ron2
Posted : 2/2/2008 8:28:23 PM
Even though my dog is a mix, he is more Siberian Husky than Lab.
Top 10 reasons my Sibe/Lab is good for me.
10. Not bred for guarding or HA, is not likely to bite a human. In fact, Sibes, as a breed make lousy watchdogs. A criminal can throw them some food and they will happily munch away. In Shadow's case, he will stay a certain distance and alert bark.
9. Smart. Can solve problems on the fly, including mid-course corrections.
8 Affectionate. Though not velcro, they do seek contact from you at certain times of the day. Like right now. I am typiing with half a dog laying on my right forearm. It's a good thing I work out.
7. Energetic. They were bred to run fast and pull hard in the worst conditions on this planet and eat very little food. So, they have an extremely efficient metabolism and loads of energy. They could run for dozens of miles or hang around the house. But their playfulness will drag you out of the house and you will be running around like a fool trying to keep up with a dog that is one of the fastest breeds there is.
6. Playful, see above. Without specific training, most Huskies' version of fetch is you throw the ball, they get it, and then take off and you are supposed to catch them.
5 Independent. As a breed, they had to run in front while hearing the musher's call but would stop a team if they sensed a danger ahead. This is a lifesaver in northeastern Siberia. Which makes it interesting to train them in obedience. So, they don't have to listen to you if their instincts tell them otherwise. They do what they do for a reason. You need to be that reason.
4 Hearty and rugged. There is no day that is too cold. As a breed, they can withstand average winter temps of -70 F. And they play hard. A good reason to train them not to jump on people is that a 20 mph flying tackle of 60 lb love can knock you over.
3 Awesome beauty. It has been considered by some that they descended from asian wolves. Whatever is the case, they have retained much of the wild canid look. Until the 20th century, they were never bred for comformation or a particular look. They were bred for workability and temperment. They were expected to sleep with the kids and keep them warm and safe. But I find their beauty to be magnificent. For the last 3 years or so, my calendars have either been Huskies or dog sled racing. No other calendar has really interested me.
2 A heart as big as Texas, or Alaska, or any other superlative reference I can think of. They will work their heart out for you. A team can pull a couple of hundred pounds at about 20 mph for a couple of hours and will keep going unless you pull over for a break.
1 Loyalty. They will bond with you and they are pack-oriented, for lack of a better phrase. Wait, what's that smell? See ya ....
I used to fear that but Shadow could jump the 4 foot fence we have. Either he doesn't know how or he doesn't want to. I'd like to brag that it's the latter.