The New 'Cool' Breed- Siberian Husky

Shanao

Recently I posted in a topic about Siberian Huskies, stating that too many people are getting these dogs because they think they look cool. Well today, I was on the verge of verbally abusing two people who had one. Here's my reasons why;
They were having a problem with the dog howling/barking and wanted to know how to stop it. These dogs are vocal by nature!!
The solution they were looking for was a shock collar. I told them that was a bad idea, a very bad idea. I mentioned the spray collars which you can get for about €100 and they claimed that was too expensive. How much did they think the electric one was going to cost!? €10?


And here is the best part of it, here is the reason why I was so very close to yelling at these people for hours on end.


The dog was a nine week old puppy.... A nine week old Siberian Husky puppy who's making too much noise and they want to put a shock collar on it to stop it barking. What the hell is wrong with people!!? Clearly they had no idea what kind of dog they were getting and just decided on, "oh looks kinda like a wolf, everyone thinks they look cool, imagine how cool we'll look walking this dog." Why dont people do some research!! It really drives me insane.

And rant over, sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

magentas

image.

these people shouldn't have a dog of ANY breed if they were looking to get a shock collar for a nine week old puppy.:eek:

Idiots:mad:

ISDW

Shanao wrote: »

Recently I posted in a topic about Siberian Huskies, stating that too many people are getting these dogs because they think they look cool. Well today, I was on the verge of verbally abusing two people who had one. Here's my reasons why;
They were having a problem with the dog howling/barking and wanted to know how to stop it. These dogs are vocal by nature!!
The solution they were looking for was a shock collar. I told them that was a bad idea, a very bad idea. I mentioned the spray collars which you can get for about €100 and they claimed that was too expensive. How much did they think the electric one was going to cost!? €10?


And here is the best part of it, here is the reason why I was so very close to yelling at these people for hours on end.


The dog was a nine week old puppy.... A nine week old Siberian Husky puppy who's making too much noise and they want to put a shock collar on it to stop it barking. What the hell is wrong with people!!? Clearly they had no idea what kind of dog they were getting and just decided on, "oh looks kinda like a wolf, everyone thinks they look cool, imagine how cool we'll look walking this dog." Why dont people do some research!! It really drives me insane.

And rant over, sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Welcome to my world:mad:

Sibes aren't the new cool breed, film makers made sure that they were the cool breed a few years ago with Snow Dogs, Eight Below and Snow Buddies.

People get breeds because of films, books, adverts etc. Dalmatians went through it after 101 dalmatians, I don't think we'll be long waiting for the mass dumping of adult Akitas, the ones that were bought as cute puppies when Hachi the film came out.

Shanao

Its weird cos where i'm living, in 2009 everyone was getting staffies, in 2010 everyone seemed to be getting a siberian husky. As the owner of an akita, I'm dreading the day that starts happening; they are a tough breed to handle. But it just seems to me that one person around here got a sibe and now everyone wants one. Some of the owners are responsible and care for their animals, thank god, but most of the 'problem dogs' who come to me now are sibes who are merely being sibes but people expect them to be a bloody lapdog.

Actually, now that i think about it, its been all sibes and golden retrievers for the past few months. Though I'm still getting people coming up to me, proudly grinning as they say; 'I've got a Wechon, or a Yochon, or a cavachon' or some other made up crap. Now those are people who dont like to hear you say, "Sorry, you mean you have a crossbreed?"

This is on a seperate note now, but ISDW have you seen anything about the guy apparently breeding and selling Huskita's, claiming that the breeding pairs are carefully selected outstanding specimens of the breeds?

ISDW

Shanao wrote: »

Its weird cos where i'm living, in 2009 everyone was getting staffies, in 2010 everyone seemed to be getting a siberian husky. As the owner of an akita, I'm dreading the day that starts happening; they are a tough breed to handle. But it just seems to me that one person around here got a sibe and now everyone wants one. Some of the owners are responsible and care for their animals, thank god, but most of the 'problem dogs' who come to me now are sibes who are merely being sibes but people expect them to be a bloody lapdog.

Actually, now that i think about it, its been all sibes and golden retrievers for the past few months. Though I'm still getting people coming up to me, proudly grinning as they say; 'I've got a Wechon, or a Yochon, or a cavachon' or some other made up crap. Now those are people who dont like to hear you say, "Sorry, you mean you have a crossbreed?"

This is on a seperate note now, but ISDW have you seen anything about the guy apparently breeding and selling Huskita's, claiming that the breeding pairs are carefully selected outstanding specimens of the breeds?

