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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Rescue dog - romania

23 replies

Newjobnewstart · 06/11/2020 19:31

We are going to view a rescue dog from romania tomorrow, its a 3 year old siberian husky. Dh has fallen in love. But everything i read tells me they are not good pets. Does anyone have any experience? He is absolutely gorgeous and ive been told he is super friendly and great with kids.
I just dont want to make a mistake the poor thing has been badly neglected and my heart is saying lets give this guy a good home.

Thanks

OP posts:

Claphamlass · 06/11/2020 20:11

How exciting! Huskies need a lot of exercise. They can be stubborn. There is a lot of advice on dog training for specific breeds so it may help to do some research. Once lockdown is over you could find a dog training class. If you are on Facebook you may find a local husky dog group. Always useful and good for meeting with others. Good luck. I wouldn’t be without my dog

Mistymonday · 07/11/2020 04:22

We have two Romanian dogs, one mixed ex street dog, one shepherding breed. They are nervous but gentle, intelligent, independent and kooky little survivors who are so grateful for love and gentle treatment, which has transformed them. Definitely need work like any rescue can (not that well -bred puppies don’t either) but very rewarding if you are willing to read up a bit on dog training. Do your due diligence and see what rescue back up they offer if you need support. Personally I would adopt another Rommie dog in a heartbeat (from a trusted rescue though).

Huskies are big characters though, so make sure that breed is for you.

Original poster

Newjobnewstart · 07/11/2020 06:42

Thanks. Its the breed i have more concerns about. Reading about huskys not sure its for me

OP posts:

Girlintheframe · 07/11/2020 06:52

I know a couple of huskies through daycare so by no means am knowledge! They are gorgeous dogs abs both seem very gentle.
The one thing that really put me off was that both owners said they couldn't let their dogs off lead because if they caught a scent they would be gone. I don't no if it's typical for the breed or just these two though.

Unescorted · 07/11/2020 06:54

My friend has a husky who is lovely, gently and calm. When he was young he needed a lot of leash training because when he was off he was off. Once he bounded off with both of my kids hanging off the leash. which was funny in a field. I don't think it would have been so funny if there were cars about.
Frank also has heating issues - when the heating goes on he goes out. He needs more exercise than any other dog I know - he is taken out for a morning run, a middle of the day run and an evening walk. Take up fell running and find an ultra runner who lives nearby who will take the dog out.
The best bit about him is that he thinks he is a lap dog.

Unescorted · 07/11/2020 06:54

gently!!!!???? gentle.

Monty27 · 07/11/2020 06:55

My neighbour has a husky rescue. She's getting on a bit now but what a gentle gorgeous dog ♥️

FairfaxAikman · 07/11/2020 06:59

Very rarely do they make good pets in my experience. Most folk just don't have the capacity to deal with or train a dog that is born to run and run and run.

I also have massive reservations about any claims made by foreign rescues - my mothers is a Romanian rescue and the dog and home are not a good match due to the dogs high fear of other dogs and my mother living in a city. They've never managed to walk her even to the end of the street and she's also scared of travelling in cars so they can't even drive her to a less dog-filled area.

Not to mention there's plenty of dogs in UK rescue needing homes.

Indoctro · 07/11/2020 07:03

How old are your children.? Because ultimately your are testing a dogs temperament on kids when you don't know it's history. So unless kids are teens I wouldn't get a rescue unless you know for sure it has been around children a lot.

My friend had a rescue husky it was a difficult dog, couldn't be walked off the lead at all, wasn't good with people as was known to snap but then it's history was unknown. Just be careful where children are concerned.

Runkle · 07/11/2020 07:28

Have you had dogs before?
If you haven't then I wouldn't recommend a husky as a first dog. Any I've met have either been on their lead because they can't be let off or trying to attack my dog because they're off their lead. Huskies need a huge amount of exercise, they're built to run miles a day.

Moondust001 · 07/11/2020 07:48

Another one who has only once met one whose owners had the ability and time to train and exercise it - or ever let it off the lead. Most that I come across are fractious - they might want to just play, but pent up energy means that they come on too strong and are too poorly socialised for most other dogs. I would be very cautious. I also have doubts about foreign rescues, and wonder why a UK rescue dog isn't good enough?

Original poster

Newjobnewstart · 07/11/2020 09:55

Thanks everyone - given me a lot to think about

OP posts:

Antonin · 07/11/2020 15:20

Vet friend told me that as a breed they are not the ideal pet.
He said too many people fell in love with the looks. Neighbours had one that used to howl and howl every evening. RSPCA informed by another concerned neighbour and not sure what happened 2 streetsover) but the howling ceased. Reminded me of a wolf

Whitney168 · 07/11/2020 16:29

The Siberian Husky Welfare Association gives a balanced view of the breed's good and bad points here:

siberianhuskywelfare.co.uk/huskies-what-you-need-to-know/

They are certainly not the dog for everyone.

