The Siberian Husky -- A guideline for those who want one.

Hello, Loopy here to tell you about a few guidelines you should consider before you purchase a dog close to wolves such as a Siberian Husky. Though these dogs are domesticated, they share close bonds with their ancestors and the following conditions should be met b triefore you choose to make a purchase.

#1: A Husky is a lot of work. If you work more than a part time job or are not home for at least a good part of your day to dedicate to them, this condition cannot be met. Huskies are very attentive. They require constant training due to the fact they have a very small memory and in order to drive training into their instincts, constant repetition in consistent training exercises must be preformed. Not a day should go that you don't run them through their training, otherwise, they will forget or, we come to #2

#2: Huskies require an enormous amount of physical exercise, whether it be walks, runs, or if you are lucky enough to live up north, having one introduced to sledding (which is what they were made for) is a great idea. When exercising, carry a big water bottle with you in addition to yours. Huskies in the north drink if they are very thirsty by eating snow, though this can be bad for them as it requires energy to bring the snow to body temperature, which can lead to exhaustion quickly.

#3: They have habits, like any breed of dog, which increases in measure and frequency if they are bored, which leads back up to #2. Exercise them frequently. and you will be surprised at their stamina. Like said before, keep them well-hydrated. When they are bored from inactivity, they will dig, howl, chew, and possibly bite their owners from frustration in extreme cases. Huskies are stubborn. If you are not consistent or confident in your training exercises, they will know, and they will constantly test the boundaries. Huskies born outside of a pack will fight over a female especially around winter months when she is in heat. If you are breeding for a team, it is best to start off with a male and a female and bond them together as they grow, chances are if you leave them alone during the winter months, they will mate, but again, exercise is important.

#4: Continuing from #3, do not separate the pups from the parents unless necessary. Huskies are pack-oriented. You and your significant other will serve as the Alpha pair in this hierarchy, but sometimes it can shift to your children if the animal bonds with your kids. Generally by instinct they only listen to one person, but can be trained to accept humans in general as the dominant, but in their nature they are loyal if removed from all possible means of frustration. Reports of "turning on the owners" usually happen in extreme cases where the animal is not exercises, properly maintained, fed, watered, and played with, as well as given toys to play with when it is with its familiars. This could also be due to loneliness, which another family pet can fix. Smaller pets will be assumed subordinates unless they are particularly vocal and aggressive. Huskies can acquire mental illness. I came across one that was taking Ritilin for hyper activity.

#5: Make sure you have proper accommodations for them. They can jump high and far with their powerful hind legs. Twelve foot fencing is required and at least 4 feet around the fence must be flat ground with cement foundation deep so they cannot dig their way out of the enclosure. Radio shock collar fences DO NOT WORK for Huskies. They have been known to get used to the shock and run away without incident. The enclosure must be very large so they have room to run around. If they feel confined they will get frustrated. Inside of the house, all cords should be tied and hidden so that your dog can not get to them. All small objects such as baby toys your dog will chew. When they are young, chew toys that are made for large puppies work best such as toys that have rivets or dimples on them to soothe their teething needs. If they appear irritated in the mouth and you notice during grooming, there are special refrigerated rings you can give them -- DO NOT GIVE THEM BABY TEETHING RINGS, they WILL chew through them and poison themselves. Consult a professional on making a proper choice. These are usually only necessary when they are young, sign of gum irritation is either improper brushing or frustration "tension" chewing in . Use shampoo that is both safe for them and good for their fur. They shed, a lot, mainly during summer, use a brush on them daily that tends to their undercoat, they like to be brushed. Giving them a toy, brushing them and giving them a good ear scratching is a good way to show you appreciate them, though they usually do not allow subordinates to touch them and are shy of newcomers, but will play the guardian if it is in their personality. They are very protective of children but usually do not like their tail touched except by their superiors and do not tolerate pulling of fur, tail, ears. If you have very young children (under 4 years of age), you might want to wait a few years before you throw this type of dog in the mix.

#6: Huskies are very dignified. They expect out of their owners confidence, dominance, and never begging them or yelling unless necessary. If they do not execute a command after being asked more than twice, then the command should be yelled crisply but never in a begging or simpering way. Every dog is different, so your training methods will vary, but all-in-all, the Husky is loyal and compassionate of its owners and family provided proper treatment, though I'd have to rate them a 4 out of 5 on the high-maintenance end. If they are being stubborn and are unwilling to listen, you must respond with vigilance and in some cases, muscle. I find choke collars inhumane in some cases but they will need them in their later years if they do not yield to you. Sometimes, early on, you will have to be aggressive but never abusive to your dog to let it know who's boss. They are smart enough to "play the good boy" when the choke collar is on but as soon as you go to put their walking leash and collar on, they give quite a tug -- this in one such experience I had. Huskies can sense trust, and if you build it with them, you will gain a stable, loyal relationship with them. Sometimes they will act like a small child because they want to play or whatnot, but embrace this. They were made to work and doing work is what they enjoy. Truly love them, and they will love you back, they have the capacity, but sometimes you'll feel like you've got a Dennis the Menace on your hands. It's normal, accept it, and I won't falter in saying that a Husky is one of the most stubborn breeds you can buy, but the effort spent on them will give you one of the most beautiful animals in the familaris subspecies.

#7: Your dog will require all of the normal vaccines that a large dog requires, try checkups as often as you see fit with your dog's health. You want to catch a problem early. If your dog suddenly appears put-out, will not respond to commands or with low energy, which is certainly not normal for a Husky, you might want to get it checked out. Inspect your dog's feces for small worms, and if they vomit they need to go right away, especially if there are worms in the vomit. If your dog becomes injured, seek veterinary help immediately, as a dog's injury can easily become permanent. You'll notice if they come inside with one of their legs folded up or curled up, which is a dog's instinct to a leg injury or bite. They may yelp or whine or do things unusual if it's bad. If it is that bad, chances are your dog may be frightened from the pain, in which it is best to call an ER Vet. If you are not trained on how to do so, do not approach an injured animal IF IT MAY BE YOUR OWN OR NOT if they have their ears lowered, are twitching, foaming at the mouth, or yelping consistently. You will only cause your pet to have to be euthanized as a result of a bite if you make sudden movements or attempt to touch the injury. If your dog seeks shelter under something and behaves that way, leave it be until help arrives. Try to speak to it calmly, stay close, a good way to build trust with your animal is if you are there for it during troubled times.

#8: As I will always advise to future dog owners, treat your animal as if you would a member of your family "pack". Love it, care for it, but do not spoil it. Pets are live living things and for dogs, they have emotions, as do their ancestors -- the wolf. Wolves have a brain 31 times that of a domestic dog, have been the single most successful land mammal at survival of the fittest, and in studies have been proven to be smarter than dolphins in cognitive behavior and social interaction, which puts them right behind primates -- us. Dogs are the result of respect for wolves, they have evolved in many ways to help us, so we should help them, but we haven't. Wolves are the single most misunderstood THING today, and it is wild how myths and legends have shaped their near-extinction.. I ask any man or woman who purchases a dog to have respect for the ones before it, the ones who are looking at us in their endless slaughter and laughing at our ignorance, the ones I have respected above all others and not blame for their recent, legitimate, attacks on humans. It's about time they fought back.

Purchase your animal in respect of the wolf, and treat it like one of your own.

That is all.

~Loopy.