Anyone?
I'd like to find a good Husky dog breeder in Zurich or somewhere near.
Andersen, do you have experience with the husky breed?
Do you live in a single family home with your own private garden?
I ask because several of these gorgeous dogs have sadly landed in shelters here in Switzerland because of pressure from neighbors.
If you know the breed, are able to provide for their physical needs and unique character, then speak to one of the breeders who is a member of the Schweizer Klub Für Nordische Hunde, the breed club of the SKG responsible for huskies and related nordic breeds:
You will want to contact the 'Zuchtwartin' - this is the person responsible for keeping track of which breeders have pups or are planning a litter in the future. The Zuchtwartin's contact details are on the site.
Get to know several breeders, attend some of their events - and be aware that most will have waiting lists. Be prepared to jump through hoops to prove to the breeder that you can offer one of their pups the lifestyle the breed needs.
Oh, and don't forget the SKN classes - most breeders will want to see that you are aware of regulations and have plans in place to do your practical course before they will consider you for one of their pups.
(A first time dog owner must take the theory course before getting a dog - but if you are a first time owner, please consider very carefully what it means to live with a husky. They are beautiful dogs, fantastic pets for those who can give them what they need - but they do require some specialist knowledge, and certainly an appropriate environment.)
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And... just because rescue is my thing
If you have husky experience, have the private space needed, and would consider a rescue... take a look at the Swiss database of homeless pets. There are several homeless huskies at present, including a few who have been looking for years as finding an appropriate home in crowded Switzerland has proven difficult.
http://www.tierdatenbank.ch/cms/tier...unschtier.html
Wishing you all the best.
ETA:
Andersen, I just noticed in another of your posts you mention that you are a student at Zürich University.
Are you planning on waiting until your studies have finished before getting a pup?
A pup - especially a husky - needs someone at home all day in the first months. The training, building of social skills, bonding is critical in this phase. And the teenage phase requires real dedication. It would be very difficult to give the dog the time needed while living a typical student lifestyle. What about after graduation? Will you be staying in Switzerland, or moving elsewhere? Will you be working full time, do you have someone at home during the day to care for the dog? And as above, do you have appropriate housing for a husky? These are all things that need to be considered very carefully.
It's important to be at a place in one's life where one can make a pup the priority, in order to set the little one up for success. Remember, it's a 15+ year investment.
meloncollie said it all and I can only repeat her words please, please, please consider what it means to live with a husky. There are hundreds of websites and books, which would give you the idea what means being owned by a Siberian husky.
myself, I can not imagine living with any other dog, but then, again, I have the time (I am at home with her all day long!), the space, the love she needs. And I work with her, each day, several times per day, and this means doing both, physical and mental exercises (around 17km walks per day and tons of tricks at home).
And not to forget about the financial part (which is probably quite important to students); huskies tend to have allergies. Especially food allergies. Buying or even cooking the best possible food for your dog is essential in such cases. Can you imagine cooking salmon for your dog every day, if this is the only food he would tolerate?
Ahh, man, and here I thought this thread was for corn-fed women with good birthin' hips...
To the OP; if you still think you are the right person for a husky, then you might be interested in this .
Balto is his name. This beautiful husky boy is in shelter for few years now; I remember him from the Liechtenstein Tierheim and I was sooo happy when I saw he wasn’t listed there anymore.
Well, sadly, I just saw that he and Joy (a husky mix girl) are still looking for a good home, but they are in another shelter now.
Here is a short movie with him and some other animals from this shelter.
http://www.lichenbleu.ch/ is a great breeder. We were thoroughly vetted before allowed to buy. We have a two year bitch that is absolutely amazing with our two kids: they pull, push, sit on without any reaction. Even if it's painful for her, she'll just walk away, never bite or snap.
Do think it over before going for a husky: they needs lots of exercise, space and love (they are a pack dog...).
Hold on for the ride (for maximum pleasure: from a wheeled, man-powered means of transportation)!
Luapm, I am happy to hear that your dog is very tolerant of your children's behavior. She sounds exceptionally good natured. But I do want to emphasize the 'exceptional' bit.
However, wearing my rescue hat I'd like to share a cautionary tale for all reading:
In the twenty plus years I have been volunteering with rescues I have had many phone calls from vets who have a dog on the table being prepped to be killed for having snapped at a child. The comment from the owners is always the same:
"But we've always let Johnny push, pull, sit on him - and he never objected before!"
Young children should never be allowed to pull, push, sit on, or do anything to a dog that could cause pain. Dogs are animals, not robots - and they all have a pain threshold. A dog who seems very tolerant of rough handling might one day be pushed beyond his personal threshold... and snap.
Too many dogs are killed because owners put them in situations they cannot - and should not have to - handle. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day the dog might be pushed beyond what he can endure. Again, he is a dog, not a robot.
Sometimes the vet is able to talk the owner into relinquishing the dog to a rescue (hence why I get those calls) but most of the time the dog must die - consequence of the owner's lack of setting boundaries for the children.
An unfair and wholly preventable death. And wholly the owner's fault.
So... while I am happy for you that you have an exceptionally tolerant good natured dog, I could not let your post pass uncommented upon for the sake of others reading it. And for the sake of all the dogs who didn't get a second chance. I'll say it again (and again and again until the message is loud and clear): no dog should be put into a position where a child is allowed to cause him pain. It is unfair to the dog and unfair to the child.
So for all out there: In bringing a dog into the family with young children you have double the training to do - train your dog, and train your children how to interact safely with your dog. And of course, supervise interactions when the children are too young to understand your rules.
Thus endeth the sermon.
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