I have received so many questions, comments, and unsolicited advice on the breed since Kenai entered my life in 2010. I've learned a lot in my time with him, though I did do a TON of research on the breed prior to Kenai entering my life as I have been in love with the breed since I was a child (as my family can attest).
The following are some comments and FAQs about the breed I routinely answer and some clarifications about common myths/misconceptions. These are based on my research and my experiences with my dog(s). It should go without saying, but I am not an all-knowing expert - I learn new things all the time (e.g., the breed can be prone to alopecia) - and your mileage may vary.
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If it's summer: Boy, your dog must be hot in this weather with all that hair!
If it's winter: Oh, this is perfect for your dog, huh?
If I had a nickel for every time I've heard these comments I'd be rich!
Yes, they are a northern breed. Yes, they thrive in cold weather. Yes, they can overheat easier than some other breeds if it is hot and humid AF. But mostly? Mostly they're FINE. They're fine because I'm cognizant of their needs no matter what the weather.
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| He loves the snow, it's true. |
Siberian huskies have a double coat with a very plush undercoat and, due to human desire and selective breeding, the coats can be the typical medium length you most commonly see, or they can be wooly (long). While wooly coats may be pleasing to the eye, they're not doing the breed any favors as they protect them much less from the snow and result in a lot of snow/ice balls forming against the coat, which is uncomfortable for the animal and can result in them being very wet down to their skin which isn't desirable in cold weather.
Double coated dogs have two layers of coat: an undercoat that protects from heat, cold, and a top coat that helps to repel dirt and moisture. The denser the undercoat, the fluffier it appears.
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| Floof! |
MANY breeds have double coats! Huskies, labs, retrievers, Aussie shepherds, GSDs, newfies, sheepdogs, schnauzers, terriers, the list goes on! People tend to overlook that these other breeds also have double coats and may also have trouble over-heating in the summer. Personally? I feel more for newfoundlands in the summer than my huskies! A jet-black coat with an equally dark undercoat is gonna heat up a lot faster than my predominantly white undercoat with some darker guard hair dogs.
Do my huskies excel in winter weather better than other double coated dogs because of their denser undercoats? You betcha. But just because they have that denser undercoat and excel in winter doesn't mean that they are suffering in summer.
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| SPROING! |
This leads me to another very valuable point. Shaving your double coated dog (husky or not) to "help them cool down" in the warmer months is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as an owner. By doing this, you are removing his protection from the heat and allowing his skin to be damaged by the sun. Additionally, you cannot guarantee that the coat will grow back properly after it has been shaved. It may come back, yes, but the quality of the coat will likely be lesser than it once was, oftentimes with more undercoat than top coat. Every time I hear someone talk about shaving their double coated dog, it breaks my heart.
Don't huskies only have blue eyes?
Or, my personal favorite: If it doesn't have blue eyes then it isn't a purebred husky.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but huskies can have blue eyes or brown eyes or a combination thereof!
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| Taiga's sweet brown eyes |
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| Kenai's brown eyes, and light blue spot. |
In fact, some even have blue and brown in the same eye or have one blue eye and one brown eye. Austen's Sonka, a husky mix, had the most strikingly beautiful bi-colored eyes (blue and amber (! even more rare)) I've ever seen.
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| Blue eyed Lyra on the left and Sonka with his striking bi-colored eyes on the right PC: StitzPics; photo provided by Austen |
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| Sonka's beautiful amber eye featured here PC: Austen |
I've met people that have taken this assumption a step further and insisted that ANY blue-eyed dog in existence MUST have husky mixed in it if it has blue eyes. Um. No. Just no. Many other dogs can have blue eyes for a variety of reasons, though commonly dogs with a merle gene (carried commonly by Australian shepherds, Great Danes, dachshunds, collies, and shelties ) will also have blue eyes.
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| Black rimming around Kenai's eyes and you can eve seen the blueish spot in his left eye |
A unique trait about huskies eyes though, are that they are rimmed by dark pigmented skin. This helps with glare and reflection and is present due to the breeds origins from snowy northern latitudes (bright white landscape).
Oh! He's so big!
