Should I add a third dog... siberian? Opinions please...

Personaly, I'd think twice about adopting a "retired" mushing dog.  Siberians have that want to run, and I'd think that with this one, that want would be more intense (does that make sense?).  I wouldn't count on ever being able to trust her off leash, either.  Sibes in general aren't trustworthy off leash.  I'd think that a retired musher would be even less so.
 
You've hit upon my concern with the cats.  Our Sibe/GSD was great with cats, as long as he knew they were supposed to be there.  Others would get chased, but nothing more serious.  Now the purebred Siberian I had was another story- he was a cat killer. [sm=sad.gif]
 

House training a kennel dog... yikes (though i have noticed she is very neat, she uses only a small place in her area as the bathroom)... we would have to crate train her and tile our "dog room".

 
Another red flag, in my opinion.  I never did get my purebred Siberian housetrianed.  He came to me as an adult- just under 2.  Found out he would use newspaper inside, tho.  Still, cleaning up after an almost 2 year old dog every day is no picnic.  Also, be prepared that this dog may never adapt to being a housedog.  While our Siberian/GSD would come in, I had to force him to, and he really couldn't wait to get back outside.  Not that being outside was so bad for him- he had a totaly insulated doghouse with a sun porch, and we spent so much time outside anyway that he wasn't lonely.
 
Just in case you think I'm down on Siberians, I'm not.  I absolutely love them.  They have incredible personalities, but can be very hard to keep- they're escape artists and can be very destructive.

good points!!!
I know of several retired alaskans that did great with housetraining, but I haven't heard about any siberians either way. Did you crate train? I know that DH woudl NOT do well with a dog that could not be housetrained...
I used to foster retired greyhounds that were not trained and had very few issues though there were those few that we were never totally sucesful. i wonder if it is a Siberian trait that makes them difficult to housetrain?
She is young... around 2 give or take. She doesn't have the "miles" on her that the other retired dogs have. Her previous owner was sporadic in the training of the dogs and from what I've put together she spent a lot of time just chained . Currently she pulls for ten miles maybe three times a week. She can't keep up with the main teams since she is so small and short so she isn't out everyday or for long distances.

We are avid hikers...several times a week around 10-14 miles a pop, so the kennel owner seems to think she'd adapt to that level of acitivity, but it sounds like you have different experiences... I too worry that she wouldn't have her activity levels met. I do know that it is unlikely she'll find a home up here that will keep her more active than us... there just aren't very many people getting into the sport with the winters we've been having. i might pick up ski-joring or bike-joring to give her more excercise.
As for the off leash... it's a toss up, at the kennel there are several sibes and alaskans that we do let off leash commonly and they are very reliable, others cannot be trusted. She has not been tested in this respect since she hasn't been there for more than a few months.

In 3 years I'll probably be developing my own team so at that point she'd be able to join in but it's a real long time for her to wait.

maybe I should do a cat test with her? There are several cats that live inside with the owner and the retired alaskans... i could prolly arrange a test...

I've thought about the destructiveness thing... currently our dog have their own "dog room" when we leave for the day it's a mud room with dog heating pads (metal covered wires), Kuranda dog beds (not chewable ) and safe toys like kongs. There is nothing else in the room... we did this after our lab ate the couch and most of a forty pound bag of dog food. I wonder if this would be enough to contain her or would she chew the walls? Our backyard is fully fenced (6feet) but I thought about the digging... maybe burying an electric fence wire.. i read that worked?

I seperated my cat from the Sibes.  She was old and really couldn't deal with them.  Everything else you said sounds like a "green light", to me!  You obviously know this dog very well.  She is lovely, looking at her picture.  You have the best suitable lifestyle, hiking and potential mushing later?  She is small and would crate easily if you wanted to get her transitioned to inside.  Sounds like her life could be very content with you.  If she has been chained more than not, she is probably less likely to run off.  I would never let her run without leash.  That seems to be the thing that give the inkling and the thought that they can if they want.  And I believe it is true, that you should be careful about the escape artist in them, utilize tall fencing, with underground support - you can put your fence down in a trench a foot or so, they love to dig and can get out.  It is there and I have heard of the "stopping" of chickens, they don't eat, just stop them permanently. 
 
With cats, very careful and constant watch if they are sharing same space, otherwise in a crate or outside to assure safety.

ORIGINAL: outdoorschik
. ..Did you crate train? ...

