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Are Siberian Huskies
good guard dogs?
Not
particularly. They are however a good deterrent due to their wolfish appearance.
They have been bred for generations to be friendly towards human beings
and so do not have guard dog instincts. They would probably lick a intruder
to death.
Are Siberians good with children?
Yes, they are, but it should be borne in mind that Siberians are very
playful so if you have a toddler that is not too secure on his feet the
dog might knock him over unintentionally. They love lots of activity and
will never intentionally bite or otherwise harm a child. As any dog should
not be left alone with any child in it's young age.
Do all Siberians have blue eyes?
No, not all Siberians have blue eyes although it is quite a common for
the normal population to think so, The Siberian husky has many eye and
coat colours in the breed. Other colours include brown, yellow and green.
Some dogs have got bi-coloured eyes which means one eye of one colour
while the other eye is a different colour. Some dogs have got parti-coloured
eyes which means, for instance, a brown eye with a blue area in it or
some other combination in one eye. This is not a fault, merely a matter
of pigmentation. It is therefore quite acceptable in the breed.
Are blue eyed dogs sensitive to sunlight?
No, Siberians are generally not overly sensitive to sunlight due to the
fact that they would suffer from snow blindness if they were.
Do they suffer in hot climates?
They become a bit less active and find cool areas to lie in but their
coats insulate them from heat as well as cold. It is not a good idea to
heavily exercise your dog in the height of a summer but on the whole they
cope pretty well. They are light boned animals and so dissipate heat quite
easily.
Are Siberians part wolf?
People commonly are of the romantic belief that Siberians are part wolf,
but they are not. They are a domesticated dog breed that has been used
and bred by man for many centuries. They are often used in movies to depict
wolves which practice is largely responsible for perpetuating this myth.
Do Siberians need large areas to live in?
No they don't. When released into the much larger exercise area they run
around for about twenty minutes and then return of their own accord to
the kennel. Obviously there are practical limits on this and it would
be cruel to keep a Siberian in a very small area.
Is a Siberian an easily trained dog?
Not really. They are highly intelligent and often their disobedience is
not because they don't understand what you require but rather because
they just don't want to do what you are asking. They are strong willed
and can be quite insolent, simply disregarding their owners. On the other
hand, if your Siberian respects you it can be quite cooperative. There
are many Siberians Huskies that have obtained Obedience titles and also
Agility titles you just need to train a lot more than other breeds.
Do Siberians eat a lot?
No, they are generally light eaters, particularly in the warmer months.
However if they are active in dog sledding, pulling or other sport they
will eat more and will require more protein in their diet.
What do Siberians eat?
A good quality commercial dog food will provide a perfectly satisfactory
diet for your Siberian.
What sort of enclosure do Siberians require?
Good fences are essential. Siberians are running dogs and will start out
at the slightest opportunity. It can be really nerve racking scouring
the local animal shelters looking for your dog. You may never find it
so the best solution is to stop the problem before it starts. His first
dash outside may well be his last because of traffic.
Can a Siberian be trusted off the leash?
No, people often make the mistake of taking their dog to a park and releasing
it from the leash only to watch it disappear over the horizon. Being a
sled dog means that it is bred into the dog to run faster and farther
the louder you shout at it, so shouting "come here" isn't going
to work. Should you take a chance with this you'd better be a marathon
runner.
Are Siberians noisy animals?
They can be. They do not bark but they do howl on occasion as well as
make various lower levels of noise. As a rule they are not too noisy.
There is an operation to stretch their vocal cords and change them from
soprano to baritone should it become a problem this is called debarking.
Can Siberians live alone?
They are pack animals and don't cope very well with being alone. It will
be alright if there is a person or some other dog available for company.
The other dog need not be a Siberian.
Do Siberians get on with cats?
Only if they grow up with them. They might see a neighbours cat as a hunting
opportunity.
Are Siberians destructive?
All puppies are naughty, Siberians are no exception. They are intelligent
animals and can become inventively destructive if they are bored. They
dig holes in gardens and chew hosepipes. They grow out of these behaviours
eventually. Toys can distract them from your prize petunias.
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