Sitdowncupoftea · 08/11/2020 13:52

Firstly don't take anyones advice on huskies unless they have actually owned one or own one. They do make good pets providing they get plenty of exercise and training. They are great with kids and people. They are a good all weather dog ( except hot weather). Make sure you have a secure 6ft fence as some are escape artists. They rarely howl unless they hear a police car or siren. They do not bark and are fast learners. They areca working breed so if you run or have a dog scooter they will love it. If you have an active life they are the perfect dog.

currahee · 08/11/2020 14:14

Well, I own several and always will have the breed and I still don't believe they make good pets. They are (or should be) high energy working dogs and the lifestyle required to fulfill their needs is usually pretty incompatible with working and family life.

Typically they are prone to separation anxiety, are escape artists, have a very high prey drive, cannot be let off the lead, are fiercely intelligent, shed heavily and need a serious amount of exercise if they are not to become bored, noisy and destructive. Even people who lead a truly active outdoor lifestyle would probably be better suited to a dog they might be able to let off the lead occasionally.

As well as behavioural grounds I would also have reservations about rescuing dogs from abroad due to latent disease risks, e.g leishmaniasis.

If it has to be a Siberian, the Siberian Husky Welfare Association linked above is a great place to start looking for a UK-based dog of known temperament, that might be better suited to a pet home.

vanillandhoney · 08/11/2020 14:33

Huskies are a LOT of work. They're fantastic dogs but you have to give them huge amounts of your time, else they do become destructive and they're huge escape artists too.

My SIL has a husky who's two years old now. She gets an 8-10 mile run every single morning (alongside SIL on her bike), an hour's walk at lunchtime, plus another walk or run every evening. That's every day without fail. The dog also goes to work with her so she's not left alone - they did leave her once and she ate their couch

She's a fantastic dog and very well trained in most things, but recall is dodgy and she's very lucky to still be alive after she ran off twice and killed two different sheep (in both cases, the sheep had escaped their fields). The dog now has to be on a lead whenever she's out of the house and if it happens again they could lose her.

She's good with other dogs, loves to play, is very fit and is a good family pet (they have several children but all teens or older). However, there is no way in hell you would see me own a sled dog. The work my SIL and her family put into this dog is immense and they can never take a day off.

I have a beagle and he will happily skip the odd walk if the weather is horrendous or I'm not well - the husky? Not a chance. She has to get out and run a good few miles every. single. day.

SquirmOfEels · 08/11/2020 14:34

A neighbour has two huskies - he used to take them for a 5k run every morning without fail, and then a longer walk every evening. He had tall garden fences, because they can jump really high.

They really do need a lot of exercise to keep them healthy and prevent them becoming bored/destructive. I think they only really suit very active families, prefereably ones with at least one distance runner

Sitdowncupoftea · 08/11/2020 15:31

@SquirmOfEels I dont run so not necessarily suited to runners. I do walk however. I take mine out twice a day even if its pouring down. I go scooter joring but haven't done it this year much as there are too many new walkers everywhere. Huskies are happy with just walking as long as its not just a quick plod around the block.

Trumpyouredone · 08/11/2020 17:16

The thing is, if you can never let the dogs off lead and don't run or cycle - then they never get a chance to have a proper run or other behaviours they could only do off-lead.

That seems so cruel to me.
It's crazy how popular these breeds are currently, they are so unsuitable for most people.

vanillandhoney · 08/11/2020 17:27

@Trumpyouredone

The thing is, if you can never let the dogs off lead and don't run or cycle - then they never get a chance to have a proper run or other behaviours they could only do off-lead.

That seems so cruel to me.
It's crazy how popular these breeds are currently, they are so unsuitable for most people.

Exactly.

Huskies might "cope" with on lead walks but personally I think it's incredibly cruel to keep them knowing you can't offer them what they actually need, which is good long runs.

Sitdowncupoftea · 08/11/2020 18:29

@Trumpyouredone

The thing is, if you can never let the dogs off lead and don't run or cycle - then they never get a chance to have a proper run or other behaviours they could only do off-lead.

That seems so cruel to me.
It's crazy how popular these breeds are currently, they are so unsuitable for most people.

You don't have to let a dog off leash in "public" to have a proper run. There are dog parkours for this purpose. I have four dog parkours not far from me and I live rural. Parkours are becoming more popular in the UK now. You can also walk dogs on a longline. Personally I think its far safer considering the surge of dogs and badly trained dogs off leash. Many dogs aside from husky breeds are advised not to be off leash due to prey drive. There's nothing cruel in it its common sense. If more people kept dogs on a longline there would be far less livestock attacks and animal bites. Some countries have strict on leash policies. The only issues I see where I live are by off leash dogs that supposedly have a good recall. Two sheep were recently killed by a dog near me that dog " that always comes back" according to the owner.

Bluntness100 · 08/11/2020 18:36

Op how much do you know about the charity who rescued the dog and the current foster carers? A lot of these dogs have behavioural issues, very rare to find nicely housetrained and with no behaviour problems at all. Do you understand why this dog needed to be rescued?

I’ve never had a husky but a neighbour did once, that dog got constantly walked and it still took any chance it could to run off. Found it in my living room many a time.

Your husband or you needs to be dedicated to exercising it, properly come rain or shine, and you need secure grounds, and you need to realistically understand what conditions it was living in and why it needs to be rescued and what behavioural problems it has. As it will have them

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