Oh I know, people see someone with a striking looking dog and they want one. I spend more time putting people off huskies than I do encouraging them to have one:D

Yeah, I've seen that guy, he lives in Tallaght doesn't he. Very careful breeding programme:mad:

Shanao

I'm kind of getting that way as well; there aren't enough people out there who can handle a siberian. A few people have asked me about breeds and they're one that always comes up, so I have to carefully prod them back into the direction of the cavalier or shih tzu that they might actually be able to manage. Some of them probably still went off and got them though and I'm just waiting to have them arrive and say, "Eh, yeah, I have a problem with my dog." No matter how much advice you give people, they'll still go off and do whatever the hell they want, with no thought for the poor dog.

I think that guy's in Tallaght alright, first time I saw him on Donedeal I immediately clicked on the link to his website to see if he was serious. Surely the point of breeding is to rule out health problems by breeding from sound parents, not crossing an established breed with another and then slapping a few numbers and a euro symbol before them. And the worst part of it is that people actually fall for it. Seriously, i do not want to imagine a dog with Sibe and Akita strength combined, with one hell of a willful personality. Recipe for disaster!!

Zapperzy

The amount of sibes being advertised lately is just unreal, both pups and studs nearly every second ad is for a sibe. I certainly don't envy you isdw! I believe akitas are becoming very popular in the uk now and going by the increase in ads for those too looks like were going the same way.

Those people are the very reason shock collars should be banned, whatever about in a competant person's hands thats another debate but for a 9 week old puppy because it's doing what it has been bred to do. :mad:

Reminds me I was at work before christmas (in a petrol station/shop), I was standing in the kitchen talking to the girls when this big black and white sibe/mal (sorry wouldn't know the difference without comparing) just strolled in past us and walked straight into the walk in freezer. 3 of us were just stood there shocked. Dog knew exactly where he was going like he'd done it a million times before. Man came running in after him shouting Jackson. Didn't even apologize. Worst thing was when he'd brought him back out I heard the loudest squeal from a dog, honestly thought someone had ran over him. Still don't know what happened as I was serving someone and couldn't go out to look. Just hope he wasn't punishing him in some way for running in. :mad:

Tripp

Yup every1 and there granny have Huskies now and its kind of sad because when the next "cool" breed comes in alot of those Huskies will end up in pounds
I hope to god the akita isnt the next cool breed cause i own 1 and damn shes tough to handle

john t

Lovely looking dog, bit as a pure pet can be a handfull. Grooming, shedding, long long walks, and yes they can bark/ howl a lot due too being pure pack dog as opposed too sum other breeds, New cool breed?? or just easy and more huskues on market??

koneko

I wouldn't change mine for anything, but I'm always putting random strangers that come to pet them, off getting one. Really wish movies like Snow Dogs hadn't made them popular. Kids love the look of them and parents give in, then they end up in a shelter or with kind folks like ISDW.

Anyone that would put a shock collar on a 9 week old puppy because it's howling or upset shouldn't be allowed own any dogs at all:mad:

Jinxi

Anyone who gave away 9 week old pups shouldn't be breeding them

koneko

Are you taking about the age...?
8-9 weeks is the normal age they leave their mammies, with bigger dogs.

Jinxi

All dogs should be left with their mother until they are at leat 10 weeks, 12 preferably. These weeks are extremely importnat as it is this age the mother teaches puppies social rules and corrects unwanted behaviour.
Maybe this is why larger dogs get such a bad reputaion for being unruly.

koneko

I don't want to take this thread off topic, but it depends what breeds we're talking about. Smaller dogs should stay longer than big ones.

fatmammycat

God, that's so unreal, a shock collar on a 9 week old pup? I dread to think how that little mite will grow up.
Breed trending is such a weird thing, when I had the dobermann years ago people used to waffle on about getting one too as he was so well behaved, then I would launch into my usual 'well actually he's only like this because he is exercised x amount a day, I work from home, he was a nightmare to socialise when I got him at 6 mts because he had spent so long alone, he can be destructive, he had terrible seperation anxiety, he hates the cold...blah blah.' But you know what, nothing I said made the slighest bit of difference because he looked cool and he was quiet. MY dog was quiet, ergo their future fantasy dobermann would be too. I have up bothering after a while.

