Siberian Huskies

my miya is a husky/german shepherd mix. 
she loves digging and chewing.  she's only about 5.5 months old right now, and she was all black with creme coloring, but she's starting to get brown on her back legs and tail, and her hair is starting to get a lot longer, especially on the tail like a husky. 

Shadow's colors and shades have changed with age.
 
It's hard for me to get a good with the cheapie digital. The regular camera does a little better.
 
Schlep, a member here, got to meet him in June. All he'd ever seen was the pics I posted with the digital. In person, he could really see the colors and shades. His words were something like, "Wow, now I see what you mean." I've met other owners of Siberian Huskies who immediately see the Husky in Shadow. One breeder from Mabank, judging from his un-lab features, estimated Shadow between 50 to 80 percent husky. This is probably fairly accurate considering the important of mtDNA in a dog's genetic make-up.
 
So, yes, be prepared for the coloring to change with age.
 

He's been shedding recently. He gets a little white in his outer guardcoat. His undercoat will be white. He has a black to black and brown racing stripe down the back. His sides are brown and red and his tail is black brown and red. He is getting a light mask around the eyes. But the whole effect is a lightening of color. The white undercoat lightens the dark colors of his guardcoat.
 

I have 2 dogs, one black lab almost 2 yrs. and a husky puppy, she will be one at the end of Oct. I knew I was probably getting a puppy for xmas, I had my heart set on another lab, we had Cody for a year now and I loved him why change? My fiance had a husky mix a few years back and really loved that dog so when it came time to pick out my present he decided to suprise me with a husky, everyday I tell him she is the best present he ever got me, I love both of my dogs with all of my heart and soul but Kaya, my husky, she is my girl. She tells me when she is mad that I have been at work all day, she likes to eat her bones on my lap, she loves to have her coat brushed, she is black, white and gray with blue eyes and she is a beauty queen. In the time I have had her I have grown a true love for this breed, she is stubborn and very hard to train after training a lab but one look at her smile and I remember how much I love her.

I like both breeds, too. I think the difference in temperment of a husky is because of the history of their breeding. Most of their work is pulling a sled. So, they weren't exactly bred for recall or retrieval. They were bred to heed directions even while they are out in front and be smart enough to stop the team if they sense danger ahead. This has the effect of making them willful and independent. And they have a strong sense of rank, which is necessary in a team. Therefore, they will test limits and need a clear order of rank in their life to be comfortable. Otherwise, they will assume the lead. But they are so humanly friendly that it is common for them to not be the best guard dogs. A thief can give them a steak and they will happily munch away while the thief clears out your house. Generally. But, there are always exceptions to the rule.
 
I've learned a lot with Shadow. If I get another dog after him, it will most likely be a Sibe. I can find them at the shelter at any time. And there are breed rescues everywhere.
 

Kaya looks like my old boy, same shaped nose and blue eyes.  He had freckles on his nose and a mask around his eyes with white on his forhead in the shape of a lily. 
 
Man it is easy to fall for a Sibe.  I love to read everything you all have written about them.  After losing my last boy, We needed another one badly.  One turned into two.    I think that when I am older and the children are out of the house we will adopt them.  I love looking at those sites and reading about how their adoptions went and successes.   
 
People who take these dogs and give em what they need are so well rewarded.  They are a blessing in my house for sure- even though puppy stages are on a roll! LOL...[]

ORIGINAL: dogslife

ORIGINAL: whitewidow

i love huskys too. i owned one and recently adopted anoteher that was 6 months old. i love them and think they are great as well. eversince i got Blaze a buddy from the shelter they both seem to be very happy and play all the time. (less howling as well) i guess cause neither of them are as bored as they would be alone.

Hi whitewidow!,
I have thought that when the dogs do most talking is when they are just so excited to see you or they were sad and complaining about " Where have you been?" !
My pups are talkative if you get them going sometimes, but mostly they are very content as they have one another all of the time and are never lonely.

