Husky with a baby?

arugle · July 2015

Has anybody had any pets with their baby's? I was wanting to get a husky pup and train it before the baby is born.

Beckah31 · July 2015

Personally, I'd do it in reverse. Id wait until after baby to try to train a puppy. Otherwise you run into the trouble of having a teenage dog (6-12 months) and a newborn. And teenage dogs- while fun, can be very very exuberant.

chewie5990 · July 2015

There are a lot of baby and doggie classes in my area so I would definitely look into that. Also there are dog trainers that specialize in training dogs to be around small kids. Everyone on my DHs side of the family as dogs and we have a dog and all our dogs have fortunately been amazing with my nieces so I'm not too worried about the new baby but we are planning on taking a class about babies and dogs that they offer at our hospital.

beccabeeee · July 2015

I would wait till baby is born and then get a pup. My dog is still in his teenage years and very stubborn, think of it as terrible twos for dogs lol. You'll probably be exhausted from baby that the puppy might not get the attention it needs. However, it's your life so I say do what you feel comfortable with =] puppy classes are a must, and huskies can be very stubborn too lol and tend to be a bit nippy (I guess all puppies are?) but that's just my experience. Good luck!

ammnam14 · July 2015

We found out we were pregnant like a day after we got our pup. She'll be 10 months when the baby arrives!

She is a 2.5 lb. mutt so it is quite different from a husky. I'd definitely look into a dog trainer..he gave us a lot of tips and advice. If you are comfortable with handling a puppy and baby..go for it!

Also, I'm super jealous you're considering a husky. I wanted a pomsky , they are the cutest pups! :x

tesary · July 2015

My dog and my daughter are best friends. She is a bullmastiff mix and was 1 when DD was born. I would reccomend getting a puppy with plenty of time to train it before the baby is born. I would have been overwhelmed training a puppy and adjusting to a newborn. We sent my dog to daycare a few days a week when DD was first born to help her get some energy out.

LC122 · July 2015

How old of a puppy?
I would recommend getting, bonding with, and training a dog before baby arrives just so the dog knows the pack order. If the dog clearly recognizes you as the leader in the family, it will follow suit on how to treat the baby. I would think a new puppy and a newborn would be overwhelming.
We recently fostered a days-old puppy for a month. I have two kids (3 and 1) and that puppy was more work than both kids combined. He had to be formula fed and stimulated to potty (something new I learned about newborn pups) and then when he could potty on his own, I had to clean out the kennel or clean up the floor. It was worse than a newborn baby, who at least wears diapers. Granted, this was a special case and most puppies people get aren't that young, but still. House training is an ordeal. I would not want to be dealing with that while breastfeeding and taking care of a newborn.

ashhsa · July 2015

Husks are extreemly pack oriented dogs, that need a lot of training discipline and a lot of attention, and particularly long walks. don't rush into this breed if you think you maynot be able to provide that after the baby is born. My honest opinion would be to wait till after, as you don't know yet if your baby will be easy- or demanding.

Taylovesbrad · July 2015

I would Def get it and do training classes before baby if you're feeling well. Puppies take alot of work. Can't imagine doing a puppy and babe at the same time.

I have two dogs and I'm excited to see how they do.

lovemichelleleah · July 2015

I have a 6 month old Chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix. We still haven't mastered potty training. I'm personally SO glad he will be a year old and hopefully completely trained by the time the baby arrives. I can't imagine how it would be if I was trying to train a puppy and take care of a new baby, it's been frustrating and stressful enough at times during pregnancy.

We also have a almost 2 year old Belgian Malinois. We adopted him when he was 9 months old so he was already trained for the most part, would you consider an older puppy? We found it much easier and loved the fact that we were able to get him out of a kennel that made him super nervous and give him a great life! Just a suggestion!

mrs14678 · July 2015

Since you don't actually have the puppy yet, my suggestion is to definitely wait til after baby is born.

