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Life with a Siberian Husky:
what it's really likeThe truth from husky owner who has firsthand experience living with five Siberians, both in an apartment and in a standalone house
A Day with Siberian husky
Morning
Mornings with a husky are always different. It depends on the weather outside, your work schedule, how long you sleep, and how old your husky is.
Did she come to wake me up or not?
She jumped onto the bed at a run and burrowed under my arm for a cuddle. Or she’d poke my head with her paw and stand there with a look that said, “Hey, get up! the sun’s already up, and you’re still lying there. The meeting’s about to start, and I haven’t even gone for a walk yet.” Or she wouldn’t come at all, just curling up on her favorite chair or in her little bed, as if to say, “You guys need to get up.”
Time to walk
A morning walk is always different. You can go for a morning run with a husky, you can strap your bike to the car and head to the woods at dawn to ride through the forest, you can walk out into the fields and stroll through the snowdrifts, you can hop on your bike for a ride around the neighborhood, you can head to the river for a quick swim, or you can go out for a quick walk and head straight back home.
time to have a meal
After a walk, it’s always nice to have a bite to eat. Plus, the little ones love to beg and eat everything on your plate.
midday
Time to take a break and put your feet up before the evening workout: a walk, a session at dog school, a handling session, or a driving training session.
Will he chew on everything when you go to the office?
She won’t chew things up or howl if you teach her to stay alone and calm herself down in ways that work for you, in case you happen to be out late.
Can I bring my husky to the office?
Absolutely! They aren’t aggressive, get along well with people and other dogs. And if you and your breeder have worked hard on her self-calming skills, she’ll make a very comfortable companion in your office—though she might have her own little quirks.
evening
I always love taking my Huskies for a walk in the evening. It’s such a great way to unwind after a stressful day at work. I can go for a walk however I like, depending on how I spent the morning, what kind of day it was, and how much time I have. It could be a short walk, a long walk, a trip to dog school for a class, training for a show, or a walk to work on "general training" with the huskies. And if it’s a day off?—a two-hour drive to the foot of a mountain, followed by a short hike. Or maybe you have the ocean and wild beaches nearby?—then head there. Or perhaps there’s a lake nearby—then catch the summer sunset on a paddleboard and go for a swim.
time to have a second meal
Dinner. You can’t do without it. And then a little treat on top of that, or a relaxing treat-filled treat bag. At 10 p.m. time to go to bed, or it’ll curl up with you while you watch a movie.
Siberian husky in apartments vs houses
We have about 4 years of experience living in an apartment with 4 Siberians, as well as another 6 years of living in a standalone house with fenced big yard.
We always say that for a husky, it doesn’t matter how many square meters your house is or how many acres of land you have. What matters to a husky is that its mental and physical needs are met, and that it feels like a member of your family.
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- What’s it like in apartment?
Living in an apartment with a husky is very comfortable. We follow a simple rule: at home, we rest, sleep, eat, recharge our batteries, and relax. Outside, we run, sniff around, and do everything we can to burn off that energy.
When you live in an apartment with an adult husky, you need to take them out for walks 2–3 times a day, one of which should be longer, more interesting, and more active.
- What’s it like in a standalone house with fenced yard?
Living in a house with a husky is just like living in an apartment—it’s just that houses usually have a bit more living space. You can take them out for a quick bathroom break just by letting them out into the yard. But you’ll still have to take them on longer walks, just as you would if you lived in an apartment.
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- What’s the difference?
The only difference between living in an apartment and living in a house with a husky is that when you live in a house, you spend less time taking the dog out for walks. And it’s easier.
When you live with a husky in an apartment, she’s always in plain sight—you keep a closer eye on her and notice every little detail. When you live in a house with a yard, having a fenced-in yard significantly reduces your involvement in your dog’s life. You notice fewer details about her, sometimes lose that inner connection, and can easily miss a sudden decline in her health. And a house with a fenced-in yard—it makes you relax too much, lets your guard down. And because of that, the husky starts making decisions that you might not like.
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- What surprised me
When you live in a house with a husky, you’ll still have to take them for longer walks outside on a leash, just as you would if you lived in an apartment. For example, you might go to the park, the waterfront, or the woods.
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- What do they have in common?
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You’ll still have to take a longer walk once you’re done renovating your apartment or house.
And if you’re a passionate pet parent and a husky owner to boot, you’ll want to take your husky with you for a walk along the waterfront or pop into a café for a cup of coffee. And it doesn’t matter what kind of home you live in.
Traveling with Siberian husky
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- Ways to travel with Siberian husky
Siberians are good for road trips, hiking in the mountains and national parks, biking, sledding, and cross-country skiing.
