OKAY SO this is a subject that has been on my mind ever since I began to research Siberian Huskies online. This was written after reading a certain thread. You do not have to agree with me but I would like to post my take on Siberian Huskies and their NEED to have a reliable recall.

Do not look at this as a personal attack or get the impression that I think anyone is a bad person or irresponsible owner, this is my opinion and if it leaves you a bit ruffled take a walk with your dog and tell yourself how wrong I am.

Just read it with an open mind and try not to take it personally.


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If you are looking into getting a Siberian Husky most Husky owners will tell you to "NEVER LET YOUR DOG OFF LEASH! Even a highly trained obedient Husky might bolt off and never been seen again!"

People that say this aren't wrong, but the emphasis they put on making sure you never trust your dog off leash makes your dog even more untrustworthy off leash. A dog running down the street ignoring it's owner can wind up lost, injured, or dead. A Siberian Husky that ignores his owner off leash could cause a car accident and put HUMAN lives in danger.

Anyone that says teaching Huskies a GOOD RECALL is a lost cause is misleading the public with their ignorance and putting the lives of people and their dogs in danger.

The REASON most huskies respond badly to recalls and end up running away and ignoring their owners is largely due to all of the information that tells you "Huskies can NEVER be trusted off leash and they don't respond to recalls!" Thus everyone that gets a husky puppy considers it a lost cause and always keeps their puppy on a leash like a good little dog owner.

Because of this, most Husky DON'T have a good off leash recall, and the people who try give up too easy because all the "experts" say it can't (and SHOULDN'T) be done.

It CAN be done, and it ABSOLUTELY should.

Huskies need MORE training and MORE patience then other dogs, but they still NEED TO LEARN THEIR RECALL.

Consider this; when your husky is at home and in it's boundaries you let it do what it wants off leash, when it's at the park or walking down the street it has never been off leash or practiced the recall so it doesn't even KNOW that ignoring you off leash is bad and it doesn't KNOW that running down the street on it's own is bad OR dangerous, because hey, it gets away with it at home, what makes the street any different?

What they DO know is that when they are off leash they get away with doing what they want. That doesn't make you a bad person or mean you don't care about your dog, maybe you did do everything you thought was right, but letting your Siberian Husky ignore and disobey you is NOT the right thing to do.

Even though would never let your dog walk down the street off leash (because for ANY dog, that's a bad idea and actually illegal in some areas) you should still be confident that if an accident happens, and your dog DOES get loose, you will be able to call it back.

And if you can't do that, at least TRY and TRY AGAIN and TRY AGAIN and TRY AGAIN.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT MEANT TO ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO LET THEIR DOGS OFFLEASH OR TAKE STUPID RISKS. The aim is to teach dog owners that Siberian Huskies need full training too, and even though it is much more difficult, it CAN be done. If you have the time to own such an intelligent and high energy dog, you should have the time to give it the proper training it needs. And if that's too much for you then maybe consider getting a less demanding pet. Like a hamster.

If you get serious about teaching your dog a GOOD recall here is some good advice to get you started.

http://dogsnsw.org.au/resources/dogs-nsw-magazine/articles/behaviour/277-total-recall-train-your-dog-to-come-every-time-you-call.html


Here are more tips for teaching your Husky basic obedience commands that will help make your life easier and your dog much happier!

http://dogsnsw.org.au/resources/dogs-nsw-magazine/articles/behaviour/203-5-secrets-of-obedience-training.html

Your Siberian Husky isn't an entirely different species, your dog is a dog first and last, and if you put enough time and patience into the training, your dog can be just as smart and obedient as the neighbors Retriever next door (perhaps even more so if said Retriever is poorly trained!)

Just keep at it and don't give up! Keep reading dog training tips and trying new things with your dog, I promise you will never regret it.

Also see the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenship test: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

Or the Canadian Kennel Club Canine Good Neighbor test: http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=91

http://www.doindogs.com/cgn/cgn_main.shtml#test1

It's some good information, but I'll leave my dogs on leash. It's not worth losing my dogs.