Jinxi

I know what you mean fatmammycat. I have an extremely well behaved dog. Her breed is extremely high energy and can sometimes be snappy.
I get stopped in the park all the time at people admiring her, because of her excellent recall and obiedience to sit stay etc. They never stay long enough for me to explain that I got her when I had three months off work to train her and she needs high level of excercise every day(I have lost 15lbs since getting her). They just say, thats the kind of breed I want.

fatmammycat

Aye, it's like some people don't want to hear how much work needs to go into forming a well behaved dog. I actually wouldn't recommend a dobermann as a pet to an inexperienced dog owner as they are big intelligent obsessive fellows that require a lot of socialisation. Plus the fact that they are -stupidedly- on the restricted list means it is even harder to socalise them fully as the poor things cannot be allowed off lead to run around and just be dogs with other dogs. Hateful piece of legislation and I would love to see it overturned.

adser53

Shanao wrote: »

This is on a seperate note now, but ISDW have you seen anything about the guy apparently breeding and selling Huskita's, claiming that the breeding pairs are carefully selected outstanding specimens of the breeds?

I've seen this guy too and personally I think he's talking through his arse. :mad:

I also dread the day when Akitas become the dog of choice. It's getting there now though. They are fastly becoming more common and even looking at donedeal shows a dramatic increase of pups for sale recently. Unfortunately there's also been a massive increase of older dogs being put up for sale. Anything from 12 months to 4 years old. I don't believe that such a high proportion of Akita owners have all become jobless or need to emigrate so suddenly!

99% of these people saw an amazing looking breed that had incredibly cute pups, then they bought one without a thought and then couldn't handle it when it grew up. Personally if, god forbid, I EVER had to rehome my dogs, I wouldn't be charging anyone and I would ensure they go to the best home possible. It sickens me that someone can try and charge €400 for a dog they've had for a few years.

Like others have said, I actually discourage more people from getting an Akita than I recommend because the avergae joe simply wouldn't be able for them. It's the exact same case as Sibes!

tatabubbly

koneko wrote: »

I don't want to take this thread off topic, but it depends what breeds we're talking about. Smaller dogs should stay longer than big ones.

Here we go again. I hate the small dog bashing on this board

adser53

tatabubbly wrote: »

Here we go again. I hate the small dog bashing on this board

Huh? It's not small dog bashing?

It's a question of mental development and some folks reckon smaller breeds shouldn't leave their mother until their 10-12 weeks old whereas a larger breed can be rehomed from 8-10 weeks as they develop quicker.

bullylover

There is a huge amount of akita's, husky's, rotties and g.shephards for sale at the min. I think the worst is they are crossing them, Akita/rottie mix etc
People do not know what they are getting.
The dont understand what the breeds are and what they are bred to do.
I know when I decide I want a dog i spend a long time talking to breeders, handlers, reading articles and talking to vets.
I find it very funny to hear a ****zu owner ask why does her dog bark growl and guard her house.... emmm because they were bred to guard?
Has anyone seen the Swedish Kennel Clubs page? I have a few swedish friends and they have the right idea. Every breeder has to reg there dogs, there dogs medical records are open to the public, all test (eyes ear hips knee's etc) has to be done and results shown to public and most importantly the have a mentality test. Each breeder is still responsible for any pup they sell.
Why cant the irish kennel club do something correctly and take a look at the swedish one???
If breeding regulations came in we wud not have as many abused and abandoned animals.
My swedish friends were shocked they dont have pounds! they dont have strays!!
We need to sort this hole system out and stop breeding willy nilly.
:: Rant over ::

Cherry Blossom

Actually smaller breeds develop quicker my Westie pup was a lot bigger and more independant at 9 weeks than my sisters collie X at the same age (not 100% sure what she's crossed with but looks more and more like a white GSD everyday). My own opinion is that mental development is much the same at this age.

puppy development stages:

http://www.doberman.org/articles/puppy.htm

In my opinion 9 weeks is the optimum age to rehome puppies as at 8 weeks they are in the 1st week of their fear impact period so it's not a good time to go into a new home/have their first car journey etc. Between 7 and 12 weeks their little brains are like a sponge and soak everything up and by 12 weeks they should be settled in their permanant home, have gotten to know their new family and the rules should be clearly defined for them. Following this has certainly created a secure, very well balanced dog in my case anyway.

Asder53 I think what you are refering to there is tiny breeds like chihuahuas where the breeder will hold on to them a bit longer as they are so fragile.

koneko

tatabubbly wrote: »

Here we go again. I hate the small dog bashing on this board

What are you talking about? I'm not even *remotely* bashing small dogs, I'm saying that a lot of small dog breeders say the puppies should stay with the mother longer than bigger breeds. I have no idea where you're reading bashing in my post.

