One of the most beautiful and popular breeds among dog breeders is husky. She is able to bring a lot of funny and pleasant moments to her master’s life, however, there is a controversial position as to whether it is possible to keep such a pet in an average apartment. To make housing for representatives of this breed even comfortable in urban high-rise buildings, you need to know the nuances of keeping such a dog and caring for it. All these issues will be discussed in detail in our article.
Breed features
Husky have a certain external resemblance to wolves, because they inherited their features. Initially, this breed was used only for riding purposes. Hardy and mobile huskies could carry quite heavy loads, as well as overcome considerable distances, transporting a person in a group in harness.
Representatives of this breed are quite tall - at the withers husky reach 0.62 meters. The dog’s coat is painted in a combination of gray-white, white color may prevail on the muzzle and chest, legs and stomach, while the back and upper part of the head have a gray tint. Most often, the eyes of such pets are blue, however, there are dogs with brown eyes and even a heterochromic color of the iris. The ears of the animal are located high on the head and have an acute triangular shape.
The nature of the pet is independent and proud by nature, but at the same time for most huskies these qualities are combined with incredible friendliness and affection. Husky extremely rarely show aggression even to strangers.
An important feature of representatives of this breed is the inability to bark. They do not show importunity and do not like to ask the owner for goodies, like some other breeds. Often, huskies find the most convenient place in the apartment and like to spend time there, and at the same time, favorite places can change over time.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you get a similar dog in a city apartment, it is worth weighing the pros and cons of such a decision. The positive aspects include the following.
- Husky by nature is very neat pets.
- These dogs can be kept in a high-rise building, without worrying that barking will disturb the neighbors and the owners of the dog. Such a biological feature, as the inability to bark, is very convenient for maintenance in an apartment building.
- Thanks to fidelity and kindness, representatives of this breed are able to become real friends for their owners.
- Husky love children and enjoy playing with them. Due to the lack of aggressive traits in the character of the dog, it will not pose a threat to your child.
Among the minuses of having a husky breed dog in the apartment, it is worth highlighting the following features of their behavior and needs.
- Such a dog will not show the quality of a guard, so if you want the dog to ensure the safety of your home, this breed is not the most suitable.
- Keeping huskies in a small or one-room apartment will be problematic, because the dog needs enough space, she does not like a very enclosed space.
- Such a pet is very curious, and his curiosity can adversely affect the state of household utensils and furniture. Husky can gut pillows, sometimes spoil the upholstery or other textile accessories. If the dog wants to get to an object, then most likely she will manage to do this, removing all obstacles in her path. Without a proper approach to education, husky dogs can become real destroyers.
- It makes no sense to take huskies to a high-rise building, if most of the time in the apartment is no one. Sociable dogs love the company, while loneliness only harms them because of the lack of the ability to channel large reserves of energy in the right direction. It is in loneliness that such dogs, as a rule, spoil things and upholstery.
- Such an animal is difficult to isolate, because due to its natural tendency to explore the space, huskies sometimes even begin to understand how the locks on the doors open. Make sure that your home is adapted to such unpredictable manifestations of the nature of the husky.
- For some, the minus seems to be the need for a sufficiently long walk with such a dog - at least 2 hours a day. However, less time in the fresh air is not enough, and the dog will not be calm after a short walk.
Thus, a dog of a husky breed may well live in a city apartment, only if the owner has the opportunity to give the animal due attention and give the necessary physical activity.
Prerequisites for maintenance
It’s worthwhile to dwell on the conditions which should contain a dog breed husky.
- A dog needs to run and jump daily, however, an apartment is not a good place for such activity. To satisfy the needs of the animal, it should be taken for a walk 2 times a day. Ideally, it takes more than an hour to walk each time, giving the dog the opportunity to enjoy games in the active air and even training it. However, remember that the freedom-loving representatives of this breed can push the dog to run a long distance from the owner, so you need to use a leash.
- You should also timely care for your pet's hair. Huskies tend to molt abundantly, which usually happens a couple of times a year. Periodically, you need to comb out small hairs with a special brush.
- Pay special attention to feeding the husky.In order for the dog to eat properly, it is necessary to include a large amount of protein in its diet. Meat makes up at least 60% of the animal’s diet. Also, the dog will benefit from cereals, sea fish and vegetables. At the same time, dairy products, as well as eggs, should not be actively used in the dog's menu.
- In addition to the diet, you need to consider the feeding regimen, which depends largely on the age of the dog. For puppies, feeding is carried out 6 times a day; after they turn 3 months old, the food supply is reduced to three times a day. From six months, food is taken twice a day, and when the dog reaches the age of one year, you need to switch to a one-time feeding regimen.
- Due to the thick coat and active lifestyle, the dog may periodically be hot (especially during the warm season), so always make sure that there is cool water in his bowl.
- Look after such a breed in the heat, bathing a dog in the bathroom. Water should be at room temperature or cool. It is especially useful on hot days. In this case, do not expose the animal to a load or hard training so that it does not get tired. The best time for activity in the summer is early morning or pre-sunset time.
- It is also worth knowing that cutting hair in the heat is strictly contraindicated, as this can lead to the opposite effect. Due to the protective layer in the hair, the dog’s body does not heat up so much, and without this layer the animal is at greater risk of heat stroke.
Thus, you need to keep a husky dog without deviating from these rules, otherwise the animal may feel discomfort. This, in turn, can lead to a deterioration in both the well-being and behavior of the dog.
Parenting and training
Special points that each owner should pay attention to is the education of a husky and the process of training him. The first point is key in shaping the nature of the animal. In order to raise a faithful friend who will be obedient at the same time, you need to raise a little puppy very responsibly, observing the following rules.
- When building a pet’s character, a person must necessarily display such features as consistency and hardness. Husky must from a young age understand the rules of behavior in the family, as well as what can and cannot be done. Indulging the puppy's whims can significantly ruin his character in the future.
- During the first two or three weeks, when the puppy is very small, it is recommended that he does not remain alone in the apartment. It is in the first month, according to dog handlers, that the dog forms the backbone of the basic qualities that will be throughout life, and the task of a person is to strictly monitor this process. Only after this time can you gradually accustom your dog to the fact that the owner may be absent at home.
- It is important to train the puppy to the toilet on time. Little husky needs a tray. The process of training begins at the age of 1 month, while it requires a lot of patience from the owner. It is necessary to develop a puppy mode of visiting the toilet - a third of an hour after feeding the pet should be near the tray.
As for training, the emphasis in it is mainly to do on obedience teams. Since aggression by nature is not inherent in the character of a husky, to make fighting dogs out of them is a very risky venture. In the process of accustoming to cruelty, the dog may experience psychological breakdown, which, in turn, will provoke unpredictable negative consequences.
Active training is the best activity for dogs of this breed. During the games during the walk, the dog can be taught to execute commands. Due to such training, the dog will not only develop its character, but also release the energy reserve, which will become another positive moment for it.
Owner reviews
Among Internet users there are a lot of husky owners who share their experience and recommendations on keeping such animals in a city apartment. Some people believe that this breed is more suitable for those owners who themselves love sports and lead an active lifestyle. Often, husky dogs even accompany their owners in such hobbies.
According to some reviews, in conditions of high-rise buildings, it is not very difficult to keep husky dogs, if you give proper time to walking. The owners also note that the apartment must be equipped with air conditioning, otherwise the result may be discomfort for the dog in a hot room. Among the negative reviews appear such that the abundance of wool and frequent molting are the main problems of representatives of this breed living in apartments.
On the features of the content of the husky in the apartment can be seen in the video.