Fun Canidae Forum (candidae = dog, wolf, fox)

I think we all need to stop assuming that every new person that shows up is an adult.  Lately we have jumped all over a bunch of kids for things we take for granted. 

 
I'm not disagreeing with you, but at 16 I had still had that same feeling (heck, it was ONLY 3 year ago ). Sure, I still think it would be cool (for me) to have a pet cougar or wolf, but I know the animal wouldn't be happy... if that were the case, I will have wronged the animal.
 
Zach, I agree that a husky would be a better option, but make sure you research heavily before you decide. I have a malamute (which, although there are slight differences, are basically giant huskies) and she's almost 18months old. Just now, she is starting to calm down to a point where I can leave her alone for 5 minutes while I go to the bathroom  or make myself lunch.  Huskies also cannot ever be off lead in an unenclosed area. Some can get to a point where they have a 100% reliable recall, but that it very rare. They generally have a high prey drive and are very independant. They can be difficult to train (not because they are stupid, but because they are so very intelligent). I found the only training method that works for Maddi is dang near 100% positive reinforcement. I recommend reading a book like Culture Clash before getting a husky... boy, do I wish I had... things would have gone a lot smoother, lol.
 
Anyway, do you have to have puppy? Generally, tons of huskies end up in shelters because that cute little pup is so "ill behaved" (inexperienced, irresponsible owners buy a cutsie pup and don't know enough about the breed and expect it to act like a lab). I am sure you could find one on [linkhttp://petfinder.com]http://petfinder.com[/link].

I'll be sure to look into that book and do all the required research. I'd never just get rid of a dog because its ill behaved, if it was, then I just need to do a bit more 'harsher' training, although I don't like to and hope don't need to. . .  Oh, does anyone have good names, that I could name my Husky when i get one?

(I noticed that a lot of your avatars are bigger than the set limit on my forum so now I made it that your avatars can fit on my forum as well, if you guys joined.)

ORIGINAL: TheWhiteFox

I'm actually looking for a husky right now, have been for several months. I can't find any, within my price range which is about 300-400 dollars.

There are untold numbers of wonderful huskies who need homes right here in Fairbanks. If you want a great dog and are into taking a vacation to Alaska, you'd go home with at least one gorgeous husky!!! And probably for free or cheap from the shelter!!! Look on petfinder.com and look up Fairbanks, Alaska and husky.

ORIGINAL: TheWhiteFox

I'll be sure to look into that book and do all the required research. I'd never just get rid of a dog because its ill behaved, if it was, then I just need to do a bit more 'harsher' training, although I don't like to and hope don't need to. . .  Oh, does anyone have good names, that I could name my Husky when i get one?

 
I didn't mean to imply that you would do that... just that a lot of people actually do that and there are a ton of siberians that end up in a shelter because of it.
 
In my reading and experience, "harsher" training will make a stubborn mal/sibe more stubborn. It can also lead to you getting bitten. You must be a benevolent leader to them. IMO, an ill behaved dog is one that most likely needs good training.
 
I think you'll like Culture Clash, it goes into canine behavior quite a bit [].
 
Sorry, I'm not good with naming things [&o]. You might want to look into names derived from nordic languages.

eh . . . hmm . . . dang, my family aint that rich. I actually want to move to Alaska when I am able to move out. So  it may be a while longer before I can get an alaskan husky.

ORIGINAL: pumaward

I didn't mean to imply that you would do that... just that a lot of people actually do that and there are a ton of siberians that end up in a shelter because of it.

In my reading and experience, "harsher" training will make a stubborn mal/sibe more stubborn. It can also lead to you getting bitten. You must be a benevolent leader to them. IMO, an ill behaved dog is one that most likely needs good training.

I think you'll like Culture Clash, it goes into canine behavior quite a bit [].

Sorry, I'm not good with naming things [&o]. You might want to look into names derived from nordic languages.

 
Ah, well. I'm not experience with training dogs, so maybe I should talk to you more often, []. I'd learn valualbe tips.

You'd get tonnes of valuable tips here if you stick around.  Pumaward is right.  Huskies need lots of positive reinforcement or they will just find something they like to do better.  An Alaskan husky is not a husky from Alaska.  Necessarily.  Alaskan Huskies are a type of dog bred for performance.  Usually from spitz type dogs but not always.  Some look like labs, some look like huskies, some look totally different.  There are lots around here too.  I live in Ontario and we get alot of snow, so husky types are prominent.  Where abouts are you?

I live west of there, Idaho, USA. (Just about everybody doesn't know where Idaho is, I hate it and want to move back to Washington state, but if I had a choice, Alaska it is.)

LOL try living in a province that takes 3 days to cross by car, has millions of people, live at one side of it and then try to tell people you dont know Mike Somethingorother that lives on the other side in Toronto.  The joke here is we have 10 months of winter and 2 months of bad skiing.  For my dogs sake I wish that were true but in reality we really only have snow for about 5 months and my dogs can only pull in that snow for about 3 of it because the rest of the time its slush.

Get a husky. I own 3 and trust me they are as close to wild animals as i would ever want to own. They have a strict heirchy, a prey drive that has to be met everyday, a need to run in big open spaces, and a stubborn mind that tries with all its might to make them disobey. When you own a husky and treat it the way it deserves to be treated, and not like you believe a dog should be treated, then you start to develop a keen awareness of the needs of other creatures. Huskies do not conform well to the average dog owners perception of how dogs should be handled.

 
A big amen to that. Consider carefully before getting a husky. Not only do they look like a wolf, if that is what you want, they have some of the independence, intelligence, prey drive, and definitely the running speed and endurance of one. Huskies, when they so desire can run at 30 mph for ten minutes or more. The metabolisms are similar. A slow metabolism to conserve energy from little food.

WhiteFox, I don't know where you live but I live near Sherman, Texas and have visited the animal shelter a few times, including last month. There was one purbred siberian and another I think may have been mixed, or just colored and coated a little differently. That is, you can find purebreds at the shelter. And the cost is lower. At Sherman ACC, it is $44. That covers adoption fee, rabies vaccination, and spay or neuter at a supporting local vet.

A number of people have named their huskies with inuit names. But originally, the siberian husky was the chukchi dog of far northeastern Siberia, near the Bering Sea. Sorry, I don't know their language, yet.
 
But you can call them anything you want.

I live in Idaho, about 500 miles away from texas border.

I was wondering when you'd show up Ron. 

Listen to this guy WhiteFox.  He knows his stuff when it comes to Huskies.  Sometimes he likes to ramble on a bit, and it gets kind of boring.  But once in a great while you hear something he hasnt told you ten times before!  [] Ducks and runs for cover.

(oopsy, nevermind)