[Closed] Huskies as Pets

Huskys look like the in thing at the moment ... 😮

Stupid dog to have in this country IMO.

They were bred for a specific purpose and environment and not to be a domestic pet.

Its the latest "dumb person" dog of the moment. Expect a flood of rejected pugs to arrive at the local pound any day now.

Several years back I met someone who did husky racing which looks like it could be quite fun. Crowded out most other hobbies for them though.
Wasnt it game of thrones that made them the latest cool pets?

Already crowding the dog homes & almost impossible to rehome, as there so big. Males are aparently extremely difficult to train to recall, as they been breed to run, which they tend to do if let off the lead

Stupid dog to have in this country IMO.

They were bred for a specific purpose and environment and not to be a domestic pet.

^^this

If people insist on having them they should be forced to live without any heating in order to make the dog comfortable. Hate it when people use dogs as fashion accessories. Research the breed you dickheads. 👿

Already crowding the dog homes & almost impossible to rehome, as there so big

Husky is quite small. I think it will be the Alaskan Malamute if it's big. They're the plodding over massive distance dog. Your fat bike, whereas the husky is your xc bike.

>Its the latest "dumb person" dog of the moment,

Really? Aren't you the expert...

I've had a Siberian Husky for two years now. Firstly, we've actually trained him properly (hint) and this is vital with all breeds of dog. But secondly, what a brilliant pet: completely non aggressive with other dogs, same goes for humans - incl the postman. Doesn't bark or whine, is obedient, very clean and easy to keep clean ( despite the white coat)highly intelligent and extremely affectionate.Also a brilliant trail dog as they can run all day long.

The only downsides are a tendency to dig and they do have a strong prey drive so squirrels, rabbits etc are toast if caught in the open. Mine can catch and kill mice at will and I've heard they can do the same with Rats and even Moles. For this reason they need to be on a lead anywhere near sheep or cattle but then you can say likewise for many dogs / breeds of dog.

The people 2 doors up from me have 2 huskies. Never seen them walk them. What's the point in having a dog you don't look after properly..? They would happily run for 10 miles and the lazy arse owners can't even be bothered to walk to the local shop never mind walk their dogs.

>Research the breed you dickheads.,<

I did you dickhead - no issues here. Cant speak for other types of Husky.

Well a round of applause for you then. You'll be a responsible dog owner, something that is sorely lacking these days 🙄

My Dickhead wasn't aimed at you, although now I'm not so sure 😐

A guy I worked with has had them for years, always very very well walked (it does seem like he is out constantly)and it seems to be his thing. He's had a few now and they are lovely, a couple have been shy but certainly not aggressive.

>Its the latest "dumb person" dog of the moment,

Really? Aren't you the expert...

I don't think you understood what I meant, let me clarify. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the breed, my point was that, in my observation, round my area huskies / malamutes are fastly becoming the latest "status dog" amongst certain folk.

The same folk who don't really have the common sense to train, care, and provide for the specific needs of these types of dogs.

We've owned several dogs over the years including 5 large breed retrievers, a doberman, and a rottie, so I know a little bit about them.

Only husky owners I know are very responsible owners. Lass I'm seeing at the moment has 2, and is involved with a rescue place that deals pretty much exclusively with them.

They do like to dig though. And are only every off the lead either in the house, or in a field that is used purely for letting dogs run around as they'll try to catch anything, including squirrels, birds, flies... As pets they're soft as owt.

Is it compulsory to have them tied to a belt when out walking?

It is very hard to see why people choose them as pets
[img] [/img]

It's only a matter of time before there's a husky uplift at a trail centre

If people insist on having them they should be forced to live without any heating in order to make the dog comfortable.........[b]Research the breed you dickheads[/b]

You may want to take a bit of your own advice.

They are perfectly comfortable in warm temperatures as long as they aren't running or exercising.
.

DezB

It is very hard to see why people choose them as pets

[img] [/img]

Come on now. Cute puppies isn't a reason to chose a dog. But if it was, Bernese Mountain dogs would be the default dog of choice.

[img] [/img]

You may want to take a bit of your own advice.

No intention of owning a husky because I read up on them and they wouldn't suit a lazy bastard like me. I'd also point out that it would be pretty cruel not to let one run out exercise.

I've owned a Bernese though, lovely dog was Poppy. Died at four from cancer. Had her from two after her old owners couldn't cope

[i]Cute puppies isn't a reason to chose a dog[/i]

annnnnnnnd.... back in the real World... 😆

As a dog owner, I don't understand why anyone would have one as a pet. I have *never* seen a husky (nor malamute) off the lead and/or unmuzzled on a walk.

what a brilliant pet: completely non aggressive with other dogs

As with any dog. It's all about the owner and I have no doubt that your dog(s) is/are an exception to the rule.

In my general experience, they have always been an aggressive breed towards other dogs.

That said (and back to my first point) my step-mum has a rescue that is quite literally scared of her own shadow. She's an absolute beauty but she point blank refuses to allow her to socialise with other dogs because every tiny patch of this earth is - in her mind - her territory.

So, went around the houses with that one and came up with nothing cohesive. But yeah - I don't get huskies.

Has anyone mentioned HAIR yet!
A friend has one and it leaves a bag load of hair on you every time it brushes past.

You may want to take a bit of your own advice.

No intention of owning a husky

I was referring to you suggesting it was cruel to keep them in a house with the hearing on, and saying people were dickheads if they didn't research the breed and know this.

