We are getting a puppy! We are getting a puppy! We are getting a puppy!!

[GreenTee]

I am so bloody excited I could squeal.

We are getting a puppy at the end of September. A beautiful Siberian Husky. She will be 14 weeks old. I have been wanting to get a furbaby for years and years but DH has always been reluctant. He then gave me the go ahead a few weeks ago to start looking for a puppy to add to our family. He adores huskies, as do I.

So, I have been doing my research and making sure I know all of the obvious facts for bringing up a husky! I am confident that I know what to expect with a lot of it. However, I was seeking any of the -not so obvious- tips?
We have a 7 year old son with suspected ASD. Any tips on helping him with the transition. He is so very excited, but will probably still need preparing.

Fire away!
Thanks.

For your first dog, and with a your DS having ASD, I would absolutely recommend a labrador. Predictable, boring - maybe. But the most loving, tolerant, caring animal I have known. My DD has ADHD with autistic traits and my mums lab is just wonderful with her - has such a calming influence on her, knows when she is upset, goes to sit with her, curls up on her bed. He is just perfect, very calm and gentle. My cocker spaniels however, are a little too scatty! Do your research and try to meet and socialise with some different breeds with your DS and see how you get on?

I liked looking after my dog as a puppy, but it is hard work. It is not much less difficult than looking after a human toddler don't underestimate it, but if you love dogs and are prepared to put in the hard work and have enough time and money it is great.
I agree with the others that you might need to reconsider having a husky and also question why you wouldn't get the pup until 14 weeks. But if it turns out this dog is not right for you a different puppy may still be a good choice.
About your son with ASD this affects different people in different ways. Many people with ASD enjoy having animals around and are very good with them. Of course puppies and children need a lot of supervision and it will be important to be sure your DS doesn't hurt or upset the puppy and gives it space when it needs it. Equally very important that the puppy does not hurt him as they can be rough and nip a lot. If you want to let him feed the pup and groom it and be involved in training it this is a good idea, but don't make it his responsibility and keep close supervision at all times to avoid problems.

Just adding a little bit. Is there are reason why the puppy would be 14 weeks?

See, the socialisation period closes around 16 weeks. You ideally need to be getting the puppy exposed to pretty much anything and everything that you possibly can before then. The more socialisation you do the greater your chance of having an adult dog that can cope with the various noises, sights and smells that life throws at them. Our ddog1 is especially good at this, I would never call a dog 'bombproof', but he's as close as you would get.

You also need to build in the restrictions that having the puppy vaccinated would bring when getting a 14 week old. Unless this has already been done?

Where did you find the breeder?

Everyone is saying the same thing DON'T get a husky.

They shouldn't even be pets! It's cruel to have an animal bred to run miles and miles and miles every day confined in a house, usually never let of a lead. What kind of life is that?

They look amazing, I can see why your husband likes the look of them (men always wants a dog that "proves" their masculinity, FFS).

Please, please reconsider getting a dog. You need to read up on breeds that are going to be compatible with your son - talk to people who already have dogs in that situation.

Can you "borrow" a trusted dog and take it for a walk with your son?
Can you visit someone and see how they get on together?
Would you consider an older dog that has been fostered in a home environment and therefore assessed as being good with children?

Please think it through ...

Please don't think that we're all telling you off or shouting you down either. Do you have a dogs trust near you? We got our pup from there and we were able to sit down and discuss what best met our and the dogs needs. They steered us away from a litter of staffs as they were very boisterous and wouldn't have been a good fit for our first dog with a young child.

Bagels my DH wanted either a french bulldog, a pug or a bichon frise - what does that say about him?! I said no to them all, not appropriate with our three dogs.

Sorry to hijack OP.

Glad you are thinking things through. Puppies are really hard work, I think I asked my self probably once daily what on earth had I done. Puppies and ASD aren't the best bedmates tbh. Ds and dd both with autism didn't really like Eric as a pup. He was unpredictable,he nipped,he destroyed anything they left lying about, he got under their feet, he wanted to be on their laps when they wanted some space,he wanted some space when they wanted a fuss, it was all hard work for them and us both.Of course now he's 18 months they adore him because he's learnt some manners and he adores them too.

Huskies, along with border collies and working stock spaniels just shouldn't ever be pets imo; they all need a job to do, their brains occupied, or they become destructive / self destructive! So many come into rescues in right states because they've been bought as pets and under stimulated, it's so sad and anger causing to see!
Well done for taking opinions onboard op (not meant to sound condescending, so forgive me if it does!), so many people get set on a breed and go ahead and get it despite much advice not to, and it's always the dog that ends up suffering!
Talk to a rescue, they can help you find the ideal dog to fit in your family.
I sooooo want a puppy so understand your excitement / longings

Thank you all for your lovely replies.

I don't take any replies personally, I actually appreciate the honesty and the advice.

I decided that this isn't for us. My husband is being stroppy and childish when I explained that I no longer want to go through with it. My mind is made up and there's no changing it.

I have always wanted a lab!!
They're my favourite dogs and so gentle and lovely. DH won't have any other dog than a husky though. It's either a husky or nothing! I have explained that I have done my research and as I will be the main carer for the puppy, I think the decision should more so lay with me more than him. He childishly disagrees, but it's tough! He is in the army so goes away for weeks and months on end, who will be left with the puppy 95% of the time? Me!!