Puppies are just like kids - constant attention and consistency. A new puppy would only have 6 months with you before baby, and that's not enough time to really establish a definite routine. I volunteer a little with the local shelter, and there are SO many dogs who are just past the "cute puppy stage" abandoned because someone had a baby or thought puppy was too much work or they didn't have time to give it the attention it needed. Huskies are working dogs, so they need even more time and training.

I know you want to have a dog to grow old with your child, so you will have to make that call, but from what I've seen, best to wait.

Pets are family too, so you don't want to put yourself in a situation where giving up the poor puppy is an option. Maybe contact your local shelter and see if you can foster a puppy? That way you could satisfy the puppy-bug, but not have a long term commitment yet?

TomekiaB · July 2015

Puppies are work to train (and sleepless nights). However, most of us forget the teenage years (1-2yrs) is still really intense with dogs, they have more talent to get into everything and they are big enough to reach, this also when they really "teeth" and chew everything! We got our 65lb high energy dog (hound-mix) at 11 months he was already house broken and leash trained but had to learn basic obedience. Basic obedience was easy, except "come" and "stay" which came with age--attention span and maturity. We are both runners that chose a dog to fit our lifestyle and we ran/run him 2-12 miles a day AND we also had to take him daycare twice a week because otherwise with us working full time by Wednesday he'd want to stay up all night to play.

Huskies are working dogs that require a LOT of exercise. Lots of huskies are pretty talented fence jumpers (like shepards). We have a huge dog park and a husky owner was asking if there was another dog park because the 4 foot fence wouln't contain her husky despite the distraction of other dogs in the park. They are only recommended for experienced dog owners and the recommendations say they are good with kids (but recommend kids over 3 years old).

If you really want a husky now, I would look at getting an adult sometimes American Kennel Club (AKC) members will place adult dogs that they are no longer showing or competing with and they would already have basic training. My aunt is an AKC member with a terrier kennel and so I know kennel club rescues typically do a great job because they know the breed so well.

rynney · July 2015

We have a 9-week old Lab mix and he is work! That being said, he's very smart and I grew up with labs so I know exactly what to expect. We were always planning on getting a dog this year, the puppy part was a little unexpected. We wanted a 1-2 yr old but even with the work involved (with a pup), we will know his story and what he's been through. I also thrive on chaos so here's to it!

reware · July 2015

I second the PP's who are trying to warn you about huskies as a breed. Please don't take their advice lightly - this breed is meant to be running the Iditarod across the tundra so should only be adopted by someone who is VERY active everyday (ie if you're a marathoner it would be ideal). Also these dogs are miserable in the heat, their coat is designed for sub-zero temps, so a cool climate is essential (and that doesn't mean just lock them inside in the AC all summer).

Like you, I absolutely love dogs and for my family it will be important to raise kids with animals. Having lost my 15 yr old aussie/rottie last year, I'm aching to adopt a dog and would have done so in June if we hadnt become pregnant.

But 5-6 months (or even 9 imho) before bringing a huge change like an exhausting newborn into the house is not enough time to establish real bonds and routines with a new dog (of any age). It's really unfair to the dog, because your priority will of course be your baby.

snooker51 · July 2015

The teenage years of the dog are 100x more trying than the puppy training stage! Especially with high energy larger breeds. My dog was in all training classes and was a star pupil till 7 months when he got his super stubborn streak haha. He's still a great dog and will do great with the baby because he loves kids but he tests your patience daily.
I suggest waiting until after your baby and you have a routine established. If you do decide you can't wait make sure to look into prices of doggy daycare for days they have extra energy you don't have time to deal with. Bordem is usually the reason a dog is acting out, being super needy or destroying things

bnwalker4414 · July 2015

My husband and I bought a husky 2 days before I found out I was pregnant. He will be 10 months when the baby is born. I'm glad we got the puppy first because he is already potty trained. We crate trained him so we had no problems with him getting up in the middle of the night. He always sleeps at least 9 hours. Consistency is the main thing. If you're going to get a husky, which require a lot of attention and making it known to them who the boss is, you have toakr sure you are consistent.

