Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

I am keen to get a dog in the near future and am in the process of researching different types of breeds to see which one would best suit my lifestyle etc.

I have always been particularly keen on Siberian Huskys and thought they'd make a great companion untill I read that, due to their natural instincts to run, if let off a lead they would keep on running and not come back. This is obviously a great blow to my hopes of owning a husky... i had dreamed of throwing a ball around parks/open beaches although it dosnt seem like this is possible?? How do Husky owners cope on a daily basis if this is true? e.g.what would happen if they escaped through an open front door by mistake! Surely it must be hard to keep them on a lead at all time. Can anyone help me with my query?

Thank you very much

Hi! I post mainly on the Shiba Inu forum and have a breed of dog very close to the Husky in that they to can never be trusted off lead. Having said that many of the members have had great success at confined dog parks where they can play with the dogs off leash and have them interact with other dogs. Some have even let their dogs off leash on non crowded beaches and not had any problems. As for the front door, in the past I have had each of my three escape but I fixed the problem by installing a gate on the front deck. My three have adapted quite well to being walked on leash. Since you seem like quite an active person there are many ways you can keep your Sibe entertained like bike riding and having them pull you or run beside the bike.
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Bob

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Huskies. They run, and run, and do not have a homing instinct, they run from you and in most cases wont come back, they have thousands of years being bred to run when you yell their name, being bred to survive on their own in the harshest climate on earth.
Contast this to the fact that sibes were only kept as pets in the lower 48 states since the 70s. Thousands of years they ran from people, chased and killed small animals, large hoofed animals, ducks, geese, all of this is what makes them such a great sled dog, and surviviors.
Dog parks under constant supervision only (sibes escape fences), and secure heavy duty cables outdoors to help contain them.
Sibes are not your typical dog, most want nothing to do with fetching, in fact most seem to rather tear the ball to pieces and run away from you (they are possesive of toys, its a survival instinct).
Huskies love more than anything to run and pull, they dont prefer to walk beside you or behind you, they would rather pull you in harness.
But they are the most affectionate breed of dog (ask anyone whos ever been owned by one), and beautiful just doesnt cut it, when trying to describe them.
You have to be vigilant at the door, and with open windows (close them, screens work). You have to teach them from the beginning whos the boss, who owns the doorways, and not baby them, they will love you more for being a strong alpha.
You cannot leave doors hang open, and kids must learn to be vigilant and responsible with doors, and almost anything else with huskies.
Lots and lots of walks, long ones are needed, the colder, windier, and worst the weather, the more they love it.
I know, it probably sounds like the Adams family talking about the horrors they love, but only a sibe owner would understand why we love them so much.

Oh my word - you perfectly described my world with my 4 huskies!! I wouldn't trade them for the world. Sometimes I see other people actually walking their dogs or just letting them play in the front yard with no leash, no tether, nothing and they are sooo good. Nope, not with a husky. You give them an open door to the front yard....that's a whole 'nother world out there and no matter how much they love you and they know they need you....they are gone!! That's just the spirit of the husky....run baby run!!