Can Huskies live in apartments? According to your Siberian Husky’s temperament, she should be an intelligent, friendly and gentle dog that is a fantastic companion. Yet, she has high endurance and lots of energy…right?! If you live in an apartment (or are thinking about making the move), you may be wondering if that’s a suitable home for a Siberian Husky. Let’s find out.
So, can Huskies live in apartments? Yes, but apartments aren’t the best option for Huskies. They can be very active and even mischievous indoors. Houses with spacious fenced-in yards are much more appropriate for them. However, Huskies can live in apartments if you train them properly and provide them with enough daily exercise.
Living in an apartment with a Husky can be challenging and requires a lot of commitment.
However, there are ways to ensure that your Husky stays happy and healthy and lives long.
Keep reading to find out how…
5 Tips for Keeping Your Husky Happy and Healthy in an Apartment
While a larger home with a yard would be best for a Husky, it may not be possible for all dog owners. Or there may also be situations in your life when you simply may need to move into a smaller place.
With a few adjustments to your lifestyle, it is possible to provide enough exercise and simulation for your Husky.
1. Take Your Husky Out for Regular Daily Walks and Other Activities
Huskies are a breed of working dogs. Because of this, people in northern regions used them to pull sleds with heavy loads.
Thus, you need to provide an adequate amount of high-level activity to make sure that your Husky stays happy and healthy.
Take your dog for regular long walks.
Preferably you should do it 2-3 times a day for a total of approximately 3 hours. This will not only allow your dog to exercise but also do its business.
If you are an active person and like sports, a Husky can be a great partner for you.
You can go jogging and cycling together. Hiking, playing Frisbee and swimming are great activities too.
If you have a family, then each member can spend some quality time with the Husky. As a matter of fact, it can keep all your family in great physical shape.
2. Find a Dog Walker or a Dog Sitter
If you need to leave your Husky alone for many hours at a time, it may get bored and misbehave.
A bored Husky can destroy furniture or cry, disturbing your neighbors.
A solution to that can be finding a dog sitter or a dog walker who can spend time with your dog while you are away.
3. Provide Ways for Your Husky to Socialize
Huskies are social pack animals and they like being around people and other dogs. That’s why they are excellent for large families with kids.
But even if you live alone, it’s possible to provide enough social interaction for a Husky. For example, you can join a local dog club.
This will allow both you and your Husky to meet friends.
Perhaps some of them may give you a hand at keeping your dog busy when you have urgent things to tend to.
4. Provide Plenty of Mental Stimulation for Your Husky
Huskies are intelligent and can easily get bored if they do not get enough mental stimulation.
This can make them look for trouble.
One way of providing intellectual stimulation is through training. You can either do it yourself or find a dog trainer to help you.
Teach your dog how to sit, heel, or fetch. It’s even better if you can do it outdoors. You’ll ensure that your Husky is intellectually and physically stimulated and also socializes at the same time.
Pet stores usually offer dog puzzles for sale. Or, you can invent one yourself. Fill a Kong Ball with your dog’s favorite treat. Your Husky will spend some time getting it out.
You can also organize a treasure hunt by hiding treats around your house and having your dog find them. This activity can also be a good alternative to long walks if the weather is bad or you aren’t feeling well enough.
Make sure not to use the same games and toys over and over again. Your dog will likely get used to them and become bored again.
5. Maintain Adequate Temperature
Huskies have a thick double coat and feel best when it’s cold. If you live in a warmer climate, you may need to take some precautions.
If your apartment becomes very hot, provide ventilation or leave the A/C on. You may also want to go for walks early in the morning or later in the evening to make sure that your dog doesn’t overheat.
Benefits of Having a Husky in an Apartment
Some dog breeds tend to be rather lazy. The Husky…is not one of them. 😉
Having one will most definitely increase your level of physical activity. Since many people lead sedentary lifestyles, this can considerably improve your health and overall wellbeing.
You will be more likely to meet the recommended requirements for daily physical activity and may even lose weight.
Some studies also suggest that dog owners are less likely to suffer from heart disease and depression.
Huskies aren’t the best watchdogs and usually aren’t aggressive to strangers. They need to be trained to attack and protect.
However, they are medium-sized and have a wolfish appearance. This alone may deter criminals from approaching you on the street or breaking into your apartment. It can be particularly helpful for female Husky owners.
Huskies are cleanly dogs.
They take care of their coat and keep their feeding area neat as well. They also do not have the “dog smell” that some other breeds have.
Renting an Apartment with a Husky
When renting an apartment, you should consider rules and regulations. Not all property owners allow their tenants to have pets. It may be particularly hard with a large breed Husky.
So, you may have a much harder time finding an apartment if you own a Husky.
You also need to be prepared to pay a pet fee for any potential damage that your dog could do. This fee could range anywhere from $200 to $500 (or more!).
Precautions When Having a Husky in an Apartment
Some apartment buildings have open areas. If yours has an open area, it’s best not to let your Husky freely roam in it. Huskies are active and curious and like chasing animals such as squirrels.
Fenced-in areas are more suitable for Siberian Huskies. Yet, keep in mind that they have strong legs and may jump over lower fences.
Huskies also like to dig and are skilled escape artists. Especially if they don’t get enough intellectual stimulation. So, make sure that gate latches aren’t easy to open.
Because of these reasons, it’s not a good idea to leave your dog alone in a common yard.
Moreover, Huskies are low-allergy dogs but they are not hypoallergenic. Therefore, if you share an apartment with someone else, you should make sure that they are not allergic to dogs.
Finally, Huskies have a thick coat and shed a lot. But if you do groom your dog weekly, you should not have an issue with fur or dog odor in your apartment. Still, you may benefit from investing in a good vacuum cleaner and lint rollers.
Yet, if meticulous cleanliness in your apartment is extremely important to you, a Husky may not be the best breed for you.
Related Questions
Huskies can be good apartment dogs if they are properly trained and get enough exercise as well as mental stimulation. Yet, it requires lots of commitment from the owner. If they are not able to provide it, Huskies can get bored. This may cause them to misbehave and seek trouble.
Huskies are friendly by nature and like being around people and other dogs. Nevertheless, abandonment and lack of socialization could make them aggressive. Some sources even list Huskies as one of the most dangerous dog breeds. To avoid incidents, do not leave a Husky alone with small children or strangers.
