"Would a Siberian be a Siberian by any other name?" _____________________________________________________________________ Siberian Huskies are beautiful dogs and can make ideal family pets. For some, the attraction is the exotic look of the breed, for others it is the breed's charming personality. While most long-time Siberian Husky owners feel that there is no finer breed of dog, prospective owners should be cautioned that every breed has not only positive characteristics, but also characteristics that can be negative depending upon the owner's lifestyle, expectations or accommodations provided for the dog.
The following list of natural instincts should be carefully considered by any family or individual before they decide to adopt a new pet. Instincts In the early history of the breed, only the fittest animals survived. Intelligence and independent thinking were essential for survival for dogs living under the harshest conditions. As a result, modern Siberian Huskies have proven to be adept problem solvers, requiring their owners to constantly invent new methods of outsmarting them. For example, a Siberian Husky may quickly learn that it is not to remove items from the trash can, however, it is also likely to discover that, unless you are actually in the room, casual removal of "goodies" is difficult (for you) to detect. Another survival instinct that is strongly entrenched in the Siberian Husky is the instinct to hunt. Small animals, such as birds, rabbits, and squirrels stimulate the breed's prey drive and, as a result, may be chased or killed. This includes chickens, ducks, and other livestock. However, if raised with cats, many Siberian Huskies can learn to respect them. If you have a cat, you need to get a puppy or if getting an adult make sure the dog has been tested with cats.
One of the Siberian Husky's strongest instincts is to run! As a result, most dogs will dash away from their owners the moment they are unconfined or off lead and likely will not return when called. Once they escape, unlike some breeds which may simply wander through the neighborhood for a few hours, the Siberian Husky is likely to run all out, across roads where it may be struck by a car, and away from civilization where it may encounter angry livestock owners. By the time it is finally ready to come home, it may be miles away and lost. While obedience training can improve a Siberian Husky's responsiveness, there is no substitute for a sufficiently tall (6 foot for most dogs) fence, tie out system or a leash.
Individual Siberians may be persistent escape artists and require the bottom of the fence to be buried in the ground. If this is not possible, buried lengths of wire fence, which are attached to the erect fence, may prevent the dog from tunneling to its freedom. Electric wires placed at the top of a fence may deter jumpers and if placed on the bottom will deter diggers. It may even be necessary to confine a few individuals on a cable dog run or a secure kennel if fencing alone is not sufficient. Always make sure that the dog is far enough away from the fence to prevent it from jumping over the fence and hanging itself. Also, always make sure that the dog is wearing proper identification tags just in case it does manage to escape.

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