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Siberian Husky Guide: Temperament, Exercise, Escaping, Shedding & What to Buy

Breed-standard figures: AKC Siberian Husky breed page.

The Siberian Husky is one of the most beautiful dogs alive. It is also a real test of whether you are ready for a high-energy dog. This guide tells you what Husky owners wish they had known first: the running, the escaping, the shedding, the talking, and why people love them anyway.

Temperament: friendly, stubborn, dramatic

Huskies are friendly and outgoing, with people, with other dogs, and often with complete strangers. Do not get a Husky for guarding: yours will probably greet an intruder like an old friend.

They are also famously stubborn and famously vocal. Huskies howl, “talk,” and argue back. Owners either find this hilarious or exhausting. There is not much middle ground. They are intelligent, but their intelligence is independent: a Husky understands what you want and then decides whether it is worth doing.

They are pack dogs and hate being left alone for long hours. A lonely Husky is a loud, destructive Husky.

Exercise: this breed was built to run

Huskies were bred to pull sleds for miles in the snow. A walk around the block is a warm-up, not exercise. Plan on long daily exercise: running, hiking, bikejoring, canicross, or long active play, plus mental work like training and scent games.

In warm weather, exercise early or late in the day and watch for overheating. Huskies love the cold and struggle in the heat.

An under-exercised Husky will exercise itself: on your furniture, your garden, and your fence.

Escaping: the famous Husky hobby

Huskies are escape artists. They dig under fences, jump over them, and open gates and doors that other dogs never notice. If your garden fence is low or has gaps, a Husky will find them, usually on the first day.

• Fence: tall, solid, with no gaps at the bottom. Bury wire or paving along the base if your Husky digs.
• Supervision: do not leave a Husky alone in the garden for hours.
• Recall: train it early and keep training it. But never trust a Husky off-lead near a road. Their prey drive and love of running beat recall more often than owners expect.
• ID and microchip: keep them current. A Husky that gets out can cover a long distance fast.

Grooming and shedding

Huskies have a thick double coat and shed heavily. Twice a year they “blow” the undercoat, and the fur comes out in handfuls. The good news: the coat is surprisingly low-maintenance the rest of the time, and Huskies are famously clean dogs with little doggy smell.

• Brushing: a few times a week, daily during the big shed, with a de-shedding tool or rake.
• Bathing: rarely needed. Huskies keep themselves clean. Never shave the double coat.
• Nails: trim every few weeks.

Feeding

Feed a complete, good-quality food suited to a medium, very active breed, in measured meals. Huskies are efficient eaters. They often need less food than you would expect for their energy level. Follow the guide for age and weight, adjust with your vet, and keep fresh water available.

Training and recall

Start training early, keep sessions short and fun, and reward generously. Huskies get bored fast with repetition, so vary the exercises and train in different places. Recall is the hardest command with this breed. Train it for months, in safe enclosed areas, and never assume it is finished. A long line is your friend.

What to buy for a Husky

• A secure harness and a long line, for safe exercise while recall is a work in progress.
• A de-shedding rake, for the twice-yearly coat blow.
• A tall, secure fence (or the budget to fix yours). The most important Husky purchase of all.
• Durable chew toys and puzzle feeders. A bored Husky needs a job for its mouth and brain.
• A good vacuum. You already know why.

Sources: AKC: Siberian Husky breed standard. Breed-standard height, weight and lifespan figures on this page come from the AKC.