Siberian Husky

Huskies are usually very friendly and sociable dogs who love being part of an active household. They often get on well with people and dogs of all ages – you may find them throwing a mild tantrum if they can’t say hello! 

Their favourite games involve chasing and jumping on their friends, which can be overwhelming for very old or young people and dogs, especially if they’re not keen on rough-and-tumble play. Like all dogs, it’s important to always watch Huskies around children to prevent any accidents or inappropriate interactions.

Huskies have a lot of energy and love to run, so they’re best suited to families who can dedicate time to their physical and mental needs. They can also be quite independent, so consistent reward-based training and clear boundaries are essential.

Siberian Huskies are not overly affectionate. They enjoy spending time with their humans and will seek out attention and snuggles when they want it. But they're also happy to entertain themselves or take themselves off for a snooze. If you want a snuggle, your Husky probably won’t be in the mood, and when you don’t, they’ll lie on top of you and refuse to move!

If you want a clingy dog, then a Husky isn’t the ideal breed for you. They would rather push you out of bed to make room for themselves than get close to you for snuggles! They also love to be the centre of attention and often show off their silly antics to get you to watch them. When they get involved in family activities, they bring their whole personality to it! 

Huskies are playful, quirky, and interactive, and great fun to share a home with.

Absolutely! Huskies are super playful dogs and love interacting with their human and fellow canine chums. They need lots of exercise and brain games to keep them active and entertained – otherwise they may get up to all sorts of mischief, like chewing your doors and skirting boards, eating sofas, or digging holes in the carpet.

They tend to get quite over-the-top and energetic when playing with other dogs. This may include high-energy chase games and bouncy rough-and-tumble, which puppies and elderly dogs can find worrying. With people they enjoy similar games alongside things like tug-of-war.

Huskies are a more ‘primitive’ breed, which means they behave in a similar way to wolves than other breeds. They tend to use their mouths when excited or playing. This ‘mouthing’ playstyle can be painful if they aren’t taught that people aren’t chew toys from a young age.

Huskies aren’t usually ones to bark constantly, but they’re certainly not quiet dogs! They’re very vocal and ‘chatty’ dogs known for whining, grumbling, huffing, and ‘talking’ - not to mention howling! 

These unique noises are ways for your Husky to express their mood and thoughts, whether they’re excited about seeing a friend across the road, frustrated that you haven’t fed them yet, or upset about a strange noise they’ve heard outside. For some, this is can be a fun and charming character trait, whilst others will find their frequent chatter a little overwhelming – for instance, your neighbours!

Howling is most common when a dog is left home alone, as it’s often a way for dogs to get others to come to them. It’s a good idea to teach your Husky to be comfortable with this from an early age to avoid noise-complaints and an unhappy dog.

Huskies can be protective of their food, toys, or favourite resting spots. This is known as resource guarding when they feel the need to protect things that are special to them.

Huskies don’t cope with being left home alone and with their escape artist skills, they’ve been known to chew through, dig under and climb over fences, as well as learn to open doors so they can find you or explore outside.

They were bred to pull sleds over long distances, so without the right physical and mental exercise, they may become restless and do things you don’t want them to do. They need to be kept amused in the day with regular exercise as well as food puzzles, training games, chewing, digging, and playtime.

Huskies have an incredibly strong prey drive which means they’re very likely to hunt and chase other animals. They’re very commonly involved in livestock worrying (when a dog gets into a field and chases, or attacks livestock including sheep, resulting in injury, or in worse cases, death of the animal.) Their independent nature makes it very hard to teach them to come when called, so it’s best to keep them on lead unless you’re in a secure, dog-friendly area.

The ideal home for a Siberian Husky is one that has a spacious garden for them to run around and play in, with a secure, 6ft (or higher) fence to prevent escapees!  

However, all’s not lost if you don’t have a large home or garden – they can adapt well to any space if you keep their brain and body well exercised. They are best suited to homes with active people who can provide plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. 

Huskies tend to get on well with other dogs as they were bred to pull sleds in teams, but are very unlikely to get on with small pets or cats in the home - due to their high prey drive. It’s best to put a lot of time and training into socialising your dog with other animals from a young age if you plan to keep them alongside each other.

Huskies are natural born athletes with their long history of pulling sleds over long distances. So, if you want a happy, healthy, and chilled out Husky, you should expect to do at least two hours of physical exercise a day, as well as brain training.

Their playful nature makes them great companions for active people who enjoy hiking, running, agility or hoopers, and even sports like ‘bikejoring’ (similar to mushing on a sled, but on a bike.)

Much like human athletes, the more you physically exercise your Husky, the more stamina and endurance they’ll build. This means if you’re not able to keep that level of exercise up consistently, you’ll be in for one bored and frustrated dog. It’s best to keep exercise varied, including games to challenge both their body and mind.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Huskies are super independent with a strong desire to do as they please, so it’s quite tricky getting them to follow instructions when training.

You need to put a lot of work into motivating them by making yourself more interesting than what’s around them. They’re quick learners when fun is involved, especially when their favourite food or toy is on offer. This kind of training will help them learn how you want them to behave.

Training as a puppy will help them learn boundaries and build their relationship with you. Providing plenty of activities to work their bodies and minds is also a great way of keeping them happy.

Common behavioural issues to watch out for with Huskies include, escaping, excessive howling, guarding, chasing wildlife and livestock and destructive behaviour when they’re bored.

Huskies have a thick, double coat made up of a long topcoat and woolly undercoat. To keep their coat healthy and tangle-free Huskies need to be brushed at least once a week, all year round. This also help to minimise shedding.

Once or twice a year Huskies “blow” their coat. This means the undercoat sheds in large tufts over a period of four to six weeks. This allows your dog to shed their winter or summer coat and get ready for a change in weather. During this time, you’re likely to find fur blowing around your home, like fluffy tumbleweed! There is simply no getting away from this with a Husky.

You may be tempted to shave your Husky to keep them cool, but this is highly dangerous. Their undercoat keeps them cool in summer and warm in winter. Shaving them will increase your dog’s risk of heatstroke in warm weather.

Siberian Huskies are generally healthy dogs, but a few issues they’re likely to get include:
Hip Dysplasia: A genetic condition where the hip joint doesn't fit properly, leading to arthritis and pain.
Eye Problems: Issues like cataracts, corneal dystrophy (a white or gray clouding of the eye), glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy (an inherited eye disease that leads to blindness in dogs).
Hypothyroidism: A thyroid disorder that can lead to weight gain, lethargy, hair loss, and skin issues. It can be managed by taking medication, which your dog will need for the rest of their life.
Seizures: Caused by conditions affecting the brain, spine, or nerves, such as Epilepsy.
Zinc deficiency: causes hair loss on elbows, feet, and eyelids. More common in puppies.

With good care, regular vet visits, and a healthy lifestyle, many of these risks can be minimised, ensuring your Siberian Husky lives a long and happy life.