Huskies are a fairly well known and recognized breed. Part
of this can be attributed to the Iditarod race, which is arguably one of the
toughest events an athlete (human or canine) can compete in. It’s 1000 miles
over rugged terrain that requires a full year of preparation for the dogs and
humans. For more information about the Iditarod go
here.
These dogs were bred for a job! They love to pull and be a
part of a team or pack. This is important to remember when thinking about
adding this fun loving dog to your family. They will be very high energy and
will need lots of exercise. It may be a good idea for them to have a job, such
a pulling a sled even if it is just around the yard. It is also important to
socialize them a lot when they are puppies. They can become quite bonded with
one person or family and so socializing them at a young age will make them more
adaptable to different situations. Huskies have a very distinct vocalization
that they can sometimes over due when excited so keep this in mind if you are
living in an apartment or a place with close neighbors.
Having a very dense coat protects them in the arctic
climates they were bred for, however it can pose two challenges for different
parts of the country. The summers can be quite difficult on them so they need
to be kept in cool places. Also, remember that there is a
LOT
of coat there and they will shed this coat frequently. So if you do not like to
accessorize your outfits with dog hair, you may want to look at another breed.
Genetically there are two big areas to focus on when looking
for a breeder. Huskies do have a genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia and
certain eye abnormalities. If you are thinking of purchasing a puppy make sure
that the mother and father have been OFA and CERF certified. The OFA stands for
the Orthopedic foundation for animals. Their website can be found
here. CERF is
the Canine Eye Registry Foundation and their website can be found
here. This is
reduce the risk of these conditions being passed on. If you are adopting a mix
just be aware that they could have issues in the future with these two body
structures. There is a lot of great information on
this website regarding huskies.
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