So, I know there is a whole thread of some of the dumb crap people say about our breed. I haven't even brought Caoimhe home yet and I have already been defending my choice of dog and educating people on the breed. It's amazing how everyone is suddenly an expert about sibes as soon as you mention you're getting one. People seem to inhale deeply and say "ohh have you ever had one before? they are a lot of work."

Yes, thank you... I've been researching my whole life just about. How does one become an experienced husky owner, if you should not get one prior to be experienced??

Anyway, I was online and saw this post and pretty much saw red:

one of the worst dogs to own

1.0
if you don't know much about dogs, do NOT get this breed. They are independent and do what ever they want to do. They are energetic and hyper. They look at life like the world is their kingdom and life is a game to play and be happy with all the time. If you do get one, you must train this pup at 6 weeks old. try to teach the pup not to be hyper and do lots of lap therapy so that the pup will be able to contain itself and just be still. These dogs are used for racing and pulling for a reason. they don't need to think much, just run fast. Yes they are pretty. Yes, once in a while you can get one with brains.

People are really ignorant. Maybe you just have enough brain cells to actually be able to own one. UGH


That's my rant for the day.

ahhh yet another pearl of wisdom from the same person:

for the most part you are right on. If you were talking to a non doggy person, who likes the look of this breed, would you recommend this breed? I most certainly would NOT. if the family had young children, No again. this dog will run them down, run into them, and lick them all over causing havoc to the new dog owners. This breed needs to be owned by those that understand and know what they are getting into. there fore, I can not accept your high score. it is my opinion that you are harming a family when you suggest this breed for them in the way you have. Remember there are many many people that are trusting and who are dog stupid. Many do not know how to even hold a dog, walk a dog or command a dog. I would say, try not to look at this from your eyes, but from a new dog owners eyes.

That's just blows my mind. Karli is a smart dog, she learned extremely fast. Its the puppies that are taken from their litters at six weeks old that cause problems. I have never had an issue with my husky, she makes me see the world through her eyes. This may sound stupid to some, but when she gets excited about things, I get excited because she is. Everything is a new and amazing to her and I love that about my husky. She doesn't see the world as her kingdom, she sees it as a wonderful place, like looking through the eyes of a child. Everything is innocent and new and amazing. She's just so happy about life. And children? Karli thinks they are coolest thing since sliced bread. I took her with me when I babysat for a friend of mine, and they played chase. Aly would run down the hallway, Karli would chase her. They did this back and forth repeatedly. They never touched each other, and loved it. Ignorant people...grrrr

Right?

Should people educate themselves about this breed? Absolutely, but I feel that goes for ANY breed, not just ours. ANY breed comes with their own set of issues. The 6 weeks old part killed me too.

Come to find out that she is a breeder: http://schwarzkennels.tripod.com/id278.html

She gave every other breed of dog she reviewed a low score (malamutes, labs, GSD to name a few)

The only one that was "5 star" Alsatians. I've never even heard of them before, oh and what do you know, she breeds them!

So she gave GSD's a low score and Alsatians a high score? Forgive my ignorance but are they not one and the same.

On her website, she attempts to go into how they are not the same, but then in the same breath is admitting they are. I think she is a confused woman.

ccurran07 wrote:

People seem to inhale deeply and say "ohh have you ever had one before? they are a lot of work."

This... Is so true... On top of that they ask you if you're serious and give you a weird look like this: O_o

Also FWIW on the lady who rated them lowly and said they were dangerous around kids, I'd be more worried about my tyrant sisters (who knock themselves over on a daily basis anyways) squeezing one to death. Just saying. xD

This really depends on who you talk to about your pup. My neighbor laughed when I said people say huskies are hyper. She admitted mine is very mellow, but overall as a breed not too hyper. Lets just say she has border collies.

ccurran07 wrote:

On her website, she attempts to go into how they are not the same, but then in the same breath is admitting they are. I think she is a confused woman.

It's people like this that should NOT be breeding in the first place.

techigirl78 wrote:

This really depends on who you talk to about your pup.  My neighbor laughed when I said people say huskies are hyper.  She admitted mine is very mellow, but overall as a breed not too hyper.  Lets just say she has border collies.

DEFINITELY a hyper and sometimes very anxious breed. I did a lot of research on border collies before we decided a Sibe would fit best with our lifestyle, as we were considering getting one. They're the smartest dogs in the world but seem out of my league as far as always needing a job.

