Husky or Shepherd: Which is best for me (New question...see last post)

ORIGINAL: angelabarry

I have a Siberian, Bandit, who is 8 yrs old now.  He has lived with us since he was a pup.  Starting at 8 wks, we (between myself, my husband and my teenage daughter) spent literally 24/7 with him until he was about 6 months old.  During that time he received constant training and companionship.  It was A LOT of work, but the end result was well worth it. 

Bandit is a dog who has (so far) 100% reliable recall, although I would never leave him unattended in an unfenced area. He loves to play fetch, and is very friendly with everyone he has met. He loves kids. He loves toys. He loves riding in the car and is comfortable with new situations. He isn't food aggressive or particularly prey driven  He is thrilled to see us when we get home. He is affectionate, yet not a velcro dog, meaning he is fine with laying in the other room and not under my feet.  He sleeps beside our bed and always has.

He also sheds an incredible amount. He "talks" a lot, and always has to have the last word. I don't think he ever layed down the first 6 weeks he lived here (boundless energy). He can be quite stubborn. If we weren't paying close attention to him outside when unleashed, I know he would wander away.  He typically has a 1 acre fenced area to be in with the other dogs at home.

The bottom line, for us anyway, was that we ended up with an excellent dog, but not without many many hours of hard work and training.  If you have that kind of time and energy to put into a husky, you can end up with a dog who you have a wonderful relationship and bond with.  If you get one without having the time to put into him, he will likely end up at the shelter or tied up out back somewhere alone, as far too many huskies do.

Hope this is helpful!

 

ORIGINAL: ron2

Hey there. Siberian Huskies are my favorite breed. You can train any dog to retrieve, it's just easier with a retriever. You throw a ball to a Lab, he'll bring it back to you. You throw a ball to a Husky, he'll take off at about 35 miles per hour and expect you to catch him. Sibes, as a breed, are a working dog. But dogs from a working line would be a special case indeed. These are bred athletes. The can sustain speeds of over 30 mph for 10 minutes or more. In a team, they can pull a sled loaded with supplies and a human at 20 mph for a couple of hours at a time. So, they have the strength, energy, and endurance to do this. And want to do this. Every day. Sibes are a bit aloof at first. They are not usually good guard dogs.

There have been Sibes that win off-leash obedience awards. And a few of those have run off. There was one case of a Sibe that got out and ran to a friend's house, about 30 miles away. The guy received a phone call from his friend about an hour after the dog got out that he was hanging his place. The dog averaged 30 miles an hour for an hour. And they want to do this every day.

All dogs shed but Huskies blow coat, where they shed enough fur to make another dog. During the blow, biggest in the spring, you will need to comb or brush every day to help dislodge the old fur.

Huskies are good with humans and like to play and play hard. 60 + lbs of love with a top speed of 40 mph coming at ya.

So, let me give you the mantra. Train, train, train, train, train, train, ....did I say train? Well, in case I didn't, train.


FWIW, I didn't know squat about Sibes before getting Shadow, a Siberian Husky/Lab mix. But I rose to the challenge. Good for you for researching before you do anything. In the end, follow your heart. Get the dog you want to have with you, regardless of breed. Don't get a dog someone else says you should have because of their own requirements. Just be ready that this is a commitment that can last 10 to 20 years.

Ace's Mom has a dog just like Shadow but Ace retrieves more readily than Shadow does. But in each of our cases, I think, the Husky part is the predominant characteristic.

 
Thanks to both of you for your descriptive replies. They are very insightful and have helped me better understand the Husky frame of mind. Let me provide some background on how my life will be and then maybe you can help provide more input. I will likely have a full time job(typical 8-5) starting this spring. I am not sure where I will be living but it may be far from any family/friends. I see my dog being my companion/friend. When I get home from work I would like to go for a run/walk with my dog or just take it outside to have some fun. I would probably go eat then come back and likely play with the dog inside/outside depending on the day for some part of the remainder of the night. Is this enough time to spend with a Husky or would it get bored? Would this even be adequet for a GSD? I don't see how I could spend more time without being married to someone with no/part-time job.
 