Or, Oh, I bet she'll be huge!
Or even, He's going to keep getting bigger!
The breed standard for size in Siberian huskies is 45-60 lbs. and 21-23½ inches at the shoulder for males and 35-50 lbs. and 20-22 inches at the shoulder for females.
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| Adventures in the hoar frost |
They really aren't THAT big of a dog. Their malamute cousins have much more height and weight on them though, which is likely the cause for confusion.
Their dense undercoat (fluffy appearance) can definitely be misleading though! But really, it's just fluff. Kenai may appear as if he's 70-90 lbs. to some people, but I swear to you, he's only 62 lbs (and 23 inches at the shoulder)! He is at the upper echelon of the breed standard, but he's not too far out of the ballpark at all. And no, random people who think he'll keep getting bigger, he's nearly 8 years old, I'm pretty sure he's full grown.
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| Small enough to go into a little backpack for the moment! |
Kenai's dad is the same size as Kenai - and built very similarly! His mom is only slightly smaller than the dad, probably around 50 lbs. Taiga's parents are both smaller than Kenai's parents (dad ~55 lbs and mom is 40lbs) and I expect her to mature somewhere between 35-45 lbs. She was the smallest one in the litter, also.
Don't huskies kill cats?
Kenai doesn't kill cats, no, in fact, he's raised two kittens that were each 4-weeks old when they entered our lives. Because he has been raised and trained to not see cats as prey, we have no problem. It doesn't mean he won't chase a cat - small fast-moving animals trigger that prey drive instinct like none other - but he won't harm them if he catches up to them!
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| Killed by the cat would be a more accurate description. These two loved one another so much. And for those who remember Atticus, he's still living large in Pittsburgh ruling his 2 humans, 2 cat siblings and his dog sibling. |
But other huskies can and will kill cats and any other prey-like animal. #murderdogs
Huskies have a high prey drive (and aren't the only breed that has one) and have a hard time resisting instinct to chase and subsequently murder small, fast-moving animals. You can train them to resist and listen to you above instinct, but it takes a lot of due diligence and they still may backslide. Example: Kenai didn't chase, bother, or harm chickens for years and years. I didn't even have to watch him when we were at the barn because I knew he wouldn't bother them. Then one day, he killed three! Now I'm highly vigilant of him any time we are around chickens to make sure he doesn't act on his instinct.
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| Taiga at sunset |
Actually? Fun fact, huskies are quite cat-like! They're a tidy breed that appreciates cleanliness and is rarely dirty for long. Go on a muddy hike, throw Nanook in the back for the ride home, and more often than not, he'll emerge miraculously clean by the time you arrive home. Magic!
Other cat-like traits include the lightness with which they move, their pouncing and hunting behaviors, their curiosity, chirrup sounds of pleasure/communication, and lack of listening to you when you want them to most.
Don't they need a lot of exercise?
Yes. Resoundingly, yes. But to be fair, any active breed needs exercise! However, huskies were bred to RUN, so they obviously do better with exercise.
Huskies are much better citizens with a good exercise routine. Without it, they can be destructive or they will find a way to escape their confines (they are the ultimate Houdini!) to run and roam, often times not returning for days - if ever! This can be nerve-wracking for owners who subsequently have to worry about the dog being hit by a car or worse.
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| Zoomies in the snow, recalling like a good girl |
Huskies are highly intelligent. If they have been adequately exercised, they'll settle and use their intelligence for good (human desired) actions, whereas if they have energy to burn, it's anyone's best bet! I'm sure we've all seen various memes of a couch, beanbag chair, wall, door, floor, fence, etc. that has been destroyed by a husky. I can guarantee you that each of those dogs in the memes could use more exercise!
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| Lurking while we were outside the window |
A lot of husky owners are runners (hi, Austen!) and keep their huskies sated in that manner, other folks have loftily fenced backyards for their dogs to burn off energy. Though one must be careful with fences and huskies! They can and will climb and jump and dig. Oft times, if you're going to have a fenced in backyard for your husky, it is recommended that the fence is not only tall (6+ feet, bonus points for a hot wire at the top) but also deep so that the dogs cannot dig and burrow underneath!