Of course, Sibes, as working dogs, also need a job, but from what I read about border collies it seems like they're a lot like me: always needing something to do every minute of the day. I can handle it if it's me, but anything else and I think I'd go nuts!  

I have a border collie mix and my Sibe... there is NO contest there for who is the hyper one than NEEDS a job...

Also I believe that Murphy (my sibe) may be smarter than Dolly (BC). Dolly is easier to train, but Murphy's creative problem solving skills are scary...

Although, I wouldn't recommend a husky for just anyone. I do think they require some time and effort that some people may not be up to.

In the average persons eyes biddability = intelligence.

^ This.
I feel like the average sibe is smarter than the average pom or lab, but I was recently skimming the ratings from "The Intelligence of Dogs" wiki page at work with my coworkers. I haven't read the book so I don't know the exact methods or whatever, and I'm a bit biased, but ranking those breeds at 45, 23, and 7 respectively? Where 1 is the brightest dog? Boo. They rate on speed of learning a command and consistency obeying it :/
Nothing against poms or labs, by the way.

If you're talking about The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, it's a decent book but take it was a grain of salt. Or a heap of salt. The way Coren rates "intelligence" in that book and some of the so-called experiments in the book are quite laughable. I have two of his books and I really enjoy them, but there are parts in both of them where I'm like, "How the heck did you possible make that connection. That correlation makes zero logical sense. .___." And he also has a lot of really good facts so it's a toss up.

Ceara hit the nail on the head many of these lists rank breeds based on their biddability as a representation of the breed's 'intelligence'.  Since the Siberian was bred to be independent thinkers and decision makers the 'average' owner can easily see them as stupid.

I too think this breed is amazingly intelligent- I can't tell you how many times my dogs have known better where the trail was than I did! They may have argued with me, but one of these times I'll remember they were probably right...

If you don't spend time with them I can see how you might think they are stupid.  For example, if Maya and I are playing fetch with a Kong and it rolls behind something it's lost, chasing and catching the bouncy thing is part of the game, searching for it is not (My Springer loved to find hidden toys, searching was the game).  Also being a headstrong breed with a great play drive (yes I wrote play) they would rather have fun, learning needs to be more of a game than a drill, at least this works somewhat for me.  
And in the end, I love my dog, all of you love your dogs, and that is whats most important, not what some  self proclaimed know it all says on some web site.  I know better, all of you know better, maybe the best thing when encountering the misinformed public is to just smile and wish them a nice day, then at least they can say "You know, the people who own those dumb huskies are some of the nicest people...".

HuskyMom09 wrote:

Ceara hit the nail on the head many of these lists rank breeds based on their biddability as a representation of the breed's 'intelligence'.  Since the Siberian was bred to be independent thinkers and decision makers the 'average' owner can easily see them as stupid.

I too think this breed is amazingly intelligent- I can't tell you how many times my dogs have known better where the trail was than I did!  They may have argued with me, but one of these times I'll remember they were probably right...

That's what I responded by saying, basically. These dogs were bred to think independently and make life or death decisions if need be. You're right though, if you're lucky you get one with a brain  

I just hate when people pull comments out of their butt without having any knowledge or experience with the topic to make an informed comment. If I don't know something, I keep my mouth shut.

The problem is they really don't know but they THINK they do, therefore they don't feel they need to keep their mouth shut.

And on Siberian intelligence, absolutely they are some of the smartest dogs I've ever met; forget about "ranking" on the intelligence scale. Some Siberians I truly believe to be humans in dogs' bodies.  

Some dogs are smarter than most owners... I'll leave it at that  

BTW... ccurran and capella are your pups siblings? Seems by your timelines they were born on the same day?

PensFan1028 wrote:

Some dogs are smarter than most owners... I'll leave it at that  

BTW...  ccurran and capella are your pups siblings? Seems by your timelines they were born on the same day?

Yeah, both of their puppies are siblings. They're also both still with the breeder for several more weeks (they turned 6 weeks old today. )

AMB wrote:

PensFan1028 wrote:

Some dogs are smarter than most owners... I'll leave it at that  

BTW...  ccurran and capella are your pups siblings? Seems by your timelines they were born on the same day?

Yeah, both of their puppies are siblings. They're also both still with the breeder for several more weeks (they turned 6 weeks old today. )

haha that would make sense... sorry it's Monday  

It's true; Layla and Caoihme are sisters. I pick Layla up on Oct. 16.

hahah I just saw this. Happy 6 weeks babies!! I get to visit tomorrow  

Yay! Have fun and say hi to everyone for me.