Siberian Husky

11 Useful Pros And Cons Of Huskies That You Should Know

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The Siberian Husky is a beautiful fluffy dog with blue piercing eyes. They are known for their friendly behavior making them great for any family.

However, these dogs are also very loud and destructive in the home. Before getting a Siberian Husky home, you need to know the pros and cons of Huskies and make a decision.

Key Takeaways

  • The Siberian Husky is an ancient dog breed that originates from Siberia.
  • Huskies have a medium-length double coat that tends to shed a lot.
  • These dogs are amongst the friendliest dog breeds.
  • Huskies are terrible guard dogs but good watchdogs because they are very loud.
  • They are a very healthy breed only prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems.
  • Because they are high-energy dogs, Huskies are perfect for active families.
  • The average price of a Husky is $800-$1500, which is relatively cheap for a dog.
  • Huskies are intelligent dogs, but very stubborn and destructive.
  • These dogs are known as “Houdini dogs” due to their ability to escape from anywhere.

Introduction To The Siberian Husky

Huskies are an ancient breed originating in Siberia. They were used as sled-pulling dogs by the Chukchi people. In the 1900s these dogs were brought to Alaska to compete in sled-pulling competitions. 

These dogs were popularized when a heroic crew of sled-pulling Huskies helped the city of Nome, Alaska. They brought a life-saving serum for diphtheria and helped save people from the epidemic. In 1930, Siberian Huskies were officially accepted by the AKC.

Siberian Huskies can withstand cold temperatures due to their long and dense fur. They can come in many different colors and are known for being wolf-like. There are many pros and cons of owning a Husky to know about.

Pros Of Siberian Huskies

There are many benefits to owning a Husky. Their good natured and playful behavior makes them one of the most desirable dogs. But those aren’t the only positive things about this breed.

Beautiful Dogs

Huskies are an incredibly attractive breed. Their wolf-like appearance, fluffy fur, and piercing blue almond shaped eyes make them very desirable for a lot of pet owners.

They have a medium double coat made to protect them from the cold weather. The Husky coat can include many colors. It can be a mix of black, white, gray, brown, red, sable, and agouti. It also includes a lot of different patterns like piebald and saddle-back.

Huskies don’t always have blue eyes. They can also be green, multi-colored, or brown eyes. Whatever their look is, Huskies will always get the looks and attention at the dog park.

Friendly Toward People And Dogs

Huskies are friendly dogs that love to be around other people and animals. Because they were bred as a part of a pack, they developed a strong need to be around someone. This makes them great for owners that like to have people over. But they don’t make great guard dogs because they act friendly with intruders.

Because they are so friendly, these dogs fit great in any family. They are great to have around children because they are so energetic and playful. Their affectionate nature has only one bad side. It makes them prone to separation anxiety.

Healthy And Long Living

One of the reasons to get a Husky is the fact that they are very healthy dogs with a long life expectancy. These dogs are expected to live around 12-14 years on average. 

They don’t have a lot of genetically inherited diseases to watch out for. A good Husky owner will take the dog for regular ophthalmologist and hip evaluations. This is because the breed is prone to developing eye problems and hip dysplasia.

Huskies are great dogs when it comes to feeding. They have a well-developed metabolism that lets them work efficiently with little food available. But they should still be fed a proper diet.

Great For Active Families

Because they were primarily used as sled dogs, Huskies developed a very high energy level. On average, Huskies need around 2 hours of exercise every day. This can involve walking, running, hiking, and playing games. Because they are intelligent, Huskies will love to spend some of their energy on mental stimulation.

Huskies are good for families that like to be active during the day. Whenever the owner goes for a run, they can take the Husky with them. One fun way to exercise this dog is to invest in some sleds and take it back to its sled-pulling roots.

Not Very Expensive

Siberian Huskies are popular dogs and there are a lot of breeders that breed these dogs. Because of this, they are not as expensive as some other breeds. You can buy a Husky for a price of $800-$1500. 

Huskies that come from parents that have won awards at dog shows will cost more. Huskies with agouti colors and full white Huskies will also cost more due to their rarity. For a cheaper price, you can try adopting a Husky from a rescue shelter.

These dogs won’t cost too much to care for either. They are healthy, clean, and don’t like to overeat.

