Siberian Husky?

only_me

only_me

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Wondering if you lot think our home is suitable for a husky.
We live in about 3-4 acres of orchard, with an invisible fence round the edges of orchard.

If we got one, it would be alone (well, with a border terrier) for part of day (from 9am to 3pm) but would be able to run free with in the orchard in this time.

Plenty of space, and plenty of fields it can run around when we are home.

Is it a sociable breed? and are they ok to train?
 
I'll let the true husky enthusiasts tell you, but they need a lot of running once over puppyhood, can be dodgy off-lead/recall wise, suffer separation anxiety (they are bred to live in packs) very vocal, sensitive tums (ie can't be fed cheap, low standard food) and headstrong.
 
I was going to say they might not respect an invisible fence, they have drives and pain thresholds higher than your average dog, but thought I might be talking through my bum, no change there then :p so thanks for confirming :p
 
No, no and no. :o

They'll go straight through an invisible fence, combination of thick coat (impervious to zaps!), huge instinct to run and hunt and general mule-headedness and resistance to pain. They can also dig under a standard fence in minutes. Would never leave one unsupervised outside for any length of time, never mind all day, unless in a purpose built run with a good concrete base.

As CC says they are a bugger for separation anxiety and don't do well being left all day unless in a pack situation.

Sociable, yes - they love everything and everybody, very gregarious nature with people and dogs alike. :)

Training will make you wonder if smacking your head against a brick wall would be more productive. They're scarily intelligent but not in a people-pleasing way, like a lab, they're only out to please themselves. 99.9% of them are not able to be let off the lead unless in a securely fenced area well away from livestock. This means walks must be conducted on walkybelts, really heavy-duty flexi leads or long lines plus training in harness pursuits to channel their natural instincts.

I am probably scaremongering a bit but they are really awkward dogs to own and generally speaking make crap pets. I love mine to bits but I am a bit touched in the head... :o
 
I wouldn't trust one at all in that sort of set up. You need a fence at least 8 feet high that can't be climbed (ie not solid) and ideally has an inward overhang. You also need that to be set on concrete base. It's not at all unkown for them to dig their way under fences - and quickly as well. There's no way I'd trust a husky with one of those invisible fences. I have seen them in action, and seen dogs run straight over them.

You cannot let huskies off the lead. They will run and run and run, chase sheep and think nothing of killing small animals. They do not have a strong recall instinct at all. You will come across the odd husky that does but even then I'd never trust one. I know of two people who have had huskies shot for chasing sheep that for years were ok. As far as obedience goes, you can train them but only expect them to follow commands when they want to.

What makes you want a husky? They are very much working animals. Yes they are very sociable and thrive in a pack environment. Good with people but not one person dogs and no guarding instinct. They live for running in harness. They are pretty destructive and will think nothing of trashing your house and garden. Thing is, they need a job to do - and for huskies that's running in harness.

A victim of their looks they do not make the best pets. Expect any good 'breeder' to make you jump through hoops for one!! If they are the right dog for you they change your life forever.
 
The ads from this part of the world are a whole new kind of 'special', by and large.......
Click to expand...

Don't remind me. One of these days I will end up as the crazy dog lady, sharing my dilapidated cottage with umpteen dogs, possibly with a less than adequate number of legs and eyes between them, all taken in pity from the freeads, until I die and they eat me. :p

It occurred to me recently that ASBO cob was also another completely unsuitable pity purchase that could have gone drastically wrong, I must have a complex or something. :o
 
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