Siberian Huskies For Dummies

by Diane Morgan

  The key to all these pleasures is you. Your Husky doesn’t want to sleep alone, play alone, or run alone. But with you at his side, he’ll keep that happy, cheerful smile.

  Huskies Make Terrific Exercise Partners

  Because Siberians must have adequate amounts of exercise, they are perfect pets for the human athlete. As long as the weather is cool enough, your Siberian will go charging happily (on a leash, please) at your side.

  And if you are not a human marathoner, well, having a Siberian is a great way to get you started — or at least enough to get your heart rate going. A Siberian Husky can turn the most dedicated couch potato into an avid exerciser. Exercise not only keeps both of you fit, but it also helps keep a dog’s mind entertained and his body physically tired. This is a great combination for the hours your Husky must spend by himself. A tired dog is a nondestructive dog, and nondestructive dogs make for happy owners.

  A Siberian Husky Can Pull You Wherever You Want to Go

  This is one of the many things that make a Siberian unique. A Pekinese can’t pull you. A Basset Hound won’t. But with a Husky, a whole new world of sport can open up to you. In the summer, hop on your inline skates, and start going uphill as well as down.

  In the winter, grab your sled or skis; a Siberian is just the ticket. Not only will you find this entertaining, but so will your dog. Siberians are bred to pull — it’s in their blood. All you need to do is follow happily along.

  Allowing your Husky to pull you is also a great way to make friends — or at least to get people to pay attention to you. And you can join a club of like-minded folk and make even more friends.

  Siberians Have No Doggie Odor

  Compare a Husky to a hound, and you’ll realize just how lucky you are. Their odorless state makes it possible to keep your dog inside all the time without giving him a bath every week. This is an important consideration for people who are sensitive to such things.

  Huskies Are Educational

  You will learn more from your Siberian than he will ever learn from you. Dogs teach you the following wonderful virtues:

  Neatness: If you don’t put your things away, the dog will eat them.

  Patience: Training a Siberian gives you practice in this important virtue. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you can’t teach a Siberian to fetch in 5 minutes.

  Tolerance: You will learn what you can expect from a dog, as well as what you can’t.

  Medical skills: All experienced dog owners develop skills in handling medical emergencies. You never know when this may come in handy.

  Huskies Provide Social Mobility

  Although others have nothing more exciting to brag about than their child’s last birthday party or toilet training triumphs, you can regale the office with any of the following tales:

  “What My Dog Ate Last Night When I Had My Back Turned for 5 Minutes”

  “What My Dog Dragged into the House That I Thought I Had Buried”

  “What Happened When I Went on a Sledding Trip with the Dogs and Somehow Got Lost”

  And so on. Besides, your beautiful Siberian Husky is much better looking than any of their kids, and everybody knows it.

  Huskies Are Great with Children

  Unlike many other breeds, Huskies are tolerant of kids. They are sturdy enough to enjoy roughhousing, and forgiving enough to endure being fallen upon. It’s also a plus that Huskies are non-protective. Many an unfortunate accident has occurred when a dog has bitten a neighbor’s child because he thought the kid was attacking his owner’s child (whom he views as his own), when all that was happening was normal child wrestling. You won’t have to worry about your Husky doing something like that. Huskies welcome new children into the family circle readily.

  Huskies Will Make You a Better Citizen

  How can a Husky make you a better citizen? Well, a strong America is a prosperous America. And a prosperous America is one in which the consumer supports the economy. The Husky owner really supports the American economy. Here’s how: First, he buys the Husky (thus reducing the loss of some poor hobby breeder). Then he buys the dog food (helping the farmer and pet food industry). Then he buys the leashes, collars, and bowls (helping manufacturing). Then he buys the book about Siberian Huskies (like this one) and helps the author and the publishing industry. Then he buys the computer to get online to get to the Husky Web sites and chat groups (helping the techies). Then he decides to take the dog on vacation and buys a new van to load up all this stuff (helping the automotive industry). Then he actually goes on vacation (helping the tourist industry). And on and on. . . . Don’t you feel better about yourself and all the ways you’re helping just by owning a great dog?

  Siberians Remind You What Really Matters in Life

  In other words, they help you prioritize. Life before Huskies may have been taken up with mundane matters like housekeeping. You can forget all that now. Not only do you have better things to do — like playing with the dog — but the obliging Siberian makes perfect housekeeping impossible anyway. So why bother with it?

  Siberians teach you that what’s really important is having fun, going places together, keeping healthy and strong, and giving and getting love. This brings us to the most important element of all.

  Huskies Love You Unconditionally

  Huskies don’t put bounds, parameters, or limits on their affection. They don’t care if you’ve put on a little weight recently or gotten a bit gray. They don’t care if you’re having a bad hair day or have bad breath. They don’t care what kind of car you drive, clothes you wear, or accessories you sport. They don’t care if you’re poor. They don’t mind if you’re in a wheelchair, or deaf, or blind, or have epilepsy. They don’t judge you by your race, religion, or sexual orientation. They don’t care if you’ve been in jail.

