I planing to get a new puppy, but a little confuse between choosing a husky puppy or Labrador. Any suggestion or some info guys?
Well they are very different dogs. Huskies can be quite difficult - independent minded (ie not focused on you and hard to train) and quite interested in chasing things and running off. If this happens to be your first dog then I would definitely not recommend a Husky. In contrast, Labradors are people focused, affectionate and so are usually easier to train. They are still often quite high energy for the first few years and very bitey as puppies. Why do you want a dog and what are your plans for doing things with your dog?
I've never owned a Husky so can only talk about Labs (Moly is a cross but my last dog was Lab). Labs are very bitey as puppies - can draw blood! As long as you are prepared for this it's fine as they are then very gentle as adults. They need a lot of exercise - I'd say a minimum of 2 hours daily. They love to play and eat and this makes them fairly easy to train. They are affectionate and love being stroked. They don't need a lot of grooming compared with some breeds but do shed a lot, so not great if you're house-proud. They're easy to clean/rub down/dry when they get muddy. I met an elderly lady some while ago with a Husky. She told me she'd had Labs all her life but needed something easier in old age!! There are quite a lot of Huskies and similar breeds near us and they're all nice natured, and some are very well-trained. But for me it would be a Lab!
Where in the world are you? It looks like maybe Morocco? If so, I would certainly not entertain the idea of having a Husky in that kind of climate, it would be very unkind. I think you need to put a lot of research into both breeds. Here are a couple of articles which may help you decide if a Labrador is the best fit for you: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/6-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-labrador/ http://www.thelabradorsite.com/a-labrador-the-right-dog-for-you/
Even a Labrador would find a hot climate challenging. Maybe consider some finer built, shorter coated breeds, like a Whippet
True, just ask Anglea (@Dexter) who lives in Dubai with her boy and has to get up at ungodly hours to walk him every day before it gets too hot. That is a serious commitment that is beyond most people - myself included!!!
I happened to be out with a dog trainer yesterday, who had been asked to help with a Husky, the breeder said NEVER, EVER let a Husky off the lead as it will just run and run in a straight line into the far distance. I like Huskys but would never have one, they are independent and they are certainly not for a first time dog.
When I was thinking of getting a puppy I was also in a bit of a dilemma between a beagle and Labrador. On my mums side of the family they have all had dogs, a whole range of different breeds as well as mongrels not to mention goats and chickens along the way. I chose a Labrador basically for the qualities @Joy described plus one of my nan's favourite dogs was a Labrador called Buster (apparently he listened to no one execept me and I was 4years old, but that's another story ). There are a few Husky's near me and they are all aggressive towards other dogs and are never off the lead. When we started KC puppy foundation course there was a Husky puppy, it was the guys first ever puppy and he was really struggling, his wife had also become very frightened of the puppy. Saying that I meet a lady in the woods who had a miniture Husky I'd never heard of one before but he was absolutely gorgeous and played beautifully with Mabel. She said that she had contact with her puppy's parents and grandmother and they were all the same, just lovely. Good luck in your decision.
I know nothing but whenever I see a husky or husky type (and I see a lot) they are on leads. I suspect they are difficult on recall. I have yet to see one running free. Mags X
Fiona has given you a couple of great links for Labrador information, and you can find lots more on the main site. You can read an in-depth breed review of the Husky and their pet suitability here: The Siberian Husky.
I've known several Huskies over the years, some have been nice dogs and others very confrontational with other dogs. The first Huskies I knew were exercised off lead by their owner who used to ride his bike so they had a good run in the morning rather than just a walk. Let's not forget that recall can also be challenging for Labradors
A lady in my puppy training class had two Siberian Huskies. She turned out to be a neighbour and we have a 1,000 acre tract of forest between us so we talked about getting together for doggy walks. Her dogs have to be on leash ALL the time. She cannot trust them not to take off on her. I've been walking my dogs off leash in that forest for +30 years. It seems such a shame she has such high energy dogs yet she is unable to utilize this forest to let them burn some of it off. Apparently this is typical of the breed. They want to run, they need to work and really, honestly, the dog breed I've more trouble with than any other is Siberian Huskies and I think it's because their owners can't control them because they don't give them the work and exercise they need.
