Hardly any dog is bought for the wrong reasons as often as the Siberian Husky. The blue eyes, the wolf mask, the series he appears in. And hardly any dog ends up in a shelter as often, usually at two to three years old, when the family has understood that a sled dog is not happy on the sofa. The Husky is a great dog. But he is a dog for people who build their life around him, not the other way round.
Siberian Husky breed profile
- Origin: Siberia, bred by the Chukchi people as an enduring sled dog
- Size: Males 53 to 60 cm, females 50 to 56 cm
- Weight: 16 to 27 kg
- Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
- Coat: Dense double coat with a strong undercoat, all colours from white to black
- Character: Friendly, independent, enduring, intelligent, hunting-minded, sociable
Character: An athlete without a guarding instinct
The Husky is not a guard, not a protector, not a one-man dog. He greets burglars like friends. He loves people, all people, and other dogs, because he was bred as a pack animal. His independence is legendary: a sled dog has to decide for himself on thin ice whether to keep running. That is why he questions commands. He is not stupid, quite the opposite, he is too clever to do things without a reason.
And he is a runner. Not a dog who likes going for walks, but an animal whose body and mind are built to pull 50 kilometres a day. That is the core of the breed and the reason for almost every problem owners have with him.
What belongs on the table before buying
1. Exercise is not an option, but the basis of his existence
Two hours of walking is not enough. A Husky needs pulling or running work every day: canicross, bikejöring, dog scooter, in winter a sled or training cart. Ten to twenty kilometres a day is normal for an adult Husky. If you do not offer that, you get a dog who takes fences, sofas and doors apart and howls until the neighbours ring the bell.
2. Off-lead running does not exist
The Husky has a pronounced prey drive and no bond that holds him back when a deer runs. Almost all experienced Husky owners never let their dogs run off the lead, except in fenced areas. And the fences have to be high: 1.80 m and dig-proof. Huskies are escape artists.
3. He howls, he talks, he sings
Huskies rarely bark, but they howl, yelp and hold conversations with themselves. Home alone, at sirens, out of boredom, out of joy. In a rented flat this is often the reason for a notice to quit.
4. The coat, the heat, the summer
Twice a year the Husky loses his entire undercoat, in tufts, over weeks. In between he sheds moderately. Clipping is forbidden, the coat also insulates against heat. Still: from 25 degrees training is dangerous, in summer you run at six in the morning or not at all. Anyone who lives in a hot region does neither themselves nor the dog any favours.
5. Health: robust, but check eyes and hips
The Husky is comparatively healthy. Known problems are eye diseases (cataract, PRA, corneal dystrophy), hip dysplasia and a tendency to hypothyroidism. Reputable breeders, mostly from sled dog sport, test eyes annually and hips once. Puppies cost 1,200 to 2,000 euros. Beware of show breeding with extremely blue eyes and no working background.
Keeping: What he needs
- A sport. Pulling sport is not a hobby for the Husky, but his purpose. There are clubs all over Germany.
- A second dog. A Husky alone is half a Husky. Two are calmer than one.
- A secure garden with a high fence. Or honesty that without a garden it becomes very hard.
- Coolness. An air-conditioned sleeping place in summer, training at dusk.
- Patience in training. He learns quickly, but only obeys when it makes sense. Positive motivation, never pressure.
Who is the Husky right for?
For endurance athletes who see their dog as a training partner. For people with a garden, time and enthusiasm for pulling sport. For owners who can handle independence. Not for city flats, not for working people with little time, not for people who want a dog that runs behind them, and not for anyone who buys him for the eyes. If you are still undecided about the breed: our book Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir? (Which dog REALLY suits you?) goes through exactly this question step by step, Husky included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Husky a family dog? By nature yes, he loves children. In terms of demands only for very sporty families.
Can I keep a Husky in a flat? With daily pulling sport and a lot of experience: possible. Without: please don't.
Why are so many Huskies in shelters? Because they are bought for their looks and given up for their nature. If you want one, you will often find one there at two years old.
How the Husky looks as a picture
The mask, the light eyes, the dense fur: the Husky is the star of the realistic oil painting style and looks like a sculpture as line art. Photo tip: photograph in winter or in cold morning light, then the eyes are clear and the coat full. Head-on at eye level for the famous gaze.
With the Husky the material decides. Acrylic glass keeps the blue in the eyes, on matt paper it turns into a friendly grey. Both are in the dog portraits, along with canvas and wooden frame.
Keep reading
- What MDR1 and merle mean for the Australian Shepherd: also a working dog that many get for the looks
- Why so many German Shepherds end up in shelters: a lot of dog, a completely different mind
- Teaching a dog to be left alone: a pack animal that does not like to wait
The links to our books are affiliate links. If you buy through them, you support us at no extra cost to you.
