The Pros & Cons of Siberian Huskies: Complete Guide

Huskies spark the curiosity of a lot of dog owners, but would one suit your home and family?

This article runs through the pros, cons, and the must-knows about Siberian huskies. I’ll explain what kind of dog they are, and whether or not it’ll be a good match for your home.

Huskies make great pets and have many desirable qualities for owners. They are naturally friendly, sociable, and are amazing with children. But huskies are not for casual dog owners, they require A LOT of time and attention.

How To Know If a Husky Is Right For You

When choosing a new puppy you have to look past their cuteness and think about the long run, and how this breed fits your life and family.

Different breeds vary in their needs greatly, some dogs will happily be left alone and some will whine and cry (and howl) when you leave the house.

Whether or not the Siberian Husky is the right breed for you really depends on your lifestyle and ability to be there for your husky.

Huskies are an amazing dog with the correct owner or family but can be also considered a nightmare when they are not…they have a strong mind and attitude, more so than other breeds.

Are Huskies Good Family Pets?

Siberian Huskies can be amazing family pets that are highly affectionate and loving towards us and children.

Huskies are pack-orientated dogs and despite being somewhat independent, they crave company, especially human company.

Is there a but?…

Yes, there is a but…

Huskies need to be trained well, and a lot of time and attention needs to be given to them in order to be this well-behaved loving family pet you wish they can be.

Huskies desire attention and if they do not receive enough, it’s likely they will misbehave which will ultimately make training extremely difficult. This means you have to think about your family setup, are you at work all day and your kids at school? Who will be with your husky at home?

Huskies will best suit an active family that spends a lot of time outdoors. This level of bonding and physical exercise is exactly what huskies desire.

The Siberian Husky Temperament and Personality

Let’s go through the different qualities that huskies bring to the table and this should help you understand better if this a breed you wish to add to your family.

Friendliness

Siberian huskies are naturally friendly dogs who loves human company.

Despite their wolf-like look who many people are wary of, huskies will even befriend a stranger they’ve not seen before.

Protectiveness

Huskies can show signs of protectiveness over their owners and close family but usually, this behavior doesn’t stem from guard dog qualities. Huskies do get have a tendency to get jealous and if another dog or person becomes close to them, they can become protective and a little aggressive.

Stubbornness

Huskies can be very difficult if they decide they want something they can’t have. Stubbornness is a classic Siberian Husky trait and it comes naturally to them. This behavior and attitude can make huskies hard to train and for many beginner owners prove too difficult.

Prey Drive

Siberian Huskies have a huge instinctual prey drive that has been ingrained into them from their past. Huskies were bred in Eastern Siberia thousands of years ago to help the Chukchi Tribe with their nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle, which certainly included a great deal of hunting. This would have also been the way huskies caught food for themself and their tribe.

Aggressiveness

Huskies are not aggressive in nature and neither are they suspicious, this makes huskies poor guard dogs. People often ask if a husky would be a good guard dog but they would serve better just as a watchdog, at best. Huskies are more likely to befriend a stranger than be aggressive towards them.

Leaving Your Husky Home Alone

Siberian Huskies do not do well when left alone repeatedly.

If you constantly leave your husky home alone it’s likely they will develop behavioral issues and become destructive.

Many breeds can be ok when left home alone but for a husky, it will either lead to destructiveness or isolation anxiety which can be hard to manage.

If you are unable to spend a lot of time at home or at least find family or friends to take care of your husky while you are out, you may consider a different breed.

Trainability: Are Huskies Really That Hard To Train?

Huskies do make good pets but only under certain conditions and solid training is one of them.

Huskies are one of the most stubborn breeds, this means training is usually difficult and is not advised for first-time dog owners.

From the first day home, you will need to start training your husky puppy with a solid training routine. This will be a challenge and you shouldn’t expect to train your husky with a lot of ease, although it is certainly possible.

If you are inexperienced with dog training, it can certainly still be done… but if you’re not ready for it to be difficult you may prefer a different breed that is naturally more obedient.

Huskies Require a Lot of Exercise

If you would like a pet who can help you train for a marathon, the Siberian Husky would be the No.1 choice!

If you and your family have a very active lifestyle a husky will be the perfect fit. Siberian Huskies need a lot of exercise and will not be happy without it.

You should ideally have 2 hours a day to spend with your husky exercising them in various ways. If you don’t like the sound of taking your husky out in the morning and evening for intense physical activity, this breed may not be for you!

The best type of exercise for a husky include: Running, hiking, sled pulling, agility training, jogging, swimming, hunting.

Take a look at what Sixty Formula has to say about his two Siberian Huskies. Check out the video below.

Pros of Owning a Husky

You should consider getting a husky if you want a dog that:

• Is very energetic and outgoing
• Friendly and sociable with new people
• Not naturally aggressive
• Is very affectionate and loving
• Is a good companion for your family

Cons of Owning a Husky

You should consider a DIFFERENT breed if you want a dog that:

• Is easily trainable, always obeying commands
• Doesn’t give a bad attitude if they want something they can’t have
• Does not shed
• Does not need a lot of exercise
• Can be a good guard dog
• Is quiet and isn’t very vocal

Summary

I think a Siberian Husky would be a great addition to most families, providing a lot of love, affection, and companionship.

There are some points that we have covered above that you would certainly need to think about, like their training needs, exercise and attention requirements.

But if you have that covered, then a Husky will be a perfect fit…

Most Recommended For Huskies 🐶

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My two favorite brushes for a beautiful coat are a simple Undercoat Rake and a Slicker Brush. These brushes when used together will de-shed and maintain your husky’s coat better than anything else.

Best Online Training Program For Huskies⭐

Brain Training For Dogs has become increasingly popular with Siberian Huskies in the last few years. It’s now recognized as perhaps the best way to train a husky in the most stress-free, positive way.

Best Husky Puppy Book ⭐

If you would like to support My Happy Husky directly and have an easy to read and entertaining guide for training your husky puppy, check out my book The Husky Puppy Handbook on Amazon. All purchases are greatly appreciated.