HOW TO STOP A DOG FROM DIGGING

Spring is in the air! Snow is melted, trees are waking from their slumber, and Spring flowers are peeking through the soil. The soft ground is just right for gardening. Your dog agrees and he can't wait to dig up that soft, fresh earth! Will your dog make like an excavator and destroy your beautiful yard and garden before Summer? Not if you follow these tips on how to stop a dog from digging!

Understand Why Dogs Dig To Learn How To Stop A Dog From Digging

Before we get into how to stop your dog from digging, let's talk about WHY dogs like to dig in the dirt so much. 

Reasons Why Dogs Like To Dig In The Dirt

🐾 The main reason why dogs dig in the ground is that it's a natural, instinctive dog behavior.  Digging dates back to dogs wolf ancestral days when wolves needed to dig for hunting purposes. Wolves often had to dig to seek out small prey for food. They would bury leftover food or bones from their hunt, hiding it from other predators, so they could return for another meal later.  This behavior has carried through to today's domestic dogs. Some domestic dog breeds are more prone to digging than others.

How To Stop A Dog From Digging. Icy enjoying her Dig Pit. 

🐾 Digging is intentionally part of some domestic dog breeds genetic makeup. Certain dogs were bred by humans specifically to dig out vermin, keeping farms and other dwellings free of pests that might destroy crops, and other property.  Terriers, for example, are champion diggers.  The name Terrier comes from the word Terra, meaning earth so it's no surprise they were born to dig! 

This intentional breeding strengthened the natural digging instinct of certain dog breeds, for a specifically to benefit humans.  To stop this type of dog from digging requires a lot more effort, because their digging instinct is so strong.

🐾 Even for dogs not bred for the purpose of eliminating pests from the property, the smell and sound of mice, rats, gophers, moles and other small critters will often excite almost any breed of dog, small or large, compelling the dog to dig in garden beds to capture the critter.  That's why so many stuffed dog toys are made in the form of furry little critters!

🐾 Some dogs will dig a wide, shallow hole simply to get relief from the heat on a hot day.  My Siberian Husky, Icy, does that a lot.  I finally bought her a Cool Mat to lie on for those hot Summer days. She loves it!

🐾 Dogs often dig holes to bury a favorite toy or chew stick, hiding it somewhere safe where they can come back for it later.  

🐾 Some dogs dig out of sheer boredom and loneliness. They just need more mental or physical stimulation!  Such stimulation should be provided before a dog's digging becomes an ingrained habit.

🐾 Some dogs have issues with anxiety and digging offers some relief. I had a foster dog, a Chihuahua named Buttercup, who suffered from severe anxiety. Not only did she dig holes in my yard to hide in, she "dug" indoors as well. She tried to dig out of her crate, she dug into the blanket I gave her, and even dug into the carpet!  For Buttercup, the digging was a byproduct of her anxiety, so she needed to first be treated for her anxiety, rather than a digging problem.

🐾 Dogs dig to escape a yard or kennel. There can be a lot of reasons for this; boredom, fear, or they just want to escape to look for their family members if they've gone out and left the dog alone in the yard.

🐾 Many dogs dig simply because it's fun and it feels sooo good!

How To Stop My Dog From Digging

Now that you know this type of behavior is natural and can be very strong in certain breeds, lets talk about how you can get your dog to stop digging. If not stop the digging completely, at lease reduce how much your dog digs and where he digs.  

Remember that your dog is not being "bad" or misbehaving when he digs holes in the yard, he is just following his natural instinct and being a dog! Dogs do not deserve to be yelled at or punished in any way for digging mulch or digging in the flower beds. It's a natural behavior, but it is a behavior that can be redirected and curtailed with a little effort and thought on your part.

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How To Stop A Dog From Digging Up Your Yard. Icy relaxing in the yard

I am no stranger to my dog digging up the yard, my Siberian Husky Icy loves to dig!  She can dig a tunnel faster than you can say "Wanna treat?"  When she was almost a year old her digging became a real issue. She dug holes everywhere, our yard looked like a minefield!  I read articles and talked to trainers and other dog owners about it and they had a lot of advice on how to stop my dog's digging. Some of their home remedies for how to stop a dog from digging were:

Natural Deterrents To Stop A Dog From Digging 

🐕 Bitter sprays. Bitter spray is a great natural deterrent for chewing, and can also deter dogs from digging in a certain area or digging up plants or other objects. I've used bitter spray both indoors and outside to keep my dogs away from plants, shrubs and other things I want them to stay away from.  If your dog is digging in a relatively small area, you can spray that area with bitter spray. You may need to do it frequently at first, especially outdoors, since the scent and taste of it fades out. Eventually, your dog probably won't want to dig, or even hang out, in that area.  If the area is large however, read on...

