First let me say, I am a military man, my wife and three kids will be spending most of the time with the pups while I work. I know I am going to love having a run partner once the pups grow up some. Here's a few questions, if anyone can help it is greatly appreciated.

1. Is there a certain food recommended for two huskies, one male, one female both around 8 weeks old?
2. I'm going to get a crate for both asap, when is it to cold to leave a husky outside? I know they are a north breed..
3. We will be in Georgia for a while, is it going to be to hot in the summer there for them? just curious...
4. If I start early with the training is it really going to be tough training two huskies?
5. If anyone can recommend an escape free harness that would be lovely... i seen a few but lots out there...
6. I'm getting the pups from a website http://www.thepuppyworld.com if someone could check this site out and let me know what they think of it and the breeders that would be great too...


Well that's all I have for now. I hope to get questions and answers to my questions to help me be a responsible Husky having person, it seems you can't really own a husky, there so free willed like some people I know... thanks.

Welcome to the forum! I'm in the Navy and stationed just east of Pensacola, FL. Good luck with your new additions, they will definitely be a handful. That being said, at the end of the day you will still be glad that you have them. I can go ahead and answer your questions, and then there will be plenty of others chime in with their experiences and what has worked for them.

There is no one food that is recommended for Huskies, but a lot of Huskies have very sensitive stomachs. The best advice I can give you is to go check out www.dogfoodadvisor.com, and get your two on as high a quality food as your budget will allow. Our girl was very sensitive when she was young, but she seems to be growing out of that, at least to an extent. That being said, we are always going to keep her on a grain free diet. We have had wonderful experiences with Blue Wilderness puppy formula, but it is on the pricey side. Taste of the Wild just released a puppy formula, and if you go on their website you can request samples. We are considering switching to that, and I have samples in the mail. Make sure you find out what food the breeders have been using though, and have enough on hand to properly transition so you don't make them sick.

Crate training is an absolute must, and if you get large crates for them to grow into, make sure you put a divider in so they don't have too much space. If they do, it will make potty training much harder, as they will have enough room to potty in there and sleep on the other side of the crate. As far as sleeping outside, even though Huskies are a northern breed I wouldn't recommend leaving yours outside, especially as small pups. They are very social animals, and like to be with their "pack" (you guys) all the time. They will be better adjusted if you keep them inside with the family. Plus, there are a lot of horror stories out there of dogs getting stolen out of yards, and 2 gorgeous little Husky puppies would be a huge temptation. For other training, the earlier the better. Formal training classes won't let you start until they've had their shots, but around 12 weeks you guys should be good to go. That's when we started ours, and she's done very well.

I'll let the other folks chime in on the harness, as we've only used the Easy Walk harness as a means to keep ours from pulling. But there are tons of people on here with loads of experience with harnesses. For the breeder question as well, there are a lot of people that know WAY more than I do on that subject.

Again, welcome to the forum and never hesitate to ask something, even if you think it might be a stupid question. Huskies can be a real challenge, but if you're willing to put in the effort they are the best dogs you will ever own.

Hello & Welcome - I'm relatively new here but thought i could contribute. First off, I can't see 2 pups being harder than one, if anything, i can see it making your life easier! As ghost said above, as puppies, they want your full attention all the time! Having a second pup may give you half an hour in the day to relax while they play around with each other. I've had my husky almost a week now and i can't remember the last time i had a nights sleep!

Just remember what i forgot yesterday, they are only puppies, they will make mistakes and will misbehave, they will tire you out and when you're tired, your patience deteriorates, but don't get upset with them, just love them and it will be worth it when the cuddle up to you

I'm still clueless about food myself, my one has diarrhoea at the moment - they are so sensitive when it comes to food! My vet told me you can never feed your puppy too much, however, my breeder had told me that feeding husky pups too much will cause them diarrhoea, i think she was right, as i increased his food load, his poo got runnier, i might cancel his vet appointment today and just try to cut back on his food over the next few days and see how it goes!

You can start training them as soon as you get them - mines not even 9 weeks and runs to the door to go potty he knows sit and he knows lay down - although they do ignore you sometimes!

