Read This Before You Get A Siberian Husky Puppy

Thinking about adding a Siberian Husky puppy to your family? Here are eight things you need to know before getting your new furry friend.

A couple of weeks ago, my hubby and I surprised our boys with a beautiful Siberian Husky puppy. It was something that we had been planning for months and when the time finally came, it was surreal.

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That said, getting a puppy, especially a Siberian Husky puppy, was not a decision that we made lightly. As cute as Siberian Husky puppies are, they are a lot of hard work. So if you’re deciding whether or not a husky puppy is the right puppy for you, keep reading to learn about eight things you should know before bringing a Siberian Husky puppy home.

First, a few general tips to know…

Dogs Are A Lifetime Commitment

Before you consider any pet, especially a dog, remember that a dog is a lifetime commitment. There are far too many dogs that are abandoned or given away due to owners not considering just how much of a responsibility owning a dog is. So before you buy, remember, dogs aren’t disposable and as cute as they may be, they aren’t for everyone.

Be Sure You Can Afford Dog Expenses

Just like children, dogs come with their own little set of expenses. Food, Vet Fee’s Toys, Crates, etc.- It all adds up. While every dog will have a different set of needs, you it’s definitely wise to include potential dog expenses into your budget to ensure that you can afford to add a little puppy to your family. Don’t forget to consider planning for emergencies or sickness.

Buy From A Reputable Breeder/Adopt

Let’s face it, there are some sketchy dog breeders out there. A reputable dog breeder takes pride in their dogs and are extremely knowledgeable of their breed. There are a ton of red flags that will let you know whether you’re dealing with a reputable breeder or not but the most significant indicator is whether or not their dog will come with a guarantee, AKC paperwork, and whether or not they allow you to tour their facilities. There are a ton of other red flags to consider before buying from a breeder, but if the above aren’t important to you and/or you don’t have time to do thorough research on breeders definitely consider adoption. There are tons of dogs out there waiting for their forever home.

Do Research On Your Breed

Please don’t get a puppy just because it’s ‘cute’. Depending on a dogs breed, dogs have different energy levels, different needs, and different potential health concerns that you should be mindful of. For example, if you work a lot or aren’t very active, it may be best to get a dog that doesn’t require tons of attention and/or exercise. The same goes for if you have a large family. You want to be sure that the breed you get is good with children.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about about Siberian Huskies specifically.

Husky Puppies Need Lots Of Attention & Exercise

Husky puppies are very active and while they may sleep a lot in the puppy phase, in order to be properly stimulated, huskies need lots of attention. To that same effect, huskies need a lot of exercise. You have to remember, the breed was bred to pull heavy sleighs in the snow for long distances so they definitely need to maintain an active lifestyle.

Husky Puppies Can Be Stubborn

Huskies have a very strong will and can be very stubborn. As an owner you have to be sure to establish dominance early on. Their stubbornness can make them difficult to train, but they are very intelligent dogs and catch on pretty quickly. But be warned that no matter how well trained your Husky is, they are prone to wanderlust so you have to keep an eye on them. They’re also known to take their precious time to potty so be patient when potty training.

It’s true. Huskies shed a lot so expect to clean up a lot of hair. For maintenance you should brush your husky at least twice a week and daily when they’re in the process of blowing their undercoat. However, please avoid completely shaving your husky. Contrary to popular belief, shaving dogs don’t help them to stay cool. Furthermore, as with most dogs, husky fur protects them from different parasites and insects. So if you aren’t a fan of cleaning up dog hair, the husky may not be the dog for you.

Huskies Are Very Vocal

While they don’t bark often, huskies are known for howling often – especially to ‘speak their mind’. When we initially brought our husky puppy home, he spend most of his first night howling versus barking. Don’t get me wrong, they can bark and will bark periodically, but many huskies like to express themselves by howling. So if you aren’t a fan of a ‘talkative’ dog, you may want to rethink adding a husky to your family.

There you have it!

Eight things you should know BEFORE you get a Siberian Husky.

We’ve considered many dogs for our family but our experience with our husky pup has been amazing so far and we’re looking forward to watching him grow.

Are you a new puppy parent or thinking about becoming one? If so, check out my New Puppy Shopping List!