Cons Of Siberian Huskies

Even though Huskies have a lot of positive traits, they also have a few drawbacks that many dog lovers want to avoid. Being loud and destructive are only a few of these Husky cons.

Stubborn And Independent

Huskies are intelligent dogs and can learn a lot of commands. But their free-spirited nature affects the training. The Husky owner should be a dominant and persistent individual if they want their Husky to be well trained.

It is a regular occurrence that the Husky will give a blank stare when you want it to do something. Because of this, training should start from a very early age. The training sessions should be short and engaging so the dog doesn’t get bored easily. Positive reinforcement is a great tool to make the Husky listen and react better to training.

Loud And Barky

One of the most known bad things about Huskies is their need to be loud constantly. Huskies will howl at random times of the day and night. This only enhances their similarity with wolves. It was developed to help the Husky communicate with its pack.

Huskies are a talkative breed and will try to imitate the sound their owner makes. They don’t understand speech but they can emulate sounds like “yes”, “no”, and “I love you”. These dogs will also make many other sounds like barking, yelping, and whining. This trait can be cute in the beginning, but it will lead to your neighbors complaining about the noise.

Highly Shedding

The big fluffy coat of the Husky tends to shed heavily all throughout the year. This only increases during the “coat-blowing” season in spring and fall. This means that Huskies are not hypoallergenic dogs and are not recommended for people prone to allergies.

If you want your apartment to be clean of shed Husky hair, you will need to properly groom the dog. Huskies are very clean dogs and will groom themselves just like cats do. But they will still need to be brushed at least once a week. This should only be increased during shedding season. Their coat requires bathing once a month.

Escape Artists With A High Prey Drive

One of the problems with Huskies is their ability to escape from the home when you least expect it. There is a reason why Huskies are referred to as Houdini dogs. With their high intelligence, these dogs can escape from anywhere.

Leaving a Husky alone in the yard will lead to it escaping. It will dig up under the fence or jump over it just to escape. Because Huskies have a high prey drive, they will often start chasing around small animals like cats and squirrels. This will only increase the chance of the Husky running away. Investing in a good leash and microchips will be useful.

Bad Guard Dogs

Huskies are nice dogs and tend to get along with everybody. This becomes a problem only when an intruder comes into the home. The Husky is more likely to befriend an intruder than to attack and scare them. Even though Huskies look like wolves, intruders will not be scared enough to leave the home. Because of this, Huskies are not good guard dogs.

That said, Huskies make for great watchdogs. They are very loud and will react to anything happening near them. This will alert the owner if any intruder enters the house.

Destructive Behavior

Because they have a history of being working dogs, Huskies need to be exercised regularly. If they don’t get to spend their energy during the day, they will show destructive behavior.

It is expected to find a destroyed home if the Husky was left alone for more than 6-8 hours. The dog will chew on the furniture, tables, and shoes. It might knock out some valuables from the tables and make an overall mess.

If the Husky is left alone in the yard, it might start digging it out. Huskies like to dig holes because of their inherited behavior to dig in the snow. Managing a nice lawn is hard for Husky owners.

A SIberian Husky next to flowers

Pros And Cons Of Huskies – A Summary

Huskies are beautiful dogs known for their big luscious fur and friendly personality. They are a healthy breed with only a few common health problems. Because they are so high energy, these dogs will mostly fit with active families. But they are a great family dog for anyone that knows how to take care of it properly.

There are some disadvantages to owning these dogs. Because they were bred as pack dogs, they tend to get very loud and annoy the neighbors. Their big fur sheds a lot and tends to make a mess in the home. They are prone to escaping and chasing after small animals and they are prone to destructive behavior. Considering the pros and cons of owning a Husky, it is up to you to decide if you want to own this dog.

FAQ

How aggressive are Huskies?

Huskies are not aggressive dogs. They are very friendly dogs and can get along with anybody. They make bad guard dogs because they are more likely to befriend an intruder. But in some situations, a Husky can act aggressively.

Can Huskies hurt you?

Even though they are big dogs with wolf-like appearances, they will rarely hurt anyone. They are not inherently dangerous and very rarely attack or bite. That said, Huskies have a strong enough bite force to hurt a human.

Is it worth buying a Siberian Husky?

Huskies are friendly, loyal, and affectionate dogs that make great family pets. They are also not very expensive. But you have to consider all the pros and cons of Huskies before getting one for yourself.

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