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newbie just got a Husky pup, asks for info
On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:58:12 GMT, Ruud wrote:
Hi! Since about 12 hours I'm the proud and oh so happy owner of a male Husky pup. Scoured the web right away reading many a FAQ. As a usenet fan I thought I would drop in here as well and see what the expert owners have to say about some questions I'm left with - I see Huskies most commonly referred to as Siberean Husky. Now I wonder if there are other types as well then? Apart from that this is "a" Husky we don't know anything about him. Where did you get him? If you got him from a breeder, the breeder should know whether or not he's purebred Siberian Husky. If he came from an animal shelter, they can make a good guess, but may not know for sure until he's an adult. Siberian Huskies are a specific breed or dog. Many people refer to them as huskies; many experienced Siberian owners refer to them as Sibes. There are also Alaskan Huskies, which really are a mixed breed produced for sleddog racing. - One of the things I keep reading is: do NOT let the dog off the leash or he will get away. Now, I'm more or less used to shepherd dogs (german and belgian) and had thought I would provide my Husk with some running activity by taking him to the park, have a nice ball-throwing session. I understand now that I can NOT do this? How do I excercise the dog then? Are they really that bad at getting away? Yes, you understand correctly that you just let your Siberian off leash in the park. There is a world of difference between a German Shepherd Dog (and other herding dogs) and a Siberian Husky. Sibes are runners and seem to have an inbred wanderlust. They are also excellent escape artists and can often climb, dig under or chew through fences. You need to exercise your husky on leash - - - jog with him, take up sledding or carting or another similar sport, find a fenced area when you can let him run. BTW, not too many huskies enjoy fetch either. - Can I compare them in final size to say a male german shepherd dog? No, he'll be smaller. Males generally aren't over 60 lb, and about 24 (I think?) inches. There really isn't much to compare between an GSD and a Siberian. g If I were you, I'd get some good breed books, or even better, read FAQs and breed descriptions on some of the Siberian Husky rescue groups' web sites. - They are described as being an "everbody" friend and not being exclusive to one person. Naturally the kids are all over him, petting him whenever possible. Does this interfere with me establishing myself as the alpha? No, their friendliness to everyone should have nothing to do with him seeing you as his leader. Siberians often train differently than other breeds, though. A Sibe isn't necessarily going to want to do something just because you asked him to and he loves you. Siberians are intelligent, independent and easily bored. If you're used to shepherds, you have some surprises coming, and I'd really suggest you start reading! G Mustang Sally (4 Siberians live here) |
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"sighthounds etc." wrote: On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:58:12 GMT, Ruud wrote: Hi! Since about 12 hours I'm the proud and oh so happy owner of a male Husky pup. Scoured the web right away reading many a FAQ. As a usenet fan I thought I would drop in here as well and see what the expert owners have to say about some questions I'm left with - I see Huskies most commonly referred to as Siberean Husky. Now I wonder if there are other types as well then? Apart from that this is "a" Husky we don't know anything about him. Where did you get him? If you got him from a breeder, the breeder should know whether or not he's purebred Siberian Husky. If he came from an animal shelter, they can make a good guess, but may not know for sure until he's an adult. Siberian Huskies are a specific breed or dog. Many people refer to them as huskies; many experienced Siberian owners refer to them as Sibes. There are also Alaskan Huskies, which really are a mixed breed produced for sleddog racing. - One of the things I keep reading is: do NOT let the dog off the leash or he will get away. Now, I'm more or less used to shepherd dogs (german and belgian) and had thought I would provide my Husk with some running activity by taking him to the park, have a nice ball-throwing session. I understand now that I can NOT do this? How do I excercise the dog then? Are they really that bad at getting away? Yes, you understand correctly that you just let your Siberian off leash in the park. There is a world of difference between a German Shepherd Dog (and other herding dogs) and a Siberian Husky. Indeed. Again herding dogs often have built in recall. But don't tell Blade this. Though OTOH he will not leave our sides further than 4'. That doesn't mean he will come right up every time to get leashed though. As for the OP yes Sibes and or most husky breeds do need to be kept on leash. They have a natural built in instinct to roam and go off and that doesn't mean you will get recall. Though I suspect a bit of it could be taught, it wouldn't be reliable enough to ever trust. Sibes are runners and seem to have an inbred wanderlust. They are also excellent escape artists and can often climb, dig under or chew through fences. What about electric fences? I bet they wouldn't chew or dig under one that has had livestock electricity hooked to it. Or do they? Just a bit of a suggestion, perhaps? You need to exercise your husky on leash - - - jog with him, take up sledding or carting or another similar sport, Biking! BTW, Go Lance GO!!!!!!!!!! find a fenced area when you can let him run. BTW, not too many huskies enjoy fetch either. That is what I was thinking but then I wondered since they do have such prey drive? - Can I compare them in final size to say a male german shepherd dog? No, he'll be smaller. Males