Husky Needs a Home - Page 1

Yukon is a 10 or 11 year old Siberian husky. Until last fall, he enjoyed walks with his owner. Most days they would cover about 5 km. together.

Then, his owner fell and broke her arm. She never fully recovered from the fall, and had to go into a nursing home. Her son could not take Yukon because he already had 4 GSDs.
 
After being at my kennel for a few weeks, Yukon was rehomed with an older gentleman in Southern Ontario. Unfortunately, he recently suffered a very serious heart attack, and can no longer keep the dog.

So, Yukon is now back at my kennel until his owner's son can find another home for him.

Yukon is very even-tempered and laid back. Last time he was here, I often couldn't get him to come in for his breakfast, because he preferred the cold and snow to his warm, cozy kennel. He rarely barks, and seems to be in excellent health. He's on the large side for a Siberian. I'd say he's the size of your average female GSD.

I have introduced him to other dogs, and he's done well, but apparently he did have a fight with the alpha male GSD in the son's pack.

The son will be sending me more information on him soon. I believe he's neutered, and it's possible he may even have papers.

If anyone thinks they can offer this very nice, gentle dog a forever home, please let me know. He's currently living 40 minutes north of Toronto.

After reading the breed description, I've come to the conclusion Yukon is an Alaskan malemute, NOT a Siberian husky! He's too big to be a Sibe, and his laid back disposition fits in better with the malemute breed.

Sorry, I'm a GSD person, not a sled dog person!

How big is he? Shoulder height and weight? There are some over sized Huskies being bred for money out there just like people breed GSD's that are oversized.  

He's roughly the same height as my female GSD, who is 25", and I guess he'd weigh between 75 and 80 lbs. He's a wee bit overweight.

Like I said, I'm 99% sure he's a malemute, after reading the breed description. We often get huskies/husky mixes in for boarding, and they are usually very hyper...not like this guy at all! He just wants to be petted and loved, poor guy!  He stops on his way in and out of the outdoor runs, begging for some attention.

He'd make a great dog for a single person who's looking for a companion that's laid back, but large enough to be a visual deterrent to anyone wanting to rob the home.

I'm going to try him out with some of the boarders we have here today, and see how he does. I need to know whose fault it was that he was attacked by the male GSD. I find males sometimes become less tolerant of other males as they get older. My own 10 year old neutered male is getting this way. :(

Okay, it looks like Yukon may have found his forever home!

I have a contractor here doing work on the kennel, and her helper has taken a real shine to Yukon, and is going to take him home on a trial basis tonight!

He lives in an old house that's been convereted to apartments. Yukon will have a nice big yard to play in, and a shitzu for company. The man taking him is married, there are no small children at home, nor are there likely to be any in the future.

I think he'll get along with the shitzu just fine. He's wanted to make friends with all the other dogs he's met here, except the ones that are acting loud and aggressive. Those he tries to avoid...

BTW, another thing that makes me sure he's a malemute, not a siberian....although he carries his tail high, it has NO curl to it. I've never seen a sibe with no curl to its tail.

Pictures:

Snowy April day. Yukon loves the snow and cold, and often won't come in from the runs to get his breakfast until he's good and ready!




Yukon makes friends with one of the other kennel dogs, a beagle/bassett mix

Sunsilver, Malamutes tails can and should curl too, but it's typically a tight curl, the end of the tail will go down onto the side of the body itself just slightly.  If a tail goes that far over/down with a Husky, it's considered a fault.  

Hmm....do you think he's a mixed breed, then? Or just has a poor tailset?

I don't think he's a mix, could just be the tail, not to mention the tail looks really thin in the picture where it's showing.  

Yes, it is a bit thin, especially at the base. I wonder if he's been chewing on it, though I've never seen him doing it.

He's not an easy dog to pose, especially without help. I'll see if I can get some help from his new owner to get a better picture of him. Like most huskies/mals, he seems a bit stubborn, and quite deaf when it comes to most obedience commands!

When I called his current owner/guardian last night to tell him the news, he told me Yukon's original owner was his aunt, not his mother. She turned 90 before she broke her arm, and had to go into a nursing home. And like I said, most days she was walking this dog FIVE KILOMETERES! 

He may still be a Sibe, of course ?  There is a woman who lives in my area, saw her in the supermarket carpark with a big dark dog sitting in her car and had to ask if he was a Siberian Husky or an Alaskan Malamute, she said he was a Siberian, she was quite sure, she had papers for him etc. Just a big lad. (had one blue eye).  Looking at your picture of him head-on, I reckon he could be a Sibe, which might explain the tail not being very curled; mostly they only seem to me to curl them up much when moving at speed?