🐕 Bury your dog's poop in places she is targeting for digging. It should make it unpleasant for your dog to dig where her poop is!  Honestly, this didn't work so well for me. It didn't prevent my dog from digging, it actually just made a big, stinky mess!  

🐕 Bury large rocks where your dog habitually digs. This didn't work well for us either, Icy started digging up the rocks & playing with them. Sometimes she even brought the dirty rocks into the house! Not cool Icy, not cool. LOL!

🐕 If your dog likes to dig holes and bury stuff, try this. When your dog is done playing with a toy, chew stick, shoe, or other item she likes to bury, rather than let her get to the point where she needs to hide it in the dirt, take it away yourself. Distract your dog momentarily, remove the item and put it away until next time. 

You don't want to upset your dog or make her feel she's being punished by having something taken away from her. Distract your dog, then discreetly take the item away, keeping it out of sight.  Remember to give it back at your next outdoor playtime!

🐕 If your dog is digging up the yard in order to get to small critters underground like mice or moles, you can have them humanely removed. Please don't kill these tiny critters! They deserve our compassion and respect.  Instead, consider having a pest control company humanely remove them from your yard and relocate them elsewhere. If you can remove the temptation, it may help curtail your dog's digging.

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How To Stop A Dog From Digging Under A Fence

🐕 If your dog is digging under the fence in your yard and escaping, that is very dangerous and needs to be stopped immediately.  We never leave our dogs in the yard unattended, it can be disastrous.  Not only will your dog look for inappropriate ways to relieve his boredom and loneliness, but someone can easily steal your dog from the yard when no-one is watching.  Pet theft has been increasing rapidly. More than 2 million pets are stolen every year in the U.S. !  If at all possible, please don't leave your dog alone in the yard.

🐕 If at times there is no way for you to keep your dog inside and he must be in the yard, try placing wire mesh at the bottom of the fence. Bury wire mesh several inches into the dirt along the bottom perimeter of the fence.  If you are installing new fencing, bury the fence a foot deep and place wire mesh and rocks at the bottom. 

I tried most of these dog digging remedies, but they didn't stop my determined dog's digging. Rather than give up in frustration, I decided to look for a way Icy could satisfy her need to dig without turning my yard into a mine field. 

After some research and thought, I finally found a way to let my dog dig to her heart's content without destroying our yard! It was about where I let her dig.  

By luring Icy to a DIY Dig Pit made just for her, I created a space where my dog was not only allowed to dig, but ultimately preferred to dig! This turned out to be the most effective method for me to get my dog to stop digging up the yard.

How did I do that? By giving my precious pooch a designated patch of earth she could call her very own.  I looked around the yard for a good place to make a Dig Pit for Icy.  I decided that the area behind my husband's shed was the perfect spot.  My dog could dig to her heart's content behind the shed, out of site.  Once I had chosen the perfect spot for Icy's Dig Pit, here's what I did:

🔨 I blocked off a 6' x 4' area for my DIY Dig Pit behind the shed. 

🔨 I loosened up the dirt to make it nice and inviting. Dogs seem to love freshly dug up dirt, which is probably why they love to dig up our flowers moments after we've planted them!

🔨 Now I  needed to let her know there was an exciting place to dig, just for her.  I took 2 or 3 of her favorite chew sticks and placed them into the ground, with about 2 inches sticking out of the dirt so she could easily find them.

🔨 I brought her over to the Dig Pit and showed her the first chew stick. It was so exciting for her, she had found buried treasure!  She found and scarfed down all the chew sticks in minutes. 

🔨 Over the next couple of days I continued to bury treats, rubber toys, and chew sticks in her Dig Pit once or twice a day.  She quickly learned that good stuff awaited her in the magical Dig Pit! She couldn't wait to get out there and see what treasures awaited her discovery. 

