Our First Blogiversary! Let's Talk About Canine Socialization...

This blog is a momentous one...it's the FiveSibes first blogiversary! One year ago today I began sharing my writings and photographs of our five Siberian Huskies with the posting of my very first blog article titled, February is Canine Dental Health Month, featuring our alpha queen, Harley, flashing the camera with her pearly canine whites! Little did I know then just how wonderful this blog ride would be or the many wonderful pet-loving folks I have met along the way. Thank you all for sharing in "a day in the life of FiveSibes" many times over since that very first blog entry. I enjoy and appreciate  your readership, comments, thoughts, support, and friendship; and am certainly looking forward to the next year of canine and pet chit-chat!

For this special date, I thought it would be a perfect time to talk about an essential element of training, and not for just Siberian Huskies, but all pets - socialization. Many have asked me over the years how did we get our Sibes to be so well-adjusted and have a real pack-family mentality as they not only play and sleep together, but eat together as well. First, I am not alone in my training efforts. My daughter, the other Hu-Mom in this family, spends many hours with our Sibes too. Sometimes we are together with them, other times she is with them when I'm not and vice-versa. In short, we are fortunate that our Sibes are very rarely without human companionship. 

In training canines, early handling and socialization is key. Especially for a Siberian Husky. They are extremely social dogs as any Sibe parent can tell you! If your dog did not join your family as a pup, the same rules still apply for a happy merging: that is to gently and slowly introduce your canine companions to a variety of experiences. These experiences can range from the human touch to going for car rides, getting into the bathtub, meeting people, being around apparatuses (i.e. walkers, wheelchairs, vacuums, etc.) and even joining other pets already in the family. The outcome can be very successful if all is conducted with lots of love and patience, and in an easy and positive manner. These early introductions set the stage for the human-canine relationship and help acquaint our pets with new surroundings and ease any possible fears.


Here is a slideshow on "socialization" featuring the FiveSibes and some hu-folks and friends who love them, as well as a few furpals. So grab some popcorn and pet treats, cuddle up with your furpal(s), and we hope you enjoy the show!