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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think it's stupid to get a husky if you live in a city centre two bedroom apartment?

94 replies

SunshineSum · 04/06/2021 00:49

Because that's what my dickhead neighbours have done. Tiny wee flats, no garden, and they've got this frigging massive animal they let run around the fucking car park and on the scarce little bit of green space in front of the flats.

This isn't ok is it? Not in terms of dog or other residents? Please tell me I'm not wrong.

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 04/06/2021 11:53

I wish to god breeders would research their buyers and refuse them, but I think some breeders might be in it for the money as opposed to improving the breed! All respect to the recent poster who refused to sell a golden to someone who was moving into a flat.

I think it’s beyond stupid to buy the latest trending breed without thinking very hard about the original purpose of the dog. I deliberately bought a working dog so I could work it, I like high energy dogs and they get the required exercise plus have a big garden to run round. It’s cruel and stupid to buy a dog you can’t look after properly, but sadly incredibly common. On the reverse, a bloke near us has a pug that he runs with, poor thing looks like it’s going to expire momentarily. It is very short nosed, I know some pugs can cope, this one clearly can’t. 😢

CruCru · 04/06/2021 11:55

Where do you live? Don’t Huskies like really cold weather? It’ll be boiling soon

DeathByWalkies · 04/06/2021 12:49

@CruCru

Where do you live? Don’t Huskies like really cold weather? It’ll be boiling soon
I saw several in Thailand. My eyebrows did go up - though my terrier cross clearly thinks Britain is too cold about 8 months of the year...
Aprilwasverywet · 04/06/2021 12:57

Our Husky has access to in and outdoors in all weathers.. We live at the beach but she hates getting wet!!
Loves the dunes and her scooter...
2 hours walks every day are normal.
She gets depressed if her routine changes...
Ds takes her running also.

currahee · 04/06/2021 12:58

I kept Siberian huskies in a house with no garden for a time - difference being they were used for racing and other dog sports, were out being exercised (on lead) from dawn until dusk and generally lead active and fulfilling lives. It also had no impact on other people as there was no shared space involved.

People who don't have a clue about the needs of the breed and who also think it's fine to inflict the dog on everyone else in a communal area... yup, stupid and irresponsible.

HerMammy · 04/06/2021 18:34

There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice
What a silly sweeping statement.
If a persons circumstances change and they end up in a flat then so will their dog or should they just dump the dog??

miltonj · 04/06/2021 19:06

I'm generally not too bothered about what others choose to do but that's just ridiculous and disgusting. They're desire for a dog had trumped the importance of the dogs well being.

Goodweatherforsnails · 04/06/2021 19:44

“ If a persons circumstances change and they end up in a flat then so will their dog or should they just dump the dog??”

If the result of the change in circumstances is either they cannot meet the dog’s needs or massive inconvenience and literal shit for the neighbours, then yes, the dog should be rehomed, handed in to a rescue centre willing to have it or as a last resort put down (not “dumped”, that’s just irresponsible).

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 04/06/2021 20:04

@HerMammy

There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice What a silly sweeping statement. If a persons circumstances change and they end up in a flat then so will their dog or should they just dump the dog??
The dog’s needs should be top priority. If you have a husky sized dog, you need to consider whether or not your living situation is suitable. If it’s not and it’s definitely not going to be for only a few weeks, the kindest thing to do is find a suitable home for the dog.
DeathByWalkies · 04/06/2021 20:30

@BeingATwatItsABingThing The dog’s needs should be top priority. If you have a husky sized dog, you need to consider whether or not your living situation is suitable. If it’s not and it’s definitely not going to be for only a few weeks, the kindest thing to do is find a suitable home for the dog.

For a great many dogs, mitigations (e.g. extra walks) can be put in place which mean that the welfare implications of a non-ideal living situation (e.g. being in a flat) are less serious than the welfare implications of being rehomed, which is a traumatic experience for any dog.

My dog was rehomed several times in quick succession and I think he was traumatised by it - it took 6 months for him to start accepting affection from me, and a year or two before he ever sought affection. He still avoids strangers like the plague.

Not all dogs can be plausibly rehomed - those which are child, dog and cat friendly will be easily rehomed. Those that cannot live with any - and particularly those with a bite history - are harder to rehome and much more likely to find themselves put down at a shelter. The dog I accidentally acquired was completely untrained, undersocialised, reactive, and bit me a few times when he was out of his mind with fear (he's very scared of a number of everyday things). A friend who worked in RSPCA kennels told me that if he'd ended up there, instead of me stepping in, he would likely have been put down on behaviour grounds before his second birthday. The RSPCA put down a huge number of animals every year by the way.

For my dog - and a great many others out there - the choice is not between life in a flat and rehoming to a mansion in the countryside - it's between life in a flat and very premature death.

DDog has come on leaps and bounds by the way. He'd never cut it as a therapy dog, or a pub dog, but he makes a nice enough pet now.

Things aren't as black and white as you imagine.

TheVolturi · 04/06/2021 20:33

I think they are one of the most beautiful animals on the planet but yanbu. I've heard that they are very difficult to own.

toffeebutterpopcorn · 04/06/2021 20:38

Poor thing. I used to bump into a lady every time I went to the park because she looked after her nieces husky and walked it for 4 hours a day. She said it would go crazy if it didn’t get at least that amount of exercise. Beautiful dog but - as she said - absolutely highly-strung.

I see a few around here (city centre) and I find it hard to believe than any of these people have a large house or garden.

Zgran · 04/06/2021 20:40

Where we live, there is a man with 4 huskies, so presumably a team or whatever the correct term is. They are beautiful, in prime condition.

Whatever time of the day or night we are driving/walking home, we will see him and his dogs out walking.
To confine such magnificent, work driven animals to a tiny space and a paved car park is cruel beyond belief.

villainousbroodmare · 04/06/2021 20:47

mad steel eyed cunt
Grin
Derail: please post more, OP. I'd relish your comments on nearly anything based on above.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 04/06/2021 20:48

I think that's bloody cruel. I knew people who had them in a Western US state and these people were all experienced mountaineers, skiiers, climbers who took the dog with them whenever they went out mostly. They need huge amounts of exercise.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 04/06/2021 21:23

@DeathByWalkies - you are just lovely and I'm so glad there are dog owners like you out there.

@villainousbroodmare Grin I agree, the OP has quite the way with words .

QueenPaw · 04/06/2021 21:53

Yeah it's not really on. I dog sit for a husky (because I'm the only person mad enough to) and live in an apartment. It's ground floor though with own garden and she gets walked at least 10k every day
I track her walks with an app so owner can see where we have been! She's bonkers, endless energy

HerMammy · 04/06/2021 22:45

For the people who think it’s easy to rehome or pop them into rescue, huskies are in rescue in droves as I mentioned in a previous comment, most have waiting lists.

OhWhyNot · 04/06/2021 23:14

Poor dog

No doubt the dog will become destructive and they will give the dog away

My dad had a lovey husky he was quite lazy but would still have two long walks a day. He was very cuddly too and yes escaped a few times. Very demanding of attention

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