Upon marrying my husband, I inherited joint custody of a Siberian Husky named Kona. I call him my Bonus Son, and he has definitely introduced me to the world of dog ownership. My family only had fish and birds when I was a child. Robert's family was more of the dog and cat type. Kona has won me over though! He's 7yrs old now with a red and white coat, blue eyes, and 'happy face' markings. I have a system of cleaning whenever he sheds his undercoat. And we have a little routine to celebrate him with song and dance after he eats and is given a treat.
We continue to support several local Husky rescues (shout out to Husky Haven of Los Angeles and Husky Camp!). It breaks our hearts to hear stories of how these dogs are returned or are found. For any of you considering being a Husky parent, here are some tips to remember:
Exercise Needs - These dogs require rigorous DAILY physical
activity. They won’t care if it is freezing cold outside, if you are sick, had
to work overtime, had a hot date lined up, or if you had a long day filled with
child care duties. These dogs will demand that they be walked or run until they
are sufficiently tired regardless of the other things that went on in your day.
Property Destruction - If you don’t provide them with a
thrilling daily adventure they will resort to going out into the world and
searching for their own adventures. Left indoors, bored and unexercised dogs
can destroy furniture, walls, doors, and pretty much anything that they can
sink their teeth into. Put them outside to save the inside of your house and
they turn your backyard into a lunar landscape complete with craters, rip up
any existing shrubs, trees, and flowers, and destroy fences in an effort to
escape from the yard.
Working Breed Dog - Huskies, while being very intelligent,
are also legendary for being notoriously hard to motivate and stubborn, making
them a challenge to obedience train. For the most part they hate the tedious
repetition of obedience training and before they will comply with a given cue,
they will first analyze and evaluate if it is in their best interest to comply
with the request.
Attention and Human Companionship - While these dogs may
look rugged and tough on the outside, under all that fur resides a tender heart
and a gentle fragile soul. These dogs LOVE to be with people and will suffer
tremendously if they are ignored and excluded from everyday family life.
Seasonal Coat Shed - Imagine living in a snow globe but
instead of snow, there is dog hair wafting through the air with every breeze
that blows through your house. That is the reality of living with a double
coated northern breed dog. There WILL be dog hair. Lots of it. Embrace the
concept or opt to get a different breed of dog.
With the right owners and with the right training Huskies: Are
always ready to go on an adventure at a moment’s notice. Love to be active
(They’re a furry gym membership that you cannot ignore). Are intelligent dogs with
clever antics that will keep you smiling and laughing. And are usually world
class snugglers, cuddlers, and love bugs.
Advice from So You Think That You Want to Get a Husky by LoveYourHusky.org
