A bit about Siberian Huskies that I have learned so far:
Huskies are very playful, loving, affectionate and yes – very mischievous dogs. They are headstrong and very independent. They absolutely hate to be left alone. Leave them alone for any length of time and you will have some serious explaining to do. If they don’t like the reason for why you had to leave them alone, they will make you pay for it. If you’d like to have a dog that you can have around only at your convenience – forget a Husky! Huskies need to be an absolute active part of the family. Try to ignore them and they will quickly remind you not to do that.
Huskies need a lot of daily exercise. And not just a walk to the mailbox. Anything less than 1-2 hours and you’ll have a cranky husky on your hands. If they don’t get it they will quickly create their own exercise routine at the cost of your belongings and your sanity.
Get them involved in what you’re doing. You think I’m kidding? I installed hardwood floors several months ago. I tried to do it myself. They were having no part of being left out of the installation process. They were right there with me watching and supervising. Cabela was the onsite supervisor. Ravyn was the county inspector. Every board I put down they had to inspect and watch it go down. They quickly got used to the air gun nailer and I was afraid they would want to start using it also.
Huskies will tolerate occasionally sitting back and relaxing if they see that you have a good reason to give them a day off. But sit around and watch a movie or just relax and all three of them are on top of you to play or take them for a walk or better yet, rub their bellies. If you stand in one spot too long thinking about what it is you we’re doing, they start to howl as if to say, “Hey old man!! If you’re just going to stand there doing nothing you can take us out for a walk.” If you’re just going to stand there, you’d better explain to them why you’re not doing something. I kid you not!!
This morning I decided it was time to start folding the many loads of freshly laundered wash sitting on the bed. No sooner did I grab a shirt to start folding when Canela jumped up into the bed on top of the pile of wash with clothes going in all directions. Once Canela was satisfied with the comfort factor of the bed she went right down on her back and exposed her belly. The look on her face was, “I don’t know what you’re doing old man but it can’t possibly be more important than rubbing my belly.”
I tried to ignore her and kept on folding more clothes when Cabela jumped up and wanted to supervise my clothes folding style. I quickly learned that Cabela didn’t agree with my folding abilities as the folded clothes were moved to the floor. Immediately Ravyn ran into the bedroom at which point I knew I was finished folding clothes. All I could do was laugh and jump onto the bed with them and relocate the rest of the clothes to the floor.
So life with Huskies is not something for the faint of heart. You don’t have an occasional Husky. One who is around when you want and then they go away when your finished with them. They are in your face. In your routine. In your life. All the time. Make them part of everything you do and you will have very happy Huskies. Love them and include them in your life no matter what your doing or where you go and they will give back to you 1000 times more love than what you give to them.