Q&A for How to Train a Siberian Husky

Huskies are used to traveling long distances, so be prepared to walk for at least 30 minutes to an hour each day, if not more.

Yes. The Husky character is a blend of independence and intelligence, mixed with a strong wanderlust. Thus, these dogs like to decide what they do and when. They are clever enough to play along and behave when at obedience class, but understand the difference when back home and think nothing of playing up.

No. One of the wonderful things about Huskies is their friendliness to strangers. Unfortunately, this means they are liable to welcome a felon with wags, rather than bark ferociously and chase him from the premises.

Very rarely. Huskies are bred to thrive in sub-zero temperatures. They have magnificent, thick, double coats that are excellent at retaining heat in order to stop them from getting cold. In addition, they have thick fur between the toes to insulate them from the cold ground.

Huskies don’t so much "run away," as "run off" to seek adventure and explore because they’re highly independent spirits. If they get bored, spot something interesting or just feel like looking around, they will go for a run to check things out. They’re also excellent jumpers and diggers, so fences are often breached easily by this breed of dog. Provided your Husky is well trained and you have a good bond, your dog should return of its own accord, since they’re loyal dogs. Now and then yes, it’s possible a Husky might run away for good, but so might any dog given the right circumstances.

You’ll find some helpful tips on teaching your Husky her name in this wikiHow: How to Teach a Puppy Its Name .

There is no specific age for you as an owner but it would be best for the owner to be at least 16 years or over because the Husky is a willful, powerful and independent dog that needs good, strong leadership from its owner. If older members of your family are willing to take on this role, then you could be younger than 16 and have a Husky, as then there will be an assurance that the dog will be properly handled until you’re old enough to do so yourself. However, if it is to be "your" dog, then wait until you’re old enough to handle the dog responsibly.

A Husky will make a good pet provided you are willing to put in a lot of effort to keep them exercised daily as they have a high prey drive, are very independent and need to be doing something most of the time. They also need a lot of attention, otherwise they’ll wander off to find it elsewhere. It’s also best to keep them in a cool climate, and where this isn’t possible, you’ll need to take extra precautions when it’s hot. And for those who find dog odor unpleasant, the Husky is a great choice because they don’t have much odor, they’re clean dogs and they feed cleanly as well. As long as you’re willing to spend a lot of time with your Husky and train it well, it will make a great pet.

The Siberian Husky needs to be trained by establishing your leadership authority from the very outset, for this is a strong-willed and independent dog that will challenge your leadership often. As such, the Husky is a hard dog to train, although it’s not impossible, provided you remain in the leadership position and reward positive behavior, stick to simple goals and redirect bad behavior. The steps above provide a very detailed approach for you to follow in training a Husky.

You will need to monitor the Husky puppy to stop it from doing its toilet in the wrong place. So, take it outside often to allow the puppy to go in the right place. Always reward the right behavior when it goes in the correct spot. You’ll find more details on potty training your Siberian Husky in this wikiHow: How to Train Your Siberian Husky puppy .

It is good that the cats are already established in the house, so they think it’s their territory and may be more likely to defend it and not tolerate intrusive behavior from the Husky. This will help the cats to stand up for themselves, which they must do around a Husky, even a puppy. The Husky must be well trained and any form of chasing or nipping at the cats must be stopped immediately and never rewarded. It is also best if you obtain the Husky puppy from somewhere that has already socialized the Husky with cats. Provided you monitor all interactions and make it clear to the puppy that the cats are not to be chased, it may be possible for them all to live in harmony. However, remember that any behavior on the part of the cats that makes them seem like prey may trigger the hunting instincts in the Husky, so always take care to either intervene or keep the cats safe by either creating quick escape routes up high for them or keeping them separated.

I got my husky when he was 2 also. He came from a neglectful home so it was difficult at first but within the first 3-4 weeks of semi consistent training he started to listen very well. We're hitting our 3 month mark together and he's doing fantastic. The only issue I have is his separation anxiety, but as long as you let your husky exercise a lot before you leave, she should be fine. I'm still teaching my boy new tricks daily, with a little patience and a lot of love, you'll be fine.

A little bit but it's still extremely important to train the other one individually.

As soon as you get him. It is never too soon to start training a dog. Make sure your expectations are appropriate for his age, though. Training with your puppy creates a great bond between you two and you should start as early as possible!

Keep taking him/her out at the same times several times a day to him/her know when it's time and where to pee.

Bring treats on your walks with you, and every time he goes, give him a lot of love and affection and a treat. Huskies are more likely to respond to positive reinforcement.

Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior--to a point. If the bad behavior is intolerable such as biting or the destruction of property, then put the dog away into his cage (not crate), and do not allow any dog-dog or dog-human interaction for 15 minutes. Ignore the dog during his timeout.

Each dog should have its own space in training. Each dog should also develop a distinct and individual good relationship and connection towards you, which will require that you train them separately.

You can simply remove your hands from the dog and say "no" firmly. If he/she continues, stand tall and look away or walk away, ignoring the behavior. This will show you are alpha and will not accept the bad behavior.

Yes, as long as your dog gets enough attention and exercise. Consider taking the dog on a walk to your local park or dog park; this way, your dog will get some exercise and socialization.

Put yourself in a position of power and let the dog know that you're in charge. Eat first, move the dog out of the way, and walk through doors first. Just let your husky know that you're in charge.

In the wild, alpha wolves put another wolf's muzzle in their own mouth. You could try disciplining your dog by holding its muzzle in your hand and shaking it slightly.

A husky needs a lot of exercise to vent pent up energy. If she is caged with no exercise during the day, she will act out. A tired dog is a good dog. You have a dog that has a lot of energy and requires a lot of exercise. It is your responsibility to meet your dog's needs.

In my experience, they can. However, I've noticed that dogs will usually respond quicker and more often to the dominant alpha, but that's just my personal observation.

You should take away your hands and say "no" firmly. Then, if she keeps on biting, walk away and ignore her. That will show her that you're alpha and will not accept that behavior.

I saw a Caesar TV episode that recommended you only give the food to the dog if he is in a calm state of mind. Maybe some exercises in "take it and leave it" with toys, treats, and other objects would also help.

I started crating immediately, ensuring that the crate was only large enough for him to comfortably stand up, turn around, and lay back down in, as an over-sized crate will sometimes cause them to potty in the corner. Crating allowed me to potty train mine in only a week or so. We continued to crate for about a year, and steadily started leaving him out for longer and longer periods each day. After about a year and a half we got rid of the crate entirely, as he did not seem to need it. No issues since.

First of all, are you sure you really want to encourage jumping up? If you do, pat your hands on your lap and hold a treat in your hand whilst doing it.

There is nothing you should do to discipline an accident. The failure is on your part, not the husky's. You should feed your husky on a schedule and know roughly when he will need to have a bowel movement. Frequent potty visits accompanied with rewards for urinating in the correct places will help a puppy to learn.

Put toys and treats inside to give it something to do. If that fails, play with him/her.