Before long, her preferred spot to dig became the Dig Pit, and soon after she never bothered to dig anywhere else in the yard. Why would she want to dig anywhere else when there was always something more exciting waiting for her in the Dig Pit?

I continued with the Dig Pit concept when we moved to two different houses. It was always so exciting for Icy to see what each new Dig Pit had in store for her.  Seeing Icy bound out the back door excitedly to explore what's waiting for her in the Dig Pit never gets old! She's happy, I'm happy.

Now you've got a great list of possible solutions to stop your dog from digging! Give it a try and see what works for you and your dog.

Leave us a comment and let us know what you think about these ideas. We LOVE hearing from you! 



How To Prevent Dog Theft

How To Keep A Dog's Heart Healthy

How To Improve Your Dog's Dental Health

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Tips On How To Prevent Dog Theft

Since the COVID19 Pandemic, pet theft is on the rise. You don't have to be a victim, there are steps you can take to help prevent dog theft and keep your dog safe.

According to the AKC (American Kennel Club) pet theft statistics show that around 2 million pets are stolen each year in the U.S. Petfinder reports that only about 10% of stolen dogs are ever returned home. These are alarming statistics, the threat of pet theft is real!

How To Prevent Dog Theft

Recently, pet parents were sent reeling after the brazen theft of Lady Gaga's French Bulldogs, Koji and Gustav. Her dog walker was walking the dogs at night when dognappers jumped out of a vehicle and grabbed 2 of her 3 Frenchies. A struggle ensued and the dog walker was shot by the dog thieves as he attempted to stop them. Thankfully he's making a good recovery and both dogs were returned unharmed. It's important to be aware that sometimes dognappers get violent! The information below can help you keep your dog safe and prevent dog theft.

WHY SO MANY DOGS ARE BEING STOLEN AND HOW TO PREVENT DOG THEFT

Dogs are stolen for many reasons. Some of the reasons for dog theft are extremely unsavory, but many dognappers steal dogs purely for profit.  Pet thieves steal dogs and sell them to someone else to make money. This is known as "dog flipping". The thieves do so without a care as to the anguish it causes the family who has lost their precious dog, or to the pain it causes a dog who is ripped away from his loving home.

Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Yorkies are some of the most commonly stolen dogs. But purebreds aren't the only dogs being stolen. Mixed breed dogs and cats are also being targeted by pet thieves. The opportunity to steal dogs easily and quickly provides an irresistible lure for dognappers.

Since the Pandemic, pet theft has been increasing. People are spending much more time at home, resulting in an increased demand for dogs, cats and other companion animals.  People not only have more time to spend with a dog since they're home so much more, they are also looking for relief from the stress, loneliness, boredom and isolation that is a by-product of widespread lockdowns around the globe.  

The increase in demand has also increased the price of certain dog and cat breeds, which can also lead to the increase in pet theft.

Dog thieves are very aware of this trend and have been taking advantage of the increased demand for pets to make money by stealing them. They see an easy opportunity to profit from dog theft in a difficult economy.

KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE FROM PET THIEVES

🦴 As an 8 year animal shelter volunteer I can't stress this enough! Microchip your dog and be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the microchip company.  Pretty much every shelter or rescue will scan dogs for a microship upon intake. Veterinarians are likely to scan for a chip as well when someone brings in a newly adopted or purchased dog.

Pet Theft Is On The Rise. These Tips Can Prevent Dog Theft 

My friend Kevin found his adorable puppy, Pepper in a parking lot. He was about 12 weeks old and didn't have a collar or microchip so the owner couldn't be located. That story had a happy ending for Pepper and for my friend, but I'm sure there was an owner somewhere that was missing Pepper.  If he'd had a microchip his owner could have been found right away.  A microchip helps positively identify your dog as belonging to you and help get him back home. 

🦴 Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with identification tags. Collars can break off, slip off, or be removed. This is why a microchip is so essential. You may also want to consider Tattooing your dog or using a GPS collar. However GPS collars can easily be removed by a dog thief.

🦴 Be wary of strangers who seem to have an unusually keen interest in your dog. If they ask questions like how much you paid for your dog, if your dog is spayed, where you live, and other invasive questions, be suspicious and disengage with them immediately.

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🦴 Spay and Neuter your dog.  A dog that isn't spayed or neutered can bring a dog thief even more money because that dog can be sold as breeding stock.

