Dog's Name & Age
Shanza-lei, who lived to 16 years of age.
In a Word, My Siberian Husky Is…
a runner.
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Highly intelligent and independent.
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Their independence and desire to travel, with no restrictions.
When, Where and How I Got My Siberian Husky
I got Shanza as a 6.5 week old pup from a pet store. I had been looking for a medium-sized dog, but the pound didn't have any appropriate candidates, so I stopped at the pet store on the way home.
Shanza had not been there two hours before I arrived, and as soon as I saw her I fell in love with her. Fierce and independent, even though she was also confused and scared.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Shanza was a wonderful companion. She liked having her space and wasn't a lapdog, but did like being close (usually lying on my feet as I sat). She loved traveling, both on foot and in the car.
Shanza was quite easy to house-train, but training her for other things was much more of a challenge. She knew all the obedience tasks (sit, lay down, stay, etc.) but would only preform if she saw that there was something in it for her -- basically, food -- or if I had her on the leash.
Shan was impossible to yard-train, although I've done so with other dogs. She was also difficult to contain. She could climb 6-7 foot chain-link fence, she'd try and dig her way under wooden fences (and could squeeze through an amazingly small hole).
Shanza did have a zinc deficiency that resulted in a skin rash. Zinc ointment worked well, although Shan was quite adept at removing the bandage within an hour and then licking off the ointment. She also began to develop cataracts by the time she was seven; she was totally blind by age thirteen. This didn't slow her down hardly at all, however. :-)
Advice
- If you want a compliant, focused-on-you dog, don't get a Husky.
- Huskies are very active and need a lot of exercise.
- Huskies don't do well with excessive heat... make sure you have a cool spot for them to flop on hot days.
