rahl

So the wife and I are going tomorrow to look at a husky puppy. This has been my dream dog since I was a kid. I've never had one and am very excited to be getting one. Price is the main reason I haven't yet. They run anywhere from $500 to $1500. I found one for $350 about 40 minutes away. I seen an ad on ebay and have been communicating with the owner for the last few days. We are set to visit tomorrow evening.

Now, these puppies aren't registered(not a big deal for me)they are 8 weeks old and have had their first round of shots.

My question is, what questions do I need to ask of the owner tomorrow? What if anything should I be cautious about? At what age is it ok to seperate the puppy from it's mother? And anything else I may be forgetting....etc.

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Cimarron29414

Cool. I've always liked them. I have a fondness for grey wolves, so it makes sense. Just make certain you live in a climate that works for them. It always saddens me when I see people in the south with them.

Regardless of breed, only buy a puppy who looks you in the eye. If they don't look you in the eye, don't get it. If they don't look you in the eye, they are really hard to train.

Good luck!

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amonkie

Have you been a dog owner before? Huskies are considered domestic in our society, but if you have not been a dog owner before I would hesitate recommending a Husky. They are definitely on the wilder end of the spectrum in terms of personality and instincts, and knowlege of the breed and pack behavior will be essential to having a dog that will be well trained and compatible with your family.

Do you have the time and energy and space for a large dog? Huskies require large amounts of stimulation, as do most larger breeds. If you are not able to provide this, usually you will find them resorting to destructive behavior out of boredom.

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StanT

8 weeks old is pretty much the earliest time to bring a puppy home. Ask to see the mom and dad, it's a good way to estimate size and personality. Dad may not be available, but any reputable breeder will have pictures, etc. I'm not familiar with husky health issues; but you ought to be. Make sure the breeder has done the appropriate testing to minimize health issues. Something like hip displasia can end up costing you $1000s and break your heart.

Look for signs that this might be a puppy mill, too many dogs, small cages, etc. Please don't support a puppy mill in any fashion, even though it seems you are rescuing a puppy, you will just be encouraging them to abuse others.

Finally, what Amonkie said. Huskys are hyper energetic with a very low threshold for boredom. Be sure that your lifestyle is appropriate.

rahl

Yes, I've owned dogs all my life(28 years old). We've had dogs as small as yorkies to as big as german shephards. I have a large enought home(1,200 sq ft.) and belong to a dog park about a mile from my house. Climate isn't bad(ohio), we get a good mix of warm and cold throughout the year.

Time wise I should be good. My job has a busy season, 4th quarter, where I travel quite a bit, but the rest of the year I mainly work from home and travel only a few days a month.

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cadre

Everyone else has had great advice so far but I'll add a few things. Make sure the owner will give you money back if the puppy is found to be unhealthy at it's first vet visit with you. And then take the puppy to the vet first thing. This probably won't be an issue but you want to make sure just in case.

Also ask what training if any they have done with the puppies thus far, specifically potty training. My family used to breed dogs and we always started training them before they went home with people. You will also want to ask about their diet because the last thing a puppy needs is an abrupt change in scenery and diet. We would keep our puppies until 12 weeks, 8 weeks is bit young in my opinion.

Once you get the puppy home, start training it immediately. They learn faster when they're young just like babies. The first night will be hard for it but after that it gets easier.

Also, make sure you have a high fence or ALWAYS keep this dog on a leash. Huskies like to run and they will make friends with the first person they meet when they stop. Huskies are not known for coming back home.

Let me know if you have any questions. As I said, I grew up breeding dogs and I've rescued quite a few as well. Have fun!

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rahl

from what I've gathered so far, this person seems to be a first time breeder. This is the mothers first litter. Like I said, they aren't registered(AKC or whatever it's called)and is likely why I am getting one so cheap. I will definately ask about the parents and any relevant health issues.

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 PM ----------

thanks for the advice. Our current dog is a boston terrier and does not require a leash at all. She never leaves the yard, even when people walk by. I don't have a fence, I'm planning on keeping a long leash tied to my back deck for when we let it out to potty.

What are your thoughts on a shock collar(not an electric fense)for training purposes?

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cadre

I would strongly advise against leaving your dog out on a long leash if it is not supervised. I've seen dogs get tangled all the time and its easy for them to get stuck in the sun or even choke themselves. Other than that a long leash is fine though.

