Siberian Husky Fact 1

Siberians shed a lot!

Be ready to have dog hair all over the house – floors, carpets, clothing, furniture, everywhere.

If we are allergic to dog hair, or like our home to be very clean, then the Siberian Husky is not for us.

When I was looking for a Sibe, I talked to a few breeders in my area. The first thing they all said was, “Siberians shed a lot”. I mentioned that my other dog, a Shiba Inu,also has a double coat, and also sheds a fair amount. However, they all said, “Siberians shed a lot more”.

Sibes shed a lot!

It is very important to train our Husky puppy to enjoy the grooming experience.

And they do! A whole lot more.

Therefore, it is very important to train our Husky puppy to enjoy the grooming experience.

• I start with a soft brush, and lightly comb my dog’s body for a short period of time.
• I do this often, and pair it with food rewards.
• Once my puppy is comfortable with the brushing process, I very slowly extend the length of our grooming session.
• Finally, I repeat the process with a more solid brush, such as theFurminator.

Frequent brushing is a good idea to keep our Husky clean, and clear out loose hair. The more hair on the Furminator, the less hair on the floor.

About twice a year, my Sibes blow their coat. During this time, there will be more fur than ever. To keep things under control, I try to brush every day. Remember to always keep brushing sessions fun, rewarding, and not overly long.

My Huskies – Shania and Lara.a

Siberian Husky Facts

Siberian Huskies are beautiful dogs. They look like wolves, and have thick, soft coats, that make them infinitely cuddly. They have piercing eyes, and wonderful masks, that give them a roguish and unique look.

Siberians can make very good family pets. If properly trained, they can be very good with people, children, and other dogs. Indeed, Sibes are commonly known for their friendliness toward people.

Siberian Husky Facts.

Although they may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart ofCasanova. All my Huskies want to do, is greet everyone and give them licks.

However, many people have trouble with this breed, and many Sibes get surrendered every year.

Consider these Siberian Husky facts,before going out and getting a puppy.The Siberian Husky is a very special and lovable breed, but they may not be the right breed for everyone.

Although Siberian Huskies may look like fierce wolves, they have the heart of Casanova.

Introducing Your Dog To Your New Baby

Unfortunately SFSHRI gets at least 5 calls a month from expecting parents that want to give up their furry companion because they are unsure of how they will react to their new arrival. I am hoping that this article will help those new parents reconsider and follow the following simple techniques in order to make for a ‘happy pack’. Huskies love children and to make them apart of the family is all they want.
Introducing Your Dog To Your New Baby
Based on the experiences of Linda Koontz (Founder of SFSHRI)
You or your family is expecting a new baby; however, you already have a “child,” the family dog. The dog has been a member of the household since puppy hood and is very attached to you. He often attempts to wedge himself between you and visitors when the visitors get too close. He seems “jealous” of visitors and you are worried how he will react to the baby. Will he be depressed? Not eat? Sulk? Get destructive and spiteful? Are you wondering if these concerns are legitimate? What can be done to prevent problems before and after the new baby arrives?

Social and Parental Behaviors of Dogs:

The nature of canines – wolves and dogs – is that of the family group. It is normally two dominant adults and related individuals of various ages. Usually only the two dominant adults breed, yet all members of the pack help to care for the mother and pups, bring meat back to the mother and pups, and guard the pups. Subordinate females may “baby-sit” and even help nurse the puppies. Domestic dogs do not commonly bring food back to a mother and pups but may guard a bitch during pregnancy and while she is lactating, as well as guard or watch over the puppies. Pet dogs relate to you and other family members as if they were members of the family. Ideally, your baby will be accepted by the dog as an offspring included in this family unit. In fact, dogs are more likely to protect an infant from strangers or visitors than they are to be “jealous.” Most problems that arise between a dog and child occur when the child reaches the crawling and walking stages, at about 10mths/a year or so. Nonetheless, you should be aware that there is a potential for problems occurring and insure your baby is safe. The most serious potential problem is for your dog to fail to recognize the new baby as a human being that should be included in the family unit. Obviously, a baby will not be perceived as another dog. Also, since the baby does not look, smell, or sound like a “human being” to the dog if it is not familiar with infants, the dog may interpret the baby as prey.

