Siberian Husky.

wolfsong442

I've wanted one for a couple of years now, so I have been extensively reading about them.

I plan on renting a house (or apartment, but preferably a house) next year when I go to college, but I am going to make sure that the place either has a fenced in back yard or that I can take the dog on walks every day.

As I will be going to school/working/volunteering, I won't be home every minute of every day, but if that was a huge concern no one would own dogs. I don't think anyone has every single minute of their lives to spend with their dogs.

Anyway, I want to be able to take the dog to a dog park to socialize them and just have a dog that will play with other dogs. I plan on signing up for obediance classes with my dog and crate training it ( but I don't want the dog to be in the crate a lot. I don't believe in crating a dog at night). I'm not overly excited about the shedding idea, but I'm not overly neat and I'm sure there are special brushes you can use to regulate shedding.

I plan on getting other dogs, probably mixes. I'm partial to white GSDs and Bullys ( I love a good pit bull XD ). I would love to adopt a mixed breed from the organization I volunteer for. That and foster a lot XD

Anyone have any concerns or ideas?

britishbandit

No, not everybody can spend every minute of the day with their dogs, but most of us don't go to school, work and volunteer all at the same time. I can't imagine you have much time for anything else other than sleeping, so I'd say wait to get a dog (of any breed) until you have more time you can spend with it. Especially not a Husky, a breed that would definately not be happy couped up in a house most of the day. You'd be in for a very bored, misbehaved and destructive dog, JMO.

You may have enough time to walk the dog once a day, but a Husky needs more than a daily walk.

Even if you do go to training classes, if the dog is not adequately exercised and is home alone a lot, those classes may as well have not happened. Not enough physical and mental stimulation is the reason most dogs "misbehave". Their needs are just not being met, and they're bored, so they find their own ways to occupy their time.

Quill

I agree whole-heartedly with BritishBandit.

I'm in the market for a rough collie puppy. However, when I contact breeders, I ask about puppies that will be available in autumn, not now. I'm working full-time over the summer, and I know that I couldn't properly socialize and housetrain a puppy.

I know what I'm doing for the next year -- in the fall, my University classes are starting again. I'll be out of the house for four hours every day, and one of my parents will be home to let the puppy out of its crate. The rest of my day is spent with the dog. I'll be working part-time on the weekends, when my younger siblings can play with the puppy while I'm gone. This schedule will continue over the winter.

I don't volunteer, and I can't even imagine having your schedule! When do you expect you'll have the time to housetrain and socialize your puppy, and attend obedience classes?

Personally, I'd wait until you can foresee a big break in your tight schedule. I hear puppies compared to babies a lot -- they're going to eat up all your time, and get on your very last nerve. Adding that to a hectic lifestyle would drive you bonkers!

(But I love huskies, and I hope you find the time to own one, whether it's next year or in the next decade. They're so beautiful!)

rosemaryninja

The 'or' in this sentence kind of jumped out at me. There are certain breeds of dog that will put up with a 'no-walk' day if they are allowed a good romp or game in the backyard as a substitute. The Siberian Husky isn't one of them. I'm sure RBark will drop by and give you an idea of how much exercise he gives his two Sibes, so I'm not going to get ahead of him, but it is something like MILES of walking, daily.

No, they don't, but you sound like you're going to be really busy. I think most people who own dogs (happy, well-stimulated, well-behaved dogs) don't spend every single minute of their lives with their dogs, but they do spend at least the majority of their day with their dogs, even if they aren't at home, OR have someone there at home to be with the dogs (a roommate, a spouse, etc).

I think you should at least have a rough idea of how much time you're going to be spending out of the house each day. Is the dog going to be crated for up to three hours at a time, or up to six hours at a time? Things like this make a lot of difference. Plus, the Siberian Husky is a breed that requires a particularly large amount of attention to be satisfied.

Were you thinking about getting a puppy? It really sounds like an adult rescue might be better for your lifestyle. Plus, you'd be saving a life.

I'm certainly NOT trying to question or sway your decision, but why did you pick out the Siberian Husky in particular? As I said, not questioning the validity of your choice - I adore Sibes and would love to keep one if circumstances ever allowed for it.

RBark

The two "or's" are concerning. The dog needs walks every day whether you have a backyard or not. My two currently go on two five mile runs in the morning and night for 10 miles of running a day. And that's with me having two dogs that play all the time in my backyard.

I certainly don't spend every minute with them, but the Husky is a extreme pack animal. They will not be happy with you gone. I personally think the 8 hours I am gone every day is just enough. And if I want to go out to do something without them I make sure to give them a lot of attention before I leave again.

Er well I suppose brushing does work a bit, but I get almost a full canister of hair every day during blowing coat of just one dog. Now with two, I get two canisters full. And that's with twice-daily grooming.

Take your time, it's not a contest to hoard as many dogs as possible in as little time as possible! Take it slow and grow a bond with each one of your dogs. Personally I would wait until after college to get a dog when you know exactly what you need to do.

If I got a dog right after I left home, I would have thought I'd have the time. Little did I know that in less than 6 months after I left home, I would end up working 100 hours a week for six years.