No, had never heard of a crate at that time (it was around 1979).  To be honest, I knew nothing about the breed, other than that they were beautiful, and had no clue that they weren't good "farm" dogs.  I ended up rehoming Tahsko with a family that had a lot of Siberian experience (and he still managed to get loose a few times).
 
 

...i wonder if it is a Siberian trait that makes them difficult to housetrain?

I don't know- the mix we had was great in the house-he just didn't like being inside.  And our son's Sibe is pretty good- it's my son and his wife that are the problem at times.  But, like I said before, my purebred wasn't so good in the house.
 
[quote...We are avid hikers...several times a week around 10-14 miles a pop, so the kennel owner seems to think she'd adapt to that level of acitivity, but it sounds like you have different experiences...

From what you've said, that sounds like it might be enough for her, especially since she doesn't have the miles on her the others do. You can always fall back to playing in the yard or a field with her on a long line if you find your hiking miles aren't enough for her.

...maybe I should do a cat test with her? There are several cats that live inside with the owner and the retired alaskans... i could prolly arrange a test...

I think that is an excellent idea (not just for a Sibe, but any dog)! 
 
It sounds like you've thought this through more than I realized.  As I said before, I love Siberians.  I just hate seeing them end up in homes where the owners don't have a clue (like when I had my first one).
 
 
 

Another special quality S.huskies share is the acknowledgement of rules.  If you stick with a rule, they are obediant.  They live to please you.  They are incredibly full of humor.  Playing games, tricky games, they love.  They do excellent with each other and the talk is wonderful.
 
My dogs do not bolt out the door.  They are never let loose.  If a Siberian is taught that the cat is a family member, he is less likely to bother the cat.  However, to be overly trusting may end up in a tragic mishap.  The dogs like to chase a thing that runs, or flies.  I never encourage chasing of squirrels etc. Think it may be true of just about any breed at that.

Mick'smom... don't feel bad... you really made me think! I did not consider the possibility that I might not be able to fully housetrain her or the fact that she might not *want* to be inside with us! I never thought about that and I know DH didn't... I think he's got this picture of her claming her spot in bed soon after she gets here and I know that would not be how it goes lol.
I need to be careful I don't jump into this because of emotion without having fully considered everything. I''ve always thought that it's never good to get another dog when you are not expressly "looking for and planning for" one. Last winter we almost got an alaskan pup... decided against it and I was very happy with that decision b/c Oliver had hip surgery a few months later and it would have been a nightmare managing his recovery and a puppy!

dogslife...yes, fence modifications would be in ordeer... I wonder if we could extend the one we have by adding to the bottom.. hmm, will have to work on that one.
As for the stopping of the chickens... lol you know, I had hoped to get some chickens in a few years...
The acknowledgement of the rules and living to please you is interesting... i've been trying to do some reading on training them, because even though I know how to train them to mush, I don't know about leash work and house stuff. I know they can be stubborn and bored easily... I know in sledding they hate stop and go or going in circles repetitively. What sorts of games do they like?

I would be a little concerned for the cat.
You must have a superior fence in dealing with Huskies.
But, the biggest concern I have is that the dog is a sled dog, that will be hard to break, and that will determine how many times she will try to escape, she will find a way.

She's sooo cute!
 
Personally, I don't believe that you should ever trust a siberian off leash.  I have tons of people tell me about the success that they've had, but I would never take the chance.  A few times, one of my dogs has gotten out of his enclosure and he has come when called each of those times.  I don't count him as reliable, I count myself as extremely lucky, and I still take just as much care to make sure he's secure.  My other two are smart little brats and will make a GAME out of running off.  They come in the yard 100%,  they'll even come at the 3 acre leash free park, but outside of that, no way.  They know when they're fenced in and when they're not...They'll come to me, sit in front of me, but when I reach to take their collars or reward, they jump backwards, ROO at me and run in circles![:@]
[linkhttp://www.gimpydogs.com/gimpystuff/trust.html]http://www.gimpydogs.com/gimpystuff/trust.html[/link]
 
I'm never willing to take that risk.  No amount of training would make me feel comfortable with it.
 
I hike successfully with 3 dogs.  I use hikes as an in-harness learning opportunity.  I use a skijor belt and hike canicross style. If she's a retired sled dog, does she know the commands, or might she follow the lead of your other dogs?  You could use these hikes to burn off energy until she can be properly leash trained (I'm assuming she isn't already).
 
I don't know if you've been bikejoring before, but lemme tell ya, it's the funnest thing EVER!  I'm serioulsy addicted, and I would jump at the opportunity to add a trained sled dog to my team!  You'll be hooked too after one time, I guarantee!
 