Dogs’ Reactions to a Baby:

Most dogs are curious about babies, especially if the dog has had little or no exposure to infants or a long time has elapsed since it has seen a baby. If you have seen your dog react to other babies, either in your home, on the street, or in other people’s homes, be aware of your dog’s typical reactions and take whatever precautions necessary. Most dogs adapt quickly and easily to the presence of a new baby. However, since the consequences can be so serious, assume that your dog will react negatively and take every safety precaution possible, regardless how your dog has reacted in previous encounters with babies. Babies can be accidentally hurt as a dog attempts to play with or investigate the infant. An extremely active dog, for example, can accidentally injure a baby while jumping up on the owner or cause an accident while running around. These types of problems can be avoided if your dog is obedience trained. Dogs with a history of aggression toward people require special caution. An aggressive dog that reacts to visitors, mail carriers, and other dogs can injure a baby if the child happens to come between the dog and the object of its aggression. Dogs that become aggressive when approached while eating or in possession of a bone, toy, or other favorite item or that become aggressive if startled or when awakened require very close supervision in the presence of a baby. The most potentially dangerous situations are predatory responses. Extra caution should be taken if your dog has a history of predatory behavior like chasing and/or killing small game, especially if it has been bred for this purpose. This tip has special importance if the dog has had little or no exposure to infants. It is also important for you to realize that exposure to and interaction with small children is not the same as exposure to and interaction with an infant. Just because your dog plays in a friendly, gentle manner with children, do not assume it will react the same way to a baby. Infants are very different from children. Children are usually, although not always, interpreted by dogs as people; infants may not be. Please understand that a few infants are severely injured by dogs each year and, in fact, some are killed. The number of infants killed by dogs is very small, not more than 10 per year throughout the entire United States, and, in contrast, many thousands of infants in the U.S. are victims of automobile accidents, burns, drowning, choking, suffocation, and poisoning. Although the risk is small, there is cause for concern about a dog’s reaction to your baby and precautions will help insure that your baby does not become a “statistic.”

Monitoring Your Dog’s Behavior:

All interactions between your baby and dog should be monitored very carefully. This monitoring should continue until your dog is paying no attention to the infant or is completely friendly toward the baby. Never leave a baby or small child UNATTENDED with a dog for ANY REASON. Help your dog learn that the baby belongs in your family by exposing the dog to the baby in a very gradual and controlled manner. The exposure should be positive so the dog does not associate unpleasant situations with the baby so the dog does not feel anxious or aggressive in the baby’s presence.

Introducing Dogs to Babies

The following suggestions should help your dog to adjust to your new baby:

