My name is Nanook and I am a Siberian husky. I was born in Wembley on the 19th of August 1999. Bonnie and Colin saw an advert in the paper saying, “Siberian husky puppies, white with blue eyes.” After discussing it, they decided to do some reading and find out if Siberian Huskies were suitable for them. They discovered that we need a lot of exercise and are ’ferocious chewers’, but that we are also ’Friendly, Gentle, Alert and Outgoing’. Armed with this knowledge, they came to see me and my brothers and sisters. Lucky for me, they decided that I was the dog for them! I had to be eight weeks old before they could take me home, so that gave them two weeks to get their home ready for my arrival! A gate was put on the kitchen so that I could be safely left there at night, and they bought me some suitable food, a bed and some toys. Because of Gin’s accident with a stick, (see her page for details) it was important that they got safe toys. This is important for all dogs, regardless of breed, and is well worth reading about. I am given chew toys made by Nylabone. It is a safe healthy nylon bone that can’t splinter or chip. I also have nylon rope tugs, not cotton, because cotton is indigestible if swallowed. Exercise is not a big problem, because I join Sky and Widget at work with Bonnie everyday. Sometimes I also go to work with Colin.
My days start at about 5.45am when Bonnie gets up and gives us all breakfast. I’m always full of energy after being on my own all night, so I usually do lots of running up and down and playing with Sky. When Bonnie and Colin are awake enough, we all go for a run across the fields – well, we run, Bonnie and Colin tend to walk!! After a nice run, it’s time to go to the stables. Bonnie starts work at 7.30am, and has to start by giving all the horses breakfast. After breakfast it’s time to do some mucking out. I like being at the stables because there are lots of other people to make a fuss of me, and other dogs to play with, not to mention cats, pigeons, and horses! Some of the time I sit in the tea room, and some of the time I go and help(!) Bonnie muck out. There are lots of fields there for us to sniff around in too. One evening a week I go to obedience classes. Training is very important for all dogs and particularly Huskies, as we can be very stubborn and strong willed. To find out more about training a Siberian Husky, click here for my “Training section.”If you would like to know more about Siberian Huskies, I have listed below some recommended reading:
“Guide to Owning a Siberian Husky” by Alexei Montoff.
“Siberian Huskies” by Beverly Pisano.
Both are published by T.F.H, and are available at all good pet stores.
Training Your Siberian Husky
It has been said that a Siberian Husky is one of the most difficult dogs to train, and this may well be true, but does not mean they are un-trainable. These dogs have a stubborn streak a mile wide, and are not best suited to first time dog owners. Although the Husky will respond to training, he will tend to do everything on his own terms, and in his own sweet time! Easily bored, it is best to be as varied as possible in your training, in order to keep your Huskies attention. A Husky can also be extremely vocal if asked to do something they do not want to do! Even the most gentle of persuasion can elicit a blood curdling scream! Not a dog for an easily embarrassed owner!
If you are considering buying a Husky, it is important that you are aware of the following points; Huskies have a reputation for being good escape artists, and it is necessary to have a secure garden. Huskies can have a very strong hunting instinct, and some have even been known to kill chickens, cat, small dogs and sheep. If introduced to other household pets from a young age, however, they will normally accept them as part of the pack and be fine together, Nanook shares her garden with the ducks, and apart from trying to play with them as a puppy, there has been no problems. (I would advise not leaving ANY dog unsupervised with small animals/wildlife unless you are 110% sure.)
Huskies have a reputation for being bad off the lead. Some people will advise you to never let your Husky off the lead. I believe each Husky is an individual, and must be treated as such. In any case, early obedience training, and your establishment as pack leader will help, BUT do be prepared, there is every possibility that you may end up with a dog that you cannot let off the lead. Think in advance, if this happens, how will you exercise the dog? If you will be training it to pull a sled, this will obviously solve the exercise problem, but if you just want it as a pet, please think carefully.
Nanook is pretty good off the lead, (although it has taken A LOT of training, and it is an ongoing thing to get her to be trustworthy), but I am assured by several Husky experts, that some Huskies simply cannot be trusted off the lead EVER, no matter how much training is involved.
Early training, socialisation and establishing your place as pack leader is of utmost importance. Most dogs do not get to go out and about until two weeks after their second jab, by which time they are already 14 weeks old. There is a growing school of thought, that this can already be too late. Many places now run puppy socialisation classes for puppies up to 14 weeks. It is believed that the risk of disease is less than the risks associated with lack of early socialisation. This does NOT mean that anyone is suggesting you should put your unprotected puppy on a lead and take it for a walk. These classes are run inside, with puppies that have had their first jab, and should not have been in contact with any diseases. If you think these type of classes may benefit your puppy (and I believe they can) I advise a chat with your veterinarian first, to make sure you are fully aware of any risks involved.
As well as attending puppy classes, (whether before or after 14 weeks) I recommend taking your Husky puppy with you wherever you go (if possible.) Obviously, you will have to carry your puppy until it has been fully vaccinated, but the simple act of carrying it, will help to enforce your position as pack leader. If you have friends with cats or other small animals, early socialisation with these is also beneficial to your puppy.
Most puppies will at some time, try to challenge your position as pack leader. Nanook tried twice. There are some general guidelines that will help ensure you maintain your position as pack leader. Always feed your puppy last, and NEVER feed tit bits or scraps from your plate. If you want to give your puppy left-overs, take your plate into the kitchen, put the scraps into your puppies bowl, and THEN feed him.
Always make sure that your puppy gives way to you. Simple things like going through doorways or up and down the stairs are more pleasant for you if your dog is not barging in front, and by teaching him to wait till you have gone, will also help reaffirm your status in the pack.
Never allow your puppy up onto the sofas or beds. A dogs place is on the floor, at the pack leaders feet, and a husky will quickly take advantage of any lofty position he is allowed!
Possibly the most difficult thing to train a Siberian Husky to do, is to come back to you when let off the lead. We do let Nanook off, but it took a long time to be able to trust her, and even now, we only let her off in certain places.
We began training Nanook by walking her on a very long line. This gave her the freedom to run, but also meant she had to come back when called, because if she ignored us, she was reeled in anyway. Lots of tit-bits and praise were used to reward good behaviour, while bad behaviour was simply ignored.
From about the age of ten weeks, we also began to whistle train Nanook. The basic principle behind this was simple; Every time Nanook was fed, we would blow her whistle, then give her the food. Gradually she came to associate the sound of the whistle with being fed, and when we blow it out on a walk, she comes running back for a treat. (mostly!)
Nanook is not perfect, and probably never will be, but we can let her off with relative confidence, provided that we are sensible. If there are other people or dogs about, we do not let her off. Huskies love to meet and play with new people or animals, and we feel it is better to prevent her bounding off to say hello, than to leave her off the lead and run the risk of her ignoring our calls.
This seems to be paying off, as Nanook is now 20 months old, (at time of writing) and although we still keep a sharp eye out for people, and clip her on quickly, she now walks past them without paying them any attention.
Some Huskies also have a very strong hunting instinct and have been know to kill rabbits, chickens, even cats or small dogs. If this is the case with your Husky, I think common sense must prevail. Keep your dog on a lead if you are anywhere that he is likely to be overcome by a hunting urge.
Training Nanook is an ongoing thing. We go to regular training classes, as well as constantly training at home. The benefit, for us, is that we have a dog we can take for walks off the lead, without the worry of her disappearing.
If you decide that a Husky is the dog for you, please, please make sure you are prepared to put in the time it needs for exercise, and that you have the patience you will inevitably need for the training!
