Siberian Husky: temperament, training and care

At a glance

Temperament

• Friendly, not a guard dog
• Born to run and pull
• Escape artist and talker

Training tips

Never trust recall off leash: build it, but keep a long line for years.

Siberian Huskys can be independent thinkers. Find what your dog will really work for, keep sessions short and fun, and expect to repeat things more often than with an eager-to-please breed.

Start with a marker word, sit, come and leave it. For a puppy, see the puppy training guides.

Common challenges

• Running off and escaping. Check fences and gates. Never rely on recall alone.
• Pulling. They were bred to pull. Teach loose-leash walking and consider dog sports like canicross.
• Vocal. Many Huskies howl and “talk”.
• Heat sensitivity. See hot weather safety.

Lifestyle

Huskies usually need a lot of exercise and enjoy company. They tend to be friendly with people rather than guardians, and many are independent thinkers: keep training fun and rewarding.

Exercise and energy

A healthy adult Siberian Husky typically needs around 90 to 120 minutes of activity a day. Walks alone rarely cover it: add sniffing games, training and play so their brain gets tired too. Puppies need much shorter sessions while they grow.

See how much exercise a dog needs and our games and enrichment ideas.

Health to watch

Things the breed is known to be prone to. Ask your vet what to check for your dog.

• Hot weather. A thick coat holds heat: keep walks early and late in summer. See: Heatstroke.
• Eyes. Prominent or sensitive eyes: see the vet the same day for squinting or a cloudy eye. See: Eye Injuries.