Q. What sets the Siberian Husky apart from other breeds?

A. Many people say that huskies are wolf-like, and not just in appearance, but temperament too. This is not a myth — recent genome studies show that the arctic breeds have higher percentages of wolf genes. The arctic breeds interbred with ancient Siberian wolves after domestication. This means that huskies are more independent, and they are not as easily trained as other breeds. They are very intelligent, but they typically use their intelligence for their own entertainment. I like to think that my dogs have a sense of humor. If you are looking for a velcro dog who will come when called, that’s not a Siberian Husky. If you are looking for a dog that will be more of an equal to you, has an incredible zest for life, and loves all people and new experiences, then stay on this page.

Q. Are huskies good with children?

A. Yes, they are fantastic with children. They are very tolerant of kids and generally don’t fear anything or anyone. They love people and consider everyone to be their friend. They are completely ineffective guard dogs for that reason, but they do look intimidating from afar! Children do need to be taught to interact with huskies, however, and to be respectful and safe around them.

Q. Are huskies good with other dogs?

A. Yes. If they are bred to have good temperaments and properly socialized as puppies, they will get along with dogs of all sizes and breeds. They won’t enjoy playing with every single dog, and not every single dog will enjoy playing with them, but that is true of any dog. Siberian huskies are not dog aggressive or same sex aggressive. They should live harmoniously in packs.

Q. Are huskies good with cats or other small animals?

A. No, absolutely not. If you have a bombproof cat, a husky puppy can be okay with them if they are raised with them from 8 weeks. If you have a skittish cat, it will be a lost cause, and you would have to keep them separated at all times. If you have a cat and are interested in adding a husky pup, you need to have the space to accommodate them separately, if need be. If you have chickens on your property, you have to make sure your husky never gets into their pen.

Q. How much exercise do huskies need?

A. As adults (3 years+), about a solid hour a day. That means running or playing off-leash (in a fenced area) with other dogs. Walking doesn’t cut it. If they get an hour a day of exercise, they will be well-behaved couch potatoes the rest of the time. This is about the same as most other medium-sized breeds. From about 5 months to a year old, though, they need a lot more exercise since they are at peak energy levels. They really need a lot of physical and mental stimulation during this time to take the edge off their hormonal urges. Plan to give them three 45-minute runs or off-leash playtimes spread throughout the day during this time. Starting from a year old to 3 years old, their exercise needs will gradually decrease. Of course, as seniors, they will slow down further.

Q. Do I need a fenced yard to have a husky?

A. No. We didn’t have a fenced yard when we got our first husky, since we were renting at the time. Many of our puppy owners live in apartments in big cities, so they don’t have yards either. Not having a yard isn’t a huge deal unless you have more than one dog. It’s really nice to let dogs play off-leash in a yard together. If you only have one husky, though, having a yard doesn’t make a big difference, since your dog isn’t going to run around the yard exercising himself. Huskies generally don’t play fetch either, so even if you have a yard, it’s just a giant bathroom. You will still need to take him on walks, to the dog park, or to a doggy daycare. It is very useful, though, if you have friends with dogs who can come over to play, and as a convenient potty area. We ask that our puppy owners never leave their dog unsupervised in a fenced yard, even with a fence that is six feet high.

Q. Can huskies be off-leash?

A. We can’t speak for all huskies, but ours cannot be trusted off-leash. Even if the dog is trustworthy 99% of the time, that other 1% can have devastating consequences. As a part of our contract, we require that our dogs remain on-leash at all times when outside of fully fenced areas. This is not sad or cruel for the dog. Getting loose and remaining lost for days or weeks at a time is much worse!

Q. What about electronic fences?

A. We really dislike electronic fences, for many reasons. It causes great anxiety in dogs to see outside a confined area but not be able to cross the boundary. Other animals can walk up to your dogs and even enter the yard. Again, e-collars often do not even work with huskies, so electronic fences obviously would not work either. Even if they are able to feel the shock, many would still jump the fence because their prey drive is that strong. We would not allow our dogs to go to a home that was going to use an electronic fence with them.

Q. Are huskies loving toward their owners?

A. In a word, yes. All our dogs really love us, and we can tell. They like to show this in different ways, though. Juno will pin his ears back and walk slowly towards you with his tail wagging when you call his name. He really loves head scratches and belly rubs. Aria will climb up your back if she wants your attention and you’re not giving it to her. She doesn’t like to be pet as much but she enjoys curling up next to you in bed. Marv likes to lick your hands, feet, and face. He also doesn’t enjoy pets but loves attention. Cece will give you kisses while wagging her tail furiously, but then she will run off to do something else. Serena loves pets and demands them from you. Valley doesn’t like to be pet on his head as much, but he loves to be hugged. As you can see, they have wide range of preferences in terms of cuddling and petting. You should not get a Siberian with the expectation that they will enjoy cuddling and being pet.

