Many people are drawn to the Siberian Husky because of its sleek wolf-like appearance. The distinctive markings and fluffy coats. The Siberian Husky is a beautiful creature. Also, the Siberian Husky is a friendly dog full of energy and fun, an attractive quality in a pet.
It’s understandable why many people want a Siberian Husky as a pet, but is the Siberian Husky a good fit for you and your family? I will list some pros and cons to help you decide based on the Husky’s traits, not just its looks.
Pros for adding a Siberian Husky to your family
Friendly
The Siberian Husky was bred to be friendly and playful with other dogs and people. The Chukchi Tribe would only ever breed the most social and playful of their sled dogs, and this trait is present in today’s Siberian Huskies. You can find an article about the history of the Siberian Husky and its traits here.
Energetic
The Siberian Husky has impressive stamina and can run for miles. So if you enjoy the outdoors, walking, running, cycling, then a Siberian Husky is the dog for you. In addition, the Siberian Husky loves being outside and spending time with its human companion. So having a Siberian Husky in your life will ensure you are out and about every day.
Intelligent
You won’t ever see Siberian Husky on the top 10 smart dogs list; however, I feel that this is a mistake. Bidibility is often confused with intelligence when rating dogs. Siberian Huskies are very smart, and they are genuinely thinking dogs. They can learn things very quickly and figure things out even quicker. The knack isn’t training a Husky; it’s getting the Husky to want to do what you ask!
Low Odor Dog
The Siberian Husky is a very clean dog; they are almost cat-like in their grooming routine. The double coat on a Siberian Husky is unique in that it keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The coat also has dirt-repellent oils to help protect the skin. The only time my Husky is smelly is when she has rolled in something awful. A Siberian Husky only needs to be bathed a few times a year. Brushing regularly is highly recommended to keep the coat looking good.
Food Cost
The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized dog; it has an excellent metabolism and doesn’t consume as much food as other medium-sized dogs, such as a Labrador. As a result, the Siberian Husky can thrive on less food than the average medium-sized dog.
Distinctive
The Siberian Husky is a very distinctive dog. It has beautiful markings, erect ears, and a bushy tail, not to mention piercing eyes. Standing still, the Siberian Husky looks regal and proud. Such a gorgeous dog that it’s easy to fall in love with it. Yes, I am biased; I adore my Siberian Husky!
Loyal
A Siberian Husky is a loyal and loving companion. Once a Siberian Husky has bonded with and trusted you, you will have years of loyal companionship. The Siberian Husky is a pack animal and loves to be around its people and other animals in the family. They are protective over their humans and will come between their person and any perceived threat.
Independent
As loyal and loving as the Siberian Husky is, they are an independent breed. They will happily take themselves off to lie down, checking in on you often. However, the Siberian Husky isn’t for you if you want a clingy dog. The Siberian Husky is the cat of the dog world!
Entertaining
The Siberian Husky is a mischievous goofball and will give you hours of laughter. Their antics can be hilarious, sometimes bordering on naughty. However, there is never a dull moment with a Siberian Husky in your life. From some of the weird positions they sleep in to how they bounce around when they are happy, a Siberian Husky is a pure joy in the flesh.
Cons for Adding a Siberian Husky to your Family
Friendly
The Siberian Husky is friendly, often too friendly. They are rubbish guard dogs as they aren’t territorial. They want to say hello to everyone and everything, making training them to walk nicely on lead tricky. Their friendliness can often be taken as too forward and direct for other dogs and their owners. Overt friendliness can lead to negative interactions.
Energetic
A Siberian Husky has a lot of energy, and if this energy isn’t burned off, it will become destructive. It’s not unknown for a bored or lonely Husky to destroy crates, sofas, walls, and doors. A bored Siberian Husky will jump a 6-foot fence or dig under the fence to escape to find its own entertainment.
No matter the weather, a Siberian Husky will need its daily exercise. A large yard or garden is not enough for this breed; they need to explore and spend time with their human. Mental stimulation is just as crucial to a Siberian Husky as physical exercise.
Intelligent
The Siberian Husky is known as the Houdini of the dog world. It’s common for the Siberian Husky to work out weak spots to escape or find their way into things. A Siberian Husky will also work out how to get you to do what they want to do. If you give a Husky an inch, they will take it and run a mile at least!
It is easy to train a Siberian Husky; however, getting a Husky to comply with what you want them to do is trickier! First, you have to convince them that you are more fun and exciting than anything else around them. And then that what you want them to do is worth their while!
Sensitive Stomach
Finding the right food for your Siberian Husky can be tricky. They can have very sensitive stomachs. As a result, the Siberian Husky can be a very fussy eater and can go off their food quickly and regularly. It isn’t unusual for a Siberian Husky to not eat for a couple of days, which can be a worry at first.
Body Language
A Siberian Husky has a proud stance, upright ears, and a bushy tail; unfortunately, other dogs can often misread this as threatening body language. Other dogs and owners can see a friendly overture as fierce or threatening. It is essential to learn about dog body language and Siberian Husky body language; they are slightly different.