An electric shock collar can be useful but it should be a last resort. Huskies are fairly easy to train so you shouldn't need one. I wouldn't recommend an electric fence because it really just won't work. When your dog crosses the fence, and it will, you risk it running off. My dogs used to cross the fence and then not want to go back across all the time. Also, huskies are jumpers. If you add a fence make sure it's a tall one.

Oh and you won't need this immediately but Petsmart carries Furminator products and they will effectively cut down on the shedding as your puppy gets older.

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rahl

The long leash idea was strictly for bathroom purposes. I wouldn't be leaving it outside for more than 5 or 10 minutes alone. The shedding thing was a concern for my wife, so we will definately be looking into a furminator type product.

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cadre

Good, good. I currently have a shepherd mix, my mom has (among other dogs) a large lab, and my sister has a large shepherd mix. We all use furminator products with great success. Just make sure to brush the dog out really well and you'll be good for 2-4 weeks.

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rahl

Picked him up yesterday!!! He's very shy but is warming up to us nicely.

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Cimarron29414

You should swap the order of the pictures. It would make for a funny "before and after" feel. Good luck!

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rahl

haha, thanks

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CinnamonGirl

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Such a cute little guy. Have you picked out a name yet?


I also noticed that he has a Mr. Fox! Our pup has gone through two Mr. Foxes, and we'll probably be getting Mr. Fox the III soon. (I forget what the toys are actually called, but they're awesome. And Ben actually knows what to grab when we ask where Mr. Fox is.)

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hunnychile

Congratulations!!! He's adorable.

(Keep an eye on the cords around the floor - just in case he tries to chew them!)

Can't wait to hear what his name will be.

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rahl

His name is Zeddicus Zu'l Zorrander. Zedd for short. It's a charector in a book(I'm a huge nerd!)

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Jove

Title of book?

--

Nice looking dog. I think I want an actual wolf, but a Siberian Husky is probably the closest anyone will ever get.

rahl

[quote]the sword of truth series by Terry Goodkind. first book of the series is Wizards first rule.
I knew a guy from my old town who had a huskie/wolf mix. Very pretty dog/wolf

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ssg

Ask the breeder for the reason of breeding the sire and dam. Both should have sport accomplishments, temperament and health checks (hip/elbow ratings). This way you reduce chances of disappointment and increase chances of success with the pup.

Latex Ren

I'll chime in. We've been breeding Siberian Huskies (Sibes) for the last 17 years. We breed for show ring mainly, and to advance a specific blood line. We prefer to call them Sibes as Husky could be referring to the "Alaskan Husky".

Here is some good reading on the breed: So . . . You Want A Siberian Husky?

Being AKC registered doesn't mean much if you just want a pet. You can have unhealthy/ugly dogs that are pure bred/registered, and the opposite too.

My advice is don't EVER let your Sibe off lead. Never...ever...ever. The breed has running in its blood and you will lose the dog.

Sibes are not the easiest to train because they are one of the more 'free-willed' breeds. Think of them as the cats of the dog world. If you say "go do this" chances are they will look at you and say..."why?"

They dont' usually swim, fetch, do tricks, but you can train some of them. Most enjoy chewing on branches and your house.

They are energetic but not to the extent some might think. Border Collies are WAY more energetic than Sibes.

Please do NOT chain the dog, especially to a runner (chain suspended from a cable). I have known too many (not mine) that have hung themselves or gone insane on the end of a chain. A fenced yard is the way to go. Doesn't have to be especially large, but they are free to wander. You may want to invest in a hot wire for the top and bottom of the fence to discourage digging/climbing. 4' is the minimum I would recommend. My Sibes can jump 6 feet straight up.

Sibes in warm climates are fine. What a lot of people don't understand it dog hair works both ways to regulate temperature, just like the insulation in your home. It keeps them warm by retaining body heat, and keeps they cool by repelling outside heat. Ohio is not a problem.

What you will encounter is a lot of shedding. Sibes have 2 coats: Fuzzy down coat and long outer coat.

The down coat they will shed (blow) twice at year, sometimes more often. The longer guard hairs once every other year.

Enjoy your new pup, treat it well, and you will have a wonderful companion.

PS - they like to eat cats