Are you sure you're ready for a Husky?

Exercise Requirements

The Siberian Husky is a working dog that was originally bred to pull sleds. They are the fastest and most agile dog that was bred to do this type of work. Huskies are a very high energy dog and require at least one hour a day of energy burning activity, 2-3 hours preferred spread across the day. If they don’t receive the exercise they need to release their pent-up energy they can become quite destructive. They are also skilled at digging holes and jumping over high fences so they are prone to escape if they are bored and looking for activity. This is not a dog that you can just keep in the backyard all day and not give them attention. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. A tired husky is a happy husky!

Behavior

Oftentimes you'll hear that huskies are free-spirited and that is 100% true. Huskies are very independent and their behavior displays a strong desire for adventure. Your husky will LOVE going on hikes with you or walking a new trail. As I mentioned above, their desire for adventure can be very strong sometimes and they should always be supervised while in the yard. They definitely have a few tricks up their sleeve and you would be surprised to see what they can be capable of. Always make sure your fencing or tie out method is in tip top condition.

They are very social (for the most part) and enjoy making new friends at the dog park or having siblings to rough house with all day. Huskies are highly intelligent and mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. Some ways to stimulate them mentally include training, puzzle games, and hiding a treat around the house and letting them sniff the area to find it.

A loving nature is one of the best traits of a husky. They love attention and cuddling with their owners. Huskies have an innate understanding to be gentle around babies and small children and this makes them a great choice for a family pet. As with any other dog, proper training of both the husky and child(ren) are important for harmonious living. Huskies are quite noisy and prefer to howl rather than bark. If you have a lot of neighbors they may not appreciate their singing. Even though I mentioned their gentle nature, when it comes to small animals that doesn't always apply. Huskies have a high prey drive and love to chase-- often resulting in the death of rabbits, squirrels, birds, or whatever else has gotten into their vicinity. Cats can also fall into this category but not necessarily. Cats and huskies can live just fine together as long as there is proper exposure and training.

Diet

It is important to provide your husky with a high quality, protein rich kibble that will help them maintain their energy levels and satisfy caloric intake. Animal protein like meat or poultry should be the focus with higher than average fat to meet these requirements. Here are some general things to look for:

High quality animal protein as the first ingredient (meat, poultry, or fish) protein "meal" such as chicken or fish meal is a bonus as it contains more protein. Check the guaranteed analysis for protein levels. Optimum levels are between 26-32% protein.
Two sources of animal protein within the first three ingredients
Fat content from healthy animal sources like chicken fat or fish oil. Optimum fat levels are between 16-20%.
Limited digestible carbohydrate content such as whole grains and low starch veggies.

*Those optimum levels I listed really depend on the activity level of your husky. If they are active for most of the day, i recommend a 30% protein/20% fat diet. If their activity is more average then 26/16 or 27/17 would be a good choice.

Shedding

Ohhh the husky hair. It will be the glitter on all your clothes and the seasoning in all your food. Shedding is a common occurrence for dogs just like regular hair loss is for humans. This often happens in warm climates to help them cope with the heat unlike in cold regions like Siberia where they only blow their coats due to the cold and dry environment. Since dogs only perspire through their paws, they need other outlets to regulate their body temperature and prevent heat stress especially for dog breeds with a double coat and those that live in places with warm temperatures. Since Huskies have a double coat, you should expect heavier shedding, especially when the seasons change. It can come as a shock to see so much fur falling out but this is just normal. This is the reason why grooming is very important for a Husky even if it is not shedding season. Since the shed fur can be in massive amounts, controlling it by brushing and bathing regularly can help minimize the shedding. NEVER EVER SHAVE YOUR HUSKY. Their double coated fur acts as insulation in warm and cold temperatures.