Owning a husky is a delight and a challenge. If you are looking to buy or adopt a Siberian husky you should read this article first. Let’s see what you need to know before getting a husky.
Husky – The friendliest dog
Siberian Huskies are already known over the world as being friendly dogs and are the most people-oriented dogs. It’s important to know a little bit about their background if you want to understand why they instinctively act sometimes so friendly. Read more about Siberian Husky breed characteristics here.
Siberian Huskies and Chukchi Tribe
The Chukchi are the people who originated the breed. They raised the dogs like they were a part of the family. Women and children of the Chukchi tribe cared for husky by giving them food and attention. Especially, because the dogs were very helpful and necessary for Chukchi Tribe. Huskies assisted them at daily activities such as transportation or caring for children.
With this background, you shouldn’t be surprised if your amazing husky will want to be an integral part of your family. While he will be loyal to the family, he will also have room, and lots of room, for other people or dogs. He will be friendly with everybody, literally with everyone!
Don’t get a husky if you want a guard dog!
Huskies aren’t aggressive and they won’t start barking at the strangers at the gate or at the strangers from your yard. They might even give a friendly greet to an intruder. So, no to guarding.
If you want to be responsible for caring for another soul that will provide you with years of unconditional love (though those treats are a pretty good bribe…) and attention, then you should get a husky.
Your lifestyle has to click with a husky lifestyle
You need to know that huskies love and need to exercise a lot. And it’s not a little bit of fooling around the park. We’re talking about 2 hours of exercise a day. The minimum exercise should be 45 minutes daily. Try to schedule the walk around the same time each day. Dogs like the routine and they will wait as patiently as they can that moment.
You need to be ready to go on a walk or, even better for a run, no matter the weather. Keep in mind their characteristics when you exercise with a husky. Huskies shouldn’t be exercised in warm weather, and they are happier in cold weather.
The warm climate and Siberian Huskies
Huskies will adapt and they can live in warm zones because they are adaptable animals. You will have to be more careful with your furry friend. If you are living in a zone with warmer climate, pick the best hours for exercise. Morning or late evening are the right moments when you can walk your dog in the summer. Place your hand on the asphalt and see how warm it is. This a good method to know if your best friend’s paws will be safe. Don’t forget to take with you a bottle of water. If you can find a place for swimming, it’s even better. Keep in mind the safety precautions!
Winter with Siberian Huskies
During winter you will have to exercise with your dog too. You don’t like to spend a few hours in the cold? Then you should think again if a husky is the best dog for you. If you don’t exercise them, they will have too much energy to burn on your furniture, walls, carpets, and so on. These mischievous quadrupeds are pretty inventive.
If you are an outdoor person even when it’s freezing cold, then you will have lots of fun with your best friend. Sledding it’s the best activity that you can get with your husky. They have a natural ability to pull sleds.
You shouldn’t leave your husk to run free without a leash or a harness if you are in a forest or an open space. He will try to run away to discover more. That is another characteristic inherited from his ancestors. If you have a yard, you must place high fences. By nature, huskies are escape artists. Keep in mind that they don’t try to escape from you, they just want to discover more.
Training Siberian husky
Training a Siberian Husky it’s not an easy job. It takes a lot of patience. Stubborn, strong-willed, independent and incredibly intelligent, training huskies will be a challenge. First of all, you need to earn the husky’s respect and trust. Start training your Siberian husky at an early age – probably the first thing should be potty training – see my guide here. At first, get some tasty treats and start with simple commands such as sit, down, stay or shake. You should take your husky for a walk to burn some energy before starting training. We will talk more about training huskies on this blog on further posts – see here how to train him to play fetch.
Siberian Husky – Washing and brushing
Siberian Husky – Washing
You should give your husky a bathe at least once a year but no more than once a month (check out my Grooming guide). They are able to do a lot of self-cleaning regularly. Huskies have a double coat of hair. The frequent bathing will dry the top of the coat resulting in thinning the hair and eliminating the essential natural oils. If we pointed out the oils, you should know that huskies don’t produce an excess of oil. It’s another reason why they don’t need to be bathed so often.
Still, huskies will get dirty, and I mean really dirty. It’s in their nature to dig and get in the mud. And this is perfectly OK, in my opinion. They should have as much fun as possible. If this happens, use proper shampoo occasionally, or water alone is enough to remove dirt.
Siberian Husky – Brushing
That perfect coat needs a regular and thorough brushing at least once a week. Keep in mind that huskies will shed, and they will shed a lot. You can help this process by brushing your dog more frequently. During shedding, you can brush your husky every day if you can.
Research as much as possible
Before you decide to take home a husky you have to research as much as possible about huskies and see if he, or she, it’s the best fit for you and your family.
