15-06-2025
From sled dogs to urban pets: The journey of Huskies in Indian homes
Pune: Originally bred by Chukchi people of Siberia for sled pulling and companionship, Huskies have made their way from the Arctic into the homes and hearts of dog lovers across the world.
After the breed was introduced to the United States in 1908 and recognised by the American Kennel Club 22 years later, there's no reliable data on how huskies were brought to tropical countries like India.
Over the years, movies, series and books such as The Game of Thrones, Twilight and others have contributed towards a rise in demand for Huskies as pets in the country.
While the popular opinion is that this breed should not be kept as pets in India due to the hot climate, several breeders have kept breeding them over four-five generations.
There have been no studies to document whether this has resulted in Huskies bred in India to acclimatize to the tropical climate. Their thick double coats, genetically designed to protect them from harsh cold, can cause problems to maintain homeothermy (ability of an organism to maintain internal body temperature), but pet parents make efforts to ensure a cool environment for them.
Sanchayita Mahadik, the parent of an eight-and-a-half-year-old Husky by the name of Zeus, recalled how he was brought into her family as a surprise gift from her husband.
"Balanced food for right nutrition, adequate exercise and provision of a cool environment is very important. Zeus' favourite spot in our apartment is under the fan, but we also have the AC on to maintain a temperature of 20-23 degrees C. During early mornings and late evenings, we take him to a netted area in our society after his walk and play fetch till he gets tired," said Mahadik.
Being high energy dogs, huskies need ample physical exercises as well as mental stimulation to keep them from developing illness and destructive behavioural issues.
Shalaka Mundada, a dog trainer, pointed out that instead of 20-minute energy bursts in Labrador and Golden Retrievers and other large breeds, huskies require 90-minute high endurance exercise sessions in the morning and evening. "When you bring home a husky, you need to commit time for their daily exercise -- go for long jogs, difficult treks, swimming and other high intensity activities. These dogs are endurance oriented, long distance runners.
Grooming cost is another important aspect to consider. Huskies can develop skin issues that worsen into bigger medical issues if not groomed well. Good cleansing products to maintain lustre, de-shedding rakes, and so on need to be used," said Mundada.
Priyanka and Amol Chaudhauri, residents of Wanowrie, have two huskies that are popular on Instagram as the Sahyadri Husky for travelling across Maharashtra with their family.
"Togo (5) is an angel, Nymeria (4) is quite the diva. We started going on treks with them after the pandemic. They make sure we get enough exercise," said Priyanka.
"Grooming is important not only to keep the house tidy, but also to provide them with some comfort as the undercoat sheds during hot months. We brush them daily but give them a bath once a month. Both are extremely friendly with other people and dogs, so much so that we regularly feed meals to over 30 strays they've made friends with," said Priyanka.
She pointed out that their howling is minimal, that is when they want to be chatty and need belly rubs.
Monthly expenses of a Husky starts from Rs 15,000. This has led to these breeds being cruelly abandoned on roads in the city. Over the last two months, there have been posts on social media about a young female Husky tied to a cart and left in the relentless heat, another one dumped in the garbage, some male huskies have been put up for adoption as their parents have shifted abroad or to another city.
Chinar Tekchandani, a veterinarian from Saahas Foundation, said, "We have a husky at the NGO that was abandoned on the highway, it breaks my heart to say that such instances are not uncommon. Apart from financial constraints, many people also find it difficult to calm them down when they howl, especially at night. They are more susceptible to heat stroke and skin infection due to their thick coats. However, a popular mistake pet parents make is to trim their fur and give them a zero-cut during the summer thinking it will help them cool down.
Instead, this gives them sunburns. The fur of any dog helps in temperature regulation, be it keeping cool or keeping warm. Huskies don't grow their fur back as fast as other breeds. Even when we do sonographies or surgical procedures, we trim the fur instead of shaving it off completely for huskies because it takes a very long time for it to grow back."