I have heard a suggestion that it would be better to get two dogs so they can entertain one another while I would be at work(assuming I got them 1-2 years old). Is this a bad idea?
 
Lastly, I would be worried that since a GSD is a velcro dog that I wouldn't be accepted as its owner if I didn't care for it since it was a baby. Is this the case or do they take on new loyalties fairly quickly?
 
Again I appreciate everyone answering my newbie questions. Thanks for your time.

I think you should assume that whatever husky you get will not be trustworthy off-leash. Some may be, but odds are not in your favor. With a husky mix, or just any mix, the foster home or shelter should be able to let you know which dogs seem to be escape artists, which ones like to stick by your side, etc. My dog was listed on petfinder.com as a shepherd/husky mix, really she is probably heinz 57, and she has characteristics that don't all fit just one breed - which is great!

I have heard a suggestion that it would be better to get two dogs so they can entertain one another while I would be at work(assuming I got them 1-2 years old). Is this a bad idea?

 
You will not want to get two dogs at the same time.... get one, give yourself a chance to bond and develop a solid routine and relationship with that dog, work out it's training issues, then maybe 2 years later look at getting a second dog.
 
We both work 8-9 hours per day, and our dog stays home by herself when we're gone. I wake up at 5:30am so that I can take the dog for a walk and run around before leaving, then she just sleeps all day.

I'm completely ignorant about Huskys so shall stick to something I know........
 
I would NEVER EVER suggest a gsd for a first time dog owner.  I've owned dogs for years...all my adult life, which is considerable.  I've even had gsd mixes.  Nothing can prepare you for a gsd pup.  They are wonderful dogs, but gosh darn, you absolutely MUST be three steps ahead of them at ALL times.
 
Mine love stuffies......they love to KILL stuffies.  So who knew that the sofa looked like a GIANT stuffie??  Who knew that DH's new wall hugging lazboy would be a target for those stuffie seeking teeth?  Who knew that you can't run up to the corner for milk and leave a gsd pup uncrated for 10 minutes if you expect to come home to a house in one piece? Who KNEW that a wallet placed on a high dresser would suddenly call to a dog in the middle of the night to be eaten?  Ever had to call for a replacement credit card because "the dog ate it"??  Explain the chewed up drivers licence to DMV...... My OTHER dogs never did stuff like that.
 
So, you have to be really READY for a gsd, and you have to know all the wonderful qualities they have and how to USE that super intelligence and how to channel that incredible energy and how to keep them physically and mentally occupied 24/7.
 
Reality check here.  You are a young adult, getting out on your own soon, first job, first REAL life experiences.  There is a whole WORLD for you to explore, new folks to meet, new friends to make, and a LOT of stuff to keep you awfully busy.  Absolutely not a time for a pup.  An older dog, absolutely.  And even maybe start with a MIX from a shelter, but please don't start out with a gsd pup.
 
And, thank you for being responsible and researching BEFORE you choose a companion to share your life.  Lets add a tiny bit more to your thoughts......be sure that the dog you choose is well socialized to other animals and kids.  Cuz even if you don't want any now, the right person might come along and change your mind.  And the animal you bring home is a commitment you can't break because s/he suddenly doesn't like the kids.  Think about the possibilities down the road before you act.

I love the descriptions of the husky above.  You know the Siberian is different than the Alaskan, or Malamute?
 
My greatest concern is that you have never had a dog to care for before.  Asking questions is great, and you can see how involved people are here with their loving companions.  However, when you first bring home your puppy, it is not altogether different from a human baby.  The needs are endless.  And you may have "criteria" and your own "agenda", but the fact is no matter what brand dog you find, mutt to GSD to husky,   you will be totally responsible for the little guy that will grow to chew stuff, make messes that stink and test your sense of temperament.  They all shed.  Health care is very important and it is expensive.  You can't save money on that.
 