generally aren't over 60 lb, and about 24 (I think?) inches. There really isn't much to compare between an GSD and a Siberian. g If I were you, I'd get some good breed books, or even better, read FAQs and breed descriptions on some of the Siberian Husky rescue groups' web sites. Is there an e-list for huskies? I would like to know about this as well. - They are described as being an "everbody" friend and not being exclusive to one person. Naturally the kids are all over him, petting him whenever possible. Does this interfere with me establishing myself as the alpha? No, their friendliness to everyone should have nothing to do with him seeing you as his leader. Siberians often train differently than other breeds, though. A Sibe isn't necessarily going to want to do something just because you asked him to and he loves you. Siberians are intelligent, independent and easily bored. If you're used to shepherds, you have some surprises coming, and I'd really suggest you start reading! G Mustang Sally (4 Siberians live here) Ditto. BTW, Sally I thought you had more than 4 sibes? I guess you have much more GHs? I am glad to read this advice. Of course this is one of the major reasons I would not be a good Sibe or husky owner. I do like to go hiking and go to off leash areas with my dogs. Gwen |
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In article ,
Gwen Watson wrote: Biking! Mind the heat, though. That is what I was thinking but then I wondered since they do have such prey drive? I've heard of Siberians that play fetch but I've never seen it. Mine will happily chase anything I toss but none of them will retrieve it. Is there an e-list for huskies? I would like to know about this as well. SIBERNET-L (http://www.flash.net/~dagmar/SibernetL.html) and, for people interested in sledding or other mushing activities, SHMushers (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHMushers/). -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - If you don't understand how things are connected, the cause of problems is solutions -- Amory Lovins |
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Melinda Shore wrote: In article , Gwen Watson wrote: Biking! Mind the heat, though. Well it certainly wouldn't be recommended in my area. SIBERNET-L (http://www.flash.net/~dagmar/SibernetL.html) and, for people interested in sledding or other mushing activities, SHMushers (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHMushers/). -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - If you don't understand how things are connected, the cause of problems is solutions -- Amory Lovins Thanks Melinda! I hope the OP that asked the question considers joining one of the above to learn more about his new husky. Which is definitely quite different than a GSD or any herding breed. I might just poke in there for a bit. Gwen |
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"sighthounds etc." wrote:Electric fences are useful for preventing them from digging under or climbing or jumping over fences. Just to be clear, we're talking about electric fences such as used for horses. Yes livestock electric fencing. Much different than the underground invisible variety. I don't think it's impossible to do that. I think that with the right dog, under the right circumstances, and with training beginning in puppyhood, a person could do that. The problem lies in getting all those variables at once. Mustang Sally I am sure this is true. Well I am gone for day. No online or puter. Gwen |
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In article ,
sighthounds etc. wrote: There's Sibernet-L, which tends to be pet-oriented and rescue-oriented. There's also Sleddog-L. I think Melinda's on a sleddog list, don't know if that's the one. There are actually two mushing mailing lists specifically oriented towards Siberians, believe it or not. There's SHMushers, which I mentioned in another post, plus there's a mailing list specifically for one line of dogs that's also being registered as "Seppala Siberian Sleddogs" with the ConKC (don't get me started). The thing about the mushing mailing lists are that pet-type questions are specifically disallowed. I don't think it's impossible to do that. I think that with the right dog, under the right circumstances, and with training beginning in puppyhood, a person could do that. The problem lies in getting all those variables at once. I occasionally take some of my dogs down to the dog park and I let Emmett, who's got an excellent recall, off-leash. The park is huge, however, and it's well away from the road and bordered by water on two sides (it's a very pretty place). Still, it's not uncommon to hear stories about dogs with "100% reliable" recalls who one day take a notion to go a-roving. -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - If you don't understand how things are connected, the cause of problems is solutions -- Amory Lovins |
#7
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Ruud wrote:
Since about 12 hours I'm the proud and oh so happy owner of a male Husky pup. Congratulations on your new pup! They are one of my favorite dog breeds because they can be quite a challenge. - One of the things I keep reading is: do NOT let the dog off the leash or he will get away. Now, I'm more or less used to shepherd dogs (german and belgian) and had thought I would provide my Husk with some Nordic breeds are behaviorally QUITE different from the shepherds that you are used to. Pleasing people just for the sake of it is not high on the agenda. For that reason, it is really important that you establish a good relationship with your new pup and start manners training as soon as possible. Keep in mind that Huskies are VERY smart dogs, but easily bored with repetition, so you might have to get creative in your training in order to keep the pup's interest. And never try to force your will on the dog - it is highly apt to backfire. running activity by taking him