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Saturday 5 May 2012

Deciding to get a husky

You were walking through town today and noticed an adorable husky pup playing in the park. Those bright blue eyes and furry coat instantly had you head over heels in love with the little beggar; you wanted to go over, scoop him up and take him home with you. Now you’ve decided it’s time to get a husky.

A Siberian Husky is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding pets you could ever own. Intelligent, affectionate and sociable, they can quickly grow to be regarded as crucial members of your family. Despite these pluses, Huskies can be a real challenge, offering some of the most peculiar personalities and behaviours a pet can have.

There are a host of things that potential Husky owners should be aware of, things that may make or break your decision to get one:

Shedding, and lots of it!

Huskies shed. They may only shed a little fur all year round, but twice a year for around three weeks your Husky will decide to shed ALL of its overcoat… and it will shed it everywhere. At these points in time you can choose tolerate the mess, cleaning up after your dog has covered over your carpet with a fine layer of fluff, but  if you want a fur-free home you’re going to have to sit down and give your Husky a regular comb. So much fur will come off that you may even consider using it to make a spare cushion!

Don’t leave the garden gate open

Huskies – like their Malamute cousins – have a well-earned reputation of running away at the earliest opportunity, more so than most other species of dog. Whilst some Husky owners will tell you that their friend can be left off the lead without running off, most will claim that they can’t let them off the leash at all. You can mitigate this risk by training your Husky properly; a well trained Husky is less likely to run off than one that has received little to no training at all. It’s probably wiser in the long run to ensure your Husky never gets the chance to run off; keep it on a tight leash, and make sure all gates and fences are closed.

The predator’s nature

Siberian Huskies are, by ancestry, wild dogs that have been domesticated by humans for our own purposes. Much like any other domesticate wild animal, they still retain a lot of their basic predatory instincts. In short your Husky will chase any small animals that catch its eye – birds, rabbits, squirrels, rats, cats and even other dogs. It doesn’t mean your Husky can’t get along with small animals you may have in the house, but only provided it has been brought up along side those animals. Introducing a new pet bird to an adult Husky may be a bad idea; the moment you turn your back that bird is likely to be dinner.

Holes in the carpet and garden!

Huskies used to dig holes in the snow and ground to curl up inside, allowing them to take shelter form the harsh weather conditions in their native environment. Much like the predatory instincts that still linger today, this particular trait of Huskies has stuck around.

Huskies will dig wherever and whenever they feel like digging, whether it’s in your front room, on your mattress, or in your garden. If you are a person who prides themselves on their well kept garden, a Husky probably isn’t for you. You could train them to dig in particular places, rather than around your expensive plants, or struggle to stop them from digging at all through rigorous training. And the risk of escape can be mitigated by underground fencing, just in case they decide to dig they’re way out like a prisoner of war.

Boredom will lead to destruction

Huskies are intelligent. They’re also very social. This means that they can make one of the most enjoyable and happy family pets. The downside to this is that they often need constant attention in order to stop them from getting bored as, when they do find themselves lacking for things to do, they’ll take it out on whatever is to paw. Huskies have been known to destroy furniture, walls, carpets, and just about anything else they can find, when left to their own devices. If you have to leave a Husky on its own it’s best to shut them in a room where they can do little harm to themselves or your possession.

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