Through my 35 years, I've owned four dogs, one cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix) and three Siberian Huskies. My current dog, Lexi, is a 3-year-old husky (rescue dog). In case you or someone you know is thinking about buying a husky, here are some things you should probably know:
Pros
- Friendly: No matter what you've heard about huskies in the past, they are some of the friendliest dogs you could ever meet. If they're not running around and looking to play, you know something's wrong. My dog, Lexi, will play with anyone or anything. There are nights I have to remind her it's 2 o'clock in the morning and time to sleep. If she could play 24 hours a day, she would, and even then, that still wouldn't be enough.
- Energetic: Until they reach older age, huskies tend to act like puppies. This is why they're fairly common "therapy" dogs. Even on the worst of days, my dog just has a way of cheering me up. They require a lot of exercise, so with the two walks a day I take Lexi on, she helps me stay/get in shape.
- Hygiene: When it comes to taking care of themselves, huskies are kind of like cats. Unlike one rolls around in poop or gets sprayed by a skunk, chances are slim they'll need to be bathed very often.
- Huskanese: None of my huskies barked much. Even if I happened to be walking them in the neighborhood as we passed several barking dogs, they wouldn't bark in return. Instead, they talk in a language I like to call Huskanese. You'll know it when you hear it.
- Hunters: While none of my huskies are on record of killing a lot of animals, they have chased some rabbits away from the garden. This can definitely be of use in the spring and summer months.
Cons
- Shedding: Yes, huskies shed. Shocking, right?
- Early destruction: If you decide to purchase a husky, I'd recommend getting one 2-years-old or older. While they're excellent dogs after the puppy-dog stage, they can be quite destructive until they reach that point.
- High-maintenance: Like I wrote previously, huskies are very energetic dogs, so if you're going to be placing them in a crate for most of the day, it's probably best to get a different breed of dog.
- Training: Huskies are not the easiest of dogs to train. They're smart, and due to that, quite stubborn at times. So keep that in mind when you think you've outsmarted their huskies.
- Houdinis: While I've gotten quite lucky with two of my three huskies, there was one which liked to sneak under the backyard fence and run away. Huskies are kind of known for this. They're very curious, energetic dogs, so if they find even the slightest of opportunities to sneak away, they likely will, and once they get out and into the open, they can run like the wind.
Conclusion
For me personally, I can't picture myself owning any kind of dog other than a husky. They're fun, friendly, energetic, keep me in good spirits, keep me healthy, and are great with friends and family, my 3-year-old niece, in particular. If you don't have much time to spend with a dog and/or feel the need to lock them in a crate while you're at work, I'd probably suggest you look elsewhere. If that's not the case, however, I can't recommend huskies enough! Even on the worst of days, they have a way of bringing a smile to your face.
Pros
- Friendly: No matter what you've heard about huskies in the past, they are some of the friendliest dogs you could ever meet. If they're not running around and looking to play, you know something's wrong. My dog, Lexi, will play with anyone or anything. There are nights I have to remind her it's 2 o'clock in the morning and time to sleep. If she could play 24 hours a day, she would, and even then, that still wouldn't be enough.
- Energetic: Until they reach older age, huskies tend to act like puppies. This is why they're fairly common "therapy" dogs. Even on the worst of days, my dog just has a way of cheering me up. They require a lot of exercise, so with the two walks a day I take Lexi on, she helps me stay/get in shape.
- Hygiene: When it comes to taking care of themselves, huskies are kind of like cats. Unlike one rolls around in poop or gets sprayed by a skunk, chances are slim they'll need to be bathed very often.
- Huskanese: None of my huskies barked much. Even if I happened to be walking them in the neighborhood as we passed several barking dogs, they wouldn't bark in return. Instead, they talk in a language I like to call Huskanese. You'll know it when you hear it.
- Hunters: While none of my huskies are on record of killing a lot of animals, they have chased some rabbits away from the garden. This can definitely be of use in the spring and summer months.
Cons
- Shedding: Yes, huskies shed. Shocking, right?
- Early destruction: If you decide to purchase a husky, I'd recommend getting one 2-years-old or older. While they're excellent dogs after the puppy-dog stage, they can be quite destructive until they reach that point.
- High-maintenance: Like I wrote previously, huskies are very energetic dogs, so if you're going to be placing them in a crate for most of the day, it's probably best to get a different breed of dog.
- Training: Huskies are not the easiest of dogs to train. They're smart, and due to that, quite stubborn at times. So keep that in mind when you think you've outsmarted their huskies.
- Houdinis: While I've gotten quite lucky with two of my three huskies, there was one which liked to sneak under the backyard fence and run away. Huskies are kind of known for this. They're very curious, energetic dogs, so if they find even the slightest of opportunities to sneak away, they likely will, and once they get out and into the open, they can run like the wind.
Conclusion
For me personally, I can't picture myself owning any kind of dog other than a husky. They're fun, friendly, energetic, keep me in good spirits, keep me healthy, and are great with friends and family, my 3-year-old niece, in particular. If you don't have much time to spend with a dog and/or feel the need to lock them in a crate while you're at work, I'd probably suggest you look elsewhere. If that's not the case, however, I can't recommend huskies enough! Even on the worst of days, they have a way of bringing a smile to your face.
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