I think you have to prepare yourself for the idea that the dog has growth and developmental changes.  They go through and "adolescent phase".  They may stop chewing up stuff, and then you find the 2nd level of chewing- and your sofa is turned into a peice of garbage- (and you thought he was all done with that phase! ; )
 
A lot of dogs are delivered to the shelters at this point in the poor beast's life.  People just dont' want to deal with it anymore.  Having a list of needs all about what you want is normal i guess, but I wish that more would realize that you get what you get, and unconditional love, teaching, attention, grooming, health care, training, exercise, safety in your home and outside of your home are all essential for you to provide your puppy to adult, old age.
 
Most of the criteria should be what you can do for any dog you decide to take responsibility for.  How a dog learns will be so reliant upon what you have to offer him.

One option is a breed rescue associated with the AKC parent club.  These organizations typically have a method to evaluate dogs and match them well.  It is not a quick or easy process but it can be wonderful.  You also get a network of support following the adoption, often like what you find in a responsible breeder situation.
 
You can be a first time owner, but it is not easy.  My first dog as an adult was a doberman.  It was a nightmare at first in some ways (destruction of property) but the training was ok because I started in puppy class and only stopped for the summer lay off.  She was my first competition dog so daily training in multiple environments was part of her life.  It made all the difference in the world.

If you are looking for more forgiving and easier to learn breeds, consider sporting and SOME non sporting.
 
Any dog can be the wrong dog for a first time owner.  Do your homework, go to dog shows and meet the people and the dogs, go to training classes and observe, read training books and breed books.  Get prepared, be prepared to seek help from the network you have established and go from there.  Herding dogs and working dogs are a bit tougher to deal with initially but if you stay with it in classes and training, they are a joy to behold.

Everybody here already gave you great advice.
 
I simply would not suggest a Husky or GSD for a person who never owned a dog before.

we have a sibe/lab mix. he is definitely a handful! it is hard to understand the amount of exercise these types of dogs need until you own one. somedays i think sydney could run full bore from sun-up til sun-down and still have energy to burn. other days he is a total couch potato (but these days are few and far between). of course he is just over a year old, so he is very much still a puppy.

i belong to a sibe email list and have gotten some good info about the breed from it...
http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-pluto.exe?A0=SIBERNET-L

check it out and you can hear directly from sibe owners what their charateristics are. the people on this list vary from single dog owners to multiple dog owners.

good luck what ever breed of dog you choose. []

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I'm completely ignorant about Huskys so shall stick to something I know........

I would NEVER EVER suggest a gsd for a first time dog owner.  I've owned dogs for years...all my adult life, which is considerable.  I've even had gsd mixes.  Nothing can prepare you for a gsd pup.  They are wonderful dogs, but gosh darn, you absolutely MUST be three steps ahead of them at ALL times.

Mine love stuffies......they love to KILL stuffies.  So who knew that the sofa looked like a GIANT stuffie??  Who knew that DH's new wall hugging lazboy would be a target for those stuffie seeking teeth?  Who knew that you can't run up to the corner for milk and leave a gsd pup uncrated for 10 minutes if you expect to come home to a house in one piece? Who KNEW that a wallet placed on a high dresser would suddenly call to a dog in the middle of the night to be eaten?  Ever had to call for a replacement credit card because "the dog ate it"??  Explain the chewed up drivers licence to DMV...... My OTHER dogs never did stuff like that.

So, you have to be really READY for a gsd, and you have to know all the wonderful qualities they have and how to USE that super intelligence and how to channel that incredible energy and how to keep them physically and mentally occupied 24/7.

Reality check here.  You are a young adult, getting out on your own soon, first job, first REAL life experiences.  There is a whole WORLD for you to explore, new folks to meet, new friends to make, and a LOT of stuff to keep you awfully busy.  Absolutely not a time for a pup.  An older dog, absolutely.  And even maybe start with a MIX from a shelter, but please don't start out with a gsd pup.

And, thank you for being responsible and researching BEFORE you choose a companion to share your life.  Lets add a tiny bit more to your thoughts......be sure that the dog you choose is well socialized to other animals and kids.  Cuz even if you don't want any now, the right person might come along and change your mind.  And the animal you bring home is a commitment you can't break because s/he suddenly doesn't like the kids.  Think about the possibilities down the road before you act.

 
I think I have been fully convinced that getting a puppy is not a good idea when I will be living alone and have a full time job. What age would you suggest looking at? As I said before, GSD are attached to their owner so I would worry about getting one that was too old and wouldn't ever be happy with me.

I wouldn't worry in the slightest about the dog not becoming attached to you... after all, these are dogs who have been abandoned or found as strays, living in a shelter or often crowded foster environment. An adopted GSD, or other dog, will be in heaven when they see what it's like to have a home and person to themselves. It will not take that long to bond with your adopted dog. I think 2-4 years is a nice age, as their personalities are fully developed, and you should hopefully not have any adolescence to deal with.

I rehomed a gal who was  a foster I thot would just stay with us.  She came to us at less than six weeks and was almost 14 months when she went to her new home.  My female was just too cranky about having another bitch in the house.  She is doing GREAT in her new home and bonded very quickly with her new Mom.

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

I wouldn't worry in the slightest about the dog not becoming attached to you... after all, these are dogs who have been abandoned or found as strays, living in a shelter or often crowded foster environment. An adopted GSD, or other dog, will be in heaven when they see what it's like to have a home and person to themselves. It will not take that long to bond with your adopted dog. I think 2-4 years is a nice age, as their personalities are fully developed, and you should hopefully not have any adolescence to deal with.

 
that's about the age I was thinkiing of. Just past development to where you know what you are getting. That's great to hear that they wouldn't have a tough time bonding either.
 
Out of curiosity...I found this picture...does anyone know what type of dog it is if not a mix? Looks like a husky but a lil bigger maybe a malamute?
 [linkhttp://i3.caedes.net/images/resize/1280x1024/d_spin_9-1140679192.jpg]http://i3.caedes.net/images/resize/1280x1024/d_spin_9-1140679192.jpg[/link]
 

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I'm completely ignorant about Huskys so shall stick to something I know........

I would NEVER EVER suggest a gsd for a first time dog owner.  I've owned dogs for years...all my adult life, which is considerable.  I've even had gsd mixes.  Nothing can prepare you for a gsd pup.  They are wonderful dogs, but gosh darn, you absolutely MUST be three steps ahead of them at ALL times.

Mine love stuffies......they love to KILL stuffies.  So who knew that the sofa looked like a GIANT stuffie??  Who knew that DH's new wall hugging lazboy would be a target for those stuffie seeking teeth?  Who knew that you can't run up to the corner for milk and leave a gsd pup uncrated for 10 minutes if you expect to come home to a house in one piece? Who KNEW that a wallet placed on a high dresser would suddenly call to a dog in the middle of the night to be eaten?  Ever had to call for a replacement credit card because "the dog ate it"??  Explain the chewed up drivers licence to DMV...... My OTHER dogs never did stuff like that.

So, you have to be really READY for a gsd, and you have to know all the wonderful qualities they have and how to USE that super intelligence and how to channel that incredible energy and how to keep them physically and mentally occupied 24/7.

Grrrrr I hate it when that happens.. I meant to say with the above quote... That those are excellent points!  When my boyfriend moved in with his 2 year old GSD that had never eaten anything or torn anything up in her entire life, was left alone in my house for the first time out of her crate..... she ate.... the garbage, all the wicker baskets my plants were in, a fan, his cell phone charger, part of my couch, and two of my kids' matresses.  Although she does get crated when we leave now and is capabe of escaping if we don't put a clamp on her crate in just such a way she can't get her teeth on it to chew it off, she's much better now as long as we put the garbage out of sight! She hasn't eaten anything since.

I'm not sure how you came to these two breed choices; from your described schedule, I don't think you would be able to adequately exercise a husky nor adequately provide work for a GSD. How about going here [linkhttp://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbreeds/index.html]http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbreeds/index.html[/link]  and browse the breeds?
If you want a fairly easy to train frisbee dog that won't drive you nuts with intensive exercise demands and the need to work, how about a standard poodle, a collie, or an adult lab?