All dogs need care and companionship to thrive. As the parent, you’ll have to train, groom, and feed your dog to ensure they remain healthy and happy. However, some dogs need more attention than others.
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Depending on the breed of your canine friend, you may have to do your duties more often and even choose the kind of training or food they are exposed to. That’s why experts encourage new pet owners to consider the breed requirements before adopting any particular dog breed.
The Siberian husky, just like other breeds, has its own unique needs. For example, the dog needs to exercise a bit more than other breeds. As for temperaments, huskies are super friendly and outgoing. They’ll get along with other people and pups pretty well. However, they can also be a little mischievous at times which is why you need to train them closely.
All in all, a Siberian husky is a great pet to have. The following is a care guide on what you can do to keep the husky healthy.
Related Post: Bernese Mountain Dog Husky Mix
Grooming
One of the best things about Siberian huskies is they don’t need a lot of grooming. This is because the breed does so much self-grooming leaving you with a tiny job. That said, you still shouldn’t ignore the little grooming work required.
You need to brush your husky at least once every week. If you can do it around three times per week, the better. That helps keep their coat looking vibrant. You can use a wide-toothed comb and paddle brush for this purpose. The comb is very helpful in breaking the mat, while the paddle brush will loosen and smoothen stray hairs.
Huskies don’t need a lot of bathing. They can easily go with one bath per month or none at all. In fact, some reports suggest bathing the husky once per year. When you finally bathe the dog, be sure to rinse them thoroughly. This breed has a thick coat that can trap conditioner, shampoo, and other bathing products. Rinse the coat carefully to ensure that doesn’t happen.
The other grooming duty is trimming the nails. That should be done once every 1-2 weeks. You can do it yourself or have your vet do it. Learn more at the Malamute Mom blog on how to take care of your husky paws. Be sure to find the right tools for trimming.
Lastly, brush your husky’s teeth to prevent plaque buildup, foul odor, and other dental and health issues. Brush the teeth two or three times per week. You can find some tips and tricks on how to brush your husky’s teeth online. You can also consult your vet to get a guideline and the resources you need for the job.
You should know that huskies shed quite a lot during fall and spring. That’s when they usually shed or “blow” their coats. This can go on for more than three weeks. Therefore, you will have quite a bit of work cleaning up after the dog during this period.
Feeding
Huskies generally need little food. However, age and size can influence just how much food they need. For example, younger huskies may require three meals per day – one in the morning, another in the afternoon, and the last meal in the evening. However, once they get past the three-month mark, you can cut back to two meals per day.
After feeding your husky, give them at least 90 minutes before exercising them.
Veterinarians recommend against feeding huskies canned and human food. Instead, speak with your vet or the breeder you adopted the dog from on what meals are best suited for the breed.
Keep chocolate, avocados, raw eggs, grapes, alcohol, and raw meat and fish away from the husky.
Exercises
Huskies come from Siberia, where they were used to pull heavy sleds. The dogs are, therefore, very active physically. That means you also need to put on your running shoes and be ready to exercise with them.
The breed needs daily exercises. There are different types of exercise you could do together. For example, you can take the husky swimming if you live by the water. You can also go jogging, running, or hiking with the dog. Long walks are also just as effective.
If your husky is well trained, you can tie a leash on a wheelbarrow or bicycle and have the husky pull you.
Rotate between different types of exercises to keep the routine engaging.
Training
You must start training your husky as early as possible. Start establishing yourself as the leader or alpha when the husky is still a puppy. Remember, they are a pack breed, so putting yourself as the alpha will train the dog to respect your commands.
There are a few tips to help you train the husk more effectively. First, always be firm but calm during the training sessions. Issue your commands calmly but don’t be too playful about it. You want to establish your authority but in a friendly manner.
Next, utilize positive reinforcement using treats. Give your husky a treat when they learn and follow a command.
Keep the training sessions short for Huskies. Huskies have a relatively short attention span. Therefore, prolonging the training can leave the dog frustrated, making it harder for them to follow your commands.
Keep in mind is that training a dog is a long-term thing. Your husky may learn some behaviors pretty quickly, but in other cases, you’ll have to wait for weeks or months before they learn or unlearn a specific behavior. Therefore, be patient in your training. However, if you feel like there is a problem, consult your vet or a professional trainer for assistance.
Routine Vet Checkups
Finally, keep up with all the vet checkups. If your husky is still a puppy, take them for a checkup at least once every month. As they get older and with your vet’s approval, you can reduce the checkups gradually to around once per year.
Ensure the husky gets all the vaccinations and is screened for breed-specific illnesses. Huskies are prone to hip dysplasia and eye disorders like progressive retinal atrophy. These conditions are pretty hard to detect when the husky is still a puppy. Therefore, have them screened when they get older.
As you can tell, huskies are not the most demanding dog breed out there. They are great pets. However, to make them good companions, you must take care of them properly. So, follow the above guide to keep them healthy.
