Adopting A Siberian
You have read through all of the breed information you can find, you’ve talked to Siberian owners and heard all about the pros and the cons of this wonderful breed, and now you are ready to bring a Siberian Husky into your home. If you are thinking you want a puppy, it is very unlikely you’ll find a Siberian puppy in rescue. The fact is, most Siberians end up in shelters and rescues as adolescents (9-16 months) when it becomes apparent their owners haven’t trained them properly and can’t handle them anymore. If you truly want a puppy, we encourage you to look for an SHCA-member breeder in your area using the breeder referral section of this website. An ethical breeder is the best place to get your Siberian puppy.
If you’ve decided that you’d rather skip the puppy stuff (the housebreaking, the sleepless nights…) and want to bring a rescued adult into your home, the SHCA Trust’s list of approved rescue entities is a great place to start.
If you choose to search local classifieds or craigslist-type websites for your Siberian, please beware: many of the ads placed are scams, and some are even placed by people looking to sell dogs they’ve stolen. If you choose to get a Siberian through a classified ad, ask lots of questions and tread carefully.
If you go to a rescue looking for a dog, the group you choose should be able to give you some information on the dog’s background and—most importantly—they should be able to give you a thorough account of the dog’s general behavior and training level. A good rescue group will want to know about your lifestyle and preferences (would you accept a young, energetic adult who still needs some training? Would you consider opening your home to a senior dog?). They should be able to help you decide if the dog you are interested in is the right fit. When it’s time to take your new dog home, they should provide all of the veterinary records they’ve gathered for the dog (vaccinations, spay/neuter info if available) and will likely ask you to sign a contract stating you will bring the dog back to them if you can’t keep it.
