A Siberian Husky Is a Bad Choice

A Siberian Husky is a Bad Choice

June 20, 2012

ENG 2001 S01: Composition III

A Siberian Husky is a Bad Choice

When looking for an appropriate breed for an individual or family dog, one has many choices. For those taken by beauty and elegance, the Siberian Husky may well seem like a good choice. Siberians are known for their beautiful coats, the wolf-like body, and their penetrating blue eyes. Despite their beauty, the Siberian Husky is anything but a model pet.

Unfortunately, the Siberian’s good looks come at a cost: more fur than is imaginable. Their “double-coat” seems manageable for most the year, but at least twice a year, for about a two-week period, this breed sheds what seems enough fur to stuff a twin bed mattress. Like tumbleweeds, fur collects and rolls into corners, drifts beneath furniture, and attaches itself to any exposed cloth in your house. As one rescue organization states, “If you will not be able to live with hair in your home, on your clothes, in your car you may want to think twice” (Husky Haven of LA, n.d., para. 5). A quality vacuum cleaner can help, but cleaning is only a temporary remedy. The fur will come back; it will always come back.

The fur problem would perhaps be bearable if the Siberian carried its weight around the house, particularly in its defense of its owners and their possessions. After all, this breed does resemble a wolf; one would think their sense of territory and loyalty would make them wonderful watchdogs for you and your children. Siberians like everyone, and are loyal only to the closest available food server.

Most owners might decide that banishing the beast to the back yard is viable alternative the house husky; however, those same owners will soon find the error of that judgment. Siberians are clever diggers and virtual Houdini’s when it comes to escaping from fenced yards. As one rescue organization states, “When bored or driven to interact with something on the outside of their fenced...