Choosing The Right Husky Puppy

Choosing the right husky puppy means finding the right breeder. How do you find the right breeder? What makes breeder RIGHT anyway?

A good breeder rarely advertises. I know, how do you find a good breeder when they don't advertise? What I mean by that, is you won't find an accomplished breeder advertising with homemade signs in store windows or selling their dogs at pet stores.

Why not? Usually, the puppies are spoken for before the breeding has even taken place. Now, this isn't always the case and it doesn't mean that everyone that advertises husky puppies for sale is a bad breeder. It just means that the cream of the crop is not often advertised.

Let's back up for a moment. What is your intention with this husky puppy? Do you want a pet? Are you looking to get into bikejoring? Are you a runner, do you want a running partner? Are you lonely do you want a friend (hey, there's nothing wrong with that - it's a solution to a problem right?!) Maybe you have always wanted a husky puppy and now is the right time to get one.

Does it matter what I want to do with the puppy? Yes it matters, here's why. Let's say you are a someone who works long hours (I'm right here with you) and you spend a lot of time on the computer. A husky puppy is going to need tons of attention. Not only that, when he grows up, he is going to be a dog that needs tons of attention. If you work at home and can create a schedule that works around a puppy, perfect, you might be an ideal husky companion. My huskies get me up at five in the morning so we can go on a 1-2 hour hike every day.

It feels great to come home after a long hike or run with the dogs knowing that I have exercised and my dogs have exercised and I can go to work without dog guilt. You know what? I don't always want to get up at 5 in the morning to run dogs. Especially when it's cold or rainy or both. What gets me out of bed is my passion for my dogs, and that's what it takes when you own huskies. It takes commitment. You have to find it in you to do things you don't always want to do - for the sake of the dogs. Just keep this in mind before you take home a husky puppy.

Back to finding a husky puppy. There are four main places to find puppies. The internet. The newspaper/ads around your city. Pet stores. Animal Rescue.

Pet Stores. I never get a puppy from a pet store unless the pet store is adopting out homeless dogs. This is because pet stores (stores that sell animals) are almost 100% puppy mill dogs. At first glance, it seems like you are rescuing the puppy by buying him. Especially because some stores have puppies living in terrible conditions, but the truth is, pet stores are in business to make a profit. The pets are merchandise just like the dog food and the fish food. Sadly, the genetics and breeding behind the puppy is not a concern of the store owners. Only that the puppy lives past it's warranty. It wasn't always like this. Pet stores used to be one of the only places to buy a puppy - especially one with a good pedigree, but times have changed and business has changed and these days store profit takes precedent above everything else.

The Internet When it comes to buying a husky puppy (or any puppy for that matter) the internet is definitely a buyer beware industry. Just when you thought puppy mills were only found in pet stores, they snuck their way into the internet. And let me tell you how sneaky they can be. You can do whatever you want with a web page to make it look like cute puppies living on a wonderful country farm with cows, green pastures, and kids playing. Don't forget PUPPY MILLS ARE BIG BUSINESS. Just like Nike, Microsoft, and Netflix. They might not be as big as those companies, but the bottom line is profit. If they didn't make a good profit they wouldn't do it! Dog care (or pregnant mom dog care) is not in the business plan.

What's the big deal about puppy mills anyway?

What's wrong with a small gene pool?

Species develop strengths and weaknesses by genetically adapting to their environment. If dogs continually get their genes from the same group of dogs problems arise. Most of the time this shows up in health and behavioral problems. Husky puppies bred for mushing must not only be physically strong, they must be emotionally strong. This is true of any working dog. They must be able to mentally handle the work. A husky dog with tons of drive, but not emotionally strong is not a dog a musher would breed because the dog would not be able to handle mushing work. Puppy mill owners only care about looks!

How does any of this help you find a good breeder?

I want you to grasp that breeding dogs is more than looks. No one can resist a cute puppy. But if that husky puppy cannot handle learning what you want him to learn (from basic house training to the more advanced mushing), or he costs thousands of dollars in vet bills because of bad breeding, you might find yourself heartbroken instead of enjoying life with your new husky puppy.

Breeding beyond looks is true for any good breeder. When you are looking for a good breeder see if they can have a conversation about their dogs and puppies beyond something like this For Sale: Husky Puppy, Blue Eyes, 3 Males, 2 Females. If you do find someone who can talk about the genetics, history, and the race/working/physical history of their husky puppies you are probably talking with a good breeder.

Getting a husky puppy at the shelter?

I know what you are thinking. How do I know what kind of breeder a shelter puppy had? You don't! And that, my friend, is the age old controversy between shelter advocates and breeders. But at a shelter or rescue you often have the option of watching the puppy interact with other dogs, asking the shelter staff if they notice anything good or bad about the puppy, paying a dog trainer/behaviorist to come to the shelter to help analyze the husky puppy for you, and sometimes taking the puppy home for a trial basis. All of those things give you an edge over a bad breeder.

Good breeders don't sell their best dogs

You don't make money if you sell your best stock. You don't win competitions if you sold your best dogs. This doesn't mean you are buying a second rate dog, but no one gets rid of their best dogs, especially people who want to breed again. If you are told that you are getting MY BEST DOG walk away, it's not true. Even mushers who are getting out of mushing have already found homes for their best dogs. The good news is, if a breeder is unwilling to part easily with their husky puppies, chances are they have good dogs.

You can't register an alaskan husky. They are a working dog. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean any husky mix will satisfy as an alaskan husky puppy. Good mushing dogs are carefully bred and proven mushing lines are skillfully preserved. You just won't find them listed in any national kennel club registries. The last thing a musher wants to worry about is more useless paperwork.

Warning Selling animals is an age old business. Selling dogs is no different. Scamming, swindling, hornswaggling, tricking, and bamboozling are all part of the game. No matter how strongly you feel that you can't live another day without that cute puppy, WAIT and do your research. Ask around. There will always be another puppy if your ideal one has sold.

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Dr. Ian Dunbar is the behavior guru. He is a compassionate behaviorist backed up by years of research.