My friend has a Husky cross and she cannot let her off lead. I went to training classes where there was a lady that owned about 4 and she couldn't let them off lead either. I think you have to give some thought about what you really would like from a dog, what fits in to your life style, where you live etc. A Labrador will fit in to most peoples lives
I do not advocate having a Husky (see my post above) however, years ago I was on our hills and recalled my two dogs with the whistle, mine didn't come (German Pointers!) but two Huskies did! The owner said 'how did you do that', they never come back for me'. He must be the only Husky owner who let his dogs off the lead. They are not really pet dogs, but dogs who need to work.
Hi Alisa Emily , II live in Dubai and I have a friend who has rescued a husky....sadly they are a very popular breed here in an environment and climate that is totally inappropriate for them ( to be fair,it's not the best for any dog! ) .There are so many of them that are dumped by owners that just do not realise the challenges they will face with this kind of dog in the desert in temperatures that reach the 50's.My friend would never have chosen a husky but she has the experience of dogs and the time and commitment to give this poor abandoned puppy a proper chance. As an aside,I can follow up on Stacia's comment about recalling 2 huskies....my friends dog has got a pretty reliable recall to the whistle based on her coming back with Dexter....so much so my friend ordered a couple of whistles and uses them !!!
I think the only similarity is that they are both fairly large confident dogs. My first dog was a Malamute, and while he was a great dog, I don't think I would ever do it again. Malamutes are supposed to be a little easier to train than Siberians or Eskimos, but I was never able to establish a decent recall with him. I have only met one Siberian that was routinely allowed off lead. The breeders I knew said you could not let them off. The Malamutes and Huskies also have a very strong prey drive, both for small animals and large animals so being off lead can have serious consequences.
I would never get a husky and would rather go without a dog entirely than have one. I live next to one who has repeatedly attacked me and my dogs through the fence. It had Doug round the neck twice(he was 13 and deaf and sort sighted) and bitten Moo so hard she was bleeding attacked people on the street and is a nightmare. I have had to invest 14 hundred quid to build a new fence to stop it getting me and my dogs and the local dog warden has had to issue a notice that if it comes onto my land again they will be charged and recieve a heavy fine. They are the dog of the moment round here as staffies are now not so popular and a big problem. They can't go off lead so are constanley frustrated because they don't get the exercise they need. I spoke to a few people who run them as teams and race and they don't recommend them as pets their dogs live in packs so they don't get so lonely and run regularly so are content but they warn that lone husky pets can often get anxious when left and suffer from lack of exercise. They are also prone to heat stroke and suffer in even mild british summers. Both my dog trainers think as a primative dog they don't make good pets
I am very wary of husky type dogs. I am sure there are some beautifully trained and well socialised ones out there, however, I don't seem to meet many of them. Benson was attacked by a pair of them about a year ago, it was horrid. There are also a few that are only on lead locally that we have to avoid.
Huskys do have a very high prey drive for small animals. My first Pomeranian was killed by one he jumped the fence and came in to our backyard and grabbed him and he was gone instantly. So, personally I would never ever get one. I am wary of them on walks and such. One goes to the dog park and she does play really well with Axel but she's the first one I've seen that actually has an interest in playing. That being said I would never let my Pomeranian near her.
I feel the need to make an input here, my father in law had 2 huskys in the past. Both was very great and he walked them both off lead everywhere he could. They followed him and waited for his que to even dig after moles in the forest (which they were obsessed with). Our house is not fenced in and they would never attempt to go after the dogs passing by that were barking. He trained them from the day 1 he got them home, himself not obedience classes. So when it was time for us to choose a dog now, my husband and my father in law wanted a husky. But I always been craving for a lab ever since I was helping out a neighbor walk hers when she had to work a lot. My father in law daily help me to train my little one right, and he said that it's important to show who is the pack leader from the first minute especially with huskies. But I'm guessing that it all comes down to how the dog owner is and to make sure that a husky gets the amount of mental stimulation along with a lot of walking (they need a lot). We all know a understimulated dog becomes destructive and hyped up.
