Siberian Husky
Nikki van der Westhuizen
WWW.HOWLINGHUSKIES.CO.ZA
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1. Origin
Siberian huskies were first bred by a primitive tribe of people inhabiting the Arctic coastal region of northern Siberia. This tribe of people was known as the Chukchis and originally, the Siberian husky was known as the Chukchi dog.
It took many years to perfect a breed of dog that suited all the Chukchi people’s needs.
The Chukchi people hunted seals for food and while their hunting loads were not very heavy, they often needed to travel far distances to find their food. For this they needed a medium sized dog, with good pulling power that could withstand the cold. They needed dogs that were passive, eager to work and intelligent enough to work in teams.
Eventually, after years of breeding, the beautiful Siberian Husky was born.
2. Personality
Apart from the Siberian husky’s undeniable good looks, this boundless, fluffy ball of energy has a great personality!
They are inquisitive creatures, with a keen sense for adventure. They are mischievous and challenging in nature and need of a lot of exercise and additional stimulation to keep them content and out of trouble.
Sadly, many Siberian huskies are misunderstood. An owner takes home a “beautiful blue-eyed snow dog” without understanding the needs of this breed. Loneliness is often mistaken for naughtiness and many Siberians end up in animal shelters as a result.
Siberian huskies are great escape artists and many do not have great recall abilities. Travelling is quite simply in their blood and if they do get out of their yards they will embark on a great adventure. Huskies are not the best trackers and most find it hard to find their way back home.
Huskies are also great hunters. It’s how they survived in Siberia. Birds, small livestock, rodents - these dogs are skilled hunters. They’ll hunt alone or in packs.
Siberians are pack animals and want to be part of the family. They see their human owners as part of the pack, which explains their need to be included in all activities. They want to be in the kitchen with you when you are cooking, in the TV room with you while you are watching TV and will happily sleep in the bed with you if you allow it. They provide great companionship and entertainment with their funny, quirky ways.
Siberians are also great communicators! If you tune into their body language and very deliberate actions, you’ll forge a great relationship with your dog.
3. Is this the correct pup for you, which is the best home and why?
There are a couple of things that one needs to consider before deciding to add a Siberian husky to the family.
Most Siberian huskies are not good with small dogs. They are often too boisterous and can accidentally end up hurting a smaller dog. Huskies do well with a more robust breed such as a Jack Russell. Jack Russell’s also match huskies energy levels so they keep each other stimulated.
Because they are such incredible escape artists, the Siberian husky’s home needs to be secure. This means 6 foot walls and a double gating system where cars and people can enter the property without the husky being able to get out.
Siberians do not do well on their own. If the owner is not going to be home during the day then another doggy companion is essential. Lonely Siberians will howl a soulful howl. Apart from their unhappiness, this howling may annoy neighbours.
Siberians also “blow coat” or shed a couple of times a year so if you cannot deal with a barrage of fluff or aren’t prepared give your dog a good brush during this time of the year, then this is not the dog for you.
If you are energetic, have a zest for life and are willing to spend quality time with your dog, then the Siberian husky will bless you with many happy days.
4. Where do I get my pup from?
You are advised to only buy your puppy from a registered breeder! Make sure you meet the parents before you even look at the pups. The registered breeder will provide you with an eye certificate and a hip dysplasia certificate. The puppy must have received at least 1 set of inoculations by the time you take it home and should be micorshippied when you take him or her. Puppies should stay with their moms until they are 8 or 9 weeks old. However, before you approach a breeder, have a look at the Husky Rescue SA website or visit Husky Haven to see if there are any pups up for adoption.
5. Which other breeds are most compatible with the Husky?
Huskies are great with other huskies and most other medium & large breed dogs.
6. Is it wise to have two or more of the same breed?
Yes! Definitely! Huskies are pack animals…remember! Taking two pups of the same age however is usually not a good idea. One pup needs a lot of attention. Focus on that one first and then get a second one at a later stage.