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| Horse play is an alternate form of exercise... Hard to believe Griffin was ever so dark; this photo is from 5 years ago! In fact, Griffin and my BO's border collie play almost every day. It's a really cool relationship. |
I am very fortunate to live in a very rural area with few neighbors and no traffic. As such, I am able to exercise my dogs primarily off-leash so they run and sniff the world to their heart's content without me having to suffer through the rigors of running (ugh, I really admire y'all, but no). However, this off-leash exercise does not come easily!
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| Three weeks and 7-8 lbs gained! |
Huskies, a highly intelligent dog with a high prey drive that doesn't always listen to their owner, have notoriously shitty recall. If you've ever wanted a husky, more than any of the points I've made above, please know that recall is something you must practice again and again and again with your dog to have any kind of success. Recall is important both on and off leash for various safety reasons.
I researched the breed tirelessly from the time I was 8 years old until Kenai entered my life in 2010 and knew that recall would be something I focused on more than anything else with him. I buckled down hard for 2½ years hammering recall into him.
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| Oh, be still my heart. Kenai in his full regalia prior to any knee surgeries or his alopecia hair loss |
A big facilitator in this effort was a remote shock collar; I am a big advocate for them if you want to have your husky successfully off-leash. I recognize that both off-leash dogs and remote shock collars can be highly controversial and I do not care to get into that with anyone. These methods work incredibly well for me and my dogs - your mileage may vary! Do know that I am sensitive to having off-leash dogs in more public areas and take appropriate measures as necessary when we are away from home.
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| Taiga fully appreciating the snowstorm last week |
Kenai has incredible recall as a result of my tireless training from a young age. He's remarkably good to a point where my neighbor who owns three wolf dogs of various content calls Kenai an "un-husky" because he listens to me well and doesn't run away from our house when he's left outside, off-leash, with no remote collar. Part of it is his temperament, but a lot of it is due to endless hours of training.
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| In the horse field years ago lending me his eyes and ears when I asked for his attention |
Ultimately, I enjoy having well-behaved off-leash huskies. It allows them more opportunities to run to their heart's content and get enough exercise as I am not a runner! Additionally, it's great so they can go trail riding with the horses and I. I love when I can knock out a lot of birds with one stone and exercising a horse and the dogs in one fell swoop is a wonderful thing in my world.
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I think the bottom line with any dog is to do as much research as you can about what the breed (or possible breed(s)) is like and what they need to have a happy, healthy lifestyle. If everyone took the time to research their desired dog well in advance of bringing the dog home and made every effort to help the dog find success for it's unique needs, there would be a lot more happy dogs and happy owners out there.
I've loved Siberian huskies since I was a child and spent years learning about the breed's pros and cons. Even though I could have brought a husky into my life earlier than I did, I chose not to because I knew my lifestyle wasn't going to be up to snuff for having a happy dog. I didn't want to have one until I could guarantee that it would have success and not get into trouble at every turn because of my own human errors due to scheduling/lifestyle.
Dog's are a wonderful addition to my life, and I really couldn't imagine my world without a dog in it. I know many of you are the same. If you have one, I'd love to hear a little bit about your dog(s) in the comments if you'd care to share. Not a dog person? Tell me about your cat or other [insert-pet-here]!
This is a SUPER insightful post, thanks so much for writing it!
ReplyDeleteHuskies have been my "dream dog" for as long as I can remember. As you mentioned, the human's lifestyle is extremely crucial for having a well-behaved and happy dog...which is why I don't have a dog yet. Once everything settles down though, I fully intend on getting a husky of my own :)
Good on you for waiting! It will be totally worth it when you bring your own husky home one day. They're the sweetest dogs. *she says as her puppy sleeps with one the human's foot for comfort*
DeleteWe had the most wonderful siberian husky that we had to put down at 16/17 last year. He was a rescue and joined the family at age 7 (no one wanted a 7 year old dog and little did we know we'd get almost 10 years with him), but he was rescued from a puppy mill were he was the stud. The had to get rid of enough dogs to lose the "puppy mill" status and at 7, the chose him (he also needed some sort of minor leg surgery). So he was fixed and joined the family. Loved him to death. Ran in straight lines only and never truly had great recall (as we learned our first weekend with him when he got out and I ran 5 miles after him through the woods until I caught him. Finally got him when people came out tell me there were tornado warnings. He later did learn to obey an electric fence (we had age and years of no real training working against us, but he knew pick up trucks and squeak toys) and also became a couch potato... He was a BIG talker. When he was ready for dinner or if you were eating poultry. Or withholding after dinner treats... And he'd talk back. He was a character!
