Can you walk a husky off lead in the UK? Husky advice please.

[Holldstock1]

Hi,

I'd like some advice please about huskies.

My husband and I have had rescue dogs for nearly 25 years. We normally end up having 2 rescue dogs of different types at a time, an older dog with a younger one.

Last November we sadly had to have our beautiful 10 year old GSD X pts (her back legs went). Our other dog who is a male 3 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel misses her. He's become alot more nervous with some other dogs, cuts his walks short to come home and isnt playful like he was when she was here. He really likes our Ndn's female small Labradoodle (similiar size to him). He has lost alot of his bravado & confidence. We've come to the conclusion he needs another dog.

We went today to the same rescue we got him & our GSD X from. They were really good finding a dog to match with our GSD X.

They thought the only dog they had who would go with our Springer was a Husky. My husband has always wanted a Husky & this female was so beautiful, walked well on a lead, playful, friendly to us although our Springer was frightened. It did improve but we've booked another visit for the 2 dogs to meet to see if its better next time.

If I think they will get on, I'd be happier to think about having her. BUT, we need a dog we can let off lead. Our Springer goes off lead (when appropriate), as have all of our other previous dogs.

I have FSHD & have restricted mobility (my husband & grown up son living at home are the dog walkers). I cant walk far - if its too far or I have to stand Im now unfortunately using a wheelchair. It may seem odd we having dogs in these circumstances, but we are used to walking 2 dogs with a wheelchair. However we have always been able to let our dogs off lead for a run about.

So my question is can you let Huskies go off lead for a run?? Ive only ever seen people walking them on lead. I dont think it would be fair to have one dog off lead & the other permanently on lead.

I also dont know that much about Huskies so would appreciate some information, thoughts about them. I know about the shedding, being quite vocal etc but not much else.

Any dog we get must be a good match for our Springer. I wont take on any dog that would make him unhappy. That wouldnt be fair to either.

Advice please.

@Holldstock1 - we have had two rescue huskies - the first was an absolutely delightful, placid, good-natured big old boy who we were lucky enough to have for three years and who could safely be left alone in the house for a few hours and who got on well with other dogs. Number two came to us two years ago at a year old and is a different story: He has massive separation anxiety, is destructive given half a chance, very energetic, can be ‘nervy’ and has a tendency to be ‘unpleasant’ to other dogs without prior warning.

Neither husky could/can EVER be off-lead!

Huskies have an unstoppable prey drive that can’t be trained out of them and if they catch a scent, then they are off. You will always find someone who says their husky has perfect recall, and that may be true … until the day it isn’t!

Unlike other intelligent dog breeds, huskies have the attitude that commands are voluntary. For example, our second husky came to us knowing lots of commands and his recall back to the house from our garden is about 99%, but all bets are off for obedience if he catches a scent or sees a cat/squirrel/bird/fox or just doesn’t feel like it. (Even our old boy forgot himself at the scent of a fox or cat and suffered from selective deafness if he didn’t want to do something.)

Lots of huskies end up in rescue because they are extremely hard work! Ours needs three hours of exercise a day and would probably prefer more.

My advice would be to get an older dog of similar breed to your old dog if you want a companion for your spaniel. It’s very stressful for a dog coming out of rescue into a new home and a stressed out husky is not something you would want with your spaniel. Also, your spaniel is the resident dog and deserves to feel comfortable and safe at home - huskies are big and even the most good natured can be intimidating for small dogs.

Having said that, huskies are beautiful dogs and the female you describe may well be mellow like our old boy, but you may not be able to tell whilst she is in rescue.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

A husky on a long lead attacked our dog when he was a puppy. To be fair to the dog ours looked just a like a rabbit and so the prey drive took over. Definitely not safe off lead.

Just a caveat. Huskies are intelligent and bred to make their own decisions. Reason being, as sled dogs, there is a musher who gives them direction, but they are at the front, and they know the conditions of the ice. If the musher tells them to do something and they see it is dangerous, they make their own judgement. Very sensible in a sled dog. Also high prey drive and sociable. That's very hard-wired opposition to obedience.

Your brother's husky may be more reliable than the average husky, but if it is a breed standard husky, there is always a risk off lead. Boredom and lack of exercise are huge risks. But giving them lots to do doesn't remove the risk.