reware · July 2015

Aw @bnwalker4414 , I envy you so much. They are amazing dogs. Have fun together and post us a pic here or under furbabies sometime

laceyglowacki · July 2015

We had a black lab who was about 6 when my son was born and she was amazing with him, and then rescued another dog (Aussie mix) about 2 years later and he was about 4 when I had my daughter and made me really nervous with her so we had to send him to live with my boyfriends mom for a few weeks but he came around and then we decided that we would rescue another dog (put bull mix) and got him when my daughter was about 6 months old and it's kind of like they grew up together. He's very sweet with her and my son. I would ultimately wait because sometimes dogs don't adjust well to small changes let alone another person living in the house. I do believe it depends on the breeds temperament and how well you train the dog.

kmac103 · July 2015

From personal experience I know that huskies are high maintenance dogs. My husband got a husky while we were dating and he was extremely aggressive and hyper 24/7. This was even with paid trainers and us being active with him. We would take him on two mile walks/hikes every day and he would still have energy left over.

The breaking point was when after two paid trainers to deal with the aggression, he bit my husband in the face. While it is sad that this happened, I am glad that it happened before we had children because having a dog that aggressive around a baby would be bad news.

Not all huskies are that aggressive and they aren't all as high maintenance as ours was but you need to be aware that it is a distinct possibility with this breed of dog. I suggest doing A TON of research before getting one because if you don't you will already be at a disadvantage.

cherrybloss · July 2015

The choice is totally up to you and your prior dog experience. I have a two year old husky that is FULL of energy. They are very stubborn and hard to train but when you finally get them trained, they are the MOST amazing breed I've ever had. He doesn't require a lot of attention as long as he gets his exercise in. He will wonder around the house and occupy himself. Our guy was a big jumper every time you walk in the door which is concerning if you are pregnant. Ever since we found out we were pregnant (or maybe before we found out) our husky has stopped jumping on me. He will just walk up to me and sniff my belly and put his ears back so I can pet him. If you choose to leave the husky out (puppy or not) he WILL eat your house. Be mindful of trinkets you love and leave laying around. Also, this breed sheds sooooooo much. Be ready for hair as a condiment in your house! If you have the energy and patience, the choice is up to you. I'm excited to introduce our husky to the baby!

gillers07 · July 2015

We just got a German shepherd 9 week old puppy. Our other shepherd died a month ago and she and our 2 year old we're best friends. She is a lot of work but all dogs are. I know a lot of people are saying wait until baby is born, but if you get it now and work really hard your puppy will be potty trained and know the pack order as previous poster said! I hear huskies are a lot of fun and are very similar to German shepherds. Let us know what you decide!

Rawr052992 · July 2015

If you've done your research on Huskies, youll know these key things. & keep this in mind..

Huskies & Children, if born at the same time, will go thru terrible twos at the same time. Huskies tend to require retraining around 2 years old if you do not maintain proper leadership. You can have the most well behaved husky puppy, and at that terrible twos mark, theres a chance you'll be replacing furniture.

So when thinking puppies, make sure you know & will be able to handle anything that puppy & baby throw at you during all life stages.

Huskies are very social and tend to be very gentle with children, Ive seen very few snap at a child for anything more than food / treats.

You can have issues with any breed, even a smaller dog, like a terrier or chihuahua, only difference is size.

Another thing to think about is what if your baby is born with allergies, a husky is not a hypo-allergenic breed, think about what you would do if something would arise.

jpjennings · July 2015

We got a husky puppy and he will be about 1.5 years by the time the baby is due. He was a TON of work. Like, a Ton. I work with dogs and have had huskies in the past. My current husky is the most difficult dog i have ever owned. I do not recommend a baby and husky puppy together. I'd imagine it would be like having twins. Huskies are high energy, LOUD, and hard to house-train. If you must get a husky, consider an adult.

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