The Siberian husky is possessed of an imposing beauty, with its striking light blue eyes and its appearance that resembles wolves. But as with all breeds, adopting a Siberian husky has its pros or cons, or its advantages and disadvantages.
Logically, for us dog lovers, adopting a dog is a synonym of pure joy, regardless of its breed, sex, age or color. However, it is always important to emphasize that giving a dog a decent life also presupposes responsibilities, some financial solvency and availability of time.
When we speak of “disadvantages”, in reality, we refer to the aspects that can make it more difficult to raise a certain breed, either by requiring more detailed maintenance that requires a lot of time from your tutor, by needing a large space to live comfortably, for having a more fragile health, or for requiring a special diet or more specific care that implies higher expenses.
In this article we want to talk to you about the advantages of having a Siberian husky and some disadvantages that can make it difficult to keep it, so that you know everything about one of the most popular Russian dog breeds in the world.
Advantages of adopting a Siberian husky
In this first section, we will talk about the advantages of having a Siberian husky, that is, about those positive characteristics that give us an idea of why it is among the most popular breeds in the world. Let’s look at the benefits of having a Siberian husky:
1. The husky is one of the healthiest dogs
Although their life expectancy is not so high (ranging between 10 and 13 years), the “huskies” have a remarkable physical resistance and excellent health. Compared to other breeds of its size, the Siberian husky has a low predisposition to develop most hereditary diseases, thus becoming one of the healthiest dogs.
Of course, there are also some common diseases in the Siberian husky. To prevent them, it is essential to provide essential care and adequate preventive medicine to your best friend.
2. It can adapt to different climates
As its name suggests, the Siberian husky is originally from one of the coldest regions in Russia – Siberia. His body is prepared to withstand the harsh Russian winters and his beautiful coat is a clear demonstration of this. In addition, these dogs adore snow, which is why they greatly enjoy playing in it.
However, one of the curiosities about the Siberian husky is that they can adapt to different climates and environments. Temperatures in its native Siberia vary dramatically, so its body must adapt to these climatic variations and its coat undergoes two molts a year. For this reason, the Siberian husky is one of the few Nordic dogs that can adapt to temperate and warm regions.
This is in stark contrast to other Nordic breeds, such as the Alaskan malamute, which suffers greatly if we keep it in a warm or tropical climate.
3. They are very talkative
Another advantage of adopting a Siberian husky is that you will gain a very chatty friend. This canine breed is known for having a very special vocalization ability.
But in addition to this, the husky stands out for having a special ability to emit a great variety of sounds. So much so that many tutors claim that their “huskies” can sing or have long conversations with them. It is also worth noting its powerful howl, whose sound can be heard about 15 kilometres away.
4. The husky stands out for having a very special personality
The Siberian husky is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, so its temperament is somewhat independent. We must not forget that, in a land with such adverse conditions as Siberia, only the strongest and most prepared specimens managed to survive.
However, huskies are unique because of their special personality. In their family nucleus, they are extremely loyal, affectionate and docile, being able to adapt to different types of people and families. In addition, they are usually quite social and, if they undergo a proper socialization process, they can get along very well with other dogs and animals.
5. Huskies can be excellent companions for children.
Historically, the Siberian husky has accompanied the nomadic Chukchi tribes, who used to migrate from Northeast Asia to the far North of Russia. In addition to helping the men on hunting trips, the huskies used to stay with the women and children to protect them from possible attacks by predators.
For this reason, the Siberian husky shows a great protective sense in relation to his family and especially to children. Logically, like any dog, your husky must be properly educated before playing with the little ones. In addition, it is essential to teach children to respect dogs, understanding them as living and sensitive beings and not as toys.
With the proper precautions and teaching, huskies can become excellent friends with children, stimulating them in their physical and mental development.
Disadvantages of adopting a Siberian husky
In this second part of our article on the advantages and disadvantages of the Siberian husky, we will talk about the characteristics of this Russian canine breed that most demand the attention and care of their guardians in their upbringing, to preserve their good health and balanced behavior.
1. The Siberian husky needs a good dose of daily physical activity
The Siberian husky is a very active dog that needs to practice a good amount of exercise daily to expend energy, maintain a healthy weight and a balanced behavior. He is also a fun dog that will not hesitate to accompany us on our travels and adventures.
And why would this be one of the disadvantages of the Siberian husky? Actually, this is a responsibility to consider before adopting a husky. We must be aware that we will need to walk with the dog at least 3 times a day, in addition to considering starting it in dog sports such as agility or mushing.
2. His beautiful coat requires maintenance
For those who do not have much time, the abundant coat can end up being one of the disadvantages of the Siberian husky. For excellent maintenance and to avoid dead hairs, it is advisable to brush its coat daily, always using a card brush.
In addition, we must emphasize that the shedding of the Siberian husky occurs twice a year. In these periods the dog will lose a little more hair than usual, so it may be necessary to brush twice a day. However, this loss should not be excessive and if you notice that your husky loses a lot of hair, we advise you to take it to the vet.
3. The husky is known as a walking dog
Huskies are known as “walking dogs”, and they can walk for hours and hours, exploring new stimuli around them. Because they are naturally curious, active, and social, they may be “tempted” to run away to stimulate their senses and interact with other individuals.
4. Huskies are not dogs to be alone
While independence is an important trait of their temperament, huskies are not dogs that adapt well to loneliness. As we have mentioned, the Siberian husky used to protect women and children, spending long hours in the company of humans.
For this reason, they adapt optimally to the family routine and they love to enjoy the company of their guardians, so they demand attention and time from their owners. Consequently, they are not suitable dogs for those who spend long hours away from home or are looking for more independent dogs.
5. Your education requires knowledge, patience and perseverance
Although they are intelligent and sensitive dogs, we must arm ourselves with patience when training a Siberian husky. Due to its strong and stubborn personality, this dog can appear somewhat “stubborn” when learning. However, huskies respond very well to positive education, that is, when we use positive reinforcement to stimulate their skills and reward their efforts.
If you are thinking about or have decided to adopt a Siberian husky, we recommend that you study a little about the body language of dogs and know the basic commands of canine obedience.