Grooming
A Siberian Husky may not need to be bathed often and are self-cleaning; however, they must be brushed regularly. During their coat-blowing season – usually spring and autumn – the shedding is non-stop. A Siberian Husky will shed its weight in fur and get fur everywhere! Therefore, every day is brushing and vacuuming. If you are house-proud, a Siberian Husky is not for you!
Independent
The Siberian Husky is not a people-pleasing dog; it won’t go out of its way to make you happy. I describe them as the cats of the dog world. Even though the Siberian Husky is a friendly dog, don’t expect them to be a cuddle bug. The Siberian Husky can be very aloof, and affection is on their terms.
A Siberian Husky will make you work to earn their trust, responding to cues if they feel like it or it’s worth their while. However, if you want a people-pleasing dog that automatically obeys your commands, then a Siberian Husky is not for you.
The only way to earn a Siberian Husky’s trust and create a bond with them is to work with them, with lots of training, patience, and positive praise and rewards.
If you don’t meet a Siberian Husky’s needs for exercise and mental stimulation, it will take matters into its own paws and go off to meet its own needs.
Separation Anxiety
The Siberian Husky does not do well being left alone for long periods. They are known for suffering from separation anxiety. This can manifest in long periods of howling and destruction of their crates and your furniture. If you have to leave your dog alone for 10 hours a day, a Siberian Husky is not for you. If you plan to have a dog walker or dog daycare, you must ensure that your Husky is well-trained and socialized and you have the finances to cover these costs.
Time Consuming
A Siberian Husky requires a lot of your time. Not only for the daily exercise routine but for the training. A Siberian Husky requires a lot of consistent positive reinforcement training. It’s best to start the training from the puppy stage; however, an older dog can learn new tricks.
Once you are out of the puppy stage, you enter the fun t-rex teenage stage. During this stage, the Siberian Husky seems to regress; they forget its name and enter a very destructive phase. This is when many people put their Huskies into shelters because they cannot cope. However, to end up with a good dog, you must double down on the training and increase the exercise routine. Then, go back to the basics and start again.
Training a Siberian Husky requires a lot of patience and consistency. Unlike other breeds, the Siberian Husky will thrive with constant reinforcement of the training and building on it. However, the Siberian Husky is an intelligent dog and will get bored, so you have to keep them mentally stimulated.
High Prey Drive
The Siberian Husky is renowned for its high prey drive. It’s possible to dampen the prey drive by teaching focus and leave it; however, the prey drive is still there. The high prey drive is one of the reasons that it’s challenging to train a Siberian Husky in recall. When the prey drive kicks in, it will stop listening to you and carry on the hunt.
You can walk along with your Husky on lead, and it suddenly dives head-first into the hedgerow and comes out with a mouse, a bird, or a rabbit. The Siberian Husky is fast and accurate!
If you have smaller animals at home, it’s important to slowly and safely introduce them to a Siberian Husky. Never leave a Siberian Husky alone with a small animal; play can quickly turn into prey.
Medical Conditions
The Siberian Husky is a relatively healthy dog breed; however, they are prone to a few medical conditions. Such as arthritis, hip problems, glaucoma, and Uveitis. On top of these breed conditions, you must ensure you have enough money or insurance to cover any unforeseen medical emergencies. Siberian Huskies are curious and will get into all sorts of scrapes.
Final Thoughts on Pros and Cons of Owning A Siberian Husky
This article might seem like it has more cons than pros to owning a Siberian Husky, but I feel that it’s important to emphasize that this breed requires a lot of time, training, and patience. Many Siberian Huskies end up in shelters because people underestimate just how much work it takes to have a Siberian Husky in your life. This breaks my heart because the Siberian Husky is a wonderful dog and deserves the time and effort required for it to thrive.
My family and I adore our Siberian Husky Luna, and we wouldn’t be without her; she is a fantastic dog. However, it took years of consistent training and reinforcement to get her to where she is now. There were days when I seriously reconsidered my life choices, but I am so glad I persevered with her training.
As a family, we were lucky to be in the position I had the time to put into her training. Both my husband and I work from home now, so our routines can work around our family and Luna. For example, my husband will take Luna out first thing in the morning for a half-hour walk; then, I will take her out for up to an hour and a half. Then, at the weekend, we will take her out for up to three hours.
Her routine comprises lead walks, off-lead time, running, and swimming. We also change her walks, so she doesn’t get bored by the same routine. You can see some of her walks on the pawsrpals Facebook page, and @pawsrpals on Instagram.
The Siberian Husky is unlike any other breed of dog I have had. The Siberian Husky is not only beautiful, but it’s so quirky. The feeling of accomplishment when your Husky responds to you is so good; it’s a real boost. You know that your Husky trusts you and wants to focus on you! It makes all the effort worthwhile.
Be honest with yourself, do you have the time and patience to meet a Siberian Husky’s needs? If the answer is no, please don’t get one because of its looks. There are too many Siberian Huskies in shelters because of this reason.
The Siberian Husky is a fantastic breed and can be a wonderful companion, but only if you do the work.
I hope you have found this article helpful.
Before you go, you may find these articles interesting:
Games To Play With A Husky Puppy – these games are suitable for all ages!
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