The Siberian Husky Club of America exists to preserve and protect the Siberian Husky. To that end, we encourage anyone thinking of adding a Siberian to their family to please make sure this breed will fit their lifestyle. As depicted in the movie 8 Below, this breed is quite independent and can be remarkably self-sufficient. This is good in a Disney movie, but not so good in a suburban neighborhood, where bird feeders abound. Siberian Huskies, like most breeds of dogs, have a prey drive. And as the movie suggests, Siberians will chase birds and small, furry animals, sometimes catching and harming them in the process. The breed is also not reliable off-leash, and no amount of training can make them so. They were bred to run 30 feet in front of a sled, making semi-independent decisions. Remove the sled and they will be gone. This is a very active breed, needing lots of exercise, and is a breed that is very unhappy left alone. An unhappy Siberian can be quite a destructive dog, so proper training and housing is necessary. Right from the beginning, obedience lessons are a good idea, so that owner and dog understand the boundaries and each other. This is a breed that thrives on positive training methods, and often is unfazed by negative methods. Finding a good trainer can be almost as challenging as finding a good dog.
Those interested in learning about the breed should visit the SHCA website, www.shca.org, and read “So You Want A Siberian Husky” and the other very good articles about the breed. If, after careful consideration, the decision to get a Siberian is made, please use the Referral Directory to find SHCA members nearby and go visit them and ask questions. They can help determine if a Siberian is the right choice.
The sad truth is that many Siberians are impulse purchases, and people who
think they can live with one find out quickly how challenging it can be. Many
very nice Siberians end up in rescue, so that’s a great place to look.
Visit www.siberianrescue.com to see all the great dogs needing great homes.
And remember, adding a dog to the family is a 12-15 year commitment. Do the
research first in order to ensure success for the dog and the family.
Last update of this page: 04/06
© 1996--2006 Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc.