A friend of mine was recently thinking of getting a husky and the first question out of her mouth was whether her backyard was big enough. Huskies need regular exercise, so it’s an important question to ask.
While huskies do need a lot of regular exercise, having a big backyard isn’t required. Huskies don’t care about having a lot of space when you’re not there to play with them.
This is really important to understand so in this short article, I’ll explain why huskies don’t need a lot of space, and what they need instead.
Do Huskies Need A Big Backyard?
When my family brought our first husky puppy home, we felt our massive backyard would be a perfect fit. Huskies love to run and need a lot of exercise, so it makes sense that a big backyard would be a big help.
As our puppy started to grow, it quickly became clear that a big backyard means nothing to a husky. When our husky thought nobody was home, he wouldn’t run around the backyard. He would sleep in his place.
When I was at home studying, I would sit by the window and occasionally see our husky wandering around. But for 80% of the time, he would sleep.
Fast forward 10 years and we see the exact same behavior with our female husky. She doesn’t care about the big backyard. If we’re not in the backyard, she doesn’t explore it.
This is an important lesson to remember: your husky only cares about your backyard when you’re in it. If you’re away at school or work, a big backyard means nothing to a husky.
In other words, if you think having a big backyard means your husky will keep herself fit, it’s not going to happen. The only time our husky runs around the backyard is when I’m playfully chasing her around.
Can A Husky Live In An Apartment?
Ask the average non-husky owner this questions and they will tell you huskies need a lot of exercise so they can’t live in an apartment. The conventional wisdom is that a husky can’t live in a small area.
But conventional wisdom is often wrong. Huskies can live happily indoors in small homes and apartments. It all depends on you as the owner.
The video shown below gives a good insight into how huskies can live in apartments.
What Huskies Do When Left Alone
The below video shows exactly why huskies don’t care about large backyards or big homes. The behavior of this husky perfectly matches the behavior I’ve seen from my two huskies.
If you don’t want to watch the video, here is a summary of what happens when a typical husky is left alone:
- The husky will watch you leave from a window or stare at the door for a long time
- After a while, the husky will have a sleep by the door or in its usual place
- The husky will occasionally wander around and sleep some more
- When the husky hears anything that suggests you might be coming home, she will race over to the door or window to get a good view
- When you open the door, the husky will jump or run around with boundless excitement
This is normal behavior. While there are videos of huskies tearing apart furniture when the owners aren’t home, that’s not normal behavior from a well-exercised husky.
When indoor huskies tear up furniture or cause problems, it can usually be explained by a lack of regular exercise and attention. The husky in the above video doesn’t cause any problems because he’s well cared for.
What Do Huskies Need?
Huskies don’t need big backyards or large homes, but they do need a lot of regular exercise. A well-exercised husky can live happily in a small apartment or home with a small backyard.
A husky that isn’t regularly exercised will cause issues regardless of the size of your backyard or home.
Regularly walking your husky every day and showing it attention is essential to keeping your husky happy. If your husky will be alone while you’re at work, a solid morning walk can be enough to keep the husky happy while you’re away.
If you’re experiencing issues with your husky’s behavior, take a look at your routine and make some changes. Look at the gaps between walks or exercise sessions and whether they’re long or inconsistent. Adding a short and regular walk to your routine can do wonders to a husky’s happiness.
If adding a short walk into your routine doesn’t change your husky’s behavior, try some different activities to stimulate your husky.
If your Husky will be an outside dog, it is also important to get a proper dog house. This is especially important if you live in an area that experiences cold tempeartures during winter.
Find out whether Huskies can stay outside in the cold and important health information in this guide.
