When it comes to introducing a new dog to the family, picking a breed you have no experience with can be overwhelming, especially when your young children are involved. Huskies are beyond a shadow of a doubt some of the most beautiful pets you can own, but are huskies good with kids?
Here, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about owning a husky, their temperament, and care to help you make an informed decision!
Are Huskies Good With Kids?
Are huskies good with kids? Whether or not a husky will be good with children comes down to a few factors (that we’ll discuss in the following sections), but generally speaking, huskies are patient and tolerant dogs; and they make great family pets.
Temperament
Overall, huskies are:
- Gentle with kids and other animals
- Athletic and easily trained
- Playful and friendly
- Welcoming to strangers
However, a husky’s personality can be affected if you don’t get a well-socialized puppy or dog. In the next couple of sections, we’ll be covering what you should look for when buying a husky puppy or adopting an adult husky.
What to Look For in a Puppy
It should go without saying that you should look for a puppy bred by a reputable breeder. Husky puppies should:
- Be well socialized with their siblings and parents
- Be living in sanitary conditions
- Have their first shots and all necessary medical treatments for their first few weeks of life
- Have no sign of physical injuries or health issues
- Come from healthy parents
- Preferably come with pedigree and health records
Watch out for common signs of a scam or puppy mill. These include:
- Husky puppies costing far below the average price range ($700 – $1,300). Well-bred huskies will generally be in the thousand-dollar range.
- Unhealthy conditions. This includes living conditions, puppies that look sickly, or a mother that looks sickly. Puppy mills will also typically not have the mother’s litter records.
- Sketchy payment method. If you’re asked to pay in a method that makes it difficult for you to receive a refund or dispute your purchase, this often points to a scam.
- You haven’t seen the puppy in person. While this doesn’t always point to a scam, it’s a good idea to visit a breeder’s facility and meet the puppies before making your final decision.
What to Look For in an Adult
If you’re opting to adopt an adult husky, you need to ensure that:
- It has been around children
- It tolerates family life
- It’s good with animals (if you have other pets)
- It has all of its health records, vaccines, and heartworm/flea/tick treatments
- It shows no signs of aggression
- It has no record of abuse. As unfortunate as it is, dogs with a history of abuse can become aggressive unexpectedly and may not do well with children.
A husky that has been trained in the basics (sit, no jumping, walking on a leash, etc.) are also things to look out for when selecting a husky to adopt.
Are Huskies Good With Kids? Introducing Kids to Huskies
Whether it’s a brand new, 9-week-old puppy or a 3-year-old adopted husky, introducing your kid(s) should be done in a way that’s beneficial for both the dog and your family.
When introducing your kids to their new husky, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don’t force interaction. If your kid or the dog doesn’t want to interact, don’t force it. Let it happen naturally as to not put stress on your children or your new pet.
- Encourage gentleness. Young children have a tendency to not know their own strength and could be too rough with a puppy or husky who is just getting used to his new surroundings. Be sure to stress to your child to be gentle when they speak to or stroke their husky.
- Be present at all times. This goes for both puppies and adult dogs. You should always be sure that you’re around your children when they’re interacting with their puppy or adopted husky. This will prevent any accidents until they’re used to one another.
- Let your child know they’re in control. A puppy will naturally grow to fall behind its owners in the “pack” hierarchy. However, an adult husky may see your child as lesser if they’re not assertive. For older children, encourage them to use boundaries where they feel it’s necessary. “No, Sit” and “Stay” are all good commands for your husky and child to learn.
Husky Care Requirments
Grooming
While huskies can live practically anywhere just as long as they have AC, food, water, toys, and a family to love, it’s good to keep in mind that these are thick-coated dogs.
They were bred to endure frigid cold temperatures and are better suited for the Northern United States, Canada, and other areas with snowy winters and tolerable temperatures.
Their long, thick coat also tends to shed during the warmer months, making these dogs allergenic to sensitive parties. Huskies require regular grooming, at least twice a week at home or at a professional groomer.
During their shedding season, they’ll need to be brushed daily to prevent matting and remove hair.
(PST. If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic pet, check out the Best Hypoallergenic Dogs For Kids!)
Exercise
These dogs aren’t for the faint of heart and certainly aren’t lazy lapdogs (though they will try to fit in your lap).
Huskies will require a daily walk or at least 1-2 hours of unbridled time outdoors to run off their energy. They’re extremely playful dogs and are better suited for active families that have the time to tend to their exercise needs. Remember, these dogs were bred as sport and hunting animals, so they’re naturally energetic, agile, and athletic.
If an owner fails to properly exercise their husky companion, it could result in anxiousness and destructive behavior in and outside of the home.
Training Huskies
Huskies are remarkably bright dogs and can be easily trained — if they know you’re the boss. If a husky believes they’re the leader of the pack, they’ll often instinctually try to rule the household. In other words, what husky wants to do, he’ll do.
The first step in training the intelligent, strong-willed husky is asserting your dominance. You can do this by being sure of yourself (not anxious or nervous), following a routine, making clear commands, and following through with punishments and boundaries.
From this point on, training your husky to sit, stay, roll over, or even pull a sled will be a piece of cake (just don’t forget the treats while you train!).
Husky Pros & Cons
Here, we lay out the basic pros and cons of owning a husky as a final overview:
Pros
- Huskies are striking dogs. If fashionable pets are your thing, the Siberian Husky is one of the most beautiful. With predominantly blue eyes, luscious coats, and wolf-like features, these dogs are truly unique pets to befriend.
- They make great companions for active owners. If you’re an active family, huskies will spend hours exploring and playing with you. These high-energy dogs are the perfect furry trail buddy, can be trained for sports, and will entertain your rambunctious children for hours on end!
- They’re usually giant cuddle buddies. These dogs are by large affectionate, tolerant, sweet animals. Huskies are patient with children and generally make the best of friends for other pets (even cats!)
- Huskies are friendly and sociable. With a husky, you won’t have to worry about walking by strangers. These dogs are almost too friendly and will happily socialize with neighbors and their pets.
Cons
- Huskies shed and require grooming. If you squirm at the thought of your white furniture being covered in fur or finding clumps of dog hair in your bed, a husky isn’t the right pet for you. These dogs shed to high heaven, especially during the warmer months, and will require grooming very often compared to other breeds.
- They’re vocal. While this may not be much of a problem to some, it can be a nuisance to others. Huskies are known for being highly dramatic dogs. They bark, whine, yelp, and “talk” like no other and if you have babies or children that wake up at the drop of a pen, a husky may not be your ideal pet.
- These dogs are escape artists. Huskies are very active dogs, and if they aren’t tired by the end of the day, you can expect these pooches to try to climb out of their kennels or jump the fence to follow the neighborhood lady dog. You’ll need a high and secure fence for these trouble-makers.
- Huskies dig… and dig… and dig. There will be literally no end to the digging of your husky, so if you want your backyard to look pristine, it’s best to go with another dog breed!
Final Thoughts
Are huskies good with kids?
The short answer is yes, huskies are 9 times out of 10 an excellent breed to introduce to your young family. However, there’s more to owning a husky than temperament, so be sure that you’re willing and able to meet a husky’s care requirements before making your final decision.
We hope our pet guide has answered all of your questions and helped you in your pet adopting journey!