Intelligence level and temperament of male siberian husky?

Question

I am thinking of getting a 2 year old male siberian husky next week. How would the temperament and intelligence level be?

Answer 1

Ooh, tricky. Depends. The REALLY smart ones usually tend to be alpha. At least from my experience. These dogs are pack Dogs like wolves so they aren't like normal dogs in that aspect. You should do a lot of research on your spare time as you will need it. Call about the dog and ask about its personality. That's what I would do. He's not a pup so any aggression should be relatively mellow. Even more so if neutered. For now I will tell you what I know. Okay, very social dogs for one. If you can't give them a lot of attention or if you move a lot you should probably not get one. Although they can cope eventually with moving. Second: ESCAPE ARTISTS! I know it sounds cruel, but with these guys they NEED a chain. A big one. It won't phase them much they're working dogs and are very muscular. One of ours was on a line and broke the hook; Not the line, the thick metal hook; in half. Good inside dogs or out. Depending on the weather. We keep our alpha inside except to use the bathroom.

Temperments:

Alpha = Arrogant. VERY intelligent and will ignore you most of the time if they don't like what you're saying. They will tell you what they want you to do. Plainly. In words. This should be for the most part discouraged but if they don't want to listen they won't. They may need to be dominated regularly. This means you actually have to tackle and hold the dog down, not painfully, for as long as it takes for it to stop fighting. Don't be fooled, they will try to trick you. Very temperamental and do not like to cuddle. They have a macho complex. They will push you away on the basis of "that's mushy get away from me" but will keep a paw or something touching you as if to say "but that doesn't mean you have to leave". Obedience training is expensive and most of the time they fail. Over and over and over and... you get the idea. Very aggressive considering the breed. They will not hesitate to show you what THEY think of the situation. Does not work well around anything smaller than them. This is considered prey. Even inanimate objects. They are very proud of their fresh kills and if necessary will fight to keep it. Even trash. Oh, that's another thing... The breed are trash diggers and love to get revenge in any way. Good at it too... Very prideful and FORCE your attention.

Moving on!

Beta: a lot less aggressive but still rather independent. Definately easier to train and are obviously more submissive. Also rather intelligent. You can cuddle with them, but only for a certain amount of time. Usually not AS smart as an alpha. Personalities differ as much as you and I. This goes for all huskies. very vengeful. Loves attention.

Wheel Dogs: Intelligent by dog standards. By Husky standards? Dumb as they come... But very cuddly! Also very shy around people. Very lovable and submissive. Will tell you what they think but are okay with your ideas too. Still very vengeful..  

Hope it helps! Have fun with your new companion!

Answer 2

Temperament--Friendly, aloof (I believe this is the right word). You'll have to put your foot down and show you are boss, because he wont live to please you. And he'll be friendly to strangers.

Intelligence--SMART. They are some of the smartest dogs I have ever come into contact with, so stay one step ahead of the game.

For anything else, I'll star for an expert.

Answer 3

In response to the person above me:

Dogs do not have the mental capacity to comprehend vengefulness. This is a human-specific trait, and no animal ever witnessed in the history of mankind has displayed an act of retribution.

In response to the poster:

Do your homework 10 times over when thinking of acquiring a Husky. I got my Husky when she was 10 weeks old and I've been fortunate enough to spend several hundred hours training her. You read that correctly: Several HUNDRED hours. She has learned all of the basic tricks with ease (most tricks have been learned in under 5 minutes), but she needs a compelling reason to perform (she LOVES food) or she will simply ignore the command. This is the mark of an extremely intelligent dog, which Huskies tend to be. If you enjoy frolicking with your dog without a leash in an open area, reconsider your choice of breed or invest in professional, perimeter dog training. Prices from a reputable trainer will start at around five-hundred dollars. They peak in the several thousands, so it's best just to keep the dog on a leash. Finding a good off-leash Husky that requires minimal work is extremely rare.