So it's no puppy for now. I would love to get a different breed but DH won't, so that's that.

Thank you all so very much.

OP, that's a sensible decision, your DH may thank you yet. As a second time Lab owner here, thoroughly recommend them, fantastic family dog and the one most pleased to see me every single day. They are the most KC registered dogs for a good reason, just ensure you get a healthy one from a healthy pedigree. They can suffer from many health issues, arthritis, eye problems, Addisons, so do your homework.
Good luck.

Thank you idespair. We won't be getting a lab though unfortunately. I would absolutely love a lab but as mentioned below, it's either a husky or nothing for DH, so I guess it's nothing.

As someone who volunteers for Siberian husky rescue - thank you, sincerely and genuinely thank you for taking everyone's advice on board with such good grace and reconsidering your choice. :)

greentea A sensible choice, you have taken all comments with such good grace and in the spirit they were meant. I think also that if your DH is away often, then definitely you should choose the breed of dog you want. And if he's sulking, then he isn't being as sensible as you anyway

Why don't you get a rescue mongrel. I'm sure husky crosses exist who have some of the breed traits diluted but still retain some of the husky look.

Tbh I think you are very wise not getting a husky pup.

I'm sorry you're DH is being childish over this GreenTee but you're definitely being very sensible.

Is there any chance you could get your DH to a dog show or something like Discover Dogs? It seems such a shame for you to miss out on having a dog because he's so set on one completely unsuitable breed.

Well done OP. I hope your DH changes his mind. Labs are lovely!

Well done OP. They are not easy dogs at all, I've known so many people who've "done their research" and then the poor thing ends up in a shelter by the time it's 18months old.

There is a husky in our village. The guy has to walk it with the lead attached to a belt around himself. Honestly, it looks like a lot of hard work.

Am glad you have decided not to go through with it.

Well done OP you are being very sensible. Your DH on the other hand sounds very childish. If you will be the main carer for the dog the decision should be primarily yours and no breed is so fantastic that it's better to not have a dog if you can't get this breed. I'd question his motives for wanting a dog.

Although I agree with pp that your husbands motives for getting a dog need questioning ,as its you doing the care and you that really wants one is it worth trying to find a compromise like a Samoyed .

Such lovely, wise and kind replies. Thank you all!

I just had to think about how I would cope with the puppy months. I don't think I would do too well in all honesty and that is incredibly unfair to a young puppy that wants to live and thrive! I won't do that to her.

Yes, my husband is being incredibly childish re my decision! It's a big fat tough to him though.

Ditch him and get a lab Kidding!

Also my lab puppy ate a wall today so...there's that.

I can't imagine a husky in a place with no snow!

I had a husky growing up, she was wonderful.

I remember she was a biter/nipper as a puppy and loved to chew. We learned quickly that if you put your finger in the back of her mouth she can still chomp and chew, but you avoid those super sharp little puppy teeth.

We did not exercise our dog. We didn't take her for walks. We spent quality time with her, but we were a lazy family and just sat around. She was an inside/outside dog and had free reign to go where she liked. She spent probably a bit more time outside. She LOVED the snow and HATED the rain. I'm not sure why people get huskies in the UK, they must hate it.

Also our husky wasn't destructive other than a few holes in the back garden and wasn't hard work at all.

The only thing I would caution is their fur. It gets absolutely everywhere, especially when shedding.

Huskies are extremely friendly dogs and love to play and if you have an intruder, watch out because the husky is more likely to lick them to death.

We didn't train our husky, other than to go outside when she did a pee/poo. She was gentle, loving, a cuddler.

Just another experience, different from the others you may have heard. If it wasn't for the fur, I would definitely get another husky, they are wonderful, lovely dogs.

Kudos to you for reconsidering in the light of sound advice.

A labrador would be a way better fit for a first time owner.

Have had dogs literally my entire life but only ever bull terriers of one kind or another (apart from the dog we had when I was 0 -5 which was a nightmarish corgi, constantly bit me, vile thing - should have put me off dogs for life!)

Also, having a son with autism - must admit when I saw the word 'husky' alongside that, I panicked... Not a good idea. You need a steady dog (probably not a terrier then! That said, bull terriers are bloody brilliant with people). You also need a dog that will be biddable. Pups are horrendously hard work - especially if you're doing the toilet training over winter. Mine took 5 months to toilet train. She is now 11 months old and over the worst - turning into a sweetheart. She only needs about an hour's walk a day, but if she misses even one day it affects her mood, I've noticed.

In your circs, I'd even veer towards getting an older, rescue dog from a rescue that does all the temprement tests and preferably a dog that has been fostered so they have detailed knowledge of it. I have never liked labs, but when we were travelling the rescues looking for current pup, saw a lab I fell in love with - an older, very affectionate, steady dog that was kissing everyone in the waiting room. As it was going to its new home! I said to my husband, if I'd seen that dog a fortnight earlier - it would have been our's! (Apparently an elderly person had owned it who had stuffed it like a turkey in November and so it was rehomed because it was morbidly obese and needed a lot of care to get it back to a healthy weight. It had a lovely temprement). So I'd say go to some rescues with no preconceptions, and see who you fall in love with.