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

This is an extremely biased personal opinion which you are welcome to have and express... But I will not have members on this forum feel like bad or undeserving dog owners because they prefer to keep their highly prey driven dogs safe.

arooroomom wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

This is an extremely biased personal opinion which you are welcome to have and express... But I will not have members on this forum feel like bad or undeserving dog owners because they prefer to keep their highly prey driven dogs safe.

That comment is copy-pasted from other highly biased dog opinions and tweaked into a different meaning.

I'm all for people living and learning and doing what YOU think is right for YOUR dog.

If you fully read what I wrote you'll notice that I never say that you SHOULD let your dog off leash. Only that measures should be taken in case they do get offleash, which happens often enough.

That is all.

Dragonfly wrote:

Do not look at this as a personal attack or get the impression that I think anyone is a bad person or irresponsible owner

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

I find these two statements to be highly hypocritical. I'm not an irresponsible owner, but I shouldn't own a dog?

I don't think anyone here is under the impression that, "OH! It's a lost cause. Might as well not even TRY training my dog!" But even with years of consistent training, huskies (and really any dog for that matter) can always react badly in a situation. And frankly, if Pippa were to get off leash, it would most likely be because she saw a squirrel and her prey drive kicked in.

No one has said, "Oh. It's a husky. Don't even bother training a recall." However, people do understand that when a husky gets loose, it is far less likely to respond to a recall than another dog breed.

Dragonfly wrote:

arooroomom wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

This is an extremely biased personal opinion which you are welcome to have and express... But I will not have members on this forum feel like bad or undeserving dog owners because they prefer to keep their highly prey driven dogs safe.

That comment is copy-pasted from other highly biased dog opinions and tweaked into a different meaning.

I'm all for people living and learning and doing what YOU think is right for YOUR dog.

If you fully read what I wrote you'll notice that I never say that you SHOULD let your dog off leash. Only that measures should be taken in case they do get offleash, which happens often enough.

I read what you wrote (or copy/pasted? now i'm confused) but what I responded to was your opening statement. You cannot address people like that and expect them to "hear" what you're saying.

I 100% support teaching and reinforcing recall to this breed, and any breed. As such I still advocate keeping them on a leash at all times. That doesn't make me a bad owner- it makes me responsible because I KNOW something could happen. I spend an unusual amount of time working my dogs, and even I can't say they have a brilliant recall. We have an emergency recall- yes. But that is not the same thing at all.

And I agree, a well trained Husky is more likely to chase a squirrel and ignore you then a well trained Collie, but the kind of information I read online does give people the impression that it can't be done and that it's normal for their dog to ignore and disobey and it makes them a lot more lax then they would be other wise. I'm simply presenting another side to that view.


I admit my choice of words sounds harsh, but I use them because I've heard similar comments on different subjects. The other side is "If you let your Siberian off leash you shouldn't have one." or "If you can't give them the exercise they need you shouldn't have one."

I didn't "literally" copy-paste, but put in there mimicking other articles I read.

arooroomom wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

arooroomom wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

This is an extremely biased personal opinion which you are welcome to have and express... But I will not have members on this forum feel like bad or undeserving dog owners because they prefer to keep their highly prey driven dogs safe.

That comment is copy-pasted from other highly biased dog opinions and tweaked into a different meaning.

I'm all for people living and learning and doing what YOU think is right for YOUR dog.

If you fully read what I wrote you'll notice that I never say that you SHOULD let your dog off leash. Only that measures should be taken in case they do get offleash, which happens often enough.

I read what you wrote (or copy/pasted? now i'm confused) but what I responded to was your opening statement. You cannot address people like that and expect them to "hear" what you're saying.

I 100% support teaching and reinforcing recall to this breed, and any breed. As such I still advocate keeping them on a leash at all times. That doesn't make me a bad owner- it makes me responsible because I KNOW something could happen. I spend an unusual amount of time working my dogs, and even I can't say they have a brilliant recall. We have an emergency recall- yes. But that is not the same thing at all.

Emergency Recall?

I first read this as Siberian Huskies were be recalled..

The only other thing I have to say is we will continue to keep our huskies on leash but work on then coming when call. That is all from me.