Whatever your imagination can come up with. The key to all this is to socialize your husky through various training exercises designed to teach them how to respond appropriately to unusual situations and environments.
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- What documents are required for a husky when traveling?
When traveling, it’s always a good idea to have a veterinary passport, a certificate confirming rabies antibody titers, and proof of treatment for ticks and parasites. For trips abroad, you’ll need a veterinary health certificate.
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- Must-haves for Siberians on the Go
tick treatment, tick repellent spray, a towel to wipe his paws, a travel food bowl, water, all necessary documents, an extra leash, a harness and collar, dog food, a tick comb.
In a car, you can transport a husky in a separate crate in the trunk, simply in the trunk, or on the back seat in a special harness; it’s a good idea to have a harness with a seatbelt clip that can be attached to the seatbelt buckle.
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- Different ways to explore together
by car, by train, by plane, short bike rides, skiing, hiking in the mountains, backpacking
- Traveling with a Husky is 100% comfortable if:
your husky is well-socialized. It has been trained to travel in any form of transportation, which means it doesn’t get motion sickness and can lie down and sleep peacefully. It has been trained to stay alone, in case you go out for breakfast in the morning and leave it in the hotel room.
Siberian huskies are special dogs. They require a special approach. They are primitive breed, so it’s easy to make mistakes with them and lose their trust, which is difficult to regain later. They mature psychologically very quickly, but mentally more slowly, and physically even more slowly. They are prone to all the same behavioral problems as other dogs because, during their upbringing, a lot of mistakes are made by the breeder, then the owner, and even the dog trainer.
What problems might a future husky owner face if they aren’t properly prepared?
Behavior
Problem behaviors: Pulls hard on walks, howls when you’re not home, chews on slippers and other household items—basically everything in your home. Plays roughly with other dogs. May dig tunnels and run off for a walk, or climb over a fence if it isn’t high enough. May chase chickens and other small animals for food. May whine or squeal persistently to get what he wants.
daily life
When husky is shedding, there’s a lot of fur in the house. A usky might chew on anything if you’re not home and hasn’t been trained to stay alone. It digs holes in the yard. It might steal anything left “unattended” on the table. You can’t really take a husky for a walk when its too hot outside.
Expectations vs. Reality
We thought we were getting an angel with blue eyes, but it turned out to be an uncontrollable monster.
health
Common health issues include eye diseases, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. Hip dysplasia – does occur but rearily.
Cancer does occur.
Siberian husky is an incredibly friendly breed. They get along well with other dogs, children, and cats of the family. However, as with anything, there are always nuances to consider when introducing your husky puppy to another dog or a cat. There are also certain unspoken rules regarding the relationship between a child and a dog.
Siberian husky and Cats
A husky and a cat can become best friends. And we know of many examples of such friendships, particularly among our alumni. The main rule is that the cat should be an adult, and the husky should have come to you as a puppy. If the husky arrives as a young adult, it will get along with the cat as well, provided it hasn’t had any successful experience hunting cats at the breeder’s. When bringing a husky home to a household that already has a cat, there is a specific way to introduce these two animals to each other.
Siberian huaky and other dogs
Husky is a non-aggressive breed toward other dog breeds. The main thing to keep in mind is that husky, by nature, often play roughly both with each other and with other dogs. When you bring a Husky puppy home, or introduce a dog of another breed to your Husky, you should follow the rules for introducing dogs to each other and adhere to the rules of living in a human-dog family so that your dogs can become best friends.
Siberian husky and kids
Huskies are excellent with children and very friendly toward them. If your husky is a member of your family, she will treat your child with special care, especially when the child is still a baby. It’s important to pay attention to the rules for living with any dog and children within the same household. These rules must be followed by all family members, including the children. Introducing your Husky to a newborn properly, and behaving appropriately toward your Husky during this delicate time, is the key to a happy, trouble-free life together.
How much does it cost to keep a Husky?
When you get a husky, you’ll have the following expenses: monthly costs for caring for your husky, one-time purchases, and bills.
The monthly fee includes: meals, treats, group classes or any other optional activities, any veterinary bills, and tick and flea treatment.
One-time or recurring purchases and expenses include: leashes, collars, dog beds, blankets, a car hammock, a crate or soft kennel, a bicycle, and all the equipment needed for riding or running workouts. Purchase of basic essentials for home grooming: shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray, nail clippers, slicker brush, comb, and a dog hair dryer
basic costs
Kibbles or raw food, flea and tick treatment, treats, professional grooming, and classes at a dog socialization school will cost approximately 150–200 euros per dog per month
With an eye toward dog shows
Vitamins, proper physical and conformation training, show handling training classes, show entry fees, and travel to the show - starting at 200 euros and up. The total cost will depend on the number of shows per month, as well as the duration and distance of the trip to each show.