Huskies are amazing pets to own as long as you know all that is needed about this fantastic working dog breed, and good care, maintenance, and training are done consistently.
Huskies have a gentle nature and are friendly; however, they require supervision around small children and smaller pets as their predatory instincts are still strong.
Why should you own a husky
Huskies are very energetic and love being outdoors. A husky would be the perfect pet for an active outdoorsy owner.
Huskies remain calm and are less affected by loud noises and do well with boisterous families.
They adapt well to changes in routine or environment.
They make for great companions as they enjoy being around their owners. Great for people that want to share their lives with someone that will genuinely care for them.
Huskies are very loyal but not overprotective or jealous. They tend to be friendly to unfamiliar visitors.
Very sociable, huskies love being around other dogs and do well in households with multiple dogs. It is actually a good thing to raise two siblings rather than just one husky. This way, they won’t get bored when you are not around to keep them busy.
Huskies are great for big families that never leave them on their own.
Huskies are protective
Huskies are very close to their owners however, they are not guard dogs. They are good-natured and sociable and accept strangers quite easily.
They will bark if someone enters their territory out of the blue, so they can be used as watchdogs over night.
Huskies are good with kids
Huskies are very playful and enjoy being kept busy with lots of games and toys. Their friendly manner and their tolerance to being touched, hugged frequently make them good for families with kids.
Are huskies good with cats?
Although huskies thrive in households with other dogs, their natural instinct to catch anything that resembles prey, especially pets that jump suddenly, makes them incompatible with living with cats.
In some cases, puppies were raised along with cats, from early days and they seemed to get well along. The way they are raised as well as their family traits (huskies are born with their mom and dad’s character traits) will make the decisive factor in how well they get along with cats.
What does a Siberian husky eat
Huskies are easy to feed in terms of their likes and dislikes. They do well with food brand changes and changes in their diet in their adult years (for example, from manufactured processed food to homemade meals).
Huskies can be given the raw diet. It would be beneficial to feed a varied mixed diet – cooked and raw, with meat, plenty of fiber, vegetables, and fruits.
They quite enjoy eating:
- Unseasoned eggs
- Apples – seedless and without the core
- Blueberries (as little snacks during the day)
- Bananas
Always check for the dangerous dog food ingredients that all dog owners should be aware of (like caffeine, cooked bones, garlic, onions, grape, avocados, etc.).
Adult huskies need to be fed twice a day, and their appetite varies depending on the physical activities done during the day: they will eat a larger quantity of food if they were well exercised.
What do huskies eat in the wild
In the wild, huskies live at the Arctic where their diet consisted on what they could catch :
- Fish (salmon or other oily fish types)
- Seals (pups)
- Wild hares and similar small easy to catch animals
- Sea kelp when meat wasn’t at hand
What do Siberian husky puppies eat
Husky puppies need to be fed around four times a day.
Their diet should be varied and contain healthy, high-quality cooked ingredients, probiotics, fibers, plenty of minerals and vitamins, and fatty oils.
Puppies also need a diet higher in calories than adult dogs.
Dog breeders will tell how much to feed your husky puppy, its feeding schedule, and the type of food it needs to continue with.
Why are husky puppies so expensive?
Husky puppies are expensive to keep as they require a lot of attention from day one.
- They need to be fed high-quality ingredients with a high caloric intake, which will be reflected in the price.
- Attention should be given to their sleeping arrangements as they are quite sensitive to sudden noises and light.
- Puppies need their first vaccination and vet visit, plus regular check ups.
- They are hard to groom and require a lot of attention.
- They require a lot of training, thus raising the care costs.
More information about the costs of keeping huskies can be found on ThePetTown.
Husky health problems
Huskies are a very adaptable sturdy breed, and they live around 12-15 years. There aren’t a lot of health issues related to this specific breed type. It’s good to keep in mind that your puppy inherits its parents’ genetic traits, thus a genetic disease being transmissible to the puppy. Ask the breeder for information about the parents’ health.
Common husky health problems :
- Eye diseases – huskies can develop cataract or corneal dystrophy
- Digestive issues – they find it hard to digest some types of cereals. Your vet might recommend a grain-free diet.
- Allergy – to pollen or chemicals used around the home
- Parasites – like fleas or intestinal worms. It’s recommended to take your puppy to deworm, as stated by the vet (at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months).
- Hypothyroidism – quite common in huskies. Less appetite but weight gaining and bald patches are signs of this disease.
- Hip dysplasia – your puppy can be tested by taking a DNA test.
- Hair loss – loss of Zinc, leading to dermatitis that affects the skin under the fur coat resulting in hair loss if not treated on time.
Buying a husky
You can either choose to buy your puppy from a dog breeder, from other owners or from a pet shop.
The advantage of choosing a trusted dog breeder is that you will receive all the information related to eventual health issues, genetic information, and in some cases, DNA tests for eye disease or hip problems. You will also receive a vaccinated dog and comprehensive information on feeding and grooming.
Adopt a husky
If you can’t afford to buy a husky or prefer to get a trained dog, you could choose to adopt a husky.
You could do this by visiting a local pet rescue center, dog charities like RSPCA, or by answering to ads placed by owners that can’t keep their pet due to different changes in their lives (pet rehoming).
The advantages of adopting a husky are:
- They would be vaccinated and microchipped
- Their records will show eventual health issues
- They would be dewormed
- Most of them will already be house trained
- Some of them might be neutered (important if you plan to use doggy daycare or kennels)
Siberian huskies are gorgeous dogs that will make good pets for attentive owners that enjoy an active life.
