I am considering buying a Siberian Husky as my first dog and need to know if this is a wise decision.
I also have to cats at home and in my research have found that Huskies have a high predator drive and can attack smaller animals.
I would really love to own a Husky but am fearful for my other animals. Can a puppy raised with cats be trusted around them when alone?
Tags: wise decision, Siberian, drive, predatorhusky for first time dog owner, siberian dog are they good with cats, Siberian husky crossed with a chow-chow
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
No, not good for a first time dog owner.
No, not good with cats, they have a real high prey drive.
It sounds like you’re doing some research. I would also try to contact someone who owns one in your area. Generally a puppy raised with cats will be ok with THOSE cats but not nec. all cats. My chihuahuas were raised with 2 cats but they don’t particularly care for strange cats
It sounds like you have already done your research as the two questions you have asked I think you already know the answer to, which is
No – a husky is no way a wise decision for a first dog and
No – a husky wouldn’t be a good idea around cats either.
They are very beautiful to look at I agree – but you have to live with the dog every day, and they are a lot of work and need a lot of understanding.
A Siberian Husky is not a good first dog. they require a strong hand to keep them in line, They will attack and kill smaller prey – possibly your kids. They are from the Wolf family, so you can see why it is a bad choice. I wouldn’t trust a puppy near my cats.
when a husky is young he dont see them as threts just playful but i cant promise you anything about that its more if that cat will like the husky but if its older then 1 year and never been near a cat i wudnt try also to help defend ur cats if they hav claws (even dull ones) they can defend so watch out for your husky too
No!!! They are very vicious!! especcially for first time owners!
the cats shouldn’t be problem f it growes up with them. as for it being your first dog they tend to need a lot of care,they need groomed and they have tons of energy. you’ll need a big yard. id suggest something easier, boxers are excellent family dogs they Have short hair and just the right amount of energy, there also great with kids(and cats) labs are also good first time dogs, though ive never had one so i don’t know from experience.
No. Please don’t get a husky if you’re not experienced.
Also about cats, my friend has a husky (two actually) and I won’t say they get along with the cat, more like ignore them, but they never attacked or show signs of attacking them.
If you researched about huskies you probably already read that they are not recommended for first time owners. It might sound right at the moment, but think long term.
Reasons why pit bulls and Rottweilers are deemed “vicious” is because of owners that has no clue how to handle dominate dogs but get them anyways because it seems “cool”. I am in no way insinuating that you are like that (obviously not since you care enough to ask) but please keep in mind when buying a dog.
A husky is definitely not a dog for a first time owner. They are marvelous, loving dogs but require a very strong leader. They also require a lot of exercise to keep them from becoming destructive (I lost a couch and countless pieces of clothing before realizing this). They also are roamers and can and will dig under or cllimb over most fences. Their high prey drive makes them completely untrustworthy with cats or other small animals. They are definitely not vicious – they are really low key and loving with people and most dogs but their prey drive and need to roam means they shouldn’t be off leash when not confined by a fence.
No, I don’t think a Husky is a good choice for a first time dog owner.
My husband and I made the mistake of buying a Husky pup and we regretted it after only about 2 months. We still regret getting that dog. We hadn’t really researched the breed and we were not prepared, not in any way ready to deal with him. (That was a big mistake, but understand this was in 1992, no internet to do research on, and also we were young and stupid.) We couldn’t handle him, even though we tried for over a year to make it work. He ran away many times, destroyed trees in the backyard, chewed up everything in reach, we couldn’t train him, it was a nightmare. I finally had to stop dealing with him because I couldn’t control him at all, my husband could barely control him. We finally turned him in to the local human society. My husband and I are both big dog lovers but after we gave up Ricky we decided we weren’t ready for a dog. We didn’t get another dog until recently, summer of 2008 to be exact, and this time I researched all breeds we were thinking about before making any kind of decision.
I had a husky when I was young, this is what I remember:
He could climb any fence, we had to put a top on our fence that we made 12 feet high, we also had boulders around the bottom to keep him from digging out.
He always got loose, after a while he started running to the pound. We discovered he liked the junk food they feed so we switched his food and he stopped that little fiasco.
He could run and run and never get tired. We loaned him to the military to train him. They could not teach him to sit. We loaned him to a dog sled team, he ran halfway across Alaska and back and still had lots of energy.