7. Do they get on well with other animals?
Not all huskies get on well with cats. In fact, most of them don’t. They have an incredibly high prey drive and therefore see smaller animals like cats, rodents and birds as prey.
8. Training requirements
Huskies are not the easiest dogs to train. They learn incredibly fast but tire of the task just as quickly. Husky trainers are constantly challenged to keep training interesting for their dogs. They are strong willed and incredibly intelligent which is why they make such fantastic sled dogs. They think for themselves and if a musher (the sled driver) gives a command that could potentially lead the team into danger, the lead husky will not comply.
Modern training methods such as Clicker training work well with huskies. Most huskies are motivated by food or reward. Huskies don’t respond well to punishment or force-based training methods.
Siberian huskies were bred to run and it’s what they love to do! Dryland sledding is a fantastic way to exercise, stimulate and bond with you dog.
Read more about clicker training: www.clickertraining.com
Read more about sledding: www.howlinghuskies.co.za
9. Health concerns.
Siberian huskies as a breed are prone to hip dysplasia which is why clearance certificates from your breeder are so important. Cruciate ligament weakness has also been found in this breed as well as cataracts and epilepsy.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
10. Life expectancy.
Well cared for Siberian huskies are known to live for 10 – 15 years of age. Providing your dog with a healthy scientifically based diet and proper medical care will increase your dog’s life span.
11. Do`s and Don`ts of this breed.
Do:
Don’t:
Siberian huskies were first bred by a primitive tribe of people inhabiting the Arctic coastal region of northern Siberia. This tribe of people was known as the Chukchis and originally, the Siberian husky was known as the Chukchi dog.
It took many years to perfect a breed of dog that suited all the Chukchi people’s needs.
The Chukchi people hunted seals for food and while their hunting loads were not very heavy, they often needed to travel far distances to find their food. For this they needed a medium sized dog, with good pulling power that could withstand the cold. They needed dogs that were passive, eager to work and intelligent enough to work in teams.
Eventually, after years of breeding, the beautiful Siberian Husky was born.
2. Personality
Apart from the Siberian husky’s undeniable good looks, this boundless, fluffy ball of energy has a great personality!
They are inquisitive creatures, with a keen sense for adventure. They are mischievous and challenging in nature and need of a lot of exercise and additional stimulation to keep them content and out of trouble.
Sadly, many Siberian huskies are misunderstood. An owner takes home a “beautiful blue-eyed snow dog” without understanding the needs of this breed. Loneliness is often mistaken for naughtiness and many Siberians end up in animal shelters as a result.
Siberian huskies are great escape artists and many do not have great recall abilities. Travelling is quite simply in their blood and if they do get out of their yards they will embark on a great adventure. Huskies are not the best trackers and most find it hard to find their way back home.
Huskies are also great hunters. It’s how they survived in Siberia. Birds, small livestock, rodents - these dogs are skilled hunters. They’ll hunt alone or in packs.
Siberians are pack animals and want to be part of the family. They see their human owners as part of the pack, which explains their need to be included in all activities. They want to be in the kitchen with you when you are cooking, in the TV room with you while you are watching TV and will happily sleep in the bed with you if you allow it. They provide great companionship and entertainment with their funny, quirky ways.
Siberians are also great communicators! If you tune into their body language and very deliberate actions, you’ll forge a great relationship with your dog.
3. Is this the correct pup for you, which is the best home and why?
There are a couple of things that one needs to consider before deciding to add a Siberian husky to the family.
Most Siberian huskies are not good with small dogs. They are often too boisterous and can accidentally end up hurting a smaller dog. Huskies do well with a more robust breed such as a Jack Russell. Jack Russell’s also match huskies energy levels so they keep each other stimulated.
Because they are such incredible escape artists, the Siberian husky’s home needs to be secure. This means 6 foot walls and a double gating system where cars and people can enter the property without the husky being able to get out.
