The Minus Points

1. Not a one-man dog- any human will do- this may be seen as a lack of loyalty.
2. He will not guard your home or property.
3. Strong desire to run. If he gets free he will run so far he will be lost, if not hit by a car or train, or shot by a farmer.
4. Cannot be relied on to return to you on command. He will decide whether or not to return for himself, knowing that you cannot catch him.
5. Too independent and strong willed generally to be a candidate for obedience training.
6. Keen and efficient hunter and killer. Cannot be trusted with non-canine pets or livestock of any sort. On occasion been known to accept into the pack a cat that he is brought up with, but all others will be regarded as fair game. Please note – huskies have been known to kill cats, that they have lived happily with for many years, for no obvious reason.
7. Like any dog- needs a lot of exercise to keep him fit and contented, but this must be done ON lead.
8. Can be very destructive, especially when young and/or if left alone for a long time.
9. Needs company, either human or canine, and is miserable without it.
10. Needs a safely enclosed exercise area. Your garden must be fully fenced and secure. Six foot high fencing is USUALLY enough. Check neighbours will not object to high fences. Take care he cannot dig his way out beneath it, and do not leave dustbins etc near the fence or he may use them to get over the top. Keep the garden gate securely locked, otherwise there is a risk that visitors, window cleaners etc may leave them open.
11. Your garden is unlikely to remain neat and tidy with a Sibe rampaging happily within.
12. He needs correct feeding- breeders will be able to tell you which foods suit Sibes and which can cause problems. Generally avoid foods with high levels of cereal, which they find hard to digest.
13. Moults twice a year. The quantity of fur shed can surprise you, especially in spring when the winter coat is replaced by a shorter, thinner summer coat.

You need an understanding and experienced veterinary surgeon. Sibes are sensitive to some drugs, particularly anaesthetics, sedatives and tranquillisers. This is due to their relatively low metabolic rate and lack of body fat. Also the bulk of their fur can lead vets to overestimate their weight and so overdose them. Sibes should always be weighed accurately beforehand to avoid this.