As for a fence, I have 3 siberians, and only a 5-foot fence.  I never trust them alone in the yard.  They've never challenged the fence (maybe that's luck!)  However, up at our cottage, the youngest one routinely escapes, so we have him on a tie-out, inside the fence.  I find if they get proper excersize, they're content to lounge around the house, and I actually have little need for the yard.  And if she's already used to being tied out, I'm sure she wouldn't mind.  You could set up a trolley system even, right out your back door!  
 
Now, I have 2 cats, and my dogs are great with them.  But they've been raised with them.  Perhaps you can give her a test to see how she reacts.  Even if she chases the cats, she may not hurt them.  Perhaps you could train her that the cats are a major no-no?  Like leaving a drag leash on her when she's not crated, and teach LEAVE IT?  If she's smart, she'll pick that up quick, and you would just have to monitor her when she's in the house all the time--which is always a good idea anyways![]
 
I guess I'm trying to say is that if I were in your shoes, I'd go for it.  I wouldn't try and get the sled dog out of her, I'd find an outlet for it. 

I'm glad you got some sensible responses.  I took a look at the pic and said "Take her!!!"  Is there anyway you could foster her to see how she adapts to your household?

Thanks everyone for the input!! You have no idea how much I appreciate it, since I'm such a sucker for this dog... lol.
Ihearthuskybutts...What is canicross style?? I was considering a skijorbelt or other "stretchy" belt desgned for hiking dogs..she dogs know the commands and while she has never been a leader she runs point (right behind the leader) for me when I take her out and I'd often found she will respond to a command before the leader and run into their butts when they are being stubborn lol. So yes, that method of hiking might work... I must look up "canicross" tho..
My other dogs run always off leash and are reliable... I do belive that it might be doable controlling three dogs on a hike if she was leaashed to me while the other two were free. I don't think she has had any leash training, but I may be mistaken.

As for our fence my dogs are never left alone outside I am too worried someone will come along and bother them, in fact one day I did catch two neighborhood kids bothering them when I went inside for a minute so now they don't even go out alone when I am home. I do however have a great set up for a trolley type tie out that I've never used but certainly could for her...

She doesn't seem obscenely prey based so I *think* I could train her to "leave it"... she knows "on by" for when we pass dogs, people, birds, and squirrels, etc while sledding/4wheeling. Some of the dogs get very distracted by passing something like that but she does not.

agilebasenji - yes, I do have the luxury of being able to "foster" her... I know the owner would take her back if things were going terribly (ie violent fights with my resident female) Also, I have thought that maybe if I do take her and train her and it is not ideal at least she is more adoptable for another household.

I won't stand in the way if a local musher wants her (doubtful) since obviously that's what she is bred to do and it may be three years before we move and are set up to have a team of dogs... it may be less though.

I think I will cat test her and also begin to take her for hikes with my dogs to get them used to her over the next couple months. I think Snickers will be able to adapt to any dog given time...

I, myself would go for it, but then I am known to be a sucker for some difficult breeds.
 
Just prepare yourself for a lot of work, and don't give up..............Good luck[]

How do you think that your other two dogs will accept her?  I am telling you to go get that dog, but when I think about it for myself, I know that this would be a lot of adjustment in my household.  New dog, new environment, many adjustments.  Nevermind just worrying about the cats!
 
Also, you said something about electric fence.  Anything I have ever read says that these guys will rear up and just bolt through e fences...if they see something on the other side they want.
 
These guys get into trouble when they are bored...  Providing toys, place to play and great sports like hiking...will make Siberians very content.
 
It is easy to see why you are so taken with her.  My female is tiny too, as compared to the male who is growing and growing!  She has a smaller appetite and is as sweet as a little princess. 
 
Siberian huskies are addictive and just wonderful to have around.  Limits and fixed rules make them especially wonderful pets.
 
Best wishes to you with that decision. 

dogslife.. hehe don't worry about it.. I'm pretty much the same... diving headfirst and then thinking.. oops and yes, she is easy to be taken with, a "little dainty princess" is fitting... the picturs don't do her justice.
As for the fence, like I said it is 6 foot (wooden), however I read (although I am learning not to trust everything I read off the internet lolol) that some husky owners bury an electric fence wire right under the fence and put one along the top... not the e-collar ones, the ones for cattle/horses, etc that you can control the current and that apparently after one zap the dogs stay away from it. I remember reading here about someone who went that route with an escape artist dog as well. however it is probably completely unecessary as i would never leave them out by themselves anyway...