1. Getting Ready for the Arrival : Preparations should begin months before the baby arrives. If your dog does not know how to sit, stay, lie down, or come when called, it should be taught to do so. If your dog already knows these commands but is unreliable, practice these obedience exercises with the dog until it is reliable. Even if you consider your dog “pretty good,” that may not be good enough and could lead to your having a false sense of security. Imagine how your dog, if excited, will react when you bring the baby home. Can you depend on it to reliably sit and stay or down and stay and not rush toward the baby? If you have had some experience training a dog, you might try obedience procedures at home. Otherwise, it would be best to take your dog to a good, humane training class. Your dog should associate the various obedience commands such as sit, stay, and come with pleasant experiences. Although your dog may need to be corrected occasionally, force methods should be avoided. After all, the goal is for the dog to like both the owner and the baby, not simply for it to obey because it is frightened or afraid of being punished. Once your dog learns the basic sit/stay and down/stay commands, you should continue to work these commands at home. You should start requiring that your dog sit/stay or down/stay as you do things that resemble “baby activities” around it. For example, pick up a doll, cradle it, rock it, and walk back and forth. Periodically, reward the dog with tidbits, petting or praise for remaining in a sitting position while this is going on. The doll should also be wrapped in baby blankets and shown to the dog, which must learn to control itself and to refrain from moving. Because dogs respond with interest to strange sounds, it is a good idea to accustom your dog to the recorded sounds of a baby crying, babbling, or making other normal “baby” sounds (a child’s play talking baby doll is ideal). Ideally, if the opportunity is available, expose your dog – in a controlled manner to ensure the infants safety – to real babies of friends or neighbors. This procedure should be considered only if the dog is reliably trained and controllable. The dog should gradually be exposed to babies until it can remain relaxed in their presence. This may require several sessions. If your baby is born in a hospital, your dog will remain at home. You can use this interval to familiarize your dog with the baby’s smell by bringing home blankets or clothing (hats, onesie, shirt) the baby has worn. On the subject of diapers: It would behoove you to keep soiled diapers in a tightly closed container. One of the functions of a mother dog is to lick up the urine and feces of puppies to keep the sleeping area clean. Quite frequently, female dogs will ingest the feces of a human baby and may go to great lengths to clean up after the child, including raiding diaper buckets! This is not an abnormal behavior but a normal aspect of canine maternal behavior. It will also help if the mother wears baby powder, baby lotion and possibly bathe in the same baby shampoo that you will be using on the baby. If you are getting a nursery ready – put a baby gate up in the doorway of the room. Only allow the dog in when you say its ok. Make your dog apart of the arrival of the new baby. You’ll find that after the baby gate is up awhile, that should it be down without your presence the dog will learn to respect that room as the baby’s room.
2. Bringing Your Baby Home: When mother and child come home from the hospital, it is best if mother greets the dog without the baby present. The baby should be held by the father, preferably outside the door or in another room while the mother and dog greet each other for at least 5 minutes. This way, you can avoid reprimanding an excited dog that merely wants to greet the owner and that may jump at the baby in an attempt to get near the mother. The mother is going to have some unfamiliar smells on her from being away from the house for a couple of days plus dogs can smell that ‘something’ is different with ‘mother’. Owners should allow some time for the dog to get used to the smells and sounds of the baby, which to it are the presence of another creature in the house. Later, when the level of excitement in the household has decreased and the dog appears relaxed, the baby and dog can be introduced to each other. One parent should attend to the baby and the other to the dog. The dog should be in a sit/stay or down/stay and on a leash. If there is any concern that the dog may leap at the baby, a halter or muzzle should be placed on the dog.
3. The First Several Days and Thereafter: Remember, your dog should not have unsupervised access to your baby – EVER. You will want to be especially careful when the baby is screaming, crying, or waving its arms and legs. These actions can elicit a predatory, investigatory, or play-leap reaction by the dog toward the infant. It is wiser to either put the dog in another room or put the dog in a down/stay several feet away from the baby. Unfortunately, dogs frequently begin to “act up” after a new baby arrives. It is unclear whether these behaviors occur because of “jealousy” or simply because the dog is being deprived of its usual and expected amount of social attention and affection. You will want to start reducing the attention that you give your dog 2 or 3 months prior to the baby’s arrival. This will help the dog accept that it is no longer the “focus” of your attention. When the baby comes home, you should ensure that your dog gets sufficient attention. One tip that can be helpful is that whenever you begin to do something with you baby, you can put the dog in a sit/stay and periodically reward it with a tidbit. This procedure allows the dog to associate pleasant experiences with the baby and gives the dog extra attention when the baby is present. If after the first several days you are still concerned that your dog might harm your baby, a screen door or gate could be fastened at the entrance to the child’s room. This precaution allows you to hear the baby but eliminates your dog’s access to the room. Also, keep in mind when you take your infant to visit friends or relatives that the dogs encountered there may not be accustomed to an infant in their homes. Baby-sitters should be cautioned not to bring dogs with them to the home of an infant. Tragic incidents have occurred when adults mistakenly believed a dog was in the backyard or securely confined away from a baby. Dogs may push open doors and actively investigate the strange sounds and odors of an infant.
4. Conclusion: As a new parent, although you should be aware of potential problems, you should not worry excessively about the potential problem of your dog injuring your infant. Most dogs adjust to new babies easily, quietly and without incident. If you follow the steps in how to prepare the dog for the new arrival, are observant of your dog’s behavior, and take precautions to introduce dog and baby to each other gradually while your dog is under control, you should be able to avoid accidents or troublesome incidents. When the above is done with patience, love and understanding, your dog will soon become your child’s best friend. My husband and I own 3 wonderful huskies; all that were accustomed to the baby’s arrival and who’ve all shared almost every experience as our baby has gotten older and is continuing to grow.

 In the pack, food means survival and usually Siberian Huskies do not want to share food, toys, or rawhide chews. Feed them separately.  Pick up the bowls after they have eaten.

  They are fairly clean dogs, and considering they don't need a bath but maybe twice a year, they usually have no body odor.

                             
 They do shed more than any dog you will ever see.   THEY   BLOW THEIR COATS TWICE A YEAR. Brushing everyday will help bring out the undercoat, to help keep down on piles of hair in you home.

Siberian Huskies have a high predatory instinct.  Most often they are NOTgood with smallanimals such as cats and rabbits, or the neighbors chickens!  Sometimes not smaller dogs! We get a lot of owners calling us to take their dog because it gets out and killed the neighbors cat, or chickens. Siberian puppies dig and chew due to their high energy level.  Sometimes this subsides with maturity, and other times it just tapers off...a bit.

 One of your most important tasks is to provide a safe environment for the rescued Siberian and the rest of your pets. If there are other animals in your home introduce them slowly and individually to the Siberian.  You may want to make some or all of the first day one of separation. This enables the adopted or foster dog, and your current dog(s) to become aware of each other's scent without having to directly "confront an intruder".