An unattended Dog Is A Recipe For Disaster

🦴 Never leave your dog in the front or back yard if you're not out there with her, it only takes a moment to steal a pet from the yard. Dog thieves may try to lure your pet to the fence or gate with food or a treat. If possible, make sure your dog isn't visible from the street when in the yard, tempting a dog thief, and keep gates locked if your dog will be outdoors.

🦴 Always keep your dog secured on a leash unless in a fenced in secure dog park. Never let your dog run loose in the neighborhood! 

🦴 Vary your dog walk routes and times of day. Even slight changes can make a big difference if a dog thief is lurking around, trying to predict your routine.

🦴 Never leave your dog tied up outside a store or other establishment. It takes seconds for a dog thief to unhook your dog's leash and make off with him.  

When I was first training my Husky Icy, part of the training was to put our dog in a Sit/Wait and go inside Starbucks while our dog waited for us outside. After hearing about dog thefts in our city and how easy it is to steal an unattended dog I immediately stopped doing that! 

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How To Prevent Dog Theft

I never, ever leave my dogs anywhere unattended. Either me or my husband are always close by.

🦴 Many people use them but I am not a fan of dog doors. A neighbor of ours had a dog door for her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. While she was out one day thieves robbed the house, gaining access through the dog door.  

The thieves were teens and enlisted a younger brother to wiggle in through the dog door and unlock the back door so the rest of them could get inside. Thank goodness she had taken her dog out with her that day!

🦴 Never ask strangers to watch your dog while you step away. They may seem nice, but you don't really know who they are or if they can be trusted with your precious dog.

🦴 Always remain alert at the dog park and keep your eye on your dog. Don’t stand around chatting it up with other dog owners to the point where you lose focus on your dog. Be especially alert if your dog gets close to the dog park gate. It only takes seconds for someone to grab your dog at the gate and make off with her, so pay attention to your dog at all times at the dog park!

Travelers and Dog Theft

🦴 If you take a road trip with your dog, don’t leave him alone in the car while you stop for food, gas, or a bathroom break.  My husband and I never leave the dogs alone in the car, we take turns using rest stops. We either bring food with us in the car or stop at drive-through restaurants along the way on road trips. 

🦴Try not to leave your dog alone in hotel rooms either, a dog thief may be waiting for you to leave your pet alone in the room.  Research dog friendly parks, beaches, restaurants and attractions so you can bring the dog with you wherever you are going.

Prevent Dog Theft While Traveling

🦴 Be sure your dog has a very strong Recall response. If someone is stealing your dog, a solid recall command might prompt her to wiggle out of a dog thief’s grip enough to run back to you.

I know how unpleasant it is to think of someone stealing your dog, but it's important to be aware and take safety precautions to prevent dog theft. Don't be a victim of pet theft! Please follow these dog safety tips on how to stop dog theft from happening to you and your precious pooch.  Be well and stay safe my friends! 

What To Do If Your Dog Gets Lost 

A Solid Emergency Recall Could Save Your Dog From Being Stolen

Could dog doors make dog theft easier? Are Dog Doors Dangerous 

How To Keep A Dog's Heart Healthy

Just like people, dogs are at risk for Heart Disease too.  In fact, it is estimated that nearly 8 million dogs suffer from heart disease. That translates into 10% of all dogs living in the U.S.  Heart disease can seriously impact your dog's quality of life, and his longevity.  

It would be simple if there was just one thing that caused a dog or cat to get heart disease, we could just address that one thing and be done with it. But there is no one single cause for heart disease in dogs. Several factors can contribute to it, and senior dogs are considered to be at greater risk for heart disease.

I had the opportunity to speak about Pet Heart Health with Dr. Claire Walther, DMV and Petcare Medical Lead at Zoetis animal health company. After practicing at both Banfield and in an independent general Veterinary practice, Dr. Walther's passion for educating pet parents and other Veterinarians led her to join Zoetis.

Dr. Walther shared her expertise about heart disease in dogs, and how to keep a dog's heart healthy.  Most of what we'll be discussing applies to both a dog's heart health and cat heart health as well. So c'mon pet parents, let's dive in!