We called him Chinook, was a very fitting name for him.
We walked him with our car, would drive around the block a few times a day. He still wanted to run.
We had a cat, hamsters, Guinea pigs, never hurt them BUT I lost a ferret to a neighbors Husky and I think we were lucky because that dog loved us enough to know not to hurt our pets. Im sure he killed other things on his little adventures. We have chinook as a puppy and the cat was a kitten, I think thats why they got along.
We gave him away to a dog sled training group (they really wanted him, promised we could visit…) when he was 3 years old (I was about 9). Im sure he was happier!
As far as cats, I would not recommend it unless you are considering adopting an older Sibe who has lived with cats in the past. Some people will have success with puppies, socializing the cat and puppy while young, however not all do. Is the cats life worth the risk? Can you offer the cat a safe place within the house where it can escape the dog if need be? Will you keep the dog crated in a closed room while out of the house?
I don’t see why the right type of first time owner could not have a Siberian. I think it depends on the owner, the research they have done and will do, what their wants are for the dog, what they expect, what they are willing to do.
Will you attend a puppy training class? These dogs need early training. They need socialization. They need to learn how to interact correctly with other dogs and people, puppy classes are great for this and for setting you up to be a successful owner with a well behaved pet. This is a breed who is naturally mouthy, they NEED training in this area early on so it does not become harmful when that cute 12 pound puppy mouthing turns into a 50 pound dog gnawing on your arm. They need fair but strict rules. They will take advantage when they know they can so they do need a firm fair consistent owner who will train them, set limits and stick to them.
Can you deal with the shedding? A vacuum, even a Dyson is no match for a Siberian in mid-coat blow. It will be EVERYWHERE, on every piece of clothing and item in your home. It will somehow float into your food, into your morning cup of coffee, into your mouth, it will gather under large appliances, it will gather in your washer and dryer, clog your drains if you bath them in the tub etc,etc. If you are in a hot climate be aware that your sibe may blow it’s coat more than the usual twice a year.
Can you deal with never letting your dog offleash except in an enclosed area? Siberian Huskies have extremely high prey drives, even if they do develop a decent recall through training, it’s likely if a prey animal catches their eye, they won’t respond.
How will you keep your Sibe from escaping? Does your fencing extend under ground? Is it buried in cement? How tall is it? Sibes can dig under, chew through, jump over, or climb over fencing. You should never leave one unattended in an area where digging, climbing or jumping is possible. They will chew through cables and tie outs.
Can you deal with it possibly killing small animals that come into your yard? My puppy, when 6 months old could launch herself 5 feet into the air to try to get birds, she still does it, only higher now. My 2 year old would kill outdoor cats in the blink of an eye if given the chance. He’s okay with them inside with me there, but I would never leave him and a cat alone together unattended.
How will you deal with destruction? Possible separation anxiety, which seems common with this breed? These dogs do not like to be left home alone. If you are gone for long amounts of time please reconsider if you are unwilling to pay for doggie daycare.
Can you deal with and do you have time for an animal that could very well need upwards of three hours of walks and exercise? If these dogs do not get the proper amount of exercise and stimulation they can become extremely destructive and bad mannered.
I’d highly suggest getting another breed that fits your lifestyle and needs the first time, and even second time, around!
Huskies take a *lot* of work, training, and “discipline” [just knowing who the alpha is].
A first time dog owner isn’t equipped with the knowledge of both training extensively and continuously, and being in the “alpha” position at all times.
Since Huskies don’t work for the alpha, but rather for themselves [they must either see a clear advantage in something in order to do it, or they must love the work they're doing], it’s very difficult for someone who hasn’t mastered training even a submissive, loving/cuddly/”i wanna do this ’cause you told me to” breed – to train and successfully keep a Husky.
Do consider getting another breed, especially with the cat situation. Yes, they can be and are successfully “trained” to leave the cats alone – but it takes experience, not dumb luck.
If you have your heart set on getting a Husky and won’t even consider getting another breed or cross, then I suggest either finding an extremely well behaved older rescue that has already been trained and is already socialized with cats – or to go to a reputable breeder who has a “retirement” dog that they are letting go, or even an older dog that they are selling for one reason or another. Many reputable breeders also have rescues that they have taken in and “rehabilitated” and are re-homing.
http://www.shca.org/
RT class=” ” Babe and I are sitting here watch the Steelers game
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