I must be insane

[GinaF]

For years I've wanted a Siberian Husky. Years. However, I always felt my kids were too young to have one or that my house was too small or it just wasn't the right time. They're active, which would force me to get off my lazy can and do something.

Well I've started looking... no more excuses. I want a Sibe... and I may have found the one that fits. I'm waiting to hear back from the breeder. She's a retired show dog/retired breeder.

Wish me luck!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

AWESOME! They are BEAUTIFUL dogs!

 

[SandyBee]

Good Luck,

Beautiful dogs!!
Feathers and dog hair, you sure will be busy!!

 

[Echo]

Oh I had a Siberian for 16 years! A red/white with blue eyes. She was beautiful! However, you'll have to be careful with the birds, she managed to kill one years ago ....

I LOVE huskies!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Gina, you ARE crazy for not getting an entire team of them. Hey, with your winters, you can take them sledding. They can pull you on your skies, too. BAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

GOOD for you!!! I hope it all works out.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm on my 3rd and 4th husky. They're wonderful dogs and GREAT with kids, NOT good with birds!!!! My girl actually protected my old neighbor's 2 year old at one point and growl at her parents cause they were coming too close to the baby. My huskies are very good children dogs and they would require a fenced in yard to run. They're escape artists!!! They're diggers too!!! If you have a mole problem, well, they won't be there anymore....And be sure to brush brush brush, lots and lots of hair to deal with....lol

 

[Merlee]

If you move to Alaska, you might start a new hobby -- sledding. lol.

 

[GinaF]

Gina, you ARE crazy for not getting an entire team of them. Hey, with your winters, you can take them sledding. They can pull you on your skies, too. BAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

GOOD for you!!! I hope it all works out.

I'm working on it Wendy. Baby steps. Let me sneak this one in first and if he doesn't notice, I can add another. Besides, if we end up moving to Alaska, I'm going to need a team just to get to the end of the driveway and check the mail!

Seriously, I'm excited. I've been researching the breed for a few years. I think I'm ready for the responsibility of an active dog and I'm really partial to the arctic breeds. With this one being a retire show dog, at least she's trained in obedience already, which is why I'm going that route instead of a baby.

 

[ShellyBorg]

I do dog training and I have never meet a husky with out a high prey drive. You can work with it, just be very aware.

 

[SilverSage]

I have owned 3. Love them to DEATH. They are brilliant, they are great escape artists no matter how much they love you, They go insane and MUST have HIGH INTENSITY activity EVERY DAY (I hope you like running!!) and will chew all of your things if they don't get it, they have the attention span of a gnat, and all in all they are angel dogs and have a super special place in my heart!!! Just a suggestion based on years of owning them - consider and electronic collar. Not necessarily one that shocks, but at least a vibrating one. The reason is, with such a high energy level you will have a very VERY hard time giving enough activity while on a leash, if that is even possible. However, they are HIGHLY distractable dogs, so off-leash is a very dangerous option, even for a well trained one. The electronic vibration can get the attention of a distracted dog and is a more humane option than keeping them on a leash. of course, if you live in the country and have lots of land for your new snow angel to run on, then you should be fine without one Best of luck!

P.S. They can seriously escape from almost anything - mine could dig out from under anything, squeeze through impossibly small holes, CLIMB FENCES, jump really high, and UNFASTEN her collar - I suggest you get the buckling kind that fastens like a belt, not the snap on kind. Mine loved us to death, but she needed more activity than we could possibly given her (She has 1-2 hours of walking/running every day, and played with kids the rest of the day). Sometimes she would be home before we knew she was gone, like if we had been at the store she would get out, go for a run, and wait for us on the front steps, all pleased with herself and ready for her evening walk.

 

[MikeyTN]

Here's my huskies....they're chewers when young but once they mature they're not bad chewers, they can be taught to leave things alone to stop the chewing.

Here's Alexis a red and white with green eyes, she'll be 9 years old on December 5th. We had her since she was 5 months old.

Here's Rocco he just turned 6 last month on the 25th, he's all white with bi-colored eyes. We've had him since he was 5 months old as well.

 

[PetoftheDay]

Yes, definitely count on challenges containing a husky - fences just seem to encourage them to get over! If things don't work out with the breeder, there are good Sibe rescue groups - mainly because people fall in love with the adorableness that is a Siberian Husky puppy, and don't do any research to find out they can be strong, stubborn, crafty dogs with a need to run, and often a strong prey drive!

 

[getwozzy]

I have 2 huskies, both red and white. They're actually half siblings...they share the same dad. Mishka (10) is currently blind, but that doesn't stop her much. Apollo (9) is the biggest love bug ever. He is such a sweetheart, and they're both wonderful family dogs.

They can get out of anything. So fences need to be tall so they can't jump over, and it has to be the right material so they can't climb over. They are seriously prey driven and have killed any small animal that have wandered into their dog yard.

and this is what happens when you leave them unsupervised with furniture...

 

[sonja]

As a husky rescuer for 18 years, and a current owner of 5 huskies, I have to disagree with Silver Sage that keeping a husky on a leash is not humane. I would never let one of my dogs off leash, even with an e-collar. They are so escape oriented and prey driven that they will run away if not leashed or contained by a fence. Maybe not the first time, but they will. I can not tell you how many lost huskies have come in with e-collars on. And, sadly, how many hit-by-car DOA's, too. To me, the most humane thing is to keep my dogs safe, and that means on a leash or in a secure fence.

 

[getwozzy]

I also keep my huskies either in a fenced yard that can keep them in, or on a leash...they are never allowed to roam "free" because like others have said- they have the attention span of an ADD gnat and are extremely prey driven that regardless of their training, they would chase after something and just run and run and run and who knows where they'd end up. However- my good friend has a malamute that she's had since a puppy (2 yrs now) and trains her VERY well and I've seen her off leash- she behaves amazingly well; I was VERY impressed.

I also can't use certain collars and harnesses on mishka because she's figured out how to get out of certain ones lol

 

[ShellyBorg]

I have found malamutes much easy to work with, they HAVE a attention span! LOL But the off side is they are a little more "one family" type dog and are no where as out going and social as the husky.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have to agree to keep them leashed while outside unless you want to lose them. But I have actually witnessed a very well behaved Husky that listened to her owner and does not run away at all.

 

[kq_fan]

Oh my gosh! They are SO beautiful! I want one so bad but mum and dad sad no so yaaa but Good Luck!!!

 

[GinaF]

I've been talking to 3 different breeders to gain knowledge and see if I can find a dog that's a good fit for me. For the moment I'm thinking of a retired show dog that's pointed in obedience. This way the training is done for me.

At some point, I might get into sled dogs, but again, more knowledge and more research. I do have 2 people that are willing to mentor me in mushing. Who knows.. this could be the start of an interesting sport!

 

[sonja]

Mushing would be awesome!!
Just a suggestion as you are gaining info: also talk with some rescuers in addition to breeders. You will get another perspective on the breed which can help in your decision.