HEART DISEASE IN DOGS

In her experience as a general Veterinary practitioner, Dr. Walther has seen a wide variety of heart disease in both dogs and cats. Diseases of the heart depend on which area of the heart is impacted. In Dr. Walther's experience, the 3 most common types of heart disease she has dealt with are:

💗 Heart Murmurs, which effect the valves of the heart

💗 Chronic Heart Condition, which impacts all areas of the heart

💗 Heartworm disease, which damages the chambers and valves of the heart

A dog's heart has 4 chambers, 4 valves, and arteries that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Dr. Walther used a really simple analogy to explain the main components and functions of the heart by comparing the heart to a house.

Think of the 4 chambers of the heart (2 upper chambers called Atria and 2 lower chambers called Ventricles) as being rooms in the house. You can think of the valves (Mitral valve, Tricuspid valve, Aortic valve and Pulmonary valve) in each chamber of the heart as being the doors to those rooms. The arteries of the heart can be thought of as hallways through the rooms and doorways of the house.

I love the house analogy! It really helps simplify how heart diseases relate to the various parts of the heart.

Keep your dog's heart healthy!

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HEART PROBLEMS IN DOGS?

Symptoms of heart disease can be difficult to spot by pet owners themselves. However, in addition to seeing your Veterinarian 1 to 2 times per year for pet wellness exams, be aware of the following symptoms. If you observe any of these symptoms, contact your Veterinarian right away. Extreme symptoms likely indicate signs of a heart problem in your dog.

Extreme Symptoms Of Heart Disease In Dogs:

💗 Difficulty breathing

💗 Coughing

💗 Extreme Lethargy

💗 Heavy Panting

Milder, or early symptoms of heart disease in dogs are more difficult for a pet parent to see. You know your pet best, so if you see subtle changes like the below symptoms contact your Veterinarian:

Mild, or Early Symptoms of Heart Disease in Dogs:

💗 Changes in their normal behavior

💗 Your pet starts showing mild coughing or panting, if they haven't had that issue before

Small changes like these are the first indicator that something might be wrong. It's important to take your dog to the Vet at least once a year, and more often if your pet is a senior or if they have known health issues.

As part of a pet's exam, your Veterinarian will listen to all four chambers of your dog's heart to see if there might be an issue.

SCREENINGS FOR HEART DISEASE IN DOGS THAT YOUR VET MIGHT PERFORM:

In addition to listening to your dog's heart for signs of any anomalies, your Veterinarian may also perform one or more of these screenings:

💗 Heartworm Antigen test to see if your dog currently has heartworms. This test is usually routinely administered during your dog or cat's regular physical exams

💗 X-Rays of your dog's heart, if your Veterinarian feels it's necessary

💗 An Ultrasound of your dog's heart might be done if heart disease is suspected, or known by your Veterinarian

HOW A DOG'S WEIGHT EFFECTS HEART HEALTH

Dogs share many of the same risks for heart disease that humans do. Obesity is one of the most common conditions of heart disease. Being obese can contribute to worsening the condition, or may lead to the start of new types of heart disease. Follow your Vet's advice on how to keep your dog at a healthy weight.

Ask your Vet to go over what a healthy weight looks like on your dog. As a general guideline, from the side you should be able to see just some of the dog's ribs but they should not be sticking out. You should be able to feel the dog's ribs by lightly touching them. From front to back, the dog's body should have an hour-glass shape. Ask your Vet if s/he has a visual to review with you, similar to this Dog Body Condition graphic provided by Zoetis:

Dog Body Condition Chart, courtesy of Zoetis 

  

HOW TO KEEP A DOG'S HEART HEALTHY

Dr. Walther suggests 4 Things You Should Do To Help Keep Your Dog's Heart Healthy:

💗 Take your dog to the Veterinarian for annual health exams, more than once a year if your dog is a senior or has other health issues

💗 Keep your dog active with exercise

💗 Manage your dog’s weight, and follow your Vet's advice for keeping her at a healthy weight

💗 Administer Heartworm preventative medication all year round

HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS

Dr. Walther talked a lot about Heartworm Disease, as it is common in dogs and can be quite deadly. I'd like to expand on that topic because heartworm disease can be fatal. It's difficult and costly to treat, and often fatal, but it is so easy to prevent! Did you know that heartworm also effects Wolves and other wild animals? I didn't! That serves to increase the ability to spread heartworm disease.