ReplyDeleteHe served as the best baby sitter for my puppy and was forever Uncle Angus. In his old age, Uncle Angus even played with his first cat. He was old and senile, but at 16, played with my kitten when we he came to visit (he traveled then with his own throw rugs). Love the breed though! He had 2 blue eyes and a gorgeous white coat. One of the kindest dogs ever. Miss him every day.
On what a sweet, sweet boy! And how fortunate to have you! That's a really crazy story re: puppy mill and getting rid of enough to lose their "puppy mill" status. I didn't even know that was something that could happen or that there was a criteria?! Regardless, it's so wonderful you were able to swoop in and take him on in a time of need. Thank you for your/his story. =)
DeleteI didn't know that either! I guess they were just over the number of dogs they could have on the property and he was older... But we assume many of the Lancaster County, PA Siberian Huskies from years ago are his off spring. It was sad though and no one wanted him since he was older and he pretty much sat at the pet store/rescue (my mom's neighbor owns a pet store/rescue/low cost vet clinic combo) though people came out daily to play with him, buy him treats, etc. My mom fell in love and kept coming back and eventually applied to adopt him. She was approved and her husband (who knew NOTHING ABOUT THIS) answered the phone to get the approval call the day he got out of the hospital from a major heart attack. Then an hour later the call came that one of the siberian husky associations recommended against us due the our invisible fence. Next thing, he spent the day fighting for a dog he didn't even know about. Our neighbor ended up going against their recommendation and we got Angus anyway. Eventually, with training, the fence worked out. But, he was the best. Never loved strangers (especially men), but he was loyal and kind.
DeleteI love this whole post! Just want to add that having a big yard with a fence is NOT a suitable substitute for exercise with these guys. So many people think just chucking their husky out in their yard for hours takes care of their needs, but it's only half of the story. They are bred with the need to see and explore MILES every day. Without adequate movement and exploration, they can be MONSTERS. People have always gone on and on about my two, but my two are walked/run/hacked along with the horse miles and miles every week. My constant goal is to exhaust their brains and bodies, and it pays off in a well behaved dog.
ReplyDeleteThat said. No amount of exercise can keep Lyra from her #murderdog ways. RIP the many kittens, turkeys, deer, rats, mice, bugs, birds...etc she's deprived of life over the years. 😅
I agree with the backyard doesnt equal quality exercise for many breeds. My Aussies made up games, obstacle courses etc in yards if they werent out for enough walks (cantstopwontstop)even with another dog in the house. Some breeds need a lot more stimuli and distance than others. Lol #murderdog hashtag is killing me
DeleteAbsolutely! They DO need more than just a backyard. Any active dog does, really! Backyard games and obstacles sound a like a great solution for days that walks aren't possible.
DeleteA tired dog IS a good dog and Austen, you do such an incredible job getting out with Lyra. So many miles run! And she's still such a little #murderdog
And lol, yeah, Kitty Kat, Austen coined that I think? at some point in our discussions of the copious things Lyra has murdered. It was a daily bulletin at one point over the summer lol!
What a great and insightful post. I wish the owners of the dogs that killed my horse had had more sense.
ReplyDeleteOh, Teresa. =( My heart still breaks so much for what happened.
DeleteLove this, so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI grew up with Jack Russells - so similar on the terrible recall, high prey drive and #murderdog tendencies. Fin murdered a rabbit, Patrick has gotten a squirrel and a few mice. I don't think Fin will ever have recall trustworthy enough to be off leash. It makes me sad because I would love to be able to take him out hiking, hacking the horse, etc. They both do really well on my parents' acre that's fenced though - electric fence + 6ft wall does a pretty good job ;) Fin's part Corgi so that helps settle him down some and Patrick has definitely calmed down as he's gotten older. The biggest thing I find is I can't wear him out physically, I have to wear him out mentally. We play a lot of puzzle games!
