BREED CHARACTERISTICS
Research before you buy! Is a Siberian In Your Future?
As with any breed of dog, it is a lifetime commitment, so you should first research the breed to make sure it will fit your lifestyle. Potential buyers should be aware of several considerations before they ‘dive in’ and get a pup for which they are not prepared.
Siberians are not always the best breed for everyone!
You can check out our “Favorite Links” section for additional material and read the breed standard on the American Kennel Club website
1. The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle. They are particularly fond of children and make a loving addition to any family.
2. Siberian Huskys are meant to pull sleds and built to run. Therefore, it is the owner's responsibility to diligently obedience train their pets to insure their safety. For this breed, it is imperative that the human is the alpha leader. This breed should not be trusted off-lead until they have demonstrated reliability and should never be loose without supervision.
3. Siberians need a SECURELY fenced in yard if you want to let them off a leash without supervision.
- They can jump or climb most fenced in areas. Six feet is the recommended height to have. If your dog is a climber, you may need a roof for your kennel.
- They will also very easily dig out underneath the fence, so it is recommended that if the fence is not placed upon concrete then something should be buried along the perimeter of the fence in order to properly contain them.
- Tying/tethering your dog out is not appropriate under any circumstances.
- Underground or 'invisible' fences may not be effective for this breed.
5. Do you own a good vacuum? Twice a year, Siberians do what is referred to as "blowing coat" where they lose the bottom layer, or undercoat. Sometimes they will not do this during the puppy years, but once they do, it is a mess.
6. This is a high energy breed, especially for the first two years of life. They are not suited for people who won't provide any exercise opportunities for the dog or leave them in a crate for long periods of time. We do recommend crate training.
7. Because the Siberian is a pack animal, they will establish a hierarchy, or 'pecking order' for dominance. Puppy kindergarten classes and general obedience classes are highly recommended for proper socialization and training. Consistency with training is extremely important.
8. This breed has a high level predatory instinct and they will hunt cats, birds, and other smaller animals. It is not recommended to introduce cats/kittens to a home that has adult Siberians. Usually, Siberian puppies up to 6 months of age may be brought into a home with adult cats.
9. This is a relatively 'clean' breed in that they only have two MAIN health concerns - the hips and eyes. Hip displasia is a problem in many moderate to larger sized dog breeds. Although the prevalence is not too high in Siberians, people should still be selective and purchase a puppy from people who have the hips checked on the parents through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). Cataracts, corneal dystrophy (CD), and some other eye defects are huge problems for the breed. People should only purchase puppies from breeders who have yearly eye exams performed on the parents by a canine opthamologist (AVCO). These health screenings can reduce the risk of purchasing an unhealthy puppy, however, it does not guarantee that problems won't occur.
Proper Socialization and Training Are Very Important! Obedience classes are highly recommended for this intelligent breed.