While nobody knows what the future holds, it is wise to wait for any big changes to happen first.

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RRM_Mom08

I have to agree with the concerns of everyone else I would wait till you are out of school and have a house (and if you rent some landlords can be specific about breeds they will allow).

Remember this breed is a working breed they need something to do everyday they thrive on it.Walks are not going to cut it they love to run.If they do not get the exercise and stimilaution they are going to be destructive and escape artists.(my neibors dog could run 30mph or better so if they get out they are gone..)

I always tell people when they are looking for a dog do not go for looks alone look at the breed traits get the dog matching books (they have them at library's) and match yourself with a dog on personality and lifestyle you will both be much happier

wolfsong442

This is distressing.

I can't imagine living without a dog. I can't live by myself, and I can't live with another person. I think I'd pull my hair out.

I love animals and I love dogs and I just cannot imagine spending four years without that companionship, whether it be a husky or a mixed breed.

rosemaryninja

Have you considered getting a cat?

I'm not being sarcastic - cats are really much more low-maintenance, grooming- and exercise-wise, and (I think) they are much more tolerant of being left alone. From what I hear, they also make relatively good companions.

wolfsong442

Please no XD

I don't hate cats by any means, but I have a cat now and it is the most annoying creature on the face of the planet. I'm just more of a dog person. I have been around nice cats before and I love them, but I just click with dogs.

I don't plan on being gone every second of every day. I don't plan on going to school every day or volunteering every day, if that's what you're all worried about

My first dog on my own doesn't have to be a husky, but I need to have a medium to large sized dog...

I'm not saying I CAN'T live without a dog. I can. I just would be miserable.

harrise

Don't take the advice the wrong way. Everyone is giving it to you pretty straight and sometimes it might read a little coarse. Sled dogs really will take it personally if you don't run them. Like mentioned above, run. Not those frilly little 2 mile jogs either. There are tons of dogs and breeds to consider, those of us familiar with the needs of Huskies want people to take the commitment seriously. No days off from running, hair everywhere from the closets to your plate, mine field for a yard, and so on. I myself learned the hard way when I got Sioux, being used to a 10 year old couch potato Malamute made me forget the active years...



However, if you get up everyday and shove a 1.5 hour run into your schedule, learn to accept dog hair as a food group, they can be the best guys to have around...

rosemaryninja

Don't worry - I'm not a cat person either. Just tossing it out there.

If I were you I would consider rescuing an older medium-sized dog...by 'older', I mean maybe 5 years old. Not a husky, either, but a more mellow breed - namely, one that won't eat your front porch if you don't provide it with an alternative means of entertainment.

wolfsong442

I really have thought about adopting from the place I volunteer for.

I probably will get an older dog, but I don't know about five years. I want a dog who can have a full life with me.

I kind of thought that if you get an older dog, they can't bond with you as well as a younger dog. That and when I am able to take the dog to a park, I want it to play with the other dogs and not hang around me because they're too old to feel like playing.

rosemaryninja

I think the last part of your post might be a little questionable, but that's beside the point. If you really don't want a dog that old (which is understandable) you could always get a more adolescent one, maybe 2-3 years old? Not out of the playful, mischievous stage yet, but not needing constant attention, either.

My point is that regardless of whether you get a 6 y-o or a 2 y-o, your current lifestyle doesn't seem like it would permit you to get a puppy. Not unless your longest class/shift/volunteer period was, say, 2 or 3 hours. Puppies can't be crated for that long, and shouldn't be uncrated at all when unsupervised. So you are not likely to get that 12 week-old socialisation period either way.

wolfsong442

How is it questionable?

12 week old socialization period? What does this mean?

I will probably get a 18 month to two year old dog. A large to medium mixed breed dog. I don't know what breeds they will be yet. I will probably just foster until I find a dog that fits my lifestyle and just stands out to me, regardless of the age. And, I said dog...not puppy. I won't get a puppy until I am sure I can handle it.

It's probably best for me to wait and see how long I'll be gone from my house before I think about getting a dog...

I just don't want people posting, screaming at me "OMG U SHOOD NEVA GET A HUSKY!!!! U R NOT RESPONSIBLE ENUF!"

And I have had people say that I should never get one because they are a lot of work. I just want to calmly tell them that I am going to get one eventually when I am ready to handle the responsibility.

RBark

Not quite true. There is a lady that rescues Huskies 8 years and older only. She generally has about 4-5 of them at a time, and she adopts almost every year or two when one passes away. She cries hard as anyone I've ever seen losing a dog, 12 years or 2 years. The dogs all adore her as well.

In my experience (having two nordic breeds myself) having huskies has less to do with responsibility and more to do with your personality. For instance, a recent adopter returned a dog after 1 month. This person has always owned dogs, did high obedience and competitive sports with dogs. She had owned Border Collies, German Shepherds, Labradors. Very responsible and knowledgable person.

Why would this person return the dog? The reason has nothing to do with her responsibility or knowledge, and a lot more to do with that the breed does not fit her at all. Good husky owners are a strange lot and many people have a difficult time understanding Husky behavior. They are very unlike most dogs. To many, in a bad way.