Jack Russells are SO COOL though! That's really cool that you have so many puzzle games to wear Patrick out mentally. A friend of ours has the coolest JR mix that has a huge personality; he's pretty good most of the time, but his recall is absolutely as he desires it and not as his owner desires lol! I've always loved the breed for their wits and energy.
Delete"As he desires" pretty much sums it up 100%! We joke if dogs had middle fingers, Fin would give it to me on a daily basis when he doesn't feel like doing things. He's smart, he knows exactly what you're asking, he just... says no. I love their personalities though!
DeleteI too cringe when I hear or see someone shaving a double coated dog. My corgi hated the summer and has a super thick coat. I was told to shave him numerous times by strangers. Nope. No way.
ReplyDeleteYou have the best trained husky I’ve ever met. Dusty was very impressed with him when we camped at RBTR. Not many huskies get that life style. A tired dog is the best dog.
Ugh, shaving. No. It breaks most groomers hearts to have to do it, too! My summer at a grooming salon even had a few LABS that people wanted to shave. Um, what?! Take him to the river or a pond!!
DeleteAnd thank you <3 Kenai is a sweet soul.
Thanks for this! I want to print it and post to the walls of the animal shelter I work at! We get lots of juvenile huskies in, as you can imagine. They're cursed with being beautiful so people get them for all the wrong reasons. Siri's best friend is an adopted husky mix and he can run laps around her. But, luckily, her adopters knew that (and we counseled them even more) and he is well loved and well exercised. oh, and he has 1 blue eye. So OBVIOUSLY he is a purebred ;)
ReplyDeleteI mean duh, blue eyes equate the purest breeding! ;-)
DeleteMan, a dog exists that can run laps around Siri? Impressive, haha. And so lucky for that pup that his owners know what he needs <3
So many people get them because they're beautiful and that's it. I hate people. I mean sure, I don't deny that they're gorgeous animals, but you have to be able to deal with good and bad if you're going to bring them home. But I feel that way about all breeds. I think mastiffs are great dogs, but I cannot handle drool so I'll never ever have one. Border collies are also wonderful, but I can't provide the right lifestyle for one to keep their mind occupied and prevent them from becoming neurotic from boredom. Tit for tat!
I've seen the people who get them because they're pretty get into a lot of trouble with these dogs and it sucks. Definitely not a breed to take on if you can't manage their activity needs and training!
DeleteGreat post! Most of that im not surprised on, except the recall, that surprised me. Ill save this post for when hubby wants Husky again... it means I get a few acres property for the dogs wellbeing right? Lol
ReplyDeleteCouple acres for the dog...couple more for some horses...and I mean, may as well get a few to grow on, too, right? ;-)
DeleteWell said! Huskies are definitely not the dog for me, so I admire them from a distance. Big fan of breed research though--I have one dog I did not research and he is a challenge every day. Especially when you're dealing with breeds that have been developed for many years to be a certain way, it pays to know what you're getting in to. :-)
ReplyDeleteKnowledge is power, or so I hear lol.
DeleteI love my husky crew (I have 3 PB and 2 mixes; I've volunteered for husky rescue for 18 years :P, although not all my crew are rescues) but they are so not the breed for everyone. I honestly can say I've never met a husky with a reliable recall who wasn't at elast proofed with an e-collar. If you want to be able to have them off leash safely, learning how to use one properly for proofing is a MUST with this breed, IMO.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a house full of floof! Both on the dogs and off, I bet hahaha. And yes, it is so good to back up with an e-collar! If I didn't live in such a remote area, I would have one on Kenai all the time. As is, he's got it on - or a leash - any time we're off private property.
