Help With Huskies

[Da_Dude]

Okay, plain and simple I love huskies. Now thats outta the way I would also like to know a few things. I am not planning on getting one any time soon, but I figure I might as well get info now.

My Issues:
1. I am allergic to dogs. How clean of a dog are huskies and how well do they usually hold up with people with allergies (I'm not highly allergic)?
2. I love cats. I have always had a cat and would also like to have a cat in the period I want to have the Huskie. I read that they are highly predatory and arn't good at not killing stuff. How true is this and how hard would it be to get them to get along if I intoduced them both when they were at an age of about 6 weeks?
3. How hard are they to control and train?
4. Where I live is a mildy warm climate (northern Alabama) and I plan on moving to LA, California.

Thanks in advanced for helping me guys.

[Takara]

Huskies blow their coat in the spring, after the winter months. This means all the underlying fur that kept them warm molts, and comes out in chunks. You have to keep them well groomed during this time. Expect to have hair on e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. I'd imagine around this time you'd be pretty miserable with sneezing, and want to take your Antihistamines.

The husky I had when I was a kid was tolerant to cats. It all depends on the cat, how old they are and how they've been socialized with dogs, and if you get an older husky, what experience they've had with cats. If they are a puppy, they can be taught with patience. They are more predatory when it comes to game. Rabbits, squirrels, birds and rodents. If you have a pet rabbit, ferret, hamster or rat, I'd be very careful introducing them. I never had a problem with cats.

If you can assert your dominance, huskies are easy to train. Control? That depends on your ability to train them properly. We just picked up a couple books and magazines on Training puppies. They pretty much go for every breed to an extent. Good tips all around, I'd suggest picking one up.

You would need to make sure you have somewhere outside with lots of shade for them. They are a cold climate dog, but that doesn't mean you can't have one in a warmer climate. They're just going to shed more.

[bob the goat]

My old roommate had an Alaskan Huskie. It is a much smaller form of the more familiar Siberian variety, although they look very similar. I am allergic to damn near everything with hair, but I could sleep next to this dog without any problems. It does shed in the summer, but not bad. It is a very intelligent dog, but also very friendly. Most really smart dogs assume that they are the boss, until you prove otherwise. Her dog was just lovey. I trained it a few tricks VERY easily. My roommate also had a cat. The huskie stayed inside, the cat was outside. They never fought, the cat just liked it outside better. Prior experience with mixing dogs and cats has taught me though that you want to start with an older cat, and young dog. The dog will be playful, but the cat will know how to handle itself. The huskie dealt very well with the heat, but went through a lot of water.

[Da_Dude]

Okay, here are a few other questions I have. How mcuh do these dogs usually go for? Also, how hard is it to clean up all this hair they shed? One more is, from what you guys have told me it seems liek they like being indoors, have I assumed right or does it just depend on the dog?

[Takara]

Depends on the breeder. You might be able to find a Husky Rescue and pay $100-200. Pure bred with papers, you might be looking at $500+.

Vacuum!

Depends on the dog, they'd prefer to be indoors if it's hot out.

My husky was an escape artist, and could jump a 6 foot fence before she had puppies. So, leaving them unattended outside might not be the best idea.

But they will get bored easily indoors, so expect to have them crate trained if you are going to be away for long periods of time.

[Da_Dude]

One more thing. I love huskies and I love their personallities,but the one thign about dogs thats gets to me (more than my allergies even) is the dog smell. I have read on web pages that huskies do not have a strong smell as other dogs tend to do. Is this true or just a myth? If it is a myth, then how hard is bathing a dog...?

[Takara]

Dog smell like dogs. My husky smelled like a dog. But she didn't stink. And bathing a dog depends on the dog, how much they like water, etc. Huskies love water, but getting them to stand still is a rough one.

[Stell]

My old roommate had an Alaskan Huskie. It is a much smaller form of the more familiar Siberian variety, although they look very similar. I am allergic to damn near everything with hair, but I could sleep next to this dog without any problems. It does shed in the summer, but not bad. It is a very intelligent dog, but also very friendly. Most really smart dogs assume that they are the boss, until you prove otherwise. Her dog was just lovey. I trained it a few tricks VERY easily. My roommate also had a cat. The huskie stayed inside, the cat was outside. They never fought, the cat just liked it outside better. Prior experience with mixing dogs and cats has taught me though that you want to start with an older cat, and young dog. The dog will be playful, but the cat will know how to handle itself. The huskie dealt very well with the heat, but went through a lot of water.

In that case, I think it was a Malamute, which are similar, but different dogs.

I had a husky, and the biggest thing I can tell you is to make sure they have LOTS of space to run around in. They don't do very well in small areas.

[Kyriath]

the malamute (http://www.akc.org/breeds/alaskan_malamute/index.cfm)is a larger dog with a rough appearence
while the husky (http://www.akc.org/breeds/siberian_husky/index.cfm)is more sleek and a look some call devilish.


After 7 years in a vets office I can give you some generalities. Every dog is different but breed tendacies tend to remain. I can tell you huskies have a sense of humor about them. They always seem to be laughing in general, and even if they try to bite you the won't put alot of heart into it.

On the other hand, Malamutes don't seem to find anything funny. I think the word 'Dignity' used in the breed standard says alot about how they act. The only true dog killer I ever saw was a Malamute that spent most of the year in a cabin in Denver running free (and apparently eating most of the local wildlife). He would come to DFW for the holidays and it was a constant battle to prevent him from attacking and/or eating the other animals we boarded.

[Amilu]

We had a Malamute Siberian Husky cross. The Malamute bred pretty true, he was OK with cats he was raised with, but introducing new ones was risky for the cat at best. This dog was raised with about 6 cats, he never touched one of those, ever, but a kitten we got later in his life got hurt pretty badly and cost oodles in vet bills to heal him up.

I would stay with a Siberian, they are fun dogs, and the sense of humor thing is dead on. I swear they would laugh at you while they pee on your leg. Too bad you don't like border collies I have an 85 pound one I could send you ;)

[Cougarshand]

Huskies are RUNNERS!! As stated before, all animals are different, but some breed instincts are very strong. I've cared for a Husky, and known a number of others...you may need to be prepared for lots of long brisk walks.