  They ask no questions, tell no lies, and make no judgments. They don’t give up on you. They forgive you if you’re short-tempered or absent-minded. They feel for you when you’re down. They try to cheer you up without prying into your secrets.

  And they not only love you, but they love everyone you love, too. Your Husky will be a friend to your entire family and all your acquaintances. He won’t complain about your mother-in-law or sneer at Uncle Marvin.

  Please do the same for your Husky. Don’t give up on him. Care for him when he gets old and sick. Forgive him if he rips up the couch or digs a hole in the yard. Give him the same love and tolerance he gives you. After all, it’s only fair.

  Chapter 19

  Ten Tips for Raising a Siberian Husky

  In This Chapter

  Keeping in mind some important tips for raising a Husky

  Knowing what it takes to be a responsible Husky owner

  Raising a Siberian Husky takes time, love, and above all, patience. In this chapter, I give you some quick tips for raising a Husky. Remember, it’s all worth it in the end.

  Learn about the Breed

  Take the time to read everything you can about Siberian Husky history and care. The more you know, the better owner you will be. Subscribe to dog and breed magazines that will give you hints on training, nutrition, and fun activities with your dogs. Join a local Siberian Husky club. You will not only meet new friends and have more fun, but you’ll also develop a supportive network to help you out when and if you run into training difficulties or health problems with your dog.

  Join an online e-mail list or chat group. It’s free and informative, and you never know whom you’ll meet. Go to Husky events like sled racing. Or get involved in obedience, tracking, dog showing, or agility competitions.

  Take the time to learn something about canine health, especially problems that are particularly pertinent to Siberians, like eye diseases.

  Spay or Neuter Your Dog

  Unless you are actively involved in showing or breeding Siberians, there is no excuse not to spay or neuter your pet. Doing so will make the dog a healthier, happier pet. Males will be much less apt to wander, and females will be less a
pt to draw the entire neighborhood to your backyard.

  More importantly, both sexes will be healthier. Problems like testicular cancer and pyometra are killer diseases that affect unaltered animals.

  By neutering your dog, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are not contributing to the problem of unwanted dogs in this country. You are also setting a good example to other people. After all, if you don’t neuter your non-show dog, why should anyone else neuter theirs?

  And bearing puppies is a life-threatening endeavor. Would you want to risk the life of your beautiful Siberian bitch just because you think she’ll have cute puppies? Puppies are also a lot of work and expense. I heard of one recently who needed a $3,000 operation. Are you willing to pay that kind of money? How much do you know about your dog’s bloodlines and the genetic diseases he may carry? Are you willing to submit your dog to eye tests and hip x-rays?

  Be a responsible pet owner, and have your dog neutered or spayed. And you won’t have to worry about the potential problems with breeding your dog.

  Give Your Husky Plenty to Do

  Siberian Huskies are extremely intelligent animals who get bored quickly. The best way to solve the problem is to become your dog’s best friend (after all, he’s already yours). Give him lots of interesting toys and plenty of exercise.

  Best of all, take time from your own schedule to fit in with his. Go hiking together, play ball, take up sledding, or just run around like crazy together in the backyard. You may even consider getting a second Siberian for your dog to play with.

  A dog with plenty of fun and companionship is his life is going to be happier, healthier, and a lot less apt to rip the furniture to shreds the minute you step out of the house.

  Make Sure Your Dog Has a Secure, Fenced Yard

  Siberians love the outdoors, but it’s not a safe world out there. Loose dogs can get hit by cars, poisoned by chemicals, and tortured by kids. They can tangle with skunks, roll in tree sap, trample the neighbor’s garden, kill a farmer’s livestock, and run deer to death. They can catch diseases, get caught in traps, drown in rivers, and be killed by bigger, meaner dogs. They can get lost or stolen. They can come back to you with one eye, three legs, and pregnant. Or they may never come back at all.

  Because you don’t want any of this to happen, provide your dog with a comfortable and safe yard of his own. Be sure the fence is high enough that he can’t jump over it and well secured at the bottom so he can’t dig under it.

  The yard is a great place for your Husky to play, but when you must be away from home, keep your dog in the house where he won’t annoy the neighbors or be too much of a temptation to would-be thieves and mischievous children. I knew a dog who was let out of his fenced yard by some kids because they wanted to play with him; he was killed by a car. Keep a lock on your fence gate, just in case.

  Make Sure Your Husky Gets Regular Veterinary Checkups

  Make your vet your best friend. Find one you trust, one who gives careful consideration to your dog’s needs and your own questions. Choose a vet who is close to where you live, has convenient office hours, loves dogs, and takes his time with you. Find a vet who has a clean facility, a courteous and friendly staff, and reasonable charges. Choose a vet who has someone to cover for him when he’s away.

  Keep your Siberian in the pink by taking him to your veterinarian regularly. Even apparently healthy dogs need a yearly checkup. Your Siberian should be up-to-date on all his vaccinations according to the protocol you and your vet have set.