DeleteI joked this morning that next year I'm just gonna flock the christmas tree with fluff. It's kinda crazy, but we love it. :)
DeleteI also live in a very remote area (I think we might actually be more remote than you, LOL, but mostly because we're in an inholding in the national forest in new Mexico and you're back east :P) and I ahven't even STARTED really proofing the guys with it here, so all their hikes right now are on leash except for the baby (who is a mix and a giant sucky mamma's girl). 3 million acres is just too mcuh to get lost in if I haven't proofed well enough. (Okay, the old man is allowed off leash hiking too, but he's 14 and a Good Dog.)
LMAO @ the Christmas tree and floof
DeleteModern e-collars are nothing like the earlier models that only had one setting. I was curious how you use it to teach recall and this guy has a nice how-to article, and a page of myths about e-collars: http://www.loucastle.com/articles/myths.
ReplyDeleteIs this method similar to what you used with Kenai?
What a great article! It's so thorough and covered a lot more things than I've ever had to consider.
DeleteWith both dogs, I started training by having them just wear the collar for a few days before making it do anything. I didn't want them to associate the collar with anything - though they definitely do come to associate it with fun walks and do know that they have to behave when it's on after a time. My collars have always had a tone button - Kenai's first collar had a "positive" and "negative" tone, even, as the collars can be used like clicker training. I never used the good tone though, preferring an actual clicker to train those behaviors.
My current collar system has a tone that I always utilize before a delivering a shock. I will call the dog verbally with a multiple commands that they have learned mean "come" (whistles, their name, the command) and then I will add my body language gesture to the verbal cue to come, if they still aren't listening, I will press the button to cue the tone, and if that added stimuli doesn't bring their attention back to me, I deliver a shock. The way my current multi-dog setup works, I have to "scroll" through the levels of shock after the tone, so the dog never receives more of a jog back to reality than necessary. (There are 7 levels and we're usually just on 3 or 4 at the most.)
Both dogs learned recall with a leash/long drag line before we started using the collar. A dog has to want to return to you and know that that is the right answer first! Kenai knows he'll never get shocked/toned if he's near me and taught himself to heel when he hears the tone. I rarely have to shock him these days and would honestly say he probably receives a whopping 5-8 shocks in a YEAR because he knows what the tone means and that is enough. Taiga is quickly learning the same.
Mostly, the shock serves to jog them out of their instincts that can wholly consume them and make them block out the rest of the world for a time. It's kind of like a teacher slamming a yardstick on your desk to bring you back to the moment lol ... well, except I know most schools don't allow such "abuse" of kids anymore...topic for another day lol
Great post! I'm a lurker, and have two dogs who likely have the husky breed somewhere in their pedigrees. However, both of them are great about recall and staying close to home. This could be due to whichever breeds they are mixed with (we think one is a husky/corgi, and the other a lab/GSD/husky), but our theory is that because we rescued both when they were each 1+ year old, they know what the alternative to having a good home is, and they'd rather stay close! We definitely anthropromorphize quite a bit, haha. They're both very cuddly and love attention. Our Basset hound is the opposite; he'll run off when he gets a chance, doesn't care about electric fences (though a shock collar gets his attention quickly!), and would rather curl up on the couch by himself. All three dog, though I think the Basset is the only one who does so with a goal of getting out of our fenced yard!
ReplyDeleteWe have a pond within that yard, and our husky/corgi is quick to get in if it gets above 60*F. The other two almost never get in, but when we take them all to the lake, they enjoy swimming/wading.
They're definitely a Motley crew, but we love them!
Don't we all anthropomorphize? ;-) I know nearly nothing about Bassetts, but what a little shit lol! It sounds like you have quite the motely crew indeed. I bet they love having the pond in the summers to play and cool off in. How lucky for them.
DeleteI adore that last picture<3
ReplyDeleteThank you <3 Waiting until the weekend to share them on other social media outlets but couldn't resist for this post!
DeleteElias is a Malamute mix (we think), and we really didn't know what we were getting into when we got him. We spent years dealing with his destructive behavior (excess energy, yo) but now that he's older AND has two acres to patrol, it's not a problem. Luckily he doesn't bother the chickens or cats, but we did have to work on that as well. And recall? BWHAHAHAHAH! Our Pyr has better recall (and Pyrs DO NOT recall)!
ReplyDeleteThe thing you forgot to mention, and in our opinion, is the most fun about the breed is they're SO talkative and opinionated. We get an earful if we sleep in, sit at the table too long, aren't on time with the coffee, haven't let him out recently, the water bowl is low, etc. etc. etc. Elias knows the schedule and keeps us on track!
Pyrs do NOT recall - that IS saying something lol!
DeleteI did forget that! Kenai is such an abnormally quiet guy that I think I overlook it. Not for long though, little miss Taiga is quite the little jabberer and talks to herself all the time. It's kind of adorable.
Lots of great info! I always remind husband of the large amount of work Austen has put into her dogs. He's not a dog person, but loves her huskies for their cat like nature. I don't remember if he's ever met Kenai.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that last pic <3 <3 <3 <3
He met him at Morven when y'all showed this spring - remember the SQUIRREL! picture? Such a great capture and still cracks me up lol And omg, yes, Austen puts so much work into her pups <3
DeleteOh yes! That weekend is a rainy haze to me, lol!
DeleteHuskies are so cool, and I love their special chitter chatter voices too. I can't wait to meet Taiga!!
Kona overheats easily in the summer, and she doesn't have a double coat AND I keep her groomed really short in the summer. Just something I have to be aware of, like you said!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Such a good thing to be aware of. She loves water though, yeah? I bet that helps her keep cool in the summer months. =)
Deleteooo i like this post. huskies are so cool, but ill just enjoy the ones my brave friends have as pets. i'm not ready for that kind of intensity!
ReplyDeleteWe husky people are a bit masochistic lol. And besides, your little guy is so freaking cute, why deal with intensity when you have a dog as sweet has him?!
DeleteGreat post - and that picture of you at the end is fabulous! :-) I think it is so important to research your breed (I'm a lab girl) and then put in the training. The Sibs are so beautiful - I can see why they have won your heart. My neighbour breeds them, so I've had a couple encounters with them when they got loose! (The running away and no recall was very true in this case! ;-))
ReplyDeleteThank you <3
DeleteAnd that's so cool about your neighbor breeding them. I bet you get an earful of husky jabber living so close lol
I have had several Samoyeds which are a longer haired double coated breed. Many people can't deal with 6-8 inch long hairs being shed on the daily. I loved that their tails curled over their backs so they didn't knock things off the coffee table. Their prey drive is modified to more of a herding instinct (reindeer duty!) which can help moderate the #murderdog tendency, but individuals can vary. Mine were always good with cats and had decent recall with (to me) normal amounts of training, but you don't see them in the obedience ring for a reason. They are independent and curious, talkative (one of mine sang duets with the cat), and stay pretty clean with just brushing. I always thought the topcoat was non-stick and wished manure stains would come off the horse as easily. (Yeah, eating/rolling in poop was a thing I had to monitor when we visited the stable.) They are also eye pigmented and about the same size as huskies, but never blue-eyed, despite those photo-shopped ads a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe most common fallacy is that they are always pure white. The Samoyed breed standard allows biscuit color, which often shows up as freckles on the face or ears, but can be as much as large tea-colored pinto patches. Biscuit does not mean the dog is a mix.
Thanks for this post! If I had one of all the breeds I love, I'd be a hoarder buried under dog hair.
I know some friends with samoyeds but I never knew intimate details about the breed. Reindeer duty?! That is SO cool. And a cat duet...that had me laughing out loud. And I had no idea about biscuit color, but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled now. Thank you so much for sharing.
DeleteAnd yeah, I agree, if I had one of all of the dog breeds (and horse breeds) I love, I'd be in trouble lol
I agree about the curled tails! I have a friend's pittie over often, and am constantly picking up things he wags off the table top! Eek! Downside to the curly tail is how it can curl right up and over and dunk into your coffee. Haha!
