NEW OWNERS | Alpha dog Genetics

NEW HUSKY OWNERS

Siberian Huskies are beautiful and unique, but challenging.

If you are new to the Siberian Husky breed, please read through the pros and cons of the breed. If you have studied up on the breed, fantastic you can confirm that this is the breed for you.

Pros:

They have a good temperament.
They love kids which make them great family dogs.
They have ultra-soft, fluffy, rain proof coats.
They have the funniest personalities.
They howl more than what they bark - they are musical and sing along with sirens etc.
They are highly intelligent dogs.
They are great running, jogging, or walking buddies.
They are great companions, very affectionate.
They are very playful and often stay puppy like.
They do well in multiple climates, love colder environments and water.
They are pack animals; therefore they are very social and do well with other dogs.
They are a healthy breed with lots of energy.
They have a life span of 12-14 years.
They are a medium sized dog (not too big, not too small).
- males: weight 20–27 kg; height 53–60 cm.
- females: weight 16–23 kg; height 51–56 cm.
They are some of the most beautiful dogs in the world.

Cons:

They live and train based upon an alpha male or alpha female hierarchy. They will challenge other dogs to determine who is alpha.
They have a natural instinct to dig.
Most huskies are escape artists and will challenge their enclosures' abilities.
They can be stubborn, obeying only when they agree to.
They are very active dogs, requiring a lot of exercise.
They don’t like being separated from their family (animal or human).
They are vocal complainers - howling and moaning if they don't want to do something.
They require frequent grooming/ brushing, and shed their coats yearly.
Huskies have high predator drives and require training to accept cats, birds etc.
They are curious dogs so they end up in mischief when not given enough attention or left alone for too long.

If you can accept the pros and cons, have the time and space - this breed is for you!

If you’re not 100% sure please study more on the breed, and ask breed owners lots of questions. Alpha dog Genetics strive to provide each puppy a suitable, loving home. Potential owners are screened to prevent a puppy ending up in a bad position, with owners not knowing what to expect.

Exercise

Siberian Huskies need to be exercised 30 to 60 minutes daily to keep them from becoming bored. They make excellent jogging companions, but should not be exercised in hot weather. Surprisingly, they need only a small (but secure) backyard to expend their energy. Siberian Huskies need to be working to stay happy. Usually just maintaining your own active life through playing, hiking and other outdoor sports will keep your Siberian Husky healthy, happy and out of trouble. Training is a must with this breed and you may want to invest in more advanced obedience classes. This can be difficult for many owners and trainers as the breed is very intelligent, using food and treats as a positive reinforcement goes a long way.

Food

Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. When it comes to mealtimes, Huskies are known for being "easy keepers" — requiring a relatively small amount of food for their size. This trait may be traced to the origins of the breed, as the Chukchi's developed these dogs to pull a light load at a fast pace over great distances in low temperatures on the smallest possible intake of food.

Note: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you'll need to shake into your dog's bowl.

Taking care of your husky

Grooming

Their double coat features medium-length hair. The top coat is straight and the undercoat feels soft and dense. Expect lots of hair, lots of shedding — especially during spring and fall when they blow their coats. That said, this is a fairly easy breed to care for. Siberian Huskies living in cooler temperatures tend to shed less than those who live in warmer climates. You can avoid matting — and excess hair on your furniture — if you commit to brushing your dog's coat at least once a week during the year — and daily during shedding season.

Other pets

Keep in mind the history of this breed. The harsh conditions in Siberia created a strong prey drive in this breed because food was often hard to find. As a result, many Huskies today maintain that prey drive toward small animals such as squirrels, rabbits, and cats. Some Huskies, however, thrive in multi-pet households, especially when they are taught and raised with other pets from puppyhood - as done by Alpha dog Genetics.