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Adopting A Siberian Husky

As an alternative to buying a Siberian Husky puppy from a breeder you might want to consider adopting one from another owner, animal shelter or rescue operation. Each year millions (yes millions! according to the Humane Society) of dogs and cats are housed in shelters each year. You help to reduce this number when you adopt a Husky in need of a new home, but there are things you need to know first…

Why dogs are adopted out?

There are a number of reasons why animals are in need of a new home, some of which include:

• Pets lost and not claimed
• Owners who can no longer care for the pet by way of lifestyle change: moving location, family growth or split, etc
• Owners who are unable to afford to keep the pet
• And unfortunately, some pets are neglected and forcibly taken away from their owners

Keep an open mind when researching available adoptions. If a pet was abandoned it doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal is unhealthy or troublesome. Focus on the positive of trying to help an animal in need!

Availability

You can probably imagine that choice might be limited if you are looking to adopt a Siberian Husky. There simply might not be any of the breeds in need of rescue in your area. When you do find one, it might have been cross-bred and not look or behave exactly like the breed standard. Just like finding a puppy through a breeder, patience is the key.

Furthermore, the age of the dog will vary. You might find a puppy, a growing dog, or an older dog. This can be a good thing! Perhaps you are new to the breed and would like an older dog that has already undergone some training? Then adoption could be a convenient alternative to raising and training a puppy.

Health issues

Pretty much all rescue agencies and animal shelters will already have had the dog checked out for you. Vaccinations, de-worming, flea treatments, and de-sexing (neutering / spading) are likely to be part of the service. You can always get your own vet to check the animal out before committing.

Of course, some Siberians have been let go because of health issues, and these are likely to be identified to you when being introduced to a potential adoption animal. No particular health issue should stop you from adopting a Husky, but you might want to consider present and future costs if surgery is required. Again, your vet can help advise you on such issues.

Training issues

Siberian Huskies can be difficult to train at the best of times. If you are adopting a Husky puppy then you will have more control over training than if adopting a dog already trained (or not, or poorly trained, as the case may be). This shouldn’t stop you from adoption, but you do need to be aware that re-training an older Siberian with bad habits will require attention. But this is not that much different from training Husky puppies! Either way, your persistence will be rewarded with a well-behaved dog.

Where to adopt?

Firstly check your local animal welfare organizations, animal pounds, council rescues, etc. These are the places that sometimes struggle to adopt out animals and need your help. We have started putting together a list of Siberian Husky Rescue Organizations to help find one in your area.

Ask your local dog clubs, particularly Siberian Husky dog clubs, who will be able to recommend places to check out. Some dog clubs even run their own rescue service, helping to place Siberians into new homes.

Siberian Husky breeders should also be able to give you some advice on where to visit. Some breeders might also give away pets if they are struggling to find homes for a litter.

Finally, you can ask your vet for advice. They will have contact with local shelters and be able to give specific advice on what you should be looking for.

How much does it cost to adopt the dog?

Whilst some private owners might be willing to part with their dogs at no charge, organizations such as clubs, shelters, and rescue agencies are likely to charge a fee of between $50 and $200. This is to cover health checks, vaccinations, the de-sexing of the animal, microchipping, and of course help the organization’s survival. The fees charged are very reasonable for the service they give to your community.

Trial adoption agreement

Many times you will be able to take your adopted Siberian Husky home on a trail basis. In fact, some organizations require it, to ensure the animal is placed in the right home. The trial might last for a month and during this period you will be visited to see how well the animal is doing. We want to see if the Husky is warming up to your family and lifestyle, and a good “fit” is made. Sometimes matches don’t work out, or the trial extended. Keep in mind the agency is doing this for both your benefit, and the animal’s. If the animal is taken back it doesn’t mean you “failed”, it just means the match wasn’t a good one this time, but you can try again with another dog.

So there you go. We covered many issues to keep in mind when searching for a Husky to adopt, or as an alternative to purchasing a new Husky puppy.  Be patient with your search, spread yourself out to make contact with lots of organisations, and consider a trial placement once you think you have found your new family pet. By taking time at the start you will find an appropriate Husky for your lifestyle and share a great life together!

Siberian Husky vs Alaskan Malamute: Similarities and Differences

Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes; both look similar, and as their names suggest, originate from colder northern areas, but how similar or different are they? Read on…

Alaskan Malamute

The fundamental difference between Huskies and Malamutes are their size. Malamutes are true sled-pulling dogs, built larger, with more muscle mass, and bred for pulling heavier loads over long distances. Huskies, on the other hand, are a medium sized dog that are better at pulling lighter loads over shorter distances. The AKC breed standard for Alaskan Malamute puts males at around 85 pounds in weight and females at 75 pounds. In contrast the Siberian Husky standard puts males between 45 and 60 pounds, females 35-50 pounds, and a couple of inches shorter. For more information on how large a Husky can grow check out our previous research on this topic.

For this difference in size and function you would expect Huskies to be a little more energetic, and Malamutes a little more laid back.

Siberian Husky

In other physical characteristics both have similarly colored and similarly patterned coats; thick to repel snow and ice. Malamutes will tend to have brown eyes but Huskies might have brown, blue, or a mixture of both. The Malamute tail is going to curl more and the Husky is straight, but both can be bushy in nature to help them curl up and keep their faces warm in the cold snow at night.

Both the Husky and the Malamute are born to run and be outdoors. They are both “pack” animals meaning they need firm direction. As an owner you will need to be the “alpha dog” and command them through solid training from an early age, or they might run amuck.

Also in similarities is their loveable nature. Neither will make a good guard dog (unless the intruder is afraid of being licked to death). Neither will bark so much as howl, whine, or moan to attract attention. Groomed appropriately both can be very attractive and pretty.

So if you are considering adopting or acquiring a Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute, you now know how to tell them apart and their differences. Malamute puppies will grow in to a larger, stronger dog, built for pulling heavier loads over long distances. Husky puppies will grow in to a medium sized dog, less bulk, and more energetic over shorter distances. Whichever breed you choose both are loveable dogs who will test your training skills!

Red Siberian Huskies

Red Huskies

Siberian Huskies come in a variety of colors, from black/grey and white, to red and white, to pure white. Whilst the darker colors are more common, red Huskies are increasing in popularity. Here is the lowdown on the red coloring and what it means if you are considering adopting a Husky puppy.

Firstly there is not one definitive red color out there. You will find that ‘red’ covers everything from a lighter orange color to a darker chocolate color. In puppies the color that the coat will end up as might not be apparent. However, like many dogs, you can look at the color around the ears to get an idea of how dark the coat will get in an adult dog.

The red color itself is the result of a recessive gene passed through generations of Huskies. Whilst the black coloring is caused by a dominant gene, and hence more common, parents may be carrying the “red gene” and pass it on to their pups. If at least one of the parents is carrying this gene then the pups produced may be colored red, even if both parents are black.

It is important to note that color is not considered in the AKC standard for Siberian Husky coats. The AKC standard recognizes all coat colors from black to red to pure white. Color is of least importance when judging Huskies at dog shows. For these reasons, responsible Siberian Husky breeders will not breed for a particular color and rather breed to eliminate health issues such as eye and hip problems. Any breeder that breeds to encourage a red color should be avoided.

So if you are searching for a Husky puppy, or simply observing Huskies in clubs and at shows, the red coloring can be quite striking. But in the bigger scheme of things the coat color is not as important as a healthy dog resistant to longer term health issues.

For a more technical description of the genetics involved, you can read about it in Todd Wood’s article.

Housebreaking A Husky Puppy