Rescue husky cross

[Dumpyandabdabs]

We lost our beautiful Doberman in October, since then we've all felt something is missing (especially our 14mnth old pup) and are keen to get another dog to help fill the void (although nothing will replace my old girl). We've been through the puppy stage once this year so am not overly keen to do it again so soon and I'd love to rehome a rescue dog. There is a local rescue centre that I have been following for a while and they have just posted a picture of a gorgeous husky cross bitch who is 16 months old. I'm interested to have a look at her but wondered before I go and fall in love with her, what to expect. Does anyone have experience or advice?

What is it crossed with? Huskies need a lot of exercise, like masses, and are not known for their good recall skills. If they are not sufficiently exercised they can be destructive in the house. Why is it being rehomed?

What breed is your 14 month old? Are you already having to do tons of exercise with him/her?

How much space do you have (I’m guessing a fair bit given that you had a Doberman before)

for your loss

Huskies are beautiful but a bit more of a lifestyle choice than average dog to keep them happy, which is likely why so many end up in rescue. They need a lot of exercise & can't be offlead safely hence why owners often get into cani-x & bikejoring

www.sharerescue.org/about-the-breed

Thanks for the replies, 14mnth old is a springer/lab cross, so we already have a very energetic breed. She gets around an hour and a half off lead exercise per day but would go for more. The recall thing is my concern, I had read that and that was what was making me hesitant. Not sure why shes being rehomed as yet.

Huskies are more energetic than labs or springers...they do tend to have recall issues, in fact a lot of breed specialist recommend never letting them offlead.

They’re very vocal and destructive when bored and they’re easily bored, and they’re prone to separation anxiety.

They’re also escape artists, as in commonly get out of gardens with 6 foot fences, if they can’t get over they’ll make a route under.

And so people think they’re prepared for an energetic dog and what they get is still way more than they bargained on, which is usually why they’re in rescues.

The thing is though, with her being a rescue and a cross, you’ll be able to talk to them and see exactly what she’s like rather than having to wait and see what husky traits she has.

I encountered an off-lead husky recently that behaved aggressively when I challenged it sniffing my shopping. The owner had not kept up with it and had no control at all. Not a great family pet in my opinion.

Yeah I think my head is going to have to overrule my head on this one and keep looking. Hopefully someone with experience will give her a lovely new home.

“Not a great family pet in my opinion.”

Well that one might not be... but they’re not bad pets with the right people, they are hugely affectionate with their people and lots of fun, very playful.

But they are a bit niche really.

I had a husky as one of 3 dogs. She had good recall. Was an absolutely sweet dog. Just needed loads of exercise and the only reason I would never have another was the hair: just in the air all the time. I had to hoover all the time and never wear anything black. She did used to sing though and that was so lovely

Our Husky has no recall. Did make me think long and hard - about 2 years - before getting one !! She has a scooter and is good on a long line or short lead. Took a long time to enjoy a pleasant walk tbh!!
Please be 1000% sure you are committed as someone has already found her too much to take on..

This is a cross so you really don’t know what she’ll be like. Why not talk to the rescue and see?

Generally Huskies are quite challenging dogs and suit people who can just their whole life to them. They need an enormous amount of exercise but have , famously, poor recall. Once they start running they run in a straight line and can be lost for days. They are expert escape artists and need specialist fencing as they both dig under and climb over fences. They howl, especially during the night, so need a property with no near neighbors.

My last dog was a husky/shepherd cross, it took years but he did end up as my best dog in the world. He was destructive, he ate 2 sofas, the bottom step of the stairs, and pulled up all the vinyl in the kitchen floor. My garden never recovered from him moving in with us, he pulled up clematis, a bay tree, dug up my lawn and anything I planted was pulled up. He would escape given the chance and would jump out of ground floor windows to do so. He could fill a bin liner when I stripped his coat and I still found the odd hair a couple of years after he died.

But, after a lot of work with his anxiety, and recall, he became the loveliest dog. He was soft, super with the dc, my 5yo was able to hold his lead on walks as he would walk at the pace of whoever held his lead. He would lean on you when he was in the kitchen and actively seek fusses. He also got rid of an attempted burglary.

It did take about a year of work to get to that stage though. Maybe meet her and see what her temperament is?

My pup is a husky cross, loves her crate, has great recall is trained to chew on toys not people and doesn't howl all night. She's my first husky 8th dog. However the lady I got her from has mum and dad and is not a breeder. Both mum and dad are great off leash with fantastic temperaments and no destructive issues, does that mean my pup will be like them ? Possibly but possibly not she has her own nature and we are only just seeing it come through. I do strongly believe the belief huskys have no recall is false though. It just takes much more work to set foundations with them. Good luck if you decide to go ahead they are very stubborn but so loving.

My husband and I were experienced dog owners from childhood and for a while he was a professional trainer. We've always had working breeds - terriers/spaniels/retrievers. Last year we decided we were in a position to add another dog to our family and he said he would like a husky. We did the research and realised they were a bit more full on than other dogs but were happy to go with the flow.

So 18 months ago we rehomed an older pup - 6 months - and he has turned our lives upside down! He has a very sweet nature - not an aggressive bone in his body. He is crossed with something - no idea what - and he is enormous. He weighs 100lbs and pulls like a train. He has snapped four leads including a lunge rein from the local equestrian store. He can not be contained in any room in the house without bolting the doors because he can open all the handles from either side of the door. He is an opportunistic thief with a passion for butter and milk and if you turn your back in the kitchen for a moment they will be gone.

Every room has a light dusting of white hair (husband calls it "husky glitter") and we have lint rollers in every nook and cranny to clean our clothes before walking out the door.

My husband can walk him on a short lead - he will walk through town quite happily without pulling - but once on his harness and his long lead he runs. He is allowed off lead in a couple of places but generally it is the long lead because if he is interested in something he goes deaf.

He is very vocal but we find it endearing rather than annoying. He doesn't bark - would be useless as a guard dog - but he "talks" to us all the time when he wants attention and he is really good at communicating his needs/wants.

But he is so different from any other dog we have ever had. My husband wanted a husky and was prepared for the work he needs and I absolutely love this dog but it is a not a breed I would choose for myself. I would say if you want a husky, get a husky. If you want a dog get a different breed.

I know there are exceptions in every breed and others have said their husky has good recall but I think it is telling that, without exception, every breed specific rescue in the UK requires you to sign a contract stating that you will not let your dog off leash before you are allowed to adopt.

I had a rescue huskyXmalamute and was the hardest thing I've ever done. Obviously they are not all the same so this is just my personal experience though and she did eventually improve slightly after hundreds spent on training.
They are obviously big, very powerful dogs. Mine pulled horrendously, could pull me off my feet and walking was a nightmare.
They have terrible recall and very high prey drive.
They can be very stubborn and hard to train. Because they are so strong moving them physically (say off your bed when they won't move) is not an easy task.
They need huge amounts of exercise- much more than an hour a day.
They have masses of shedding hair.
If they have other issues all of the above make them even harder.
Have met some lovely well behaved huskies but personally I'd never have one again.