Should I get a Siberian Husky?

Gatsby's first time at the beach.

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a dog in my life. Especially a Siberian Husky! They are majestic and gorgeous dogs. The are playful, athletic, agile, and light on their feet. What would it be like to bring one into a household with four cats? How would this pup do in an apartment in Queens, NY? Would it ever work? My husband and I have always dreamed of owning a Siberian Husky. Friends and family thought we were absolutely crazy to even think about it and discouraged us:

“Dogs, in general, are a lot of work. You will never have time for yourself again!”

“Siberian Huskies have tons of energy. You don’t even have a backyard for your pup to run around! They are not suitable for apartments.”

“What?! A Siberian Husky will KILL your cats!”

Despite all the naysaying of our friends and family, I still had the Siberian Husky in my heart. We did a great deal of research on this breed, as well as others. Research told me that huskies are somewhat difficult to train, have strong prey drives, are escape artists, very destructive, sheds like crazy and display exuberant personalities all the time. *GASPS* I thought to myself, could this really be true? Why does everyone make it sound like huskies are impossible to own? This can’t be! My dreams will be crushed! I decided to do even more research and reached out to husky owners on Instagram and Facebook. Some warned me not to get a husky and some believed that with hard work, discipline, and training, it is all possible.

My husband and I discussed other options and considered other breeds. We looked into Golden Retrievers and thought the breed would be a good fit. Goldens love to please so they are easy to train. They don’t have a strong prey drive so that means the pup and the kitties can get along. Labradors were another option.

I still couldn't stop thinking about the Siberian Husky though. At night before bed, I envisioned going on great adventures with my pup. I would take him hiking where he would be leading the way or he would be pulling me as fast as he could while bikejoring. He would enjoy the cool evening breeze while I sip on a glass of rosé in an outdoor NYC restaurant while watching people pass by. I would take him camping just so he could see the millions of stars in the night sky. We would go somewhere up North where he could see the bright, dazzling and dancing blue and green northern lights. The adventures would be endless! And his name….I would name him Gatsby.

And that was it. I decided to follow my heart! My husband and I found a reputable breeder and we put down a deposit for a black and white male Siberian Husky. Gatsby was born on July 9, 2018. We brought him home during Labor Day weekend. He is 8 months old now and he warms my heart. He is the goodest boy.

He has learned his boundaries with the cats and is now learning to play gently with them. He knows and will execute on his commands and is very intelligent. He has never destroyed any of my furniture. He sleeps in his crate with no problems at night. He no longer nips at us and play-bite. He is 100% potty trained. We go on adventures and we enjoy our experiences together.

How is all this possible? It’s the result of hard work, discipline, and consistent training to shape and reinforce desired behaviors. We found a fear-free dog trainer who has three Siberian Huskies of his own. We wake up at 4:30 AM every day so that he can get his exercise. Yes, EVERYDAY. Even on the weekends. He goes to doggy daycare during the weekdays while we are at work so that he is well socialized and gets that mental stimulation from playing with other dogs in a regulated environment. He no longer has food resource guarding. We continue to read books about dogs so that we can better understand him. We do all this because this is the foundation of having a bond with our dog. It is important to understand his needs. With his needs being met, I know he will be the goodest boy.

Don’t get me wrong. It wasn't always peaches and roses. The first couple of months were hell! It was a very challenging time for us and I’ll share with you those stories in a separate blog. We still have lots to work on. Things like jumping on people when he's too excited, learning to walk beside me when I need him to and others. No matter how challenging it will be, bringing Gatsby into our lives is one of the best decisions we have ever made. He will always remind me of the importance of following your heart, no matter what you do.

#followyourheart

Till next time! ♥

-Elaine