As most of you know, I got Kya as a gift. She wasn't a breed I sought out, she was just a gift. I fell in love with her and have done everything I can to learn more about her breed and what they should be doing.

being that I am disabled, I thought Rio would help with the excersice and energy (Our backyard is literally an acre). They run and play and are exhausted at the end of the day, so I thought it was a good move.

That being said:

I don't work her in the sense that most of you do. but since I am disabled so I am not able to walk long distances, instead, I bike sometimes or take her to the beach with a 50 foot leash and throw toys, etc. Other things to get her the same exercise needed.

I know some of you hike, or do mushing (urban or otherwise).

I know I ask A LOT of questions, and I am always commenting, but I really just want to learn as much as I can.

Am I hindering her development and happiness bc she isn't WORKED like most of the huskies here? Instead, she is a service dog that goes places with me, and helps me balance, and walk and such. Would this qualify as "working" as well?

I just want to make sure I am doing the best for my dogs.

Sounds like they have a wonderful life! Mine pretty much only get "worked" at the dog park. I don't go on too many walks or bike rides with them, because I don't like walking around my neighborhood and have to drive to a park to go for a hike. But that park has a dog park there too, so I just let them run in it. lol.

Plus I think it depends on the husky. Siku has a lot more energy than Elara, but one person's husky in our local snowdog group has a ton of energy! She never stops! A dog like Elara would do just fine if she never went on long walks or bike rides. A little run anound the backyard and then back inside is just fine for her. She's such a lazy husky!

Most of us do not have working dogs here. I don't consider the average sibe that goes for regular long walks, running, or even running alongside a bike to be a working sibe.

Tiff&Kya wrote:

Am I hindering her development and happiness bc she isn't WORKED like most of the huskies here?

Based on the amount of exercise it sounds like she is getting, I don't think you are hindering her in any way. I can totally empathize with how you feel. I have a working line sibe who doesn't work and has TONS of energy, and I often feel guilty that he isn't living life to his fullest potential. I get a guilt trip from knowing that I moved him from a cold climate down to the much warmer south and I often think he would be better off living in a kennel in Canada or Alaska where he can run everyday pulling a sled working the way he was bred to. At the end of the day I have to believe that he's where he belongs, getting his basic exercise needs met to the best of my ability and in a loving home...same as your Kya.

I think you are doing just fine on the exercise part, also taking them different places with you provides alot of pleasure for them. The addition of Rio has provided endless amounts of entertainment for all. When my daughter and I added Storm she has provided Chaos a great way to drain energy and they keep each other occupied all day long.
Like Huskyluv said I feel the most important think is "needs met to the best of my ability and in a loving home " From the way it sounds you are doing that.

Due to the lack of snow my dogs had a mini "retirement" from sledding this winter. I think both dogs are enjoying just hanging out and being lazy just as much as they love sledding! I think as long as they get some exersice, they will be just fine. Having a great owner who loves them and spends time with them is more important than having them do husky "work". And from the way you worry about your babies it sounds like you do a great job of loving on them already!

You are doing alot with the dogs consider you have several had have to work with them all.
I would suggest you do get them into a training class of some sort for both you and them.

Blaze doesn't get alot of work out..

I walk him twice a day on most days.

We have been taking him to the dog park once a week during the winter months.

As It gets warmer he will get to go more often as the park closet to me will re open (they closed for the winter because of heavy traffic).

I run our business and make deliveries for it I almost always take Blaze with me he loves to go in the car.

Kya has already had extensive training with a personal one-on-one trainer. He is the best in the area. I love him! He has trained all of my dogs!

Rio will be attending his group classes once she is settled in. I cant afford another 400 dollars for training ATM, and his group classes are free for his clients for life.

We have a park across the street from our house, but we have alot of stray dogs in the area, so Kya doesn't get to play there but about once a week if we are lucky. I don't trust strays around my babies.

I definitely appreciate all of the advice and feedback!

My dogs are not working dogs either. We go to the dog park, and dog classes and that it because I'm not comfortable walking my dogs around our street, too many stupid college kids. We recently just got a bike attachment which we will be using but mine are definitely not working dogs.

Heck, I live in the Yukon, have plenty of snow and areas out my backyard for sledding/skijoring and even we don't get out every day! I work f/t, 45 mins from home and I'll admit there are SOME days when I just have no energy to do anything after work. The dogs are in pens all day and can run around and tire each other out in the day, like yours. I think it's fantastic your guys will tire each other out every day!

And I can tell you, my dogs are not really affected by missing a day of running here and there - instead they get to eat their dinner, come inside and get full-on attention - which is something SOME of them prefer!!

I had to laugh at the "lazy husky" comment above - totally true!!!!

Sounds like your dogs are spoiled and loved and completely happy. And the work she does to help you on a daily basis IS work! A different kind of work than pulling a sled, but no doubt, it's still work.