I strongly disagree with getting a husky for a small child or another family member that doesn’t know what it takes to take care of a husky. They likely will not be able to care for the husky on their own if you are not able to provide assistance with the pet’s training and care. Huskies will play along with kids, but you will need to train, feed and care for the dog. A husky, or any dog it’s not just a gift or an object. It’s a soul that you are responsible for.
For all the care that you will give to your furry buddy, you will be rewarded with beautiful moments and lots of fun.
6 Comments
We adopted a beautiful female Husky in late December, We have for many years raised, loved and lived in our pack with the offspring of our Belgian Shepherd, Wolf hybrid and our former neighbors Newfoundland Male and 3 generations of their puppies, the last just passing @ 16 years, and they raised with us our latest family member a Landseer/Newfoundland male now 2 years old, the Husky pup is around 7-8 months and is very happy with her new pack and home.
The information on your website was well written, informative and gave us a laugh as well.
Thank you,
John, Jane and family
Washington State
I’m so happy to hear how much you care for dogs and with how much love you talk about all of them. I’m glad that you like my articles and I hope you’ll keep reading them. Keep in touch.
I really want to get a husky. I have been researching them like crazy lately, and find your website very helpful. 🙂 I have taken care of my friend’s dogs before, so I know basic dog care, but I have never trained or owned any type of dog.
I want to get a husky, but I don’t want to end up having to rehome him for one reason or another.
Questions:
1. Is my climate okay for a husky? (25-30°C in summer)
2. Is it okay if I raise him outside?
3. Will his teeth be okay without being brushed? (I mean, I can probably live with that.)
4. Can you train a husky to stay in your yard without being there all the time to make sure he doesn’t run away? (We have an acre and a half, so we have planty of space for a dog.)
Sorry for the delay, I just saw your comment.
To answer at your questions:
1) Is my climate okay for a husky? (25-30°C in summer):
Summers with hot temperatures can be challenging for Huskies, as they are prone to overheating. It’s crucial to provide them with plenty of shade, access to fresh water, and a cool place to retreat to during hot weather. Consider keeping your Husky indoors or in a climate-controlled environment during the hottest parts of the day. Huskies should not be shaved, because the coats will also help with the sun and the hot weather.
It also depends on how acclimatized your husky is. Just as like us humans. If you are used at 30-degree temperatures then you’ll find really cold if you go to Finland.
2) Is it okay if I raise him outside?
Raising a Husky outside is possible, but it comes with some important considerations. Huskies are social dogs that thrive on human interaction and can become lonely or anxious if left alone for extended periods. If you plan to raise your Husky primarily outside, make sure they have proper shelter from the elements, access to clean water, and plenty of mental and physical stimulation. It’s also crucial to provide a secure enclosure to prevent them from escaping, as Huskies are known to be escape artists.
3) Will his teeth be okay without being brushed? (I mean, I can probably live with that.)
While brushing a Husky’s teeth is ideal for maintaining good oral health, many dogs can live without daily brushing. However, neglecting dental care can lead to dental problems, including gum disease and tooth decay. You can help keep your Husky’s teeth healthier by providing dental chews or toys designed to reduce tartar and plaque buildup. Additionally, regular vet check-ups can help identify any dental issues early on, so you can address them promptly.
It really doesn’t take so much time to brush a husky’s teeth and it is also a good bonding experience. Make it fun.
4) Can you train a Husky to stay in your yard without being there all the time to make sure he doesn’t run away? (We have an acre and a half, so we have plenty of space for a dog.)
Training a Husky to stay in your yard can be challenging, as they are known for being adventurous. They have a strong prey drive and may be inclined to chase after small animals or explore beyond the yard’s boundaries.
While it’s possible to train a Husky to stay in your yard, be prepared for the possibility that they may still try to escape, especially if they are not mentally and physically stimulated enough. Regular exercise and mental enrichment are essential for Huskies to keep them happy and reduce the likelihood of escape attempts.
Hi,
Where I live, it gets hot in the summer. I would like to get a husky, but the only way I can do that, is if it lives outside all the time. Would it be okay to have a husky living outside in 30 degree Celsius weather? (We do have a river next to our property, if that would make any difference…)
Thanks
-ResearchingHuskies
My Huskies are used to these summer temperatures (30 degrees Celsius) but we experience all four seasons, and sometimes there’s more humidity than we’d like. To keep my dogs comfortable, they always have access to a doggie pool filled with cold water when they’re outdoors. But they also can stay inside when is too hot outside. We schedule our walks for the early morning or late evening hours to avoid the maximum heat of the day. It’s crucial to provide shelter with shade or a cooler area to prevent your dog from overheating. Ensuring that your dog has continuous access to shade, whether it’s provided naturally by trees or through a shelter you’ve set up, is essential. A cool, well-ventilated space can provide relief for dogs from the heat.