The truth about Huskies

MANILA, Philippines - When I was a kid, I was so pet-deprived that I succoured myself to sleep with two delusions. First, that I would be able to take in a wolf cub that would grow so loyal it would sleep by my side each night. And second, that with a whirl of my hand I can command my pet to attack intruders to my bedroom.

I am glad to report that I’ve finally achieved what I’ve longed for and more. I have two Siberian Huskies who are so fiercely loyal they hop on my bed each night and jockey me out of place without my telling them to, and they’ve pissed on my bed on a few occasions as I flail my hands in protest.

Ruffles is a copper-brown bundle of energy, with piercing blue eyes to match. At the tender age of 25, I bought him from a breeder after returning from my one-year assignment in China. My family missed me so much they didn’t so much as blink when I told them I’ll be getting a dog for the house, despite years unsuccessfully trying to do so. Note to self to reserve big ticket items for when your family hasn’t seen you in ages.

Ruffles is your typical guy — frisky, playful, one-track mind. He knows what he wants (either food or play) and it’s always apparent when he wants it.

And like your typical guy, he’s also secretly needy. He will act tough and will turn away when you pet or caress him, but will be the first to beg for attention and lick your face when he sees you showering affection on another dog. The similarities to some guys I know are simply astounding.

Then there’s Snowy. One frivolous afternoon a year and a half after I got Ruffles, my brother bought her from Tiendesitas (saying Ruffles needed company) before jetting back to the US for the remainder of his studies. Since then, she’s been on my payroll — and on my faint-hearted, soft-spotted, good side. I don’t know if my theory is true, but I always suspected that girl dogs are affectionate towards male masters, and vice versa. Snowy coos, cajoles, cuddles, and basically does anything to get creature comforts from me — a bone, a Her emotional range is immense. Whereas I always know what Ruffles wants, I frequently need to figure Snowy out. And doing so is like having a small novella unfold — complete with Snowy whining, flirting, and then attacking Ruffles whenever he tries to take her precious possessions. (And let it be said that Snowy ALWAYS has no trouble getting things from Ruffles).

These two delinquents fill my days with laughter and headaches, my nights with peace and poo-cleaning.

Now let me take the space to dispel some common myths about Huskies.

First, they aren’t killers (much to my dismay). For the macho men out there, they won’t make good guard dogs — they will no sooner lick and greet a potential thief or kidnapper than run him down. They have a very friendly temperament, and the most they’ve ever done to me is play-bite. I do have a million gashes for when they jump up, greet me, and have their claws scratch against my skin. But they can be trained not to do that, as with any large breed. Call me a masochist, but I just prefer they continue to pounce me when I come home from work.

Second, they do not need a diet of bloody meats and wild game. I almost laughed out loud when someone asked me how many kilos of raw meat I fed to them per meal, but caught myself just in time when I realized he was serious. Huskies are unfortunately finicky eaters, second only to cats — and they do a better job than most people watching their weights. Dog food such as Eukanuba or Go Natural will do. My gravest mistake was giving my pups a taste of Cibo’s delectable porchetta — they’ve since neglected Eukanuba Lamb and Rice and have never been the same!

Third, they are NOT loyal like most Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Huskies are curious, strong-willed and independent... they cannot be trusted off-leash! If you unleash them on the street they will run — and never come back. It’s not that they don’t love you, they just love whatever else they see more.

Fourth, Huskies are not Alaskan Malamutes. Malamutes also have a wolfish appearance, but they are larger and stockier (google them up).

And the biggest question of all — do they need 24/7 aircon and sheets of ice and snow? Truth is, Huskies born in the Philippines have somewhat acclimatized to the heat and humidity. They shed more frequently (instead of twice a year), for instance. But they are still long-haired and dual-coated, so I have an electric fan trained on them 24/7, and take them to my room for airconditioning whenever I can. Plus, I exercise basic common sense such as not walking them when the sun’s out, and making sure they always have access to cool water.

So it’s a joy for me to watch people’s reactions when I take Ruffles and Snowy out for walks. Either they reel in terror, or stop, gawk and get drawn in by their cuteness. I’ll leave you to ponder what reaction delights me more.

For those of you looking to buy a Husky, let me say this at the risk of sounding like a hypocrite — check if you can adopt from shelters first. I honestly wasn’t aware of adoption when I first got Ruffles. I always thought pet lovers in Manila only had two options: buy a pure-bred dog from a breeder or (gasp) puppy mill, or rescue a stray off the streets at the risk of rabies.

But if you’re still hell-bent on getting one, let me dole out some advice.

First, make sure you have the space, time and resources to nurture them. They will need lots of attention, and loads of exercise. The first night I got Ruffles and left him to sleep in a fenced area at the back of our house, he howled relentlessly because he didn’t want to be left alone. I had to stay up with him the whole night, and a few weeks in I eventually started taking him up to my room.

Second, buy from a reputable breeder — scout the breeder’s place, check the father and mother, and acquaint yourself with the conditions your potential pups grew up in. Check if they’ve been socialized and were well-taken cared-of (shots, medical checkups, etc). Like any kid, a ramshackle foster home can also sow the crazies in your future pups — including anti-social behavior and extreme possessiveness (watch out to folks with children).

And third - training, training, training. Huskies will always challenge your position in the pack, so discipline helps to tone down their friskiness. I recommend training them yourselves... I have some horrid experiences with “professional trainers” (better left for another time). Huskies are masters of cute — so be seduced at your own peril!

If you’d like to ask me more about them, drop me an email (cliffkins@yahoo.com) or visit my blog (http://husky.clifflim.com). I’m also interested in opportunities for community involvement for both Ruffles and Snowy — visiting hospital wards and comforting terminal patients (especially kids), for instance, or bringing them to schools to educate kids about the joys and pains of rearing pets.