How to Care for a Siberian Husky

Prepare a bedding area for your Siberian husky. He should have his own bed, a water dish and a food bowl. If you choose to keep your husky in a crate overnight, place a bed inside the crate.

Introduce your husky to his bedding area when you bring him home. If he is overwhelmed with the new surroundings, place him in the crate for a few hours, then open the door and let him wander out when he feels comfortable.

Provide your dog with plenty of dog toys to keep him from chewing on other objects. If you spot your husky chewing on something you don't want him to have, take it away, say "No!" and replace the item with one of your dog's toys so he learns what he is and is not allowed to play with.

Enroll yourself and your Siberian husky in obedience classes. The younger your husky is when training starts, the more success you are likely to have. Huskies, with their high energy, can be difficult to control without proper training.

Establish a routine in taking your Siberian husky outside. If you are house-training a puppy, take the puppy outdoors after meals and naps and do not go back in until he does his business. Praise your puppy and reward him with treats to teach him that doing his business outdoors is a desirable behavior.

Take your husky for 30-minute walks at least once a day to help work off their excess energy. If you have a puppy, walks around the yard may be sufficient at first, but you should eventually move on to parks and trails or sidewalks near your home.

Give your husky plenty of time to run and play outside. If you have a fenced-in yard, you do not need to supervise all of the time. If you don't have a fence, consider building an enclosed dog run. Your dog should not have the run of the yard without a fence or other enclosure.

Feed your Siberian husky high-quality dry dog food. If you have a puppy, select a food specially formulated for puppies. Ask your veterinarian for advice about how much to feed your dog; the amounts given by the dog food manufacturer may not fit your pet's individual needs. At a year old, or when your veterinarian recommends it, your husky can begin eating adult dog food.

Keep your husky's water bowl full and refresh the water at least once a day. Large breeds such as Siberian huskies consume more water than small breeds. Check the bowl after meals and walks to make sure it isn't low.

Take your husky to the vet regularly for checkups and vaccinations. Your vet will provide you with a schedule for vaccinations and will tell you how often he would like you to bring your dog in. Huskies are a hardy breed, but owners should be on the lookout for eye or hip problems.

Check your dog's ears often for signs of infection. If your dog's ears develop excess discharge or a foul odor, take him to the vet for treatment.

Brush your husky's coat once a week using a wide-toothed comb or large bristle brush. These brushes are ideal for working through the thick double coats of Siberian huskies. Weekly brushing will help to cut down on shedding and keep your dog's coat healthy.

Bathe your husky only when necessary, which should be infrequently. Bathing too often may irritate his skin. You may need a handheld sprayer to get the water to penetrate his thick fur, and a bath mitt will help you work the shampoo into his undercoat. Use shampoo formulated for dogs.

Clean your husky's ears once a week using a dog ear cleansing solution. Squirt the solution into his ear canal and massage the ear with your hands to spread the liquid. Wipe away dirt, discharge and excess fluid with clean cotton balls. Never stick anything into your dog's ear canal.

Check your dog's nails periodically and have them trimmed if necessary. This procedure is best left to a professional groomer or your veterinarian's office unless you have been trained in how to do it properly. Doing the job incorrectly can result in bleeding and pain.