Good luck!!

First of all, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of huskies!

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1. Is there a certain food recommended for two huskies, one male, one female both around 8 weeks old?

Nope. You'll want to make sure that it's a good food though and not filled with by-products and nasty stuff.
This suggestion from blueeyedghost is an excellent one.

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The best advice I can give you is to go check out www.dogfoodadvisor.com, and get your two on as high a quality food as your budget will allow.

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2. I'm going to get a crate for both asap, when is it to cold to leave a husky outside? I know they are a north breed..

That depends, if the huskies are kept inside most of the time, then they aren't going to have a thick winter coat so they won't be able to withstand really cold temperatures. If they are both inside and out then they will have that thick winter coat so they will be able to withstand colder temperatures.

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3. We will be in Georgia for a while, is it going to be to hot in the summer there for them? just curious...

As long as they have plenty of shade and fresh water then they should be fine.
Huskies enjoy air conditioning just as much as humans do though so when it's really hot out, it would be best to keep them inside.

Sometimes people say that you should shave your dog so it won't have all of that hair in the heat but this is an absolute NO, NO for huskies. Their coat actually helps keep them cool in the summer and protects their skin from sunburn. Plus once you shave a husky, their coat doesn't seem to grow back the same.

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4. If I start early with the training is it really going to be tough training two huskies?

I am going to say yes. When you think of all the training you would go through with one dog, you now have to double that. Double the potting training, double the obedience training, you get the idea. It's going to be more work but as long as you stick with it, it will pay off in the end.

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5. If anyone can recommend an escape free harness that would be lovely... i seen a few but lots out there...

The anti-pull harness is a good one for huskies. They can't escape from it (t least I haven't seen one escape from it) and it discourages pulling as well.
The front clip harness, I've heard, is a good one too. I think it would be hard for a husky to escape that one as well.
Nothing is fool proof though.

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6. I'm getting the pups from a website http://www.thepuppyworld.com if someone could check this site out and let me know what they think of it and the breeders that would be great too...

I usually advise people not to get puppies over the internet. Anybody can put up a website with cute pictures on it and sound legitimate.
One thing from this particular site that worries me is this (direct quote from their site)

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From conception to 6 weeks

That gives me reason to think that they let their pups go at 6 weeks old. Generally good, reputable breeders won't let their pups go until 8 or 10 weeks old. When let go before, the pups miss out on crucial time spent with their mother and litter mates, learning how to be a dog.
I also like to be able to see the puppy, puppy’s parents, and breeder in person. That way I know that what I'm seeing is what I'm getting.
That’s just me though. Other people will feel differently.
As a stickler for adoption, that’s what I usually recommend. Huskies seem to be over bred and there are plenty in shelters, puppies included. You could do a search on Petfinder to see if there are any pups in your area.

Oh and just as a side note (I’m sure you’ve heard this plenty and will continue to hear it often) since you plan on getting a male and female, make sure to have them spayed and neutered! You don’t want to end up with a whole litter of fuzzy butts.

I trust you’ve done lots of research on the breed (They love to run, they escape, they shed, and all of that good stuff) After all, getting a dog is no small undertaking let alone getting two huskies!
All said and done though I’m sure you will end up with two very best friends for life!

And when you get them, you MUST post pictures!!

Ok I'll shut up now. lol

jcrazy99 wrote:

6. I'm getting the pups from a website http://www.thepuppyworld.com if someone could check this site out and let me know what they think of it and the breeders that would be great too...

first Welcome! second 2 puppies is a hand full but is doable.
THIRD---- PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THAT SITE!!!! it only took me a min. to just look at the pages and any reputable breeder would not use so much glitter and flashy art on their page. they would talk about their dogs and the lines, and showing or how they are worked and that they only breed every so often. that fact that they breed 3 very different types of dogs is a flag as well. what area are you in that we might be able to direct you in a better direction?
also read this sticky on our forum.
https://www.itsahuskything.com/t1042-how-to-find-a-reputable-breeder

I also say stay away from that site. They think it is better to look flashy that talk about their dogs. If your a good breeder you breed one type of animal not 3 different ones. They are cute and everything but you can get a puppy from a shelter or humane society for a lot cheaper than $600 a piece. They are in it to breed and make money.
Please check locally first before you totally decide. Almost all sheters will have given the shots and had them fixed first to save you even more money.
no matter what you decide just love and enjoy them, they will be a handful and I hope your family doesn't mind all the hair that will shed, have a good vacuum.