Q. Do huskies shed a lot?

A. Yes and no. When they do shed, a lot of fur comes out. But when they’re not blowing their coats twice a year, they generally shed very little. Also, when they shed, the fur is cotton-y not hairy like other long-haired breeds, so it doesn’t generally get all over clothes and furniture. We find a lot more cat hair on our furniture than dog hair. It is also easy to get the fur out with a good bath and blowout. Grooming huskies is fairly easy compared to other breeds. They are very clean and do not smell, and dirt falls right off of them, so they do not need baths often. When you do bathe them though, their unique double coat makes them very hard to dry, so we highly recommend getting a high velocity dryer to dry them properly. Combing and brushing their coats is easy to do yourself, and doing it weekly is more than enough.

Q. Are huskies a healthy breed?

A. Yes. They live relatively long lives (12-15 years) and do not have major health issues. Hip dysplasia is very rare in the breed, and breeders screen for eye disease prior to breeding. Like any dog or person, it’s usually cancer that gets them in their old age. They are usually running until the day they go. Huskies are at high risk of becoming obese due to their low metabolism, so it’s very important to keep them fit. They also have higher rates of hypothyroidism, so it is good to get their thyroid checked if you are having trouble with their weight. Zinc deficiency is also a common issue, and we supplement all of our dogs with zinc. Epilepsy occurs at a higher rate in the breed and is much more prevalent in certain lines than others. We selectively use lines that have a good health track record, but there is always the possibility of lurking recessive genes.

Q. Should I spay or neuter my husky?

A. In general, the answer is yes, but not too early. Our contract requires waiting until at least 12 months to spay and neuter, and this position is supported by a lot of research. CCL tears and hemangiosarcoma are two major health issues that have increased in many dog breeds in recent years, including in huskies, and intact dogs (of both sex) are much less prone to developing CCL tears and intact females are much less prone to developing hemangiosarcoma. Due to lifestyle reasons, though, most of our pet homes do choose to spay and neuter after 12 months. It is a personal decision, and we allow each home to make this decision based on their specific situation (after 12 months).

Q. What kind of harness should I get for my husky?

A. This article is a great resource to start with to understand harness fit and how it affects dogs. We do not recommend no-pull harnesses under any circumstances due to restriction on the movement of the dog. An ideal harness is Y-shaped and is fully adjustable to ensure the right fit for your dog. We recommend the Alpine Outfitters half-back harness for recreational activities such as hiking, canicross, or bikejor and skijor.

Q. What kind of crate should I get for my husky?

A. Every dog has his or her own preferences, but most huskies do best in a Ruffland XL crate or a 34” Impact crate. The Ruffland crate is better for traveling by car, but it is not airline approved. The Impact crate is a bit roomier than the Ruffland crate and is better for home use or for flying in cargo. A select few of our dogs prefer standard wire crates to the Ruffland and Impact crates. We don’t recommend using wire crates when traveling by car, however, since they will not protect your pup in the event of a crash. On the other hand, the Ruffland crates are made of a single piece of heavy duty plastic and are crash-tested. Ruffland crates and Impact crates do cost significantly more than a wire crate, but they are great for peace of mind and they last for years. Some huskies are known to chip or break teeth on a wire crate, but the Ruffland and Impact crates are designed so that even houdini huskies cannot hurt themselves on them. Additionally, many huskies feel safer in the Ruffland and Impact crates, making it easier to crate train them.

Q. What should I feed my husky?

A. We feed almost all our dogs Open Farm Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish & Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food. We love that it is grain-inclusive with healthy ancient grains, that it is fish-based, and that it is very limited ingredient. It is formulated for all life stages, and we feed it to our puppies as well. We also love that it has ideal protein (26%) and fat (15%) ratios for our dogs. Huskies are extremely prone to weight-gain, especially after being spayed/neutered, so you do not ever want to feed them a high protein/fat diet, unless they are actual athletes.

Huskies require more zinc than other breeds, especially as puppies. We supplement all our adult dogs with human grade zinc picolinate at 30 mg/day. Some dogs require 60 mg/day on occasion. We know when they need more zinc because their coats and paw pads will start to feel dry/rough. One of our former dogs (a pet that was not of our breeding) had zinc responsive dermatosis and needed 100 mg/day of zinc. In addition to the zinc, we supplement all our dogs daily with a quality salmon oil such as Grizzly. Lastly, we add a 400 IU Vitamin E supplement daily. This combination has been really effective for all our dogs. Vitamin E has proven systemic benefits in dogs and even improves sperm quality.

Q. What about raw?

A. We used to feed raw, but we no longer recommend it. It is extremely difficult to ensure that homemade raw diets are balanced. Furthermore, the bacteria from the raw can be hard on a dog, especially as they get older and/or become immunocompromised. Premade, ground raw is an OK option, but these companies are not well regulated and there can be quality control issues from batch to batch. If too much beef liver is used, for example, raw can have unsafe levels of copper. For dogs that cannot tolerate kibble, instead of raw, we highly recommend Spot & Tango Unkibble. It is a freeze-dried, limited ingredient food that is extremely easy to digest and bioavailable.