What are Siberian Huskies Really Like?

The Siberian Husky is an ancient sled dog breed, developed by the Chukchi people of North Eastern Siberia to pull light loads over long distances. The dogs werean important part of family life, acting as currency, transport and companionship. They slept in the tents with the family, giving extra warmth on cold nights, and this meant that they needed to be friendly and sociable.

Siberians first came to Alaska in the early 1900s, and quickly made their name as racing dogs as well as willing workers. The qualities they needed to survive in the Russian arctic were exactly what was needed to race successfully over long distances in the cold climate of Alaska, and their wolf-like beauty eventually led to their becoming popular across the world.

What are THE ADVANTAGES OF THE BREED?

The good points of the Siberian are many. Apart from being a very attractive dog to look at, they are friendly, affectionate, lively and mischievous. They love everybody and are always ready to get involved in whatever is going on around them. Because they don't bark very much (if at all) they are a quiet breed, and make a range of lovely musical noises instead.

Huskies are very clean animals, and lick themselves like cats. They don't smell like other breeds can, and a lot of people who find that they are allergic to dogs don't react to husky fur.
Siberians are excellent dogs for active, outdoor people as they will enjoy as much exercise as you can give them, and don't get tired even on the longest walks.

They are very economical to feed, as they were originally bred to work well on small amounts of food. (Although you should be aware that they need a high meat, high fat diet and cannot digest cereals, so the correct sort of food is very important.)

What are THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE BREED?

The Siberian Husky is a sled dog, which means that they have very special requirements, and not everybody feels able to make the changes in their lifestyle that living with the breed needs.

Siberians have an innate desire to run, and run and run. If they are ever let off the lead they will just run off and you will be very lucky indeed to get your dog back. If you take on a Siberian you must be absolutely sure that you will NEVER let him or her loose.

Because, in the wilds of Siberia they were expected to fend for themselves during the summer months, Siberians have a very strong hunting instinct and regard small furry animals as prey. They will hunt and kill most small pets, and are not safe with livestock. It is important to note that this behaviour is quite normal for Siberians and not a sign of aggressive tendencies. They are simply very skilled at providing themselves with food, and have not forgotten their natural predatory nature as a lot of other more "domesticated" dog breeds have.

Siberians are both intelligent and creative. Unfortunately they express these features by creatively destroying things within their reach. They also steal things for the sheer fun of stealing, often opening cupboards to get to things which they will then destroy. They need a lot of entertainment to stop them becoming bored and a secure area where they can't get hold of items they may chew and injure themselves with. They don't grow out of this trait, either! Teenagers are just as likely to be found with your best trousers in bits unless you are vigilant about where they can get access to.

Huskies are excellent at escaping from enclosed areas. They need strong, high fences (at least six feet high) and can dig with amazing strength and speed. Fences should be sunk two feet into concrete to prevent them from digging out of their pens.

The beautiful wolf-howl calls of a husky pack can be a nuisance if your neighbours are not keen on the sound. Make sure that you are prepared for this.

Twice a year your Siberian will shed. When this happens your house will become full of soft, thick hair and your vacuum cleaner will work overtime. If you are house proud then a husky is not going to be the breed for you.