I forgot to mention the whole summer heat thing as well, and I'm glad Piper chimed in on it. We live in the FL panhandle, and it gets nasty here. Ghost did just fine over the summer with the heat, and as was mentioned previously don't let anyone shave them. Ever. If you come across a groomer that insists on it, walk away. We just avoid walking and heavy exercise during the heat of the day, and make sure plenty of water is available.

jcrazy99 wrote:

First let me say, I am a military man, my wife and three kids will be spending most of the time with the pups while I work. I know I am going to love having a run partner once the pups grow up some. Here's a few questions, if anyone can help it is greatly appreciated.

So it sounds like your family are the ones that are going to spend the most time raising the puppies. Are they fully on board with the idea? Are they going to be fine when you are away? Have any of you had experience with huskies or puppies? If you have no husky experience, have you done your research on the breed? Raising a puppy is a lot of work and depending on how much of a well mannered dog you want, training is a lot of work too. I personally believe raising two puppies will be way more work than one. I raised my first and she took a lot of my time. I waited until she was 10months old before getting a second husky and realized how much harder it was training the second one cause I had to share the time between the two of them. Like was said before, two puppies makes twice the work!

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1. Is there a certain food recommended for two huskies, one male, one female both around 8 weeks old?

+1 on checking out dogfoodadvisor.com and just trying different brands. I had to try a couple different ones out to find one for my second husky. She had a very sensitive stomach as a puppy and some foods (they were even rated pretty well on that site) just didn't agree with her. Also, is there a reason you're getting a male and a female? Are you planning on getting them spayed and neutered?

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2. I'm going to get a crate for both asap, when is it to cold to leave a husky outside? I know they are a north breed..

No clue on the too cold thing since I live in FL and it never gets that cold. Are you planning on leaving your two outside all the time? Huskies are escape artists and can dig under or jump over almost any fence if they choose to. Also, they are pretty dogs, so you do have to worry about people wanting to steal them. Crate training is a very good idea and helps a lot with potty training. There are several good threads on this forum talking about crate training and potty training.

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3. We will be in Georgia for a while, is it going to be to hot in the summer there for them? just curious...

They should be fine as long as they are going to be allowed inside most of the time. My two hate being outside when it's really hot out. They love their A/C!

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4. If I start early with the training is it really going to be tough training two huskies?

Like I said before, it will be twice the work. It's very good to start training at an early age. With two, you'll probably find that training them separately will work best. Put the one you're not training at the time in a crate in a different room. I also highly suggest finding a good puppy class to go to. You will learn a lot from puppy class and your puppies will get socialized.

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5. If anyone can recommend an escape free harness that would be lovely... i seen a few but lots out there...

Seems like most of the harnesses I've seen are pretty escape free. If you're wanting one to stop pulling, those EZ-walk ones are pretty good.

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6. I'm getting the pups from a website http://www.thepuppyworld.com if someone could check this site out and let me know what they think of it and the breeders that would be great too...

