Are husky dogs good pets

[Chippychop]

Dh desperate for one I would prefer a lab... We have 2 dc and a cat. Would you recommend the breed?

Yes, if you are already experienced dog owners? They are a particular breed and have particular needs and behaviours that have to be recognised, understood and dealt with appropriately. They are certainly not beginner's dogs and I suspect their current popularity is going to do the breed a lot of damage.

There are a lot of good books on them that explain them well, get one and be honest about your abilities. My advice is to imagine yourself with a worst case scenario of the breed, how would you cope? If your answer would be to rehome then it is not the breed for you!

It's been said on here before that they're a lifestyle, not just a dog.

I wouldn't I know 2 people with them and though they are lovely . They need a lot of excerisethey do at least 4 hours a day, can climb 6ft fences very easily, cannot let them off lead , have a high prey drive. They blow their coats and you could easily make another dog from the fur.

Having said all that the 2 I know are gorgeous to look at and very good with people

What they can do to your house

I was expecting the pic of the husky sat in the sofa tbf though young labs can.chew like no other at times. Intact I think huskys and labs can be pretty close on the destruction scale!

they need serious exercise

can you really find the time?

This gives you an idea of what they are like. From Lemonturds website. If you want a pet, get a lovely lab :-) If you are prepared to run them and let them do what they were bred for then get a husky :-) They are not easy dogs at all, the only person I know who has had one sucessfully i.e. dog and owners happy, runs them in a harness regularly. I think too many people are seduced by their good looks

How old are your DC? Becuse they really are not dogs that are happy lying around the house until someone can spare the time to give them a walk. If you can't devote serious time to them then you will all be uhappy. Especially the dog :-(

Dh hating MN as confirms my thoughts and fears. Dh out until 8/9 every night and by 6.30 in morning so that'll be a lab then!

There are two in our family, neither are run but both are very happy. They are walked for several hours a day though. Certainly not a starting dog!

Blimey chippychop, really, glad you're not going to do it! What on earth was your DH thinking if he works those sort of hours?!

Tbf though labs still need upwards of am hour a day walking and can be very destructive indeed. My friends 8mo went through 8 left shoes in one night recently! Sounds like you are going to be doing this alone op so please be sure you are ready for it1

He also went through the legs of the dining chairs and the pedestal of the dining table - and another one ate the plaster off the kitchen wall... Not that I want to scare you

Yes, young labs in particular very bouncy! I think they are one of the longest to mature breeds? As in they will behave like a puppy until they are 3 or so (lab experts feel free to correct me on this! I have springers!)

Given the hours your DH is working, then presumably the dog care and walking will be down to you? Whatever breed you take on, this is a lot with children as well.

I would never recommend a husky or similar to any but a highly experienced, time rich household that is willing to put the time and effort in, and isn't out of the house often. They are difficult to train, and are even worse than greyhounds in terms of having to be careful about what/where you go off lead - in fact, most responsible husky owners wouldn't in a public open space. In your circumstances, they would probably be a disaster.

In the city where I live, two were being exercised off lead over the weekend, ran off and were both killed on the railway line.

Please don't.

Oops stupid phone pressed post by mistake!

anyway as i was saying if they escape they will just run and run - its what they were bred to do. they don't respond well to being called on either and can be difficult to train. that said ours did walk off the lead which is generally a big no no with a husky.

the other thing to consider is the hair, it is constant- i am still finding it round the house months after our ones death.

I love the breed but would not get another until my boy is a lot older and only after serious consideration as they are a lot of work.

finally, a lab is not an easy dog either if not walked properly as they also can be destructive. they are quite intelligent so need a lot of stimulation.

Hmmm it seems like my stupid phone didn't post the first message!

anyway you get the gist, can be a brilliant pet but you need to put in a lot of work and as a previous poster said not for a first time dog owner.

They are a lifestyle, a true working dog, not a pet. Unless you are looking to entirely change your home, working hours, exercise regime, all hobbies and spare cash, don't do it.

Also they will eat the cat. Not joking.

Dh huffing now Alsatian is an alternative maybe an ex police dog. I grew up with them. Regardless it will still land at my feet

A German Shepherd would be every bit as much work as a Lab, probably more. Ex-police dogs are not generally ideal family pets for obvious reasons! Plus, they're intelligent working dogs so need lots of stimulation and being very big they need loads of exercise.

Might you be better thinking about how much time you have to devote to a dog, then we'll suggest Doha drowning on your lifestyle? One of the main reasons dogs have to be rehomed is that they were taken on by people who got the type of dog they fancied rather than the type of dog which fits their circumstances.

With your dh's working hours, and dc, you will not have the time for a big bouncy dog that needs lots of exercise...

I recommend a rescued, retired greyhound... gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous and happy with two short walks per day if that is all you can fit in, but also happy to go on longer excursions at the weekends.

They are brilliant!

Doha drowning? ! Sorry - autocorrect!

dogs depending