  Have your Husky’s teeth cleaned on a regular basis, especially as he ages.

  Feed Your Husky High-Quality Food

  If you feed your dog a commercial dog food, choose one that has no meat or grain by-products. Avoid foods with artificial dyes, artificial preservatives, and artificial sweeteners.

  If you decide to feed your dog a homemade diet, do the research to make sure he is getting what he needs. Don’t just throw him the leftovers every day.

  Feed your dog a healthy variety of food to keep him interested and to give his immune system a good workout. The same food day in and day out is boring, and invites allergies and immunodepressant diseases.

  Keep your dog fit and trim by providing the correct amount of nutrients and exercise.

  Groom Your Siberian Often

  Keep that gorgeous coat in condition (and the hairballs out of the house) by brushing your Siberian thoroughly and regularly. You’ll not only keep his coat looking nice, but you’ll be helping his skin remain healthy. Good brushing also aids the circulatory system by acting like a massage. Regular grooming keeps you alert as to your Husky’s current body condition; you’ll notice lumps, cuts, scabs, and sore places.

  Brushing your dog also makes him feel good — and bonds the two of you together.

  When grooming, don’t overlook his ears, eyes, teeth, and nails.

  Train Your Siberian Early

  Although old dogs can learn new tricks, it is true that young ones learn them more easily. And while you may not care if your dog is up to David Letterman’s standards, it’s nice to have your Husky come, sit, heel, and stay on command. If you can train him to fetch the paper and make coffee, so much the better.

  Young dogs want to please you, and if you train him to get off the couch, not jump up on people, and refrain from tearing the trash into shreds when he’s 8 weeks old, your life will go easier. Never allow a puppy to do anything (like nipping) that you wouldn’t allow your older dog to do.

  Socialize Your Siberian

  Your Husky should be friends with the world. Your puppy should meet a whole bunch of human beings both on walks and in his home. Let him get acquainted with children and elderly people, people on bikes and people in wheelchairs, people with uniforms and people with Poodles. Let him meet people of various races.

  He should also get acquainted with other animals. Siberians generally like other dogs of their own size, but smaller dogs, cats, and rabbits may arouse a different response. Unless and until you are absolutely sure your dog will not chase small animals, keep him securely away from them.

  Use Positive Reinforcement Rather than Punishment

  Never strike or brutalize your dog. Siberians respond much better to rewards of food, praise, and play. Hitting a dog makes him fear you and hate training. It may elicit a similar response.

  Love, patience, and kindness always reap their rewards by producing the similar effect in the dog.

  Chapter 20

  Ten Hazards for a Siberian Husky

  In This Chapter

  Identifying some common hazards in your home

  Remembering outdoor hazards

  Knowing how to keep your Husky safe

  Thousands of pets in the United States die unnecessary deaths every year. Some are run over by cars, and many others are poisoned, electrocuted, or strangled in their own homes. Still, a reasonable degree of foresight can prevent any of this from happening to you and your pets. Dogs are very much like small children, curious, innocent creatures who are at the mercy of electricity, household chemicals, and weird plants. Your benign looking house can quickly turn into a chamber of horrors for an unsuspecting puppy. So in this chapter, I let you know about ten potential hazards for your Husky. Then it’s up to you to dog-proof your home to keep him safe.

  Electricity

  The ordinary 110-volt circuitry in your house can easily kill your dog. Siberians don’t seem to be aware of this simple fact, however, and they enjoy pulling on electrical cords and dragging whatever is attached to them, usually lamps, to the floor. When the item is on the floor, the light bulb is available for swallowing. Puppies especially are very fond of eating light bulbs. All electrical cords should be attached to the baseboard where they are inconspicuous or removed completely from your Husky’s reach.

  Extension cords that trail across the center of the floor are very tempting to dogs. Safe Living/Smart Products makes a pet-safe extension cord. It’s called the Smart Cord and sells for $
14.95. It contains an advanced internal monitoring system that stops electrical flow in 1/40 of a second. Even if your Husky’s teeth sink into it, he won’t get shocked. The Smart Cord also provides built-in fire protection. These cords may be purchased in most hardware or appliance stores.

  Rat Poison

  Rat and mouse poisons are highly toxic to dogs as well as to rodents. Most of them are anticoagulants and interfere with the blood’s clotting ability. If your dog ingests the poison, he can bleed to death internally. Unfortunately, the dog may exhibit no signs for three to five days after ingestion. So by the time you realize it, it may be too late.

  If you have a problem with rats and mice, avoid using poisons at all cost.

  Household Cleaning Agents

  Evidence has been accumulating that some popular household cleaners may be dangerous for dogs. They contain phenol or phenol derivatives, which have been implicated in liver and kidney damage. Phenols are slow-acting toxins that may affect your dog so gradually that you don’t know what’s happening. They are especially dangerous around puppies. Some experts recommend disinfecting with rubbing alcohol instead of products containing phenol; rubbing alcohol works fast and has no side effects.