I would run far from that site! No reputable breeder will sell their puppies no questions asked. That is a BYB/puppy mill website. Sadly there are tons of those sites out there. Where are you located? I know a few breeders and may know one in your area. Some things to look for in a reputable breeder are:
-Shows or works their huskies. Breeds to better the breed, not just to make money or pets for other people. There will always be individuals in a little who don't cut it for show or working and they make great pets.
-Adults are at least two years old and have had their eyes checked by CERF with the "normal" outcome and their hips checked by OFA with a "good" or "excellent" score.
-Breeder don't breed that often. If they have multiple litters at one time or always seem to have puppies on their website, chances are they are a puppy mill or backyard breeder (BYB).
-You can see the parent's and where they puppies were raised.
-Puppies don't go until they are at least 8 weeks old.
-A good breeder will question you a lot. They want to make sure their puppies are going to a good home and it will be a good fit.
-Spay/neuter contract for non-show homes.
-Will take the puppy back at any point in it's life if need be.
-Good breeders will usually want you to sign a pet contract, so they have some control if they find out the dog was not being cared for well.
A good place to find reputable breeders is on the Siberian Husky Club of America's website. They have a referral page with breeder's names and phone numbers. If you e-mail them, remember a lot of reputable breeders are very busy showing or working their dogs and may not get back to you right away. But most of them are very nice and will help you find a puppy even if they don't have any at the time.

Have you considered adopting a husky? If this is going to be your family's first husky or puppy, it would be helpful to try out an adult first. There are plenty in shelters, rescues, and sometimes reputable breeders have adults that have been retired from showing or ones that just didn't quite turn out the way they thought for the show ring. Getting an adult can save you a lot of time with training and you'll have your running partner right from the start! With a puppy, you'll want to wait until they are a year to start running much and two years before you start running a ton (if you like long distance running). It's because their bones don't fully develop until they are two years old, so too much strain on them before then will hurt their joints. Also stick to soft surfaces like grass or dirt at first which are easier on their joints.

From Jbealer: what area are you in that we might be able to direct you in a better direction?

As of right now I am in Tennessee, Clarksville area.. In a few weeks I will be moving to Alabama, close to Georgia,

Thanks everyone for all your input, it's great and has been quick too..

I read not to get them neutered or spayed, until they go through puberty... any input on this? I have a few books ha, ha..

jcrazy99 wrote:

I read not to get them neutered or spayed, until they go through puberty... any input on this? I have a few books ha, ha..

if you plan on getting a M&F then i would have them fixed ASAP before her first heat, trying to keep them apart and "guessing" when she will go to heat is to much of a gamble. i know most on here seem to fix before 5months or right around there. never raising a puppy im not sure what the soonest is you can do it. others will chime in for you.

I agree with just about everything posted here so I won't add to the wall of text except where needed

First off, I'm not sure if you meant it this way or not, but I'd rather say it just in case. As for it being "too cold to leave them outside"... if you just mean to let them outside, it'll never be too cold. However, I am hoping you don't intend to leave them outside when you are gone or they are unsupervised? This is dangerous for a number of reasons and I would advise against this.

I would also not use that website at all. Many red flags. Check out the thread that Jenn posted about finding a reputable breeder. If you are set on going the puppy route, it will help you to find a breeder that is not out for the money.

However, based on your description of yourself, your family and your situation, I wouldn't actually advise getting a puppy at all. What are your reasons for wanting a puppy? With everything going on, puppies might be too much to handle. You can find some great huskies in shelters or rescues. Many are already trained, kid-friendly, and would allow you to run with them immediately. You can also usually find dogs that come with siblings or two dogs from the same home.

Hope this helps.

ETA: They can get fixed fairly young. I would speak to your vet about the earliest they would advise fixing a dog as they will be the ones performing the surgery.

There are a lot of different views on when to get a dog fixed. Here's a good article: http://breedingbetterdogs.com/pdfFiles/articles/long.term.health.effects.of.spay.neuter.in.dogs.pdf

I have seen a lot of dogs and cats get fixed at an early age and have not heard of that affecting them in any negative way. You'll probably at least want to get your female spayed before her first heat. When she goes into heat, it will make your male go crazy. He will try his best to break any barrier to get to her, will probably stop eating, and will whine and pace all the time. The sent really does a number on males! Also keep in mind, if someone in your neighborhood has an unspayed female he may act the same way. I've had an intact male show up in my yard when Elara was in heat (she's not spayed because I'm currently showing her in conformation. my other one is spayed).

Have you considered adopting a husky?


Sara, actually that was my first idea, and I am on the hunt still, not going to give up. I'm going to search more today and this weekend..