They are great! We had an Australian cattle dog/ husky cross...in Australia. They/ours had a very adaptive coat and no problem with the heat.

We trained him well and they are very intelligent so I can understand people who have issues with badly trained dogs. They certainly are free spirits!

Edit: 'adaptive coats' = shed loads of hair!

Hang on...!

There's a lot of [i]dickhead[/i] being thrown about on this thread. No one gonna report it? Anyone getting offended? Negative use of the forum or somesuch...?

I'm feelin' a bit persecuted tbh... 😛

I was referring to you suggesting it was cruel to keep them in a house with the hearing on, and saying people were dickheads if they didn't research the breed and know this.

Everything I've read on huskies and malamutes points to them preferring cooler temperatures. They'd do better in kennels rather than a centrally heated house and also malt less as a result. You said yourself, it's okay as long as they aren't exercising. What kind of life is that for a high energy dog? I'd be willing to bet that the majority of owners in the last few years have bought on looks. That's doing a working dog a huge disservice and is rather sad

My Dickhead comment (for the umpteenth time) was being leveled at these thoughtless owners. I worked extensively with dogs in the past. A large majority are abandoned because the owners did not research the breed and had no clue regarding the needs of a given breed.

Hang on...!

There's a lot of dickhead being thrown about on this thread. No one gonna report it? Anyone getting offended? Negative use of the forum or somesuch...?

My first one was aimed at people outside the forum. Subsequent dickheads have been aimed at me, but I'm a big boy and can take it 😉

I won't be offended if you report somebody on my behalf though

lovely dogs and after talking to owners, they need lots of exercise are not aggressive to other dogs, love running free or on a lead, you need to be fit, a local used to have a wheeled husky sledge he would ride on, they dont half go, but looked great fun.

They also get bored easily and like attention or they start chewing stuff.

I want one

Stupid dog to have in this country IMO.

Popular in Hong Kong at the moment as well. Cruel.

Loads of people move up to the Peak District and buy a collie. Because that's what Emmerdale tells them to do or whatever.

Then they never get off their fat arses to exercise the poor bugger.

I won't be offended if you report somebody on my behalf though

Never have, never will.

Spoil sport 😆

Popular in Hong Kong at the moment as well. Cruel.

That's because of how they taste though surely

Spoil sport

🙂

Au contraire! Tis the very height of sport; no quarter given or asked.

One of the girls in our office has two of them. Never ever let off the lead. Constantly trying to escape and they have no recall at all despite being very well trained. One has diabetes. Quite common if not worked or exercised enough. They are lovely natured but I can't help thinking they would be better off in the artic circle.

They were bred for a specific purpose and environment and not to be a domestic pet.

I work with someone who has about 7 or 8 huskys. Breeds them and races them. Doesn't recommend them as pets. Can't let them off the lead. Will try and escape from any yard they are left in. Need hours of exercise. Pretty much takes up all her time outside work.

I went to watch a race near Aberfoyle one year with a dozen or two teams competing. Very entertaining if you like dogs. Those things absolutely love racing. What a racket when a team are getting harnessed to the buggy before the start.

Like any breed there will be variation. Certain individuals that are well trained might work. But unless you like walking your dog(s) on a lead all the time I'd suggest they are a gamble as a pet.

They'd do better in kennels rather than a centrally heated house and also malt less as a result. You said yourself, it's okay as long as they aren't exercising. What kind of life is that for a high energy dog?

My central heating doesn't reach the park where the dog would be getting it's excercise.

Spoke to one of the Husky racers in Friston. Not brilliant as pets, garden has to be super secure, they are very destructive if bored. The neighbours cat used to sit on the fence flicking them v signs, one day it fell in the garden. No more v signs........

I met a bloke in Cyprus who had one, he said he gave the dog ice baths, seriously - bonkers

Now you mention it you're right, I haven't seen any huskies or similar off the lead

Re the game of thrones comment - they were wolves, not huskies

Would be the ideal trail dog - probably keep going long after you've headed off for a pie & a pint...

Problem is - f all recall! You'd never see it again as it hoons off over the horizon into the next time zone!

Someone I know once agreed to babysit a husky. It ate a large portion of his front door because he foolishly left it alone.

Friend had one in SA. Good guard dog, hair, lots and lots and lots of hair. And that was as an 'outside' dog.

They used to do dog-sledding along the beaches.

Quite a few up near us. I often see them when riding round the trails so I've no idea what sort of conditions they're housed in. I've never seen one of a lead, but muzzles are very rare.

We have an annual dogsled racing weekend which will see hundreds of them on the trails. You get used to seeing a pack careering towards you with a musher barely in control and soon learn to move aside.

My brother in law had a girl Husky when him and my Missus shared a house, she was a brilliant dog.

Very social, loved to play, needed lots of exercise and used to escape from time to time. She was often off the lead in large parks, she used to face up to other dogs but nothing more than barking at each other at worst.

The moulting periods was hard work and she needed a lot of brushing to keep on top of that.

Unfortunately he had to give her up for adoption as his Mrs is not a Dog lover, a proper shame, I'd have taken her on but I spend so long out of the house each day it wouldn't have been fair to her.

On the warm weather side of things she used to love sun bathing and regularly pushed one or other of us off our sun loungers so she could get comfortable.

I lived in Canada for a time. We were house sitting for some one, when their duaghter came to stay. She had a Husky, it slept outside. In winter. At minus 30 deg C.

They are becoming a fashionable dog for some of the idiots round here. At least they're nicer to look at than Staffies. God they're ugly things.