Information:

Before you seriously consider getting a Siberian Husky there are a number of things to think about. Is this the right breed for you? These are beautiful, loving dogs, with a personality that is almost human  - they seem to know what you are thinking, what you want (although that doesn't mean they will do what you want all the time), and how you feel. It's a personality that is hard to resist, and together with the beauty of the Siberian it is almost impossible to resist. However, you need to think not only of your needs, but of theirs. 

Siberians need to be confined. If you are one of the people who believe that it is cruel or unnecessary to confine a dog, this is not the breed for you. If you are one of the people who believe that you can train a dog to stay around, this is not the dog for you. Certainly they are trainable - look at all the Siberians that are shown, in all fields. The breeder of my male, Blaze, (Kunuk Kennel )  has finished a number of her Siberians in obedience as well as conformation. But even training will not prevent them from taking off after something they see. This is instinct in this breed. They need to be confined, and kept on a leash when out with you, going for hikes or walks, or anywhere. I, and many others, feel that a large, reinforced, chain link fenced area is the best way to do this. This gives them security and  a large area to run, jump and play in. I prefer to use 6 foot high chain link, it is reinforced at the bottom, and underneath it.

Siberians also dig. Again, if they have their own area, they can happily dig to their hearts content. I periodically go fill in holes, so that they can have the joy of digging them again.

Siberians can be very destructive when left alone in your home. My sofa looks it. I have a damaged sofa, and some damaged carpeting. Plus, of course, I have had shoes chewed up, clothing chewed up, comforters chewed up, pillows chewed up. These things were my own fault, I left my guys alone, loose, in the house. These things, however, are very mild compared to some of the stories I have heard. Again, if they have their own yard, alot of this doesn't happen. 

Siberians are pack animals. They are very social. They need alot of attention. You are part of the pack, so they want your attention. Having a second dog helps this some, they have company to play with when you are not home. 

Siberians are not especially good with other small animals such as cats, rabbits, hamsters, etc. If you have these animals when you bring your Siberian puppy home, it MAY be just fine with them. It may not be. Something to remember is that even though your Siberian might accept and be good with your cat, it may still go after neighbors cats. This is just part of the nature of the Siberian. This is another reason to keep them in their own safe, secure, protected yard, and to always walk them on a leash. Squirrels, chipmunks, etc, the Siberian will take off after any of them. I had someone call me a number of years ago - they wanted to get a Siberian to help protect their chickens from a fox who kept taking them. I (very nicely) informed them that with a Siberian, they wouldn't have chickens to worry about. 

Siberians shed. They usually shed twice a year, and when they do, it is alot. 

If you are thinking of getting a Siberian puppy, please take the time to research the breed first - there are many excellent resources easily available now. Some are listed below. And then make sure that the breeder that you get your puppy from is a reputable breeder, and has done the health checks on the parents, as well as the puppies. Both parents should have had their eyes checked clear through CERF or SHOR, and both parents should have had their hips certified clear of dysplasia by the OFA. This should be done before the parents were bred. I have seem advice saying that you should be able to see both parents. This is great if it is possible, but many reputable breeders will send their female out to a male to be bred. In this case, you would see the female, pictures of the male, and you should be able to contact the owners of the male if you want to. Also, the breeder should still have the CERF/SHOR and OFA information on the male. You do want to see that the dogs the breeder has are well taken care of. It takes alot of time, effort and care to produce a sound, healthy litter of puppies.

Another thing to think about is getting a "rescue" Siberian. There are many reasons why a dog becomes a rescue dog. One of the big ones is that someone got a Siberian puppy because it was cute, and then as it grew it chewed things up, ran away all the time, or just generally got in the way, and the people turned it into a shelter because they just didn't have time for it, or because it kept going out of the (unfenced) yard, or they are moving to somewhere they can't have pets, or they've decided to have children and don't think they can cope with a child and a dog. Then there are neglected ones, who were taken by animal control authorities, or turned in by concerned neighbors, etc. These have been neglected, not fed, left chained out without sufficient shelter, or just tied or left out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, never getting any attention. Some of these come from "puppy mill" raids, where the neglect was very severe. Some have been abused. All of these dogs need and deserve good, loving homes. They respond well to love, attention, good food and healthy diet. If you feel that your heart is big enough to give a home to one of these Siberians, please use the links below and on my rescue page. 

There are many, many other excellent web pages on line that give alot more information. Some are linked to these sites, some you can find by doing a search. I will list more as I get a chance to. Also, many other breeder sites have excellent information within their pages.

Home