A lot of people say that, especially to let females have one heat cycle before getting spayed. That's not true, and by spaying before the first heat you will greatly decrease your girl's chances of getting things like mammary and uterine cancer. For the boys it's not as big of a deal, but do you really want a hormone crazed teenage male Husky on your hands trying to escape constantly to find a female?

Are you moving to Rucker? We have another new member from Enterprise, and we're only about 2.5 hours away.

Phenix City actually.... Going to be working at Fort Benning..

Welcome and glad you're considering rescuing! If you'd like to try the husky experience prior to adopting, I see that this Alabama Husky Rescue desperately needs fosters:
http://alsiberianhuskyrescue.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlSibeRescue

The bonus with the older huskies is you have a running buddy right away, and they're already trained and ready to enjoy! We got our first husky when he was 4 and he's been fantastic!!

If you're ready to adopt, here a few sweeties that would work great with a family!
http://www.petango.com/webservices/adoptablesearch/wsAdoptableAnimalDetails.aspx?id=14577240&css=http://sms.petpoint.com/WebServices/adoptablesearch/css/styles.css

http://www.petango.com/webservices/adoptablesearch/wsAdoptableAnimalDetails.aspx?id=14119993&css=http://sms.petpoint.com/WebServices/adoptablesearch/css/styles.css

http://www.petango.com/webservices/adoptablesearch/wsAdoptableAnimalDetails.aspx?id=14499561&css=http://sms.petpoint.com/WebServices/adoptablesearch/css/styles.css

Regarding an escape proof harness - we like the Ruff Wear Webmaster. Is this for outdoors? Huskies should be with their families most of the time - so if you want an outdoor only dog, you may want to reconsider getting a husky. If it's just for walks, the Webmaster is great.

Good luck!

Welcome! I looked at the site, I'd stay far, far, far away from that "breeder"

You are all great.. thanks for the great information..

Welcome! Wow 2 pups. That could be fun, but a lot of work. Everyone here gave some very good advice. I am happy to hear that you are considering adoption. Who rescued who is a constant debate in my home I am also very happy to see you doing your research on the breed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into since Frankie just kinda showed up and I learned very quickly what a unique breed huskies are. I wouldn't have it any other way now.

I don't know much about breeders, but anyone who goes through so much to have a flashy sight but fails to correct spelling loses points in my book. I like how a dog "nows" to jump and how a 3y/o is just learning to "now" the sit command. I now my spelling sucks, but if I had a website I would pay someone to proof it.

My thoughts exactly.. great pictures Dee & Frankie... I think my family just wants a pup to raise from start.. I might have just found an interesting rescue type Husky that is 2yrs young... lots to learn and look up..

I'm having a tough time getting away from this computer searching.. better take a break while I can.. going to keep a look out though, I really want to rescue one at least..

jbealer wrote:

jcrazy99 wrote:

I read not to get them neutered or spayed, until they go through puberty... any input on this? I have a few books ha, ha..

i know most on here seem to fix before 5months or right around there. never raising a puppy im not sure what the soonest is you can do it. others will chime in for you.

Our vet went more by weight than age so we had our two spayed/neutered at about 4 months.

We did the 2 pups at one time deal and it was hard. For the first month or so, there was very little sleep to be had (at least for me, hubby sleeps like the dead). Ours are littermates and were (still are) inseparable. Trying to train one without the other interfering was impossible, so we had to separate them which neither one liked. It's a test of patience (and a battle of wills), I'll tell you that much.

Good luck, and I hope you're able to find what you and your family want.

jcrazy99 wrote:

My thoughts exactly.. great pictures Dee & Frankie... I think my family just wants a pup to raise from start.. I might have just found an interesting rescue type Husky that is 2yrs young... lots to learn and look up..

Get the older husky first from a rescue and then get a pup when the dog is settled in. Did you know that adult huskies "train" the younger ones in the house rules and good doggie manners? Our local rescue will only adopt out pups to people with an older husky! Our Chili "taught" his younger sister all the house rules the first week! Waaay easier than us doing it.

I live close to you and would be willing to help you find a younger rescue in the area dont get 2 pups from a byb