FEEDING YOUR SIBERIAN
Many young Siberian Huskies come in to Welfare because
they are "out of control." There are a variety of reasons for
this behaviour - some due to lack of training, some to incorrect temperament and
commonly, due to incorrect diet.
The Siberian Husky has one of the most efficient
metabolisms in the dog world. It can survive and prosper on less food than
almost any other breed (as an example, our 5 month old Leonberger Puppy eats 5
times as much food daily as do our adult Siberians).
Unfortunately, one of the abiding myths around feeding
Siberians, is that because they are working dogs, they need a high protein,
working dog food. This would be all well and good if the dogs were actually
working hard - pulling sleds in arctic conditions for 30 miles+ each day. Here
in the UK however, this is extremely unlikely to be the case (chance would be a
fine thing). So, unless our dogs are training hard, day after day, not only do
they not need high protein, high energy food, it can actually cause
serious problems. A dog on such food is producing prodigious amounts of energy,
but without the outlet of hard running sled work in cold conditions, the energy
tends to make the dog hyper and uncontrollable. It is the equivalent of dosing
yourself with amphetamine for a quiet day at home.
Unless your dogs are working hard in harness, they will
be very adequately nourished on any good "adult maintenance" quality
food.
The proof of this is in the pudding (or the kibble) -
many of the "uncontrollable" dogs we have taken in, have become
perfectly "controllable" once their energy levels have been balanced
to their activity levels by feeding them a lower protein food. If you are not
sure which is the best food for your Siberian Husky, get the 'phone number for
"Best Choice" (from the front page) and speak to Nigel or Anita at
Leonslord Pet Nutrition.