Siberian Husky: My Opinions, Experiences, and Researched Facts

   

 
From my personal experience, Siberian Huskies are wonderful dogs. I've never met a mean Husky, though I have only met about a dozen.

Good Points: (In my personal experiences with Nikki)

• Very gentle with me even when I was a toddler
• Defensive of her family
• Loved snow and cold weather
• Was able to keep food in her bowl all the time
• Didn't bark, but made a great Husky whine/sing

Bad Points: (In my personal experiences with Nikki)

•  Didn't like strangers in uniforms
• Guarded raw meats
• Shedding season was a hard time to keep her groomed

In my research of the breed, I have found Siberian Huskies on some lists including: Dangerous Breed, and Great for Families.

I can't stress enough that the temperament of a dog has nearly everything to do with how it was raised. I have visited numerous forums discussing dangerous breeds, and everyone seems to have their own opinion about different dogs. Most of the "Dangerous Dogs" lists I have viewed list only large breed dogs, and many people argue that smaller breeds can be more vicious than pitt bulls - which are commonly found at the top of the lists as most dangerous breed. However, one thing I must clear up to all who read this, is that when these lists are made, they research the history of the dog: what the dog was bred for, general breed temperament, and the potential damage a breed can havoc if it were to strike. Therefore, larger breeds are more likely to do more damage than a chihuahua. And Pitts, loving and loyal as they can be, can still do some of the worst damage. Sorry for ranting a bit, but some of the forum replies I've read get pretty defensive over Pitts. I'm no Pitt hater, but I respect them and that the reason they were bred was to fight. In a multiple pet family, Pitts would not be my personal first choice as they love humans, but not other dogs. Not to say all are dangerous around other dogs, but it is in their genes. Anyway, back to the real reason I started this blog: My experiences, and my experiences began with Siberian Huskies, who are on a few of the dangerous dog lists that I have encountered.

With that said and my personal knowledge out there, I'd like to point out some facts I have gathered about the breed.

All further information on this entry I have gathered from Animal Planet's original series, "Dogs 101: Siberian Husky"

• Siberian Huskies were bred in Siberia and brought to the USA by way of Alaska.
• They were bred to work in cold harsh environments
• Balto was a Siberian Husky
• They can have either blue or brown eyes, or one of each (Nikki had 2 blue eyes)
• Their howl can be heard 10 miles away

If you're thinking about adding a Husky to your family, some things you should know:

• They need space to run
• They need regular brushing due to their thick double layer coat
• They shed considerably in the Spring
• They can be trained, but have patience; they are smart and cannot easily be outsmarted
• They are generally healthy, but are prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems
• Since they are bred to be pack animals, they love children and make great family pets

Again, I'd like to give full credit to the above facts to the Animal Planet original series, "Dogs 101: Siberian Husky"


RIP Nakiska: 1988-October, 2003