Temperament is a result of socialization and effort on the owners' part. In fact, with all dogs, the end product will be a result of how much effort you put into the animal. Contrary to most opinions about Huskies, my dog gets along with cats and ferrets without any issues. This required a lot of positive reinforcement and babysitting, but we are perfectly comfortable with her around the other pets. She required no extra work to socialize well with humans; in fact, she instantaneously loves everybody she comes into contact with.

Do not buy into the negative aggressive hype. Any breed can be equally aggressive when the owner is inexperienced and does not properly train the pet, especially when dealing with alpha characteristics. Also, do not let people tell you that Huskies consistently fail obedience classes. In nearly every case, the owner does not spend the necessary time, has unrealistic expectations and has no understanding of dog psychology. My Husky was easily the most well-behaved dog in her obedience class.

Finally, Huskies are not wolves. They are genetically no closer to a wolf than a Beagle or a Dachshund. Looks can be deceiving; the closeness in appearance, while certainly a genetic trait that has many similarities to a wolf, is a result of breeding practices and environment. Comparing the DNA of a wolf and any pure-bred, non-wolf dog would be like comparing the DNA of a human and a chimp: 99% alike, but the 1% makes a HUGE difference.

Read the following two links carefully:

http://www.awpi.com/Combs/Huskies/faq.ht...

http://www.mountaindogboarding.com/id11....

Hope that helps, if even a little.

Answer 4

High for intelligence level and temperament

Traits

Weight Male 45-60 pounds (20½-27kg)

Female 35-50 pounds

Height Male 21-23½ inches (53-60cm)

Female 20-22 inches

Coat Thick double coat - woolly undercoat & soft outer coat

Color All colors from black to white

Litter size 1-7 puppies

Life span 12-15 years

Answer 5

I would say the temperament would depend on the individual dog and how it has been brought up and trained.  It's essential that you meet and spend time with the dog before making a final decision.  However I would be wary.  As far as I know Huskeys don't make great pets.  The are working dogs and can be very independent and difficult to train.  Owners have told me that they are almost impossible to walk off leash and can be aggressive without a very experienced owner.   I would get as much information from other huskey owners and breeders before taking on this dog.

Choose a dog that would fit your lifestyle, not on looks alone.

Answer 6

If you've done your research on the breed, you know what intelligence level you're dealing with. You are dealing with a dog that can potentially open gates, climb fences, and figure out how to get the food off your counter when you think you have it secure.

The temperament should be typical of the breed -- friendly, possibly aloof upon first meeting. The nuances will depend upon how well-bred the dog is, how well it was socialized as a puppy, and how much training it has had.

Has the dog been neutered? That may also factor in.

Are you asking about temperament with people, or other dogs? If you're concerned with the dog's behavior with your other dog(s), that will again depend on whether the dog has been neutered and whether he has been raised with other dogs.

If you have small dogs, and the Siberian isn't used to them, he may see them as prey and try to hurt them.

If the Siberian is intact, he may try to take the alpha role over the other dogs in your house.

There are several variables at work, here. I'd need more information.

ADD: sah123190 -- Not sure what kind of wheel dogs you've had actual experience with, but lack of intelligence has nothing to do with their place on the team.

I've also had many "alpha" males who were extremely friendly and happy to cuddle, including one who had obedience titles in two countries (so much for the theory that they fail obedience training repeatedly). And "aggressive" is a word that should NEVER be used with this breed.

Answer 7

I like the look of a siberian husky. They are so cute.

Answer 8

I really can't add more than what Loki already said, but really take the activity level seriously.  This can really be a great breed and many of us get hooked on just the personality alone.  They are incredibly intelligent and most are smarter than most people I know.  Read up on the breed and really make sure this is the breed for you.

Another note... SAH123.... where did you get your info you are so off in a lot of it.  I am going to apologize to the rest of the readers, but those comments are very naive of the breed.