Siberians do not do well on their own. If the owner is not going to be home during the day then another doggy companion is essential. Lonely Siberians will howl a soulful howl. Apart from their unhappiness, this howling may annoy neighbours.
Siberians also “blow coat” or shed a couple of times a year so if you cannot deal with a barrage of fluff or aren’t prepared give your dog a good brush during this time of the year, then this is not the dog for you.
If you are energetic, have a zest for life and are willing to spend quality time with your dog, then the Siberian husky will bless you with many happy days.
4. Where do I get my pup from?
You are advised to only buy your puppy from a registered breeder! Make sure you meet the parents before you even look at the pups. The registered breeder will provide you with an eye certificate and a hip dysplasia certificate. The puppy must have received at least 1 set of inoculations by the time you take it home and should be micorshippied when you take him or her. Puppies should stay with their moms until they are 8 or 9 weeks old. However, before you approach a breeder, have a look at the Husky Rescue SA website or visit Husky Haven to see if there are any pups up for adoption.
5. Which other breeds are most compatible with the Husky?
Huskies are great with other huskies and most other medium & large breed dogs.
6. Is it wise to have two or more of the same breed?
Yes! Definitely! Huskies are pack animals…remember! Taking two pups of the same age however is usually not a good idea. One pup needs a lot of attention. Focus on that one first and then get a second one at a later stage.
7. Do they get on well with other animals?
Not all huskies get on well with cats. In fact, most of them don’t. They have an incredibly high prey drive and therefore see smaller animals like cats, rodents and birds as prey.
8. Training requirements
Huskies are not the easiest dogs to train. They learn incredibly fast but tire of the task just as quickly. Husky trainers are constantly challenged to keep training interesting for their dogs. They are strong willed and incredibly intelligent which is why they make such fantastic sled dogs. They think for themselves and if a musher (the sled driver) gives a command that could potentially lead the team into danger, the lead husky will not comply.
Modern training methods such as Clicker training work well with huskies. Most huskies are motivated by food or reward. Huskies don’t respond well to punishment or force-based training methods.
Siberian huskies were bred to run and it’s what they love to do! Dryland sledding is a fantastic way to exercise, stimulate and bond with you dog.
Read more about clicker training: www.clickertraining.com
Read more about sledding: www.howlinghuskies.co.za
9. Health concerns.
Siberian huskies as a breed are prone to hip dysplasia which is why clearance certificates from your breeder are so important. Cruciate ligament weakness has also been found in this breed as well as cataracts and epilepsy.
“In today’s age, with the rising cost of veterinary care, it really is a wise decision to consider medical insurance for your pets. Depending on the plan you choose, you can ensure that if your pet does develop one of the health issues the breed is prone too, that you will be covered –additionally, just knowing that any accident your pet may have will be covered, will out-weigh the monthly insurance fee for most pet owners. Our own personal choice is Genricpet as they have a ‘no limit’ policy and their rates are comparable to the rest of the industry. To find out the questions and things to look for in a Medical Insurance, please just follow this link”
10. Life expectancy.
Well cared for Siberian huskies are known to live for 10 – 15 years of age. Providing your dog with a healthy scientifically based diet and proper medical care will increase your dog’s life span.
11. Do`s and Don`ts of this breed.
Do:
- Include them in the family
- Give them chew toys to play with
- Communicate with them and encourage them to talk to you
- Spoil them just a little (you won’t be able to help it)
- Learn about the breed before you add one to your family
- Socialise them well
- Exercise them. Go sledding!
- Take them to positive reinforcement training classes
- Adopt! Husky Rescue has some beautiful dogs. Visit www.huskyrescue.co.za
Don’t:
- Lock them away on their own
- Scold too harshly when they do something wrong – they have tiny hearts
- Let them off lead and expect them to come back
- Breed with them unless you know what you are doing. Don’t add to the rescue problem we have in this country