 Huskies escape most often when left alone. Closely monitor a fenced area to be sure he or she won't try to jump over or dig under. You must be determined and willing to come up with solutions to keep your family member safe and home. This is with any dog!  Remember with a husky, your dealing with a dog that is bred to run, and capable of traveling many miles.  People tell us "I have 200 acres they can run on". BUT THEY DON'T STOP RUNNING!  Most huskies in the shelter are strays.  The Siberian Husky Club of America states that 99% MUST be on a leash. They are also quick to jump past you or your children when  you open the door.  Their strength makes it hard to hold them back.  YOU MUST THINK AHEAD AND BE SMARTER THAN YOUR HUSKY.  Always walk the dog on a leash when outdoors, and have identification on your pets.

Try a runner for exercise and safety. Make sure collar don't pull over head.

  OUTSIDE ONLY? - NOPE. . . Huskies love the outdoors with the smells and sounds, just like any other dog.  ALSO like any other dog, they like to be part of the inside family.  It is important to housebreak your dog, so that it can be part of the family. Because a dog is bigger does not mean it cannot be in a home, and part of the family like a smaller dog.

 Huskies seem to be independent and strong willed when training so training sessions should be short and constant.  If there is something THEY want to do, they tend to have very LONG attention span and can be relentless ! They can pick up bad habits very quickly, so don't let them get away with anything. Huskies are like an intellectual and physical challenge. You must be willing to accept and meet any challenge that can possibly come up and there can be many. 

          Too much energy? We always say two huskies are better than one. These pack animals play with each other which gets rid of a lot of energy.

These are working dogs and a lot of times, extra work such as taking themhiking or walking with a dog backpack-have them carry 2 bottles of water on each side.  Dog sledding/pulling gets out a lot of energy and includes training and being with others of their kind.  Our rescue has dogsled classes fall/winter.

  

REMEMBER WHAT CESAR SAYS:   EXERCISE    DISIPLINE    AFFECTION

Siberians are not for the timid or lazy - either mentally OR physically!

Huskies LOVE the cold and snow, but can get HEATSTROKE in the summer. Imagine yourself outside in 98 degree heat wearing a winter coat!  Shade, lots of water or bring them in the air conditioned home with you. After all they ARE part of the pack !

 Most of our rescues come from shelters. They may have been a stray (no ID), or an owner turn-in that previously had a very secure home.  The dog coming from a previous home may show the most stress.  Then there is the worst possible environment - a puppy mill. This dog would most likely have been subject to living in an unclean kennel with multiple dogs. You must acclimate the dog to indoor living and teach appropriate "house manners". If your having trouble with a behavior problem contact Siberian Husky Assist to discuss alternatives.  Avoid hitting and shouting, which can cause great emotional stress to the rescue. Some adult rescue dogs need more care and attention than a puppy. But remember they are intelligent.  We encourage the short-term use of crate training.  It helps dogs adapt to their new environment more quickly, help in monitoring the level of housebreaking, protect furniture from younger or more "chewy" dogs, and also gives the Siberian a small 'place of his own' where he knows he is safe. 

By nature huskies like to live in groups. The Chukchi people in Siberia had their dogs come into their tents and sleep with their children to keep them warm. Their history is one that makes their nature to be such that they are good with people. (Still watch the children and dogs regarding food aggression). Make sure your dog is included in family fun. They are part of the family and should get the attention a family member would get. To put them outside in a yard and forget about them, makes them an unhappy family member. Your siberian husky will need daily exercise.  Look at your future.  A pet is a lifetime family member!

   THINK AHEAD!   If you MIGHT have to give up your husky because "girlfriend don't like it", "didn't realize their is so much hair", "going to go to college",  "having a baby and won't have time for", "can't housebreak", "it has sooo much energy", "he keeps jumping past me out the door and I have to run after him", "my baby is crawling now and gets dog hair in hermouth", "the dog is just all alone on a chain in the backyard, and I don't have the time I thought I would to spend with her", or any other reasonwe've heardto get rid of your pet, any pet, don't get one.  They ARE a family MEMBER and  want to be with ONE family just like our kids.  Maybe get a sister/brother husky to play with, and for companionship.

     Siberian Huskies are a great/fun breed. Once you understand the pack mentality, and include "them" as part of your family, (because you will not be happy with just one when you see the fun two or more provides), you too will know the feeling of being    "part of the pack".

If you adopt this dog, could you honestly say that it would be in a safe, knowledgeable of the breed, home with attention, training and love for its entire life...12-15 years?