If a dog within a community has tested positive for Heartworm Disease, it will likely be spread.  Not by the infected dog himself, as Heartworm is only spread via mosquito bite.  The mosquito that infected the dog will very likely bite other dogs, cats, or wildlife, continuing to infect animals with deadly heartworm larvae.

Dr. Walther said that one of the top myths about Heartworm is that it is not present in all areas of the United States. That is false, heartworm has been found in every state.  In fact, the potential for heartworm disease to spread is actually increasing in many areas of the U.S.!  There has been a 21% increase in heartworm cases as of 2016.  

Mosquitos love heat and moisture, so heartworm disease is more prevalent in warmer climates. But pets in colder climates are still at risk most of the year, even during weeks where the weather warms up for just a short period of time. The risk further increases if they travel with their owners to warmer places during Winter, which is a growing trend.

Another common myth is that cats are at a lower risk for heartworm disease than dogs. But the truth is, a heartworm-carrying mosquito is just as happy to bite your cat as it is to bite your dog.

An increase in the spread of mosquitos, as well as new varieties of mosquitos, are one reason heartworm disease has been on the rise.  Another reason is that pets are traveling more, which can increase their exposure to infected mosquitos. The fact that not all dogs and cats are given heartworm preventative medication also increases risk and contributes to the spread of the disease.  

Heartworm disease can cause permanent damage to your dog or cat’s heart.  Dr. Walther believes every dog and cat should be protected against heartworm disease year round, but sadly only about 1 in 3 dogs are on heartworm preventative medication.

I feel strongly about protecting my pets against heartworm disease. I have always given Icy and Phoebe heartworm preventative medication, and will continue to do so throughout their lives.

Interesting Fact: Heartworm disease has been around for a very long time.  I asked Dr. Walther when and how heartworm disease in pets started. She informed me that the first report of heartworm in domestic dogs appears to date back over 400 years to the observations of Birago in 1626 on dogs in Italy! Source: Science Direct

With over 65 years of animal health experience Zoetis serves Veterinarians and those who raise and care for companion and farm animals in more than 100 countries.

Zoetis is a 2020 IHS Markit Animal Health Award Winner for their Simparica TRIO medication which was recognized as Best New Companion Animal Product. That's quite an achievement! 

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Heart Disease in dogs is a common problem

I love my dogs, and I want them to live a long, healthy life. That's why I recently started them on Simparica TRIO by Zoetis. It protects against deadly Heartworm Disease, Ticks, Fleas, Roundworms and Hookworms in one monthly chewable! That is a Game Changer! For years I've been waiting for a medication that can control Heartworm, Ticks and Fleas in one medication. In case you're wondering, NO this is NOT a sponsored post, I'm just super impressed by this company and their Simparica TRIO product!

I want to thank Dr. Claire Walther for sharing this important information about Pet Heart Health, and for her insights and advice on how we can keep our dogs' hearts healthy!

Claire Walther, DVM

Dr. Claire Walther was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She received her BS and DVM from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. While at Purdue University, she graduated with honors for her research. During her veterinary education, she acted as a clinical pathology technician and developed a keen understanding of clinical laboratory testing. She practiced outside Indianapolis in corporate (Banfield) and independent general practice before joining Zoetis in 2016. Dr. Walther is currently a Zoetis Petcare HQ Medical Lead.

The Walther family includes 3 dogs (Eelie, Eva, and Vanilla Bean) and two cats (Gambit and Linkin). It is the love she shares for her family, both human and animal, that fosters her drive to enhance our ability to detect, prevent and treat disease within the field of veterinary medicine.

Check out the Zoetis web site for helpful articles and information about pet health, and how to be the best pet parent you can be!  

Download a Free A - Z Pet Adopter Starter Pack with all the essentials on helping a New Pet settle in, a Pet Health Checklist, and Vet Approved Guidelines on how to keep your pet healthy. It's a wealth of information on health, behavior, quality of life and more. It's great information for both new pet parents and those of us who have had pets most of our lives!

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Learn more about Heartworm Disease and the Heartworm Lifecycle in my post, HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS 

Have you ever had a conversation with your Veterinarian about heart disease in your pet? We love hearing from you so please leave us a comment and tell us about it!

Is a Siberian Husky The Right Dog For You?

