To try to summarize, I've always wanted a dog and with the experience I've had with my friends Husky I really want a husky. Currently, my housemate has lived with me for 3 years with a dutch shepherd. He is now moving out of the house so I want to get a dog of my own.

My girlfriend' sister has a husky which I absolutely love. She is slightly smaller than a full size husky, obedient, lays around the house when you want it to but is ready to go outside and play when you're ready, and all together a well trained dog.

When I started looking into it, a lot of people have told me that the husky I've seen is NOT the typical traits of a husky and now has me worried.

I'm coming to actual owners to understand their experience. I am a 27 year old who lives in a 3 story town home. I do work M-F from 9-6 however live close enough to come home during the afternoons to take the dog on a walk. I am also an active/athletic person. I go to the gym typically in the morning however if I had a dog, I'd take it on a jog with me before I left for work. I would also be taking it out on hikes/walks/beaches during the weekend.

Everyone says that the husky needs so much exercise and that it can't be let off the leash, but when we have gone hiking, the husky has hiked right next to us the entire time.

Just wanting to understand your opinions since you all own one. My plan would to get a puppy and be patient in training/raising it to ensure that it was a well trained/obedient friend.

Here is my description of what it's like to own a husky:

http://www.dizzyinthecity.com/?page_id=348

wpskier222 wrote:

Here is my description of what it's like to own a husky:

http://www.dizzyinthecity.com/?page_id=348

Ok, so this is totally unrelated to OP but, Jen, I am enjoying a great belly laugh "we are training to roller-jor. Aka – allow him to pull me on skates without killing me" from your blog.

I am chomping at the bit to try out my new walkydog on my bike and wondering if I can bike with Ami without landing all of us in the hospital. Was thinking of trying it today but hubby is in Boston with my FIL in hospital - minor stroke yesterday. Don't want to land incapacitated in the ditch with no one around expecting me home...

Love your blog

Ha ha! Thank you! My hubby travels for work, and I often base my Dizzy activities around whether or not he'd be able to come get me out of a jam, or identify me in a hospital bed ha ha.

My experience with huskies:

Independent. They like to do things on their own terms. They are not subservient dogs like a lab or collie.... they are meant to be companions, not servants.

LEASH or FENCE at all times. You just never want to take that chance. While some huskies do well off-leash the overwhelming majority do NOT. It's just not worth the risk IMO.

Curious, very curious. They are smart too. My little one just figured out how to turn on lights... seriously...kind of funny. If they destroy something it is your fault because you let them have access to it. Embrace the crate when you are not there to supervise. It's for their own safety as well as your property. You need to keep them mentally stimulated or they will find their own amusements. This means more than just a walk a day.

Digging. Huskies love digging. They even dig in their water bowls. If you have a yard I suggest either setting aside a small patch where this is ok or get a sandbox so they can have a place to get it out of their system.

Size: The biggest misconception I see about huskies is that they are large dogs. They are NOT. They are medium sized dogs. 35 lbs-60 lbs is normal, towards the small end if female and the larger end if male. Weight proportionate to height.

Shedding, shedding, and more shedding. I just tell everyone, as a disclaimer, that if they visit me they will probably get furry. It doesn't matter how much you brush them and vacuum, it will still be everywhere. Embrace it.

Love. Nothing is better than the love of a husky. Unlike other dogs who are just bred to please you huskies actually bond with you on a personal level like no other dog. They will always have their own personlities and quirks but that is what makes them (in my opinion) better than any other dog. I don't want a robot for a pet, I want a siberian husky to keep me on my toes.

Agree with all of the above!

And all of Jen's diz-claimers!!!

This is my favourite: Puppies are cute, but they can be evil and will certainly make you cry and doubt yourself on more than one occasion.

So much truth in that one sentence haha.

Having said that though... my husky drives me crazy on a daily basis. But when it's time to go home from work, i cannot wait to get home and smother him!

TheBadGuppy wrote:

Having said that though... my husky drives me crazy on a daily basis.  But when it's time to go home from work, i cannot wait to get home and smother him!

I totally agree, I have a little song I sing in my head when I'm on my way home from work and I have to get him from daycare. My heart skips a beat when he busts out of the door wooing at me.

hahaha that's exactly how i felt when Gus used to go to daycare! Except he'd be LEAPING (literally) over the gate. You just see this huge fur-beast clumsily jumping over a gate while all the other dogs yell at him for being a nut. And then i'm greeted with whines and woos. Sometimes he tries to hold it in and just gives these small little whimpery whines, and it sounds like a human crying haha.

To the original question though, for me, the keys to a happy husky are exercise (lots of it) and training. Both of these are extremely time consuming. So if you don't have the time (or money for daycare/dogwalker), then i would strongly reconsider. Also patience. My goodness will you ever need a lot of patience.

CavingSiberian wrote:

My experience with huskies:

Independent. They like to do things on their own terms. They are not subservient dogs like a lab or collie.... they are meant to be companions, not servants.

LEASH or FENCE at all times. You just never want to take that chance. While some huskies do well off-leash the overwhelming majority do NOT. It's just not worth the risk IMO.

Curious, very curious. They are smart too. My little one just figured out how to turn on lights... seriously...kind of funny. If they destroy something it is your fault because you let them have access to it. Embrace the crate when you are not there to supervise. It's for their own safety as well as your property. You need to keep them mentally stimulated or they will find their own amusements. This means more than just a walk a day.

Digging. Huskies love digging. They even dig in their water bowls. If you have a yard I suggest either setting aside a small patch where this is ok or get a sandbox so they can have a place to get it out of their system.

Size: The biggest misconception I see about huskies is that they are large dogs. They are NOT. They are medium sized dogs. 35 lbs-60 lbs is normal, towards the small end if female and the larger end if male. Weight proportionate to height.

Shedding, shedding, and more shedding. I just tell everyone, as a disclaimer, that if they visit me they will probably get furry. It doesn't matter how much you brush them and vacuum, it will still be everywhere. Embrace it.

Love. Nothing is better than the love of a husky. Unlike other dogs who are just bred to please you huskies actually bond with you on a personal level like no other dog. They will always have their own personlities and quirks but that is what makes them (in my opinion) better than any other dog. I don't want a robot for a pet, I want a siberian husky to keep me on my toes.

I agree 100% with this and it is probably the best I've seen to describe our little bundles of joy! Nala drives me nuts but all I do is think about her when I'm not with her! My only advice is to expect the unexpected. I've lost many shoes clothes cosmetics EVERYTHING from her but she is amazing, also Nala is the very same temperament as you described but not all are the same I too am gone M-F 9-5 so its what she is used too so she is very lazy all day and when i get home its time to play and exercise!

Jen i just wanted to tell you how perfect your page was. Spot on with everything! I was laughing so hard reading just because you said everything as perfect as you can explain. People wont think any of that is true or we over exagerate until they own one lol. But if anyone ever asks me if they can handle a husky... Im sending them that link lol. I cant explain it better than that!

Ha ha! Thanks Eric! I need to add one thing to the types of people you meet, the 'when are you going to breed him/her' crowd. I had a lot of fun writing that, and you're right, no matter how much you read, you never really know what you're getting into!

wpskier222 wrote:

Ha ha! Thanks Eric! I need to add one thing to the types of people you meet, the 'when are you going to breed him/her' crowd. :)I had a lot of fun writing that, and you're right, no matter how much you read, you never really know what you're getting into!

Ya! And when you say no im not gonna breed.. But you can make so much money!