There aren’t many dog lovers out there who haven’t heard huskies and love their fluffy, playful selves. Huskies make a wonderful family dog and will love your family and be loyal to them for their entire lives. That being said, you want your husky to live as many wonderful years with you and your family as possible. Here, you will learn about best care practices for taking care of husky breeds and maintaining a long and healthy lifespan.
Husky Personality
Now that you’ve decided that you want to adopt a husky, there’s something that you need to know about their temperament and how you must act with them. Huskies are pack dogs by nature. Much like their wild ancestors. As their owner, you need to be their respected pack leader, or the alpha. By filling this role in their lives, you will earn their respect and love.
Being the “leader” of your husky means not giving in to their pushiness, or big sad eyes when they want an extra treat. You will want to be firm and consistent, not a bully when working with your husky. However, the fact that they know that you are the “keeper of the treats” will also coerce them into behaving a little better.
Husky dogs are naturally energetic and always ready to play. Which means you should take the size of your yard into consideration when deciding whether to adopt a husky. Without the right amount of physical exercise, huskies can become bored and restless. Which can turn into them being destructive. One of their more destructive tendencies is digging up flower beds or chewing up things that they shouldn’t inside the house. Although, with the right training a husky can be taught to only dig in specific spots in the yard.
Husky Diet
Providing your husky with a well-balanced diet will certainly be a huge supporting factor in your husky’s lifespan and overall longevity. Obesity can definitely shorten the lifespan of your husky. Generally, huskies will require 1 and a half to 2 cups of dry dog food daily. Almost any high-quality brand of dog food will do the trick. This amount should be divided into two meals daily and can be altered according to your dog's specific nutritional needs.
Husky Grooming
Different types of huskies have different colored fur. But the grooming needs tend to stay the same between the different types of huskies. They are all high-shedding dogs, so have your vacuum and lint roller at the ready. Regular grooming and brushing can help decrease the number of loose hairs that are floating around your house.
Where you and your husky live will make a significant difference in how much they shed throughout the year. Huskies tend to shed more in warmer climates, especially in the spring and fall seasons. The cooler the area is that you live in, the less they will shed. You will want to brush your husky daily during these shedding seasons and at least weekly during the rest of the year.
One of the most important grooming needs that should be kept up with is husky dental hygiene. Your husky’s dental health can have a significant impact on the length of their lifespan if not kept up with properly. This is why it's especially important to get a good dog toothpaste!
Possible Health Problems
Most health problems that are known to afflict husky dogs revolve around their eyes. Conditions such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and progressive retinal atrophy are a few of the more common health problems that huskies are known to face.
Cataracts are more likely to show up in older huskies, while corneal dystrophy will begin in younger adult huskies. More often in females. Progressive retinal atrophy can be detected and possibly treated in huskies, years before it begins to affect their vision.
However, a dog can live a long and happy life with poor vision as long as their owners know how to work with them and their disability. Dogs are smart and adaptable. Their other senses will go into overdrive to compensate if their vision begins to diminish. None of these issues should have a huge impact on the lifespan of your husky. It’s important to learn about any of these conditions if your husky develops them so that you can support them living a long and happy life with you.
Conclusion
A husky that is loved and well taken care of can live up to 15 years of life. These 15 years can be full of many fun adventures and family time with your husky. Much of your time spent with your husky will involve brushing and other grooming needs, considering how big and fluffy their beautiful coat of fur is.
Huskies are prone to developing a number of diseases that affect their eyes but can live a long and happy life regardless. None of these diseases are likely to shorten their lifespan, thankfully If you choose to adopt a husky, just be prepared for lots of shedding, brushing, and an easily excitable pup.
How long do huskies live?
How big do huskies get?
Are huskies good with kids?
Related Posts:
- Pet Hygiene Tips You Need to Be Following Now
- Best Hiking Dogs: Breeds that You Can Take Up the Mountain Side with You
- See These Top 6 Fluffy Dog Breeds
Related Posts
Do not try to teach the dog what it will learn on its own or what it will never learn
Whether it is to teach it a program for competition, to train it to become a working dog, or simply to teach it good manners, it is always a matter of learning in the relationships between humans and dogs. When, by its disposition, a d...
The Five-Minute Complete Pet Owner's Guide To Osteoarthritis In Dogs
Osteoarthritis in dogs is a common joint disease, particularly as pets age. It is a degenerative joint disorder that any responsible dog owner must be aware of. Just like in humans, osteoarthritis in dogs can cause discomfort, chronic pa...
Dogs in the Great War (1914-1918)
Sanitary Dogs on the Battlefield. And what battlefields... In 2017 we commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of the Chemin des Dames. A rather pretty name for an initiative of the French army's chief commander, General Nive...