Wondering if a Siberian Husky would be a good dog for you?  What is it that makes a Husky so irresistible?  For starters, it's hard not to fall in love with a Husky's Striking looks. Their wolf-like facial features, thick double coated fur, and beautiful eyes; blue, amber, and bi- colored, are stunning! Hardly a week goes by without at least one stranger saying "What a beautiful dog!" when they see me with my Siberian Husky, Icy.  

Then there's the impressive athleticism of Siberian Husky dogs, their friendly loving personality, and of course their impressive role in the historical Serum Run of 1925. Teams of sled dogs saved an Alaskan town from a Diphtheria epidemic by transporting life saving anti toxin through punishing blizzard conditions and rough terrain! 

With all that going for them, who wouldn't admire and desire a Siberian Husky dog? But is a Husky right for you and your lifestyle? Sadly, Huskies are often bought or adopted and then abandoned once they are no longer puppies. Their owners soon realize they aren't able to handle the once adorable and easy to manage Husky puppy they brought home.  

My Husky Icy on a hike. Siberian Huskies are a super high energy breed!

A Siberian Husky is not the right breed of dog for everyone. To determine whether a Husky is right for you, let's delve into their key traits. Once you have the facts you can make an informed decision about whether or not you are able to give a Husky the care and attention they need to thrive.

Physical Attributes of the Siberian Husky dog

Huskies are a medium sized dog:

🐕 Weight is approximately 45 to 60 lbs

🐕 Height is about 22" tall at the shoulders

 

🐕 Females are smaller than males

🐕 Fur is thick, and double coated of various shades and pattern

🐕 Eye color varies. Eyes can be brown, blue, amber or bi-colored (eg. one blue eye and one brown eye)

🐕 Facial features are of the Spitz (wolf or fox like) type 

Siberian Huskie are often confused with the Malamute breed, which looks almost identical to the Husky but is considerably larger and heavier.

Icy playing hard in the snow. Siberian Huskies love to run!

Many people think Huskies can only live in cold, Northern climates, but that's not true. We were living in Phoenix, Arizona when we first got Icy! We've lived with her in Phoenix, New York, and Florida. I will say that during very hot Summer days we try not to have her outside in mid day. Early mornings and after sunset during very hot weather are best. I've learned that as the days get cooler her energy level spikes dramatically! She seems to really come alive in colder weather. You should see her when it snows - we literally can't get her to come back inside the house!  She loves running along the beach just as well. Like most Huskies, my girl Icy is very adaptable.

Siberian Husky Temperament

A Husky Dog's Personality draws you in right away. Because they are family oriented with a wonderful temperament, loving and often goofy personality, huskies can be a very good family dog. Most Huskies love people and other dogs. Icy was raised with our cat Maggie and learned to love cats as well as other dogs. I'm not sure every Husky would become besties with the family cat, but if a Siberian Husky puppy is raised with a cat the odds of them being friends will probably be higher. Huskies have a prey drive though, so small pets such as birds or hamsters should be kept out of reach of a Husky!

Huskies aren't necessarily barky dogs, but they do tend to be quite vocal, expressing a wide variety of vocalizations from howls to sweet chirping type sounds. If you're looking for a quiet dog, the Husky might not fit that need! 

The Chukchi people of Eastern Siberia created the Siberian Husky dog breed. It is estimated that the breed was created by the Chukchi thousands of years ago, and only brought to Alaska around 1908! They were used by the Chukchi not only as endurance dogs to pull sleds carrying food and other goods over long distances, they often acted as baby sitters because they were so good with kids and family.

Siberian Huskies need Exercise, Exercise and More Exercise! This is probably the most difficult thing for Husky owners to commit to providing on a daily basis. A 20 minute potty walk twice a day is NOT going to cut it for a Husky. Not by a long shot. Having a big yard and letting your Husky run around for half the day is Not going to cut it either. 

A Siberian Husky is a super high energy dog. They don't want to lay around, they need to run or be taken for very long walks daily. When we first got Icy, we knew she was a high energy breed but we were not prepared for the amount of energy she needed to burn every day! If a Husky doesn't get enough exercise they will become destructive - like, eat the couch while you're out food shopping destructive! 

We would literally hike with Icy in the mountains near our Phoenix home for 2 hours. We would be ready to keel over from exhaustion and Icy would look at us like "What, you're done already?!" 