to the park, have a nice ball-throwing session. Of the dozen or so Huskies I know, 1 plays fetch, a couple will chase the ball but lose interest as soon as it stops moving and the rest look at you like you're nuts. While most have high prey drives, this is generally directed towards furry, 4 legged food items and not things like balls. I understand now that I can NOT do this? How do I excercise the dog then? Are they really that bad at getting away? Huskies are notorious for being escape artists, and can dig, climb or chew their way out of fences. Do not leave your puppy outside, never without supervision. They love to run, which of course means that they could go quite a long ways before they run out of steam. You can jog, take up scootering, skijoring etc. to keep your dog in good shape. - Can I compare them in final size to say a male german shepherd dog? The standards say smaller than a male GSD, but I have seen oversized Sibes as well. A couple of the males I know (rescue dogs) are well in the 80 to 90 lb. category. - They are described as being an "everbody" friend and not being exclusive to one person. Naturally the kids are all over him, petting him whenever possible. Does this interfere with me establishing myself as the alpha? Nope. But absolutely no heavy handed tactics in establishing your alphaness. - Any general tips are very welcome; I want to make this work! Keep in mind that a bored Sibe is a force of nature, and the amount of destruction wreaked has to be seen to be believed. They tend to be VERY food motivated, and aren't beyond learning to open things so they can help themselves to the goodies. A friend of mine has a Husky who opens up the cabinets, pulls all the contents out, and leaves them on display. He doesn't eat any of it (occasionally spills flour on the floor and rolls around in it), but he pulls the stuff out and leaves them on the floor, as if to let them know that he can do that. I am not trying to scare you, just helping you prepare for live with a Sibe. They are great dogs for someone with a good sense of humor. http://www.siberescue.com/Breed_Info/breed_info.html http://www.siberianhusky.8m.com/sibeinfo.htm http://www.siberescue.com/Breed_Info..._infoindex.htm Suja |
#8
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Ruud wrote in
trotter.net: - I see Huskies most commonly referred to as Siberean Husky. Now I wonder if there are other types as well then? Apart from that this is "a" Husky we don't know anything about him. Husky is often used as a generic term for husky-types - for example the alaskan husky isn't really a breed - its more a certain mix of dogs. However, in most places in this country a husky refers to a sibe of some sort. Can you post a photo of the guy? - One of the things I keep reading is: do NOT let the dog off the leash or he will get away. Now, I'm more or less used to shepherd dogs (german and belgian) and had thought I would provide my Husk with some running activity by taking him to the park, have a nice ball-throwing session. I understand now that I can NOT do this? How do I excercise the dog then? Are they really that bad at getting away? This is something thats individual. I do know husky's both sibe and alaskan, who are reliable off leash. But most of the ones i know aren't and never will be. I would be getting myself a long, 40 foot leash, and be working on recalls right from the very beginning. For exercise he would probably like to run with a bike, or pull a scooter! And many husky types dont' retrieve. so don't be disappointed if he doesnt' want to play ball with you!! - Can I compare them in final size to say a male german shepherd dog? it depends on what kind of "husky" he is!! - They are described as being an "everbody" friend and not being exclusive to one person. Naturally the kids are all over him, petting him whenever possible. Does this interfere with me establishing myself as the alpha? No. If you feed, walk and take care of him, he will know you are the person in charge. I personally think a husky is a great choice for kids. Mostly they love them. -- BethF, Anchorage, AK |
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#10
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"Ruud" wrote in message trotter.net... Hi! Since about 12 hours I'm the proud and oh so happy owner of a male Husky pup. Scoured the web right away reading many a FAQ. As a usenet fan I thought I would drop in here as well and see what the expert owners have to say about some questions I'm left with - I see Huskies most commonly referred to as Siberean Husky. Now I wonder if there are other types as well then? Apart from that this is "a" Husky we don't know anything about him. - One of the things I keep reading is: do NOT let the dog off the leash or he will get away. Now, I'm more or less used to shepherd dogs (german and belgian) and had thought I would provide my Husk with some running activity by taking him to the park, have a nice ball-throwing session. I understand now that I can NOT do this? How do I excercise the dog then? Are they really that bad at getting away? - Can I compare them in final size to say a male german shepherd dog? - They are described as being an "everbody" friend and not being exclusive to one person. Naturally the kids are all over him, petting him whenever possible. Does this interfere with me establishing myself as the alpha? - Any general tips are very welcome; I want to make this work! Ruud Hi Ruud, Here's a link for you - my dear friend in Florida is a volunteer for the rescue of Siberian Huskies and she has put together a wonderful site - if you click on the "Husky Ed" button, there is lots of good information that may help and an email to contact for any advice you may need. I have heard that Huskies are particularly challenging dogs to own and you are to be admired owning one yourself! http://www.siberrescue.com/ Cheers, Tracy |
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