DeleteI love reading about awesome dog owners and their furry pals! Such a great read, I adore huskies but there's a reason I love them from afar and stick to my retrievers. My personality doesn't mesh well with the more independent breeds (even though I think they're amazing!). There are huskies everywhere in Charlotte, and when I get to talking with their owners on walks they've all mentioned how destructive they are at home and how they escape the tiny backyard... I'll never understand why people don't consider a dog's need for exercise before choosing that breed! Thank you for highlighting all of the hours you've put into training, which applies to any breed of dog. In my world of Goldens and Labs, so many people get them and think they come fully trained because they're meant to be such great family dogs. Well, all of my dogs have been fabulous, my current lab comes to the office with me every day and is the best dang barn dog and trail ride dog I know. But it's taken HOURS upon HOURS of training to get her this way. She naturally wants to please, but she has a severe case of doggie ADD so it's been a lot of work. Coworkers make snide comments about me getting after her too much (as in calling her back when she starts to wander or beg for someone's lunch) and I always take that opportunity to remind them of WHY she's so good... because I DO stay after her! Can't wait to read more about your adventures with Kenai and Taiga, they're lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteOMG I couldn't have said it any better re: staying after them. My coworkers think I am NUTS for the way I am with my dogs. My secretary is so sad she can't give them as many treats as she wants. I'm not a mean mom, I just value their routines staying normal and treats cause excess bowel movements and result in too many extra calories for Kenai and his arthritic stifles. And don't get me started on getting on them for wandering and begging lol!
DeleteGoldens will always be near and dear to my heart as a golden was the first dog I ever knew growing up. She was a saint. They're such wonderful dogs and I have been fortunate to know so many incredible ones. Labs, too, for that case as a lot of my friends have them to help with hunting and retrieving around here. So many good dogs!
What a great post! My in-laws have Huskies, and I was definitely surprised at how much smaller they were than I expected. In my mind, Huskies were this big, stout breed!
ReplyDeleteI have two mutts who are both fairly small (~25 pounds). I don't have the faintest idea what one of them is (Golden Retriever and...something smaller than that?) and the other is a Corgi x miniature Dachshund. They're both very good barn dogs who stick fairly close to me while I'm riding or out doing barn chores, and they seem to really enjoy the freedom they have living out on a farm!
I've seen photos of your corgi cross over the years and OMG so cute and unique!
DeleteGood barn dogs are a very special breed of animal =)
We’ve got two rescue dogs, one Staffordshire Bull Terrier /Rhodesian Ridgeback cross and one weimreiner/greyhound/something (both are best guesses). This past summer I was finally able to take them out riding with me, mostly due to introducing remote trainers into our routine. It has improved recall exponentially, (my weim is also a #murderdog with incredible focus and the remote trainer lets me get through to her). My setup has a tone, vibration and shock. And I almost never need the shock, the vibration is enough to get their attention.
ReplyDeleteIt’s astonishing how much judgement I get on their collars. People seem to assume using them as a short cut rather than a tool but also comment on how well behaved my dogs are. I even had one person tell me they were going to take it off my dog when I left them tied to my horse trailer at a show. Jokes on her because my dogs are friendly until you come into their space and I’m not around.
What interesting crosses! And argh to people thinking they know better than you about your own animals. How infuriating. I kind of wish my dogs would behave that way about space sometimes, alas, everyone is their friend lol
DeleteOmigosh that pouncing gif is adorable! Love this post. The blue eyed thing made me so mad when you told me about it. Shaving double coated dogs makes me INSANE when I see people do it.
ReplyDeleteI always feel so heartbroken for doubke coated dogs that have been shaved!
DeleteI grew up with cats, but since moving away from home, I'm on my second GSD. We're researching other breeds (Beaucerons, Cane Corsos, Anatolians/Kangals) and look forward to experiencing large, active, guardian oriented breeds when we have the property for it. Recall is the most important resource, tool, and skill that could ever be in a dog owners arsenal!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool list of breeds you're researching!! I am sure you'll find the perfect match when the time comes. 😊
Deletedoubt i would have one but i admire the hell out of your huskies and Austen's too! Thanks for the informative blog post!! Merry Xmas to you all (including the floofs who are too adorable for words) :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your floofs, as well! =)
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ReplyDeleteGreat post! T really wanted a Husky but I had Austen talk him out of one lol
ReplyDeletelol! She's definitely skilled at talking people out of huskies, which is probably best for everyone involved haha
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