Owning a Siberian Husky is not for everyone. I don't believe that any breed of dog is perfect for everyone. It just isn't possible. So with that, I think it is only fair to mention not only the good things about my favorite breed, but also the problems as well.

The Good

• Siberians are very friendly and great with children
• Siberians need less food than other dogs their size
• Siberians' coats do not hold odors even if you don't give them a bath very often
• A Siberian's coat is non-allegenic
• Siberians generally tolerate other breeds of dogs very well
• Siberians are very playfull with tons of energy
• Siberians are very intelligent

The Bad

• Siberians have A LOT of hair that they continually shed
• Siberians do not make very good watch dogs
• Siberians need lots of room to run
• Siberians are not typically good in obedience (there are notable exceptions to this however)
• If a Siberian gets out of the yard, good luck catching it ( I know this from experience)
• Siberians cannot be trusted off leash
• Siberians are not good around small animals such as cats, birds, mice, etc.

Please note that there are expections to all rules and these pros and cons only apply to most Siberians. There are some wonderful people out there that have taken their Siberians to high ranking Obedience titles and there are many Siberians who can get along with small animals without trying to eat them (generally only if they were raised with small animals as young puppies). I think that it is very important to really research the breed that you intend to buy before you buy it. I think that you will find that most responsible breeders are more than willing to talk about not only the good points of their breed but that bad as well. Also it is very important to look in potential health problems that a breed is known for. For instance, in the case of Siberian Huskies, juvenile cataracts and hip displaysia are the two major health concerns. Before you buy a Siberian, make sure that the parents were free of these two problems. And if you can make sure that the grandparents were clear as well, all the better.

I hope that this information will help make informed decisions when it comes to buying a dog. Remember, a dog lives around 15 years. It is important that you find one that suits you best.

For more information check out these links:

Siberian Husky Club Of America
American Kennel Club