Hello, I am a new husky owner as of yesterday. For years I have admired huskies, I think it started when I was little watching movies like "Balto", but I have never been able to adopt a husky until now (to give you an idea of how long I have wanted a husky, I am a junior in high school). Day before yesterday my dear Dimitri "Dima" was in the local animal shelter picked up as a stray, and I couldn't believe it, he became available for adoption on November 18, 2010, I was there half an hour before he shelter opened, because I knew with all my heart he was the dog for me.
Dima is a six year old, purebred white husky, currently cuddling up next to me. He was at the shelter for a week before I adopted him. I will post pictures soon, but for now I just want him to settle into his new home. If anyone has advice I would greatly appreciate it, for although I have studied the breed I think learning from those with hands on experience is more valuable than a "text book" view.

Congrats on the new dog It's great that you adopted a Husky, so many need adopting rather than getting a breeder puppy. I can't wait for pictures, I love pure white Huskies.

Do you know anything about his life before the shelter?

This is definitely the place to come for Husky advice. I'd give you some of mine but to be honest I have two puppies, 16 months and 12 weeks, so I haven't much experience with older dogs.

I have little to no idea what his life was like before the shelter, he was micro-chipped, but the owners neglected to register him with themselves, and the place where he got his chip hadn't seen him in five years, not to mention it was hundreds of miles away. All they could give us was his former name "Vodka", age, that he was neutered and purebred.

He knows how to stay, sit, and down, and is great on a leash, so I am guessing that his owners just didn't want to pay the impound fee at the shelter. It is hard to believe that a. I was lucky enough to adopt him and B that he is terrific with kids, dogs, cats, and other animals in any situation. This morning I took him for a walk down the street, when full grown pit bull that seemed to have been nursing, came out of its yard. It started to advance toward Dima and I, growling, barking and the like. Carefully I tried to put myself between Dima and the other dog, but Dima gently nudged me out of the way and blocked the way of the pit, just standing there, not growling or anything until the pit went home. He is a lover not a fighter.

Welcome Jennifer and kudos to you for adopting. Dima is adorable, can't wait to see more pics!

Welcome Jennifer! Dima is BEAUTIFUL. I love him!

Ditto on the kudos for adopting Both mine are adopted as well. As for making him feel at home, it sounds like you're already doing a great job. I would start crate training him and giving him a space that is only his that he can be "safe" in. If he came with nothing that smells like him, he will be very insecure at first, but just be patient and give him time to settle in and you should be fine

Welcome and thanks so much for rescuing a shelter animal, she looks wonderful! Rescues know and are eternally grateful to their rescuers.

Oh, he's a looker, allright. Congrats on the rescue!
Sounds like he's already protecting you, against that pit bull. Lucky outcome there.
I have three rescued Sibes and recently re-rescued a beagle mix. Love, patience and the ability to be the alpha will work wonders towards getting him settled in. At his age, he is probably past the search & destroy stage. Probably................
Welcome to you AND to Dima. Enjoy!

Thank you all for your warn welcome, Dima and I both appreciate it.