I agree that it gets old hearing "siberian huskies are stubborn and can't learn ____ because they are a husky and that is that and don't go against it," as my dogs don't have really any of the negative behaviors huskies have.
I believe everyone SHOULD practice recall training, work as hard as they can to let their dogs know when they need to listen and focus strictly on the words you are speaking...
But I will never say anyone who hasn't accomplished a good recall with their dog shouldn't own one and is a poor owner. I know some people tried and tried and tried, and it still is a work in progress. Some sibes pick up on it easily- my female had good recall from day one, I'm not worried at all about her . My male took about 4 years of training, the last year being way more strict in training than the previous because were were moving to a new area and I wouldn't have my friends and family to help me chase or corner him, but now if I am nonreactive to him getting out (AKA don't panic, run at him, scream) and just use my emergency recall phrase he will trot back.

I don't think anyone on here thinks "oh, huskies can't have recall." I definitely don't think there is ANYTHING a husky can't do that another breed can. Being a husky doesn't make any excuse for any bad behaviors. But there ARE some things that are more difficult and a lot of people will have to work harder on. And some people may not be able to achieve getting over some of those bad qualities associated with huskies and will just improvise to where the situation won't happen, and that's fine. Like you said, huskies are more of a challenge, and things such as their prey drive, stubbornness, and desire to run make the recall more difficult than IE a collie. As long as owners are trying to learn the best way to keep their dog safe and working on recall training and hoping for the best, then they are doing their job as owners. But if their training is not successful when the moment happens, that doesn't mean they should be looked down upon.

I think the issue people have with offleash is people just having them offleash for the sake of being offleash. Which, I don't care if you have a poodle or a king charles, I don't believe a dog should be off leash unless it's in an enclosed area or somewhere like when Jenn and Eddie would let their dogs offleash in the summits where it's pretty secluded. Along with the worry of your dog one day deciding not to listen to you, there are other potentially fatal threats to a dog offleash in your normal environment. I don't believe in every intentionally having your dogs off leash. But yes, I do believe in preparing the best you can for if your dog every gets in that situation unexpectedly. But all you can do is TRY to prepare. Some people still won't have a dog that responds.

My issue with this post is suggesting if you can't do ____, you shouldn't have a dog, you are not a qualified owner. And that is really harsh and I don't think there's any way someone could not take that person. If you can provide a loving him and give them their basic needs, you deserve to own a dog.

Sorry this is rambling. I am feeling very touchy over this sort of insulting owners who don't have dogs with good recall. I know I've been a bitch to people on here more than a handful of times, but there's no one on here (active members) that I would ever say shouldn't have their dog and doesn't try to set it up for success and love it. I do have respect for all the members, even though I don't like on a persona level, for the commitment they have to their dogs.

ljelgin wrote:

I first read this as Siberian Huskies were be recalled..

.

I'm sorry to inform you that your dog was built with a dangerous part that could possibly be a danger to you and your family, please bring your receipt and original package with dog inside to the nearest Sled Dog store for a full refund.

So my dog was a CGC before she was a year old and is extraordinarily well trained. But, I still don't trust her recall especially with distractions, and therefore will never let her offleash intentionally. If that makes me unfit to own a dog, so be it.

Argument not withstanding, did that passage you copy/pasted/closely paraphrased/whatever come from one of the links you posted? If you're going to do that, and I don't care if you're closely paraphrasing and not straight up copy/pasting, please directly cite the source the information came from instead of passing it off as your own.

arooroomom wrote:

Dragonfly wrote:

I am here to tell you that if you can't train your dog to come back to you when it's called, you shouldn't have a dog and you most definitely shouldn't have a Siberian Husky.

This is an extremely biased personal opinion which you are welcome to have and express... But I will not have members on this forum feel like bad or undeserving dog owners because they prefer to keep their highly prey driven dogs safe.

Kristina has beaten me to the punch a few times today. It's been a busy day and I haven't been near a computer much. I just wanted to highlight what she has said and stress the importance of it.

I agree with you Heather, and what you say is much of the point I was trying to get across.

The harshness that came out while I wrote was mimicry of other highly biased and really harsh opinions. I'll edit it sometime and make it a little more user friendly, I know that getting chewed out and made to feel like a bad owner isn't pleasant.

As I wrote it I debated with myself about whether or not to be so aggressive, sometimes you need to be to drive your point home.