That is nice you got one from a shelter.  People who get rid of a husky must have a good reason. [8|]   I just cant imagine getting rid of my dogs.  Would be like getting rid of a child to me.  Were there any behaviors that you had to work on with the shelter dog?

sorry for taking so long to reply, the shelter pup diddin't have any behaviors i needed to deal with. he was a bit shy at first but soon after blaze walked by all was well.

whitewidow,
 
   I have obviously been on the lab board since I own my Cody man too, however I noticed you posted there if labs are as intelligent as everyone says,
I decided to write my opinion here because I have no intention of offending anyone,  My lab Cody, was easily housebroken, very trainable and treat driven, I would say he catches on rather quickly however if he gets the wrong impression of what you are trying to teach him, he will never get it right, he has a one tract mind, example, when I tried to teach him how to lay down, he somehow learned this odd juming thing I call his chicken dance, that he has never quite forgoten. He is a goofball and I love him. What I really wanted to tell you is labs are intelligent in there own way, and I am certain that they are looked at as very intelligent to people who only own labs or certain breeds, however with you being a husky owner I think you would see labs the way I do, with a quick learning one tract mind, unlike the intelligent yet stubborn husky who sometimes plays dumb or disintrested mainly to get you to give up. Bottom line: Do I think labs are intelligent? For the most part, do I think they are smarter than huskies? NEVER.
Just wanted to share.

I think that each dog has unique things about them.  I believe that labs, generally are highly trainable, smart and kind .. I can only think of one time where I did not like a lab.  And basically it was the owner who deemed not liking.  The dog was unleashed and charged me and my older husky.  I looked to the owner who was 20 feet away and could not get control of his dog.  I yelled at the charging dog, "go home" and forget what else...lol, and then I hollered to the owner something about leash law, lalalala....The funny thing was that the charging lab, obeyed ME!  I consider that smart!!
 
 Basically Labs and Sibes are both fine breeds!  But I  just plain love dogs.  Siberians are my weakness...

There is a saying amongst Sibe owners, even those not currently involved in mushing. They are like potato chips. You can't have just one.
 
I think that can be said about any breed, though. How many Beagles does Gina have, for example? And Glenda has 6 GSDs.

Aman Ron2 Huskies are like potato chips you can't have just one. You know   I often wondered how Glenda can live with 6 GSD while just my one drives me nuts at times

ORIGINAL: ron2

There is a saying amongst Sibe owners, even those not currently involved in mushing. They are like potato chips. You can't have just one.

I think that can be said about any breed, though. How many Beagles does Gina have, for example? And Glenda has 6 GSDs.

 
My neighbor says the same about Newfoundlands, ...lol -'imagine'.  And also cats.

I cannot get over how much Kaya resembles my husky, Augusta (1 yr and a couple months).  Even down to the little black spots on her nose!  Do people ever ask you what breed Kaya is--or whether she is a genuine, full-bred husky?  We cannot walk our Goose down the street without some one saying, "What mix is that?  Husky and...?"  People have even been so bold to argue with us when we say, "Actually, she's a full bred husky," and insist that they KNOW what a husky looks like and she doesn't fit the bill!  I always reply, "Well, I don't care what breed she is--full, part or even 1% husky--she's the best!"  (but between, we always have been a bit suspicious of her LOVE of swimming...I would't think a love of water would be a desirable trait up there in the tundra.)
 
 
PS.  For anyone concerned, in the pic with her and the margarita glass, it's filled with water!  It was a hot day on a vacation to DC and my husband and I stopped for some chips and salsa and margaritas while Augusta patiently lay under the table at the outdoor restaurant and sipped her water.  She is so amazing like that--she loves to play but somehow, like a child, senses that certain occasions require her to be on her best behavior! 

ORIGINAL: ron2

There is a saying amongst Sibe owners, even those not currently involved in mushing. They are like potato chips. You can't have just one.

 
Ha ha, I love it!  We're moving to a new house with a big, 1 acre yard so I'm currently begging my husband for another husky.
 
Along those lines, do any of you husky owners completely trust your dog with an electric fence?  At my parents' house, Augusta has been trained to respect the fence but it helps a lot that my family's dog is a bit more mature and very diligent about not breaking the line (and all Augusta cares about is following him around like a doting little sister).  At our new house however, we're in the process of re-training her: she remembers the white flags mean "bad idea" and sure enough, hears the warning buzz and rushes backwards and cannot be dragged towards the line--but then, bam, one little temptation and she's through the fence without even flinching.  (And of course, dragging her BACK across the line, collarless of course, she yelps and resists like we're trying to kill her!)  She's got those husky smarts and I know she gets the concept--but in pursuit of a bunny or something, all logic flies out the window.  I'm not sure if we'll able be able to have her outside without supervision...

I often wondered how Glenda can live with 6 GSD

 
Because she's a doggy angel.