Shanao

adser53 wrote: »

I've seen this guy too and personally I think he's talking through his arse. :mad:

I also dread the day when Akitas become the dog of choice. It's getting there now though. They are fastly becoming more common and even looking at donedeal shows a dramatic increase of pups for sale recently. Unfortunately there's also been a massive increase of older dogs being put up for sale. Anything from 12 months to 4 years old. I don't believe that such a high proportion of Akita owners have all become jobless or need to emigrate so suddenly!

99% of these people saw an amazing looking breed that had incredibly cute pups, then they bought one without a thought and then couldn't handle it when it grew up. Personally if, god forbid, I EVER had to rehome my dogs, I wouldn't be charging anyone and I would ensure they go to the best home possible. It sickens me that someone can try and charge €400 for a dog they've had for a few years.

Like others have said, I actually discourage more people from getting an Akita than I recommend because the avergae joe simply wouldn't be able for them. It's the exact same case as Sibes!

Know what you mean, it took me ages to find a breeder i was happy with, and anyone who asks me about them, I reccomend they dont get one. Sure, he's a fluffy little teddy bear now, but he's almost 20kgs already and getting bigger by the second. I met a woman from a rescue centre in cork a few days ago, she told me she had never seen a pup but they get dozens of adult akitas in every year!! Once they hit their adult height people seem to realise that this is a big dog, with a big attitude!!

adser53

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

In my opinion 9 weeks is the optimum age to rehome puppies as at 8 weeks they are in the 1st week of their fear impact period so it's not a good time to go into a new home/have their first car journey etc. Between 7 and 12 weeks their little brains are like a sponge and soak everything up and by 12 weeks they should be settled in their permanant home, have gotten to know their new family and the rules should be clearly defined for them. Following this has certainly created a secure, very well balanced dog in my case anyway.

Adser53 I think what you are refering to there is tiny breeds like chihuahuas where the breeder will hold on to them a bit longer as they are so fragile.

I agree with you AJ that 9 weeks is the optimum age to rehome and that there isn't much of a difference between large & smal breeds.

I only mentioned it in response to tatabubbly's claim of small breed bashing by koneko who originally brought it up

koneko

I don't have as much experience with small dogs' young puppies, but agree re 9 weeks

Definitely seems like Akitas are part of the fad now which is such a shame so sad and frustrating that these poor dogs end up being rehomed due to no fault of their own.

ISDW

Unfortunately for Akitas, being on the RB list, they really don't stand a chance, a lot of pounds won't try to rehome them, they just get pts. Although I have come across a few pounds that have that attitude to huskies, as they think they must be closely related to wolves.:rolleyes:

adser53

ISDW wrote: »

Unfortunately for Akitas, being on the RB list, they really don't stand a chance, a lot of pounds won't try to rehome them, they just get pts. Although I have come across a few pounds that have that attitude to huskies, as they think they must be closely related to wolves.:rolleyes:

That's very true, they're instantly condemned and pts without any chance.

As for them putting Huskies to sleep for being closely related to wolves????!!!! WTF? These are the authorities on dogs? FFS the RB list is pure tripe but at least it was brought in by panicing politicians who wouldn't know a rottie from a poodle but for someone who actually works in a pound or a dog warden to adopt that attitude is ludicrous!

On that note....why do people become Dog wardens or choose to work in a pound (or even volunteer in a rescue) if they have that level ignorance and refuse to accept that all dogs are equal? From my brief experience volunteering in the pound years ago, there are certain breeds (all on the RB list conveniently) that the warden and workers automatically hated. I mean would you become a Paediatrician if you hated kids??? I think not

LucyBliss

That's why as much as I think Siberian Huskies and Akitas are fantastic looking dogs and have so much to offer the right owner, I wouldn't get one because I am not the right owner for them. I wouldn't be able to offer them everything they need to be the great dogs they have the potential to be. You just can't get one of these kinds of dogs without really knowing what they're about and what they're going to expect and need from you over the years.

I warn you though, if I happen across any of you out walking your dogs, chances are I will come over and gush over them!

I swear, some people put more thought and research into buying a kitchen appliance than they do a dog and then wonder why the dog is causing such trouble.

caseyann

No offence intended to the poster but i hate when people buy a pet or get one just because its a new thing and become popular and call it cool breed.


And shock collar on a pup can someone report that please.:mad:

Zapperzy

adser53 wrote: »

That's very true, they're instantly condemned and pts without any chance.

As for them putting Huskies to sleep for being closely related to wolves????!!!! WTF? These are the authorities on dogs? FFS the RB list is pure tripe but at least it was brought in by panicing politicians who wouldn't know a rottie from a poodle but for someone who actually works in a pound or a dog warden to adopt that attitude is ludicrous!