And no blueeyeghost, I don't think it makes you a bad owner to never let your dog offleash intentionally, I only stress that in case of emergency a dog should come when it's called.

I understand wanting to really get your point across- that owners should, to the best of their ability, try to prepare for if the dog does get out and about without a leash, so that when you use your emergency recall phrase there is a higher chance of them responding (dogs are just as independent as you and I, no matter what, they can be unpredictable and make the 'wrong' decision even with the best of training)- but that can definitely be said and understood without saying if your dog doesn't listen, you shouldn't have it. I think it definitely needs to be tone down to where it isn't in black and white (if your dog responds, you are worthy, if not, don't ever get a dog is how it is painted here since that's pretty much how the topic starts out).

I am going to be honest, my dogs know recall. In fact, Delilah has better recall than any dog at the dog park and sometimes, I trust her. But, and I know this from experience, when she gets out of a gated area that recall goes out the window. Even though, I've spent a lot of time training her.

Hm..well I am officially put off. And I will keep my dogs on a leash and advice other husky owners to keep their dogs on leashes as well.

mheath0429 wrote:

I am going to be honest, my dogs know recall. In fact, Delilah has better recall than any dog at the dog park and sometimes, I trust her. But, and I know this from experience, when she gets out of a gated area that recall goes out the window. Even though, I've spent a lot of time training her.

Many dogs tend to forget their training in a new circumstance, being outside a gated area off leash is really new and exciting. It doesn't mean she's a bad dog or you're a bad owner, but I think there are steps people can take to keep your dogs from ignoring you under any circumstance.

I did edit the original post, hopefully it comes across as more educational and less judgmental.

Delilah is easily the most responsive siberian I have ever met, and I've met a lot...just at the show this weekend I spent time with about 20 or more. She always responds, to everything, even when she got out. She would pay attention to me, but it was a game. She didn't care if I was yelling for her. She is stubborn, and no amount of my training will get that out of her.

Being stubborn is part of the breed and so is the want to run, I knew that when I signed up. I was more than prepared to keep her leashed all the time.

I don't mean to be rude, but why are you suggesting training tips for a breed you don't own? I thought your dogs were Labrador Huskies, not Siberians"?

I've done plenty of recall training with Kale; I'll keep him on a leash when in public. I'm sick of this debate lol Everyone trains according to their liking, and people shouldn't be judged or called out by their techniques or views.

Dragonfly wrote:

I think there are steps people can take to keep your dogs from ignoring you under any circumstance.

Wow... really want to know your amazing training techniques on how you call off your dog from chasing a jack rabbit, cat, squirrel, bird, etc. lol Kale comes when called, but would never come, even with crazy professional training, if chasing a prey animal... Keeping a dog of any breed on a leash is being responsible IMO.

We work haard with Loki on recalls both in obediance class and at home. It just takes a lot of patience. We have worked hard on an emergency call that worked out great the one time a buddy came over and left my front door opened has she unloaded her car.Loki ran out the door but came back has soon as I gave him his emergency recall. Recalls are not easy. Heck in our obediance class we have golden retreviers that dont come when called. Like Heather said it isn't so black and white

I'm sorry but I'm extremely offended by this thread. I am not a bad owner AT ALL for not letting my dogs off lead. It makes me a responsible owner, and guess what, they don't need those few extra feet, their safety is a lot more important. Plus seeing how you don't own a purebred Siberian Husky, I feel that you don't have hands on experience with the breed to judge owners like that. Just sayin'

Also I let all my dogs off lead until they were about 5 months. Each one had a perfect recall, Zoey even passed her CGC test with her perfect recall. They were used to being off leash, finally one day, they started taking off and not recalling. It's called a prey drive, not them lacking recall training, or being off leash. I can still let Ares off leash, and I do once in a while, but he's starting to wonder out of my comfort zone, and for his safety I no longer do it.

Amen to that jennet&embry. Safety first.

Well I'm offended as well. Your just spouting other people's information as fact and calling it something different when in reality every situation is different. Milla has great recall...in the back yard and if she know's I have a treat, and that's as far as I would test it. I'm not willing to lose my dog because some self riteous person on the internet thinks I'm a bad dog owner if I won't let them of lead.