Why Huskies are the WORST

Okay, so here me out. I love my dog. I really do! But, there’s something I noticed shortly after adopting her. She is the worst! After discussing with some other Siberian Husky owners and researching the breed, I learned that it’s not just her. So, take this into consideration before you decide to bring one of these beautiful pups home!

• They are the LEAST eager to please dog breed

Most dogs do something for no other reason than it makes their owners happy—and that, in turn, makes them happy! They also hate making you unhappy. Which makes training SO MUCH EASIER! When you say “Come, Spot!” they think, “oh my goodness they want me to come! Yeah!” and they run over and when you praise them they are over the moon.

Huskies, however, do not care about anything but making themselves happy. Sure, they appreciate a bit of praise. A pat on the head or a “good boy” makes their tail wag. But is it enough to motivate them? No. On a scale of 1 to 10 on how eager to please they are, huskies are at a 0.

So, for instance, when you say “Come, Spot!” they think, “But there is this squirrel over here I’d rather chase, so… no.”

“Fetch, Spot!” turns into “I’ll chase the ball… because I want to. But, I’ll be damned if I’m going to bring it back! Why don’t you come get it?”

This makes them very difficult to train! They are notoriously one of the worst breeds for recall.

My dog in particular is extra tricky because not only is she not eager to please, she also isn’t very food-focused. So whereas normally, you can use treats to train them… my dog just shrugs and is like, “Treats? Meh. I’d still rather chase that squirrel.” I swear she gets more enjoyment out of NOT listening to me than anything else in the world!

• They were bred as sled-dogs

You might hear that and think, “Wow! Cool!” but what you should hear is “THIS DOG HAS ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.” Seriously. They were bred to run for miles upon miles a day. That means, this dog needs A LOT of exercise! Can you run for eight hours a day? Well, your husky can!

What’s more, if your dog is not well exercised, he gets bored. What do bored dogs do? They get into trouble. Read: digging, chewing, excessive barking, and just otherwise destructive behavior.

We give our husky two hour long walks a day, which are not walks: they are filled with nonstop running and fetch. In addition to this, we also put her on a puppy treadmill for forty minutes in the evening. Guess what? She still has energy to burn!

We are home most of the time with her, but I have also heard that huskies are prone to separation anxiety. I imagine that this has a lot do with the boredom factor. Whereas they used to be out running the snowy hills of Siberia, now they are stuck inside your house waiting for you to come home. Which means you often come home to a destroyed household. If you work eight hours a day and will be gone all the time, a husky probably isn’t the dog for you.

• They love to dig holes

Huskies are used to the snow. In their natural habitat, they dig little shelters for themselves. Sounds neat, right? Well unless you live in an area with constant snow, guess again! If you like to keep a tidy backyard or garden, you’re in for a headache.

My backyard looks like a picture of trench warfare from World War One. She does this on walks, too! She likes to stop along the path and dig furiously in the mud every few steps.

• They love EVERYONE

This is another quality that seems like it should be an asset, but… it’s not. Every person my husky meets is her new best friend. Every single person in the park. Every neighbor. The mailman. She runs to them like she’s known them her whole life. Which means you always need to have them on a leash when you’re out and about.

And, during this Covid-19 era, it means that huskies are the worst breed for quarantine! Social distancing? What’s that? It means nothing to these pups!

Having a friendly dog is a great thing! But, she’s not just friendly. She doesn’t just want to say hello to strangers, she wants to leave with them! Which also means that huskies are the WORST guard dogs. That intruder that just broke in is now their new best friend.

• They are Incredibly Stubborn

I have never encountered a more stubborn dog in my life. You say “Come,” she says “No.” You say “sit” she says “I will but in ten minutes and after you’ve told me to a dozen times.” I’m not joking when I say that I think my dog gets joy from being disobedient.

I thought this was just my dog. But, again I have learned that stubbornness is a common trait with huskies. “They are incredibly independent” is what you will read in all the guidebooks on dog breeds. Interpret that as: they do not listen. Seriously, they are stubborn as hell.

Unless you have an iron will to match theirs and a boatload of patience, you should consider any other dog breed before getting a husky.

• They are notorious escape artists

Huskies are notorious escape artists. They are the “Houdini” of dogs. Fences are nothing but a puzzle for them to solve--and they love puzzles!

Huskies have been known to scale six foot fences. Ours likes to dig underneath. The entire neighborhood came to know our dog very well (again, great for Covid!) Our pup used to escape at least once a day, if not more. It’s not uncommon for husky owners to have to resort to keeping their dogs on a chain in the backyard. We didn’t want to do that, so instead we fortified our fence to point that it looks like a prison yard.

It’s been a while since she has escaped now. But there’s nothing huskies love more than a good challenge! Just give her time…