A Siberian Husky is a good choice of dog for very active people or families, IF you consistently have the time and energy to provide ample opportunity for your Husky to be very active and burn lots of energy.

A Husky will love to engage in activities with you like running, very long walks, hiking in the mountains, running along the beach, playing fetch or tug, and puzzle games. They will also love to snuggle with you after a long day of fun and exhilarating physical activity! 

My husband and I both worked the first few years of Icy's life, we couldn't always keep up with exercising her daily. To help her burn energy during the work week we took her to Doggy Daycamp two or three times a week. It was a Godsend! Taking her to the dog park to run around, play and burn energy for an hour or so also helped a lot. The key to providing lots of exercise for your Husky is that it needs to be consistent, not 2 days of exercise and then sit in the house for 5 days. That will not work! Your dog will become bored, with pent up energy to burn. That will lead to unwanted behaviors.

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Is a Siberian Husky the Right Breed of Dog For You?

Huskies are known for being excellent escape artists! If you leave them unattended in a fenced in yard, they are likely to jump or climb that fence. Or, they might dig themselves a massive hole under the fence and escape, just out of sheer boredom.

Training a Siberian Husky

Huskies are very intelligent and learn quickly. They enjoy learning new things and being mentally challenged. Training a Siberian Husky can be challenging if you're not up to the task.  It requires a lot of consistency and patience, probably more so than many other breeds.

Siberian Huskies can be independent and headstrong, with a mind of their own. This served them well as sled dogs, when they often needed to make decisions about which direction to go on ice and snow. A sled dog sometimes needed to defy their musher's commands in order to steer the sled toward a safer direction. This strong mindedness can make Huskies more challenging to train than other dog breeds. 

One of the most maddening things about a Siberian Husky is that - no surprise - they love to PULL.  Pulling a sled is what they were bred for, right? As Icy grew, she started pulling like crazy on the leash during walks! She practically dragged me across the county every time I put the leash on. It got to the point where I didn't even want to walk her anymore, and that made me really sad.  

Fortunately, I learned some tips on how to curtail all that leash pulling. Click here for tips on How to get your dog to stop pulling on leash . The most important tip I can share with you here is to use a No Pull harness to walk a Siberian Husky. Not a regular dog collar and leash, and not a regular harness with the leash clip on the top, that will actually encourage pulling! A No Pull harness has the leash clip on the base of the harness, at the chest area. 

I found that continually training Icy keeps her engaged and mentally challenged.  I enrolled Icy in puppy class as soon as she was old enough, about 16 weeks old. She aced that class! To continually keep her engaged I enrolled her in just about every dog training class I could find; intermediate and advanced training classes, tricks training classes, agility and obedience rally classes, and therapy dog classes. She excelled in every class.

All these training classes were great bonding experiences for us.  It definitely brought Icy and I closer together and forged a really strong bond. A bond I consider to be unbreakable!

A Husky can easily become dominant if the owner and other family members, aren't strong enough to take on the role of pack leader. I don't mean that an owner or family member should be domineering or rough in any way. You don't need to do that in order to show leadership. Consistent basic training, using positive, rewards based training methods are all you need in order to show your Husky that you are the pack leader. If you're a weak leader who doesn't make the effort to train their dog and doesn't set boundaries for the dog, your Husky will likely feel compelled to step into the role of pack leader. You don't want that! Training and setting boundaries for your dog is a good way to prevent him from becoming the dominant member of the family.

Do Huskies Shed a Lot?

Well, I'd start growing a Pinocchio nose if I said Siberian Huskies didn't shed a lot. Huskies shed like crazy! I'm talking so much fur that during peak shedding times (twice a year) it can look like it's snowing.... indoors! A Siberian Husky should be brushed often, especially during shedding seasons to keep all that hair under control. If you have an aversion to dog hair, please don't get a Husky!

Now that you know what to expect, do you still think a Siberian Husky is the right dog for you?  If so Great, they are awesome dogs! Please take the time to do your research and select a very reputable Siberian Husky breeder or a reputable Siberian Husky Rescue. There are lots of great Husky rescue organizations, just search online for Siberian Husky Rescue near [insert your city name].  Search in cities and states you'd be willing to drive to as well. If you search online, please only search reputable sites and be aware of puppy mills or unsavory individuals looking to sell or "adopt out" a Husky!  

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