On that note....why do people become Dog wardens or choose to work in a pound (or even volunteer in a rescue) if they have that level ignorance and refuse to accept that all dogs are equal? From my brief experience volunteering in the pound years ago, there are certain breeds (all on the RB list conveniently) that the warden and workers automatically hated. I mean would you become a Paediatrician if you hated kids??? I think not

I was talking to a vet nurse recently about a japanese akita x mal, she was saying how she'd never trust one (akita) and that she had heard how they can just snap, and that she'd trust even a rottie over an akita! :rolleyes: Im a vet nursing student and some of the things you hear from students are just unreal, people who claim to love animals and want to spend their lives working with them coming out with statments such as "wouldn't it be great to work in a practice in the UK, they've banned dangerous dogs over there!". :rolleyes: I agree it's like a paediatrician hating children!

Shanao

caseyann wrote: »

No offence intended to the poster but i hate when people buy a pet or get one just because its a new thing and become popular and call it cool breed.


And shock collar on a pup can someone report that please.:mad:

Is the first part in regards to me, the OP, beause I was the one complaining about the whole 'cool' breed thing?

And as for reporting them, there isn't really anything i could do, though I hope that my advice put them off it. It was tough though, I really was on the verge of just going, "Dammit, give me the ****ing dog and I'll find it a proper home!!"

I was talking to a vet nurse recently about a japanese akita x mal, she was saying how she'd never trust one (akita) and that she had heard how they can just snap, and that she'd trust even a rottie over an akita! Im a vet nursing student and some of the things you hear from students are just unreal, people who claim to love animals and want to spend their lives working with them coming out with statments such as "wouldn't it be great to work in a practice in the UK, they've banned dangerous dogs over there!". I agree it's like a paediatrician hating children!

Its actually ridiculous how people view the akitas. I've only had my pup five weeks and most people (thankfully) adore him, but there have still been a number of people who go "Oh but aren't they a vicious breed?" I mostly say, "Yes, can't you see him mauling the face off me? And my two kittens sleep on top of him, what a monster!!" I was talking to a woman about her dogs the other day and she asked me what I have, I told her, and she turned to me and said, "Oh an Akita? You know you're going to have problems with that dog. They're very dangerous; they nearly always turn on their owners." As the owner of a rottweiler I would have expected her to give RBs a chance but surprise, surprise. Really had to bite my tongue at that one.

LucyBliss

That's such bull. Any dog that is properly trained and looked after isn't going to just turn on its owner. And if you're a responsible owner and you see your dog developing troublesome quirks, you'll either get it checked out to make sure it's nothing medical or you'll go back to basics with training, or both.

The Sweeper

I wouldn't get a husky or a malamute in a million years. They're just totally unsuited to my lifestyle - I have six cats and I work full time and a husky in my yard - he'd dig, wallow, eat my cats, chew the garden to shreds, lead my other dog astray and get bored and start to clear my fences to play with the neighbour's dogs.

As it stands I discovered something spectacular with my bull arab now he's eight months - he needs about 45 mins for a walk, if we take it up to an hour he gets fussy near the end because he's tired and bored of trudging.

Then I discovered swimming. I can now walk him for 10 minutes from the carpark to the lake, and stand on the side of the lake and throw sticks for him for half an hour as he exercises his splashy self, then 10 minutes back to the car. On the weekend there's a 3km round-trip bush walk we can take if feeling very energetic, and he can even swim at the end of that if he wants to, so all in all as he grows we're finding a happy medium to suit both of us and it's working well.

CreedonsDogDayc

I have two huskys, and i'm the same, talking people out of getting this breed unless they know all about them or have had one before.
My girls are lucky, they come to daycare every day so get plenty of exercise, I dread to think of what they'd be like without it! they're very mischievous, love ripping things up, digging, and getting in to places they shouldnt!!

The fact that they love to run and cant be trusted off leash is what scares me about uneducated people owning the breed.

They seem so popular at the mo, my pup's breeder (not a breeder, only had one litter to keep two boys, and mums now neutered) is fantastic, and has taken two of the pups back after the people who took them realised that they grow :rolleyes: . they keep getting phone calls for people looking for dogs with blue eyes / dont have secure gardens / want to breed them etc.

Its crazy the amount of people that look at huskys and get money signs in their eyes! If bred properly there's NO money in it and chances are you'll make a big loss.

Ive two (spayed) girls, and I hate the fact that people looking at me will probably assume Im breeding them!