Disobedience, and destruction is what they live for. If you can come home to a crater for a backyard, a couch like Harrise's, your favorite DVD collection destroyed because you accidently left the kennel slightly open and he got out, and laugh at all this and pet the dog when you get home and go, "you silly dog!" then yes, you probably have a reasonable chance of having a husky.

More often, however, people come home seeing this and beat the living shit out of the dog, surrender the dog, kennel the dog 24/7, and more. Right now, I am fostering one such husky that was beaten nearly to death multiple times for months by a owner that doesn't understand the breed. They think dogs = absolute obedience. If you want a dog to listen to you, look elsewhere for another breed.

I enjoy watching my dogs far more than I do training them. I CAN train them, it's all about motivations and consistency. But it's not too much fun training a dog that doesn't have a internal drive to want ot be trained by you. The only companionship they really want from you is pissing you off so that you can chase them, it's a game.

There's many owners here on this forum who would never get a Husky even though I know they are capable, just because of the personality of a Husky.

So it's real important that you are very sure of yourself. I know the breed is awesome looking and funny- when you don't own them. When you own them, the looks of the dog isn't as interesting anymore as their personality is.

I love both my dogs, I truly do. I will always have a couple Siberian Huskies living with me, most likely, until I'm too old to run or bike anymore. But there's a reason I will be getting a German Shepherd for my next dog.

Oh and one more story to drive the point home if you don't mind.

Last month I was at the dog park. I went there with Ollie and Kobe. I had paid slightly more attention to Ollie than Kobe because of Ollie's former dog aggression. We were there with about 10 other huskies from our rescue.

It took only seconds. Kobe and the head of our rescue's dog, Vesla Louise went over a hill. And by the time we got to the hill, they disappeared from sight.

We did not find them until 4 hours later when Animal Control e-mailed me that they found Kobe 14 miles north of the dog park (probably 18 miles of actual running). They were still chasing Vesla Louise and caught her 2 miles later.

They really are not for everyone.

brie'anna

I wouldn't get a pit bull if this is your first time owning one... I would get a golden retriever... very loving dogs... and they get along well with other dogs... just a suggestion...

wolfsong442

I would never, ever strike a dog because they did something that was a result of MY mistakes. I would never, ever strike a dog for anything, whether they tore up my sofa or my DVD collection. I would love my dogs like my own children...hrm...probably more considering I have no desire to reproduce.

I am by no means a neat freak, my car is filled with dog hair and I don't care. I don't abuse dogs because they do something wrong and I would never adopt a dog unless I was postive that it was the dog for me.

And don't think I'm against older dogs. My own little poodle/terrier mix is twelve and she is my life. I love her to death and I would never trade her in for a younger dog.

No offense, but Goldens just aren't to my taste. Beautiful dogs, just not my type XD

And your post is a little confusing to me personally. If people didn't get put bulls because they've never owned one, no one would get Bullys. How do you know if you can own a Pit Bull or not unless you own one. Someone has to own one for the first time, otherwise there would be no Pit Bull owners.

RBark

Did you read my story about my runaway husky in the last post I made? I edited it in but I'm not sure if its after you read it or not.

But don't misunderstand why I'm telling you all this. It is not because I think you are a poor owner or that you don't have the responsibility. Just that I want to tell you some stuff so that in the future when you feel ready to set a chunk of your life to a Husky, you are mentally prepared for it.

While I'm telling stories let me tell you one more. This one might hit closer to home, and I did not tell it at first because I did not want to put you on the defensive.

A 22 year old boy adopted a husky from us 3 years ago. He was going to college and had plenty of time. Loved the dog, adored him. We loved him as an adopter.

He surrendered the dog 2 weeks ago. Life hit like a truck. After college, he worked too many hours and was too busy. He was completely torn. The dog was 3 years old when he adfopted him.

What makes this story sadder is it is not just a case of "better to have loved and lost". The dog is now 6 1/2 years old. Older dogs don't get adopted easily at all. He will have a hard time finding a home than he did when he was 3.

The boy could not have known, he was too young. Life works funny like that, and you should have seen him the day he came in. He was like the walking dead.

Whatever you decide, we here at the forums will support you best as we can. But think real long and real hard about it. The fact you are considering everyones advice puts you leaps and bounds beyond the average owner, and I for one am impressed. So think carefully.

RRM_Mom08

Yes exactly what I posted before you need to match your dog/pet to your lifestyle and personality..Alot of people don't and that is why so many pets end up in shelters/rescue

wolfsong442

Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be able to get a husky from what you all are saying. I wouldn't want to get a dog that is so high matinence and not be able to care for it properly and have to surrender the poor dog.

What about fostering? There is a couple of Siberian Husky rescues in my state. Once my life has settled down some, so you think it would be wise for me to foster for them so I can see if I do want a siberian in the future?

And what amout mixes? Would a siberian husky mix be alright, or will it retain too much of it's husky parantage to make a good pet?

And while I'm at it, what large breed or mixed breeds would work for me? I like White GSDs, Dobermans, Rotties, Pitties, Aussie Shepherds, Boxers, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Greyhounds, and all those lovely mixes that they make. XD

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