As I say, I love them. But good recall 100% of the time is not a husky thing.

Yes, I grew up in Northern Sweden and they are perfect for that climate and lifestyle. They just spend their days with their pack outside in the snow doing their jobs.

One of my ex-colleagues live in LA and got a rescue Husky and I feel so terribly sorry for that dog. It's spending its life overheating and frustrated. I wish they weren't so strikingly beautiful so that unsuitable people wouldn't get them.

Huskies will be trained nicely but then willfully ignore every single thing when they want to. They are much more like cats than dogs. They are also prone to anxiety and have a very strong prey drive. (Not great with small dogs or pocket pets like hamsters, kittens, etc.) Divine animals and if I had the space for one in my life, I'd have one. I would never walk any large dog off-lead. Have encountered too many other problematic dogs that have repeatedly jumped at my anxious malamute x newfoundland (fluffy idiot) until she became so frightened, she'd snarl and snap. If she wasn't on a lead at the time, she would have been defensively aggressive and we would have been in trouble. There are a lot of huskies and husky x in shelters now unfortunately because the trend for "wolf" dogs has diminished and also their temperament makes them harder to deal with and virtually untrainable.

If your husband is a huge husky fan, I would
reccomend looking at samoyeds.

They are more or less white huskies but they were bred to be the babysitters whilst huskies were the guards.

We have one and she is fine off lead. Now I do notice many samoyeds are kept on leads but we put a lot of recall training into ours and she’s fab.
They need decent walks but I don’t recognise the same intensity described here as needed by my Samoyed. I adore her, she is the friendliest sap and has so much character.

I live in sheep country. Most of the really serious sheep attacks are done by escaped huskies, often miles from home. So I’d say they’re neither suitable for town or British countryside. I know any dog will chase sheep, and rip the odd throat out, but the huskies seem to want to kill the entire flock.

They're probably fine for serious runners, so long as securely fastened, but not for anyone else.

Rather echoing other post, but we have a friend with a husky, that is well behaved and good with other dogs, however the problem is other dogs and humans think huskies are a bit scary/wild/wolf etc and are wary of him, so he's on lead most of the time.

He's a lovely dog, but having to constantly having to explain "he's friendly" is a pain.

Thank you so much everyone who has commented here. Its reinforced my feeling that the Husky we saw is not the right dog for us & we cant give her the home she needs.

Im probably not going to continue keeping up with this thread now as you answered my questions re Huskies. But I hope its helpfulbfor other people thinking about getting a Husky.

I just feel sad that such a beautiful & friendly dog is still in rescue. She was very well behaved, very good on lead - no pulling. The only reason she was put in rescue is because the previous owners didnt spay her & she got pregnant by a Lab. The owners didnt want to deal with puppies. If we didnt have our Springer I may well have agreed to get her, but I just dont feel shes the right dog to go with him.

In defense of this rescue, they do do a fabulous job normally matching people & dogs & we have been really happy with the 2 dogs we have already had from them.

I will always go for rescues. There are so many dogs being dumped at the moment. How can people be so cruel. I hope she finds a home soon.

Not sure if my DW saw your request, here's a picture of Reggie (our Staffie X) who we lost nearly four years ago.

@MrHolldstock1 thank you absolutely lovely x

This. They do very well for a stretch, until they spot something small and fast moving, at that point you might as well not exist. So no. Technically you can let any legal breed of dog off lead as long as it is under control but unfortunately I have never met a Husky with reliable enough recall to be even remotely considered under control.

Their exercise needs are high, we're talking at LEAST 2 to 3 hours a day running, not just walking on a lead. When not out, they need a lot of enrichment and a job to do.

They are highly intelligent and if bored or under exercised, they become destructive and make their own fun. It is very rarely your idea of fun.

They're a hell of a lot of work.

We have a springer so know what you mean about them having a pal and an off lead life..... Honestly not sure great mix with a husky... They don't play the same way, or recall the same way.... I would look at another working ideally gundog/hpr type dog.... Or mix of...
We know a fair few husky owners and they are quite a different nature...
Maybe they'll get on but wouldn't be anywhere near our list...

Theres loads of spaniels / working types looking for rescue homes with experience... Spaniel aid, second chance, then brx black dog retriever... And general rescue like many tears , pro dog and dogs trust.....