Siberian Husky off lead walking??? Controversial

ANY dog can potentially follow an inherent instinct to chase something or follow a smell or another dog for whatever reason !

Whether it's a Sibe or any other breed. Check out the statistics for dogs who are killed on roads after running free from their owner or escaping from the garden !!!!!!!

A Mal and Sibe owner once told me had owned both breeds for many years and were 100% trained off lead, but one day a rabbit shot out in front of them and all 4 took off after the rabbit (this had happened before but his command of the dogs, kept them from chasing). For some reason three dogs came back on command but not the (most trained) fourth dog. The dog chased the rabbit accross a duel carriageway to its death.

ANY dog is not 100% off lead trained and any responsible dog owner would not take that chance.

Do people also forget that even if your dog is 100% happy with other dogs, not all dogs will get on and it only takes a chance encounter with a dog that they might not 'click' with for a fight to break out.

My own dog (always ON the lead) has been attacked several times by OFF lead dogs, who have apparently NEVER had a problem with other dogs !!!!

Is it worth the chance.

A good Lunge or fenced field or tennis court is much safer and could potentially safeguard against anyone making a false accusation about your dog and keep your dog alive !

Huskies can, with dedicated training, be trusted to go off lead. Which is needed for their physical and, if not more important, mental well being.

Our Sibes on Hampstead Heath


Suka, Chinook & Balto


Kato


Kato Kaya & Chinnok


Kato & Balto


Suka, Kato & Balto

and how happy they look too. i agree with u. if they cant be tought recall how come they use sibes in films like jungle book to depict the wolf.
marie

No one says they CAN"T be taught recall..

People are saying they won't take the chance that they will always return!!

THanks Lou, that's what I was trying to get accross

I was taking my dog down to the beach yesterday for his evening walk and saw a really amazing site - a jeep going down the lane to the beach carpark with 3 Sibes trotting alongside it like coach dogs.

Aye thats amazing they are still alive and not squashed under it..

To be fair, he was driving slowly with his head craned out the side window to keep an eye on them. The lane is a small track of compacted sand that leads the 1/4 mile or so on to the beach carpark.

Call it Buckinghamshire!

Snorri

And I'm still waiting unfortunately!

Oh and I'd call it Ripsnorterchestershire! ;-)

i let my dog off in areas i know she cant get hurt and her recall is ok but all dogs are different i suppose,my girl will come back 99% the other 1% is when the river looks too tempting! argh never stand near a samoyed when there shaking the wateer off!lol

i had a samoyd a few years ago and if he got off he never ran away but wouldnt come back to u. had to make my way back to my car and open it then he was straight in.
marie

I recommend anyone who has a pup from us NEVER let their dog off lead in an open space, we certainly dont.You might like to read this, taken from the SHCGB siberian news 2007

here ya go:

TRUST: a deadly disease

there is a deadly disease stalking your dog, a hidious, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved freind. It is not a new disease, or one for which there are any innoculations.

you knew before you took your puppy home that it could not be trusted. the breeder who provided you with this precious animal warned you.....drummed it into your head. Puppies steal off worktops, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to houstrain and MUST NEVER BE LET OFF LEAD.

when the big day finally arrived, heeding the sound advice of the breeder, you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly collered and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.

At home, the house was puppy-proofed, everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, rubbish stowed away out of reach, cats separated and a gate placed across the lounge to keep at least one part of the house puddle-free. all the windows and doors had been properly secured and signs placed in strategic points reminding all to "close the door!". Soon, it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes nine-tenths of a second after it was opened and that it is really latched.

"Dont let the dog out" is your second most verbalised expression (the first is "no") You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will gewt out and disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment about who you love the most....your family or your dog. You know to relax your vigil for a moment might loose him to you forever..

and so the weeks and months pass by, with your puppy becoming more civilised every day. AND THE SEEDS OF TRUST ARE PLANTED!!!

It seems that every day brings less destruction, less breakage. almost before you know it, your gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.

Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. and darned if that cake wasn't still on the worktop this morning, and, oh yes! wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cosily on your pillow last night?

AT THIS POINT, YOU ARE BEGINNING TO BECOME INFECTED; THE DISEASE IS SPREADING ITS ROOTS DEEP INTO YOUR MIND.

and then one of your friends suggests obedience classess, and after a time, you even let him run loose from the car into the house when you get home. why not? he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is called! you know he is the exception that disproves the rule (and sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out of the front door to wee wee and then right back in)

Years pass......it was hard to remember why you worried so much when he was a puppy. He would never thing of running out of the door which you leave open while you bring in the bags of shopping from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out of the window of the car while you quickly run into the shop for something. and when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to bring him racing back to you in a burst of speed, when your walk becomes too close to the road (he still gets in the rubbish bin, but nobody is perfect!)

THIS IS THE TIME THE DISEASE HAS WAITED FOR SO PATIENTLY. SOMETIMES IT ONLY HAS TO WAIT A YEAR OR TWO, BUT OFTEN IT TAKES MUCH LONGER.....

He spies the neigbourhood dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping outdoors, jumping out of windows or coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was the paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running....

Stopped in an instant. stilled forever, your heart is broken at the sight of his still very beautiful body. THE DISEASE IS TRUST! the final outcome.....hit by a car.

Every morning my dog bounced off lead exploring. every morning, for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy....

HE DIED 14 HOURS AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR.

Please do not risk your freind and your heart.
save the trust for things that matter
and please, read this every year on your puppy's birthday, lest we forget.

AND that is exactly the reason my dogs stay on a lead.. I would never risk my dogs "forgetting"

This could be said for any breed of dog

Yes!, It could....makes you think doesn't it!

I see you work for THE Mayhew kennel. Quite infamous and widely discussed amongst the Husky forums and Breed clubs for your websites advice regarding Huskies and off-lead excersise

Yes it does...

The only thing in question is........do you want to take that chance..

I know I don't..

Oh yes.. The Mayhew.. who advocates at least 2 hours walking off lead per day for a Sibe..

Makes you wonder who is right...the people who have been in the breed for years and years and works them, breeds them and breathes them...or...............

I know who I beleive

Could not put it into words better myself Louise

Yes the Mayhew, who have been around since 1886, sadly caring for and rehoming far too many Huskies coming through our doors due to irresponsible breeders.

Please note that the original post is almost a year old.