners. Not all Huskies would be this way, but they could be a possible liability. They are a beautiful dog and have a purpose as sled dogs in snowy climates.
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/

 

[TennesseeTruly]

We have an absolutely drop dead gorgeous husky. People constantly mistake her for a wolf because she's silver/grey & white and she's parti-eyed. She just turned 2 years old at the beginning of the month. Two things. One she has a very high prey drive. Unfortunately ours broke through our fencing and killed 75 chickens and guineas in the summer 09. Second thing is she's high energy and if her energy isn't worked out outside, she'll work it out inside and if she does, forget it! She HAS to be crated when unattended inside after my husband trusted her one night and she ate his wallet with $600 cash, all his credit cards, bank cards, all ID's in it. She ate his cell phone and my brand new pair of glasses that I had just paid $325. for, as well.

Sasha LOVES her crate. If there's something missing in the house, we know its probably in her crate. The most beloved things in the house are always in her crate. Especially things that daddy loves like the phone, remote for the tv, his glasses or his shoes. She has an infinity for his shoes!

That being said, I love our husky. You have to be firm with them and training is a MUST! As long as they respect YOU as their pack leader, you'll have few problems! I have heard people say that they bark bark bark but Sasha doesn't bark. She howls but doesn't bark. If she barks, there's a real problem and I mean a major problem. I've only heard her bark 3 times in 2 years.

Laurie

 

[woodmort]

Huskies are another dog that has been Disneyized. While their a great dog for pulling sleds, they aren't meant to be house pets--I'd go for some other breed if I were you.

 

[Wifezilla]

They are smart, active, and NOT suited for a family who isn't in total control and isn't home most of the time. I know a couple that both worked and had 2 teenagers and a youngster with bunch of sports activities. Every day they came home something else would be eaten. The remote, the cell phones, glasses, etc... The dog also used to hide stuff in the back yard. It really liked to hide wallets. They spent over $800 and gave it away after a year to someone who was retired and actually understood huskies.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have a friend that has a husky. Here's info about him:

Extremely active
Sheds more than any dog I've ever seen
Escape artist
Doesn't do well in the heat, they have a pool, so he goes swimming when he's hot.
High prey drive, he'll kill anything that comes into his territory
All plastic toys left out are chewed to pieces
He can open doors, yup, if he wants in the house, he'll open the door to come in. They have to keep the door locked if they don't want him in the house.
Very vocal
Did I say active? He bounces like a deer, it's hilarious.


He is very good with kids, but he does require a lot of attention. Not just a lazy house dog.