Author: Lexi

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Harry Potter

The name’s Potter. Harry Potter.

 

Biking, canicross, snowboarding – the typical likes of your average husky, at least, in the case of Harry Potter. And before you say it, no, we are not getting a dog confused with the wizard with the peculiar scar – we are talking about Harry Potter, the sport obsessed four-year-old Siberian Husky.

Huskies are known for their love of the cold weather, so snow is the ultimate climate for pups like Harry Potter. It’s this love of snow embedded in their nature that has brought about this pups particular love for winter sports. Although, he doesn’t mind the summer sun either! 

Like any other husky, Harry Potter is extremely social and affectionate, particularly towards people. Maybe it’s their shared love of sport that bonds them together, or maybe it’s the love and hugs he receives that he cannot get from dogs – knowing Harry Potter, it’s a bit of both! He is smart. He is very talkative and has an opinion about anything and everything, yet he’s quiet and gentle with children. All of the sports he does on top of being the enthusiastic dog he already is, Harry Potter always finds time to rest. When he visits his villa in the summer his owners often find him sunbathing outside.

Don’t be fooled though – this husky has his fears. After spending his life consumed in the snow and mountains, Harry Potter visited the beach for the first time in the summer, where although he loved the sun and sand, the sea was another story. Harry Potter was more than happy doing his thing, running around off leash, knocking over sand castles, covering his owners in sand, but as soon as his owner stepped foot into the water, his feelings changed. Harry Potter did not like this idea. His owner tried to encourage him into the water to play but he refused to listen. He barked and barked, getting louder as his owner ventured deeper into the ocean.

Dogs are like people – they have their likes and dislikes, their fears and their havens, and it’s clear that this husky’s haven is most definitely the snowy mountains. He loves his time spent in the snow, especially in the winter when it’s extra cold. Running, jumping, rolling around in the snow, this pup needs no hat or scarf! Harry Potter the Siberian was born to be a snow dog. Typical husky.

See more of this Sporty Siberian on his Instagram @harrypotterthehusky

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Opposites Attract: Benji and Bleu

Siblings are like marmite; You either love your siblings or you hate them. You’re either mirror images of one another or complete polar opposites. Can you guess which one it true for Benji and Bleu?

[Bleu front and center]

Bleu has alway been an old soul. He goes to bed at 9 o’clock each night and snores until his heart’s content. When Bleu is asleep, he is ASLEEP. He lives solely on his terms, with the power to make any dog or human adhere to his commands. If Bleu wants his belly scratched, he will get his belly scratched. If Bleu wants food, he will get food. It doesn’t matter where he is or who he is with, Bleu is top dog. Don’t be fooled, he’s always more than happy to share the love and affection of his human owners with his siblings (he’s not a monster, after all!). To be honest, Bleu doesn’t particularly care for cuddles that much, but when jealousy strikes, he doesn’t hesitate to steal the attention for his own.

If you hadn’t gathered already, Bleu is extremely selective – particularly when it comes to his puppy pals. He loves to do his own thing at the dog park, but when he is feeling adventurous and sociable, Bleu has a very demanding list of requirements that all potential pack members must meet before even considering to step foot near him – unless you’re a doodle, Bleu loves doodles. In fact, when he would visit the park as a puppy, Bleu would only ever play with doodles or other huskies – they’re one of the few things he is decisive on each and every time.

Another thing which Bleu is set on are humans. Don’t get us wrong, if he can get attention, he’ll take it. He loves to play and receive compliments (but of course, his ego is stable). Humans are second to none in Bleu’s world; after all, a pooch needs some consistency in his life.

Bleu’s brother Benji loves people too, but unlike Bleu, it’s doodles that take the crown over people. Benji is like a kid in a candy store. He is always at 100 as it is, but when he’s out and about and he spots a doodle, he easily hits 1000. Unlike Bleu though, Benji is a lot more inclusive and will always welcome dogs of any breed to play. Although, if you were a little dog you may be in for a shock, as Benji’s childlike energy has often been found to startle the poor things! Benji’s favorite pastimes include participating in the neighborhood watch, digging up the yard, and devouring pupcupas from Starbucks. He even has his picture on the Starbucks ‘Hall Of Fame’. He is very proud of it. 

Being the complete opposite of Bleu, Benji clearly uses up a lot of energy throughout his day, which of course needs to be restored if he is going to use it all up again tomorrow. So, like the self care king he is, Benji always makes time to lay on the sofa and rest, looking out of the window and watching the world go by.

Each day is full of adventure for Benji and Bleu, but the moment these brothers wind down and rest is the best part – at least, it is for their owners! Don’t worry though, as although these two are very different at a glance, one thing they have in common is certain – they will both be up and causing mischief again tomorrow!

Follow Benji and Bleu's Husky adventures on their Instagram @bleuandbenji

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Mallow, Hannah and Foster Friends

Fostering a dog can be an adventure – especially if you’ve never owned one before. But sometimes the good in a person overpowers the fear of the unknown, which (not to toot my own horn) I guess is what happened to me – after all, I can’t think of any other reasonable explanation for what I’m about to tell you.

Mallow was my first foster ever. He came about after I saw a post by a rescue looking for short term fosterers to help rescue dogs out of kill shelters in my local area, Southern California. They were only looking for people to foster for six days, which I thought I could do with no problem. However I instantly fell in love with Mallow, and ended up adopting him as my own before the six days were even over!

I didn’t know much about his background before he was rescued. All I know is that Mallow was listed as a stray at a rural shelter in the desert, but was soon returned due to apparent “behavioral issues”, which I thought to be slightly ridiculous, especially after the wonderful behavior he displayed in his time staying with me. Even if Mallow were to possess some “behavioral issues”, that far from bothered me. After all, it’s rare that any rescue dog is going to be flawless straight away. 

So, after being rescued and welcomed into my home officially, I knew that Mallow would need time to decompress, develop a new routine, and be trained (after all, he didn’t even know how to walk on a leash!). This was soon fixed though, and the once excitable Mallow soon transformed into a calm and confident pup – and it’s his calm and confident energy that helped me to bring other rescue dogs into my home.

In my local area, as in many other parts of the U.S., there is a shelter crisis. With people returning to normal life, the dogs they brought into their homes during the pandemic were soon being dumped into shelters, purely because owners were unable to think ahead. Shelters are getting more overwhelmed each day, and each day more and more healthy and adoptable dogs are being put down purely because there is no room for them anymore. And it’s no different for huskies; many people get huskies without having properly researched the breed, leading to many being abandoned and losing their lives one way or another. 

Hannah will be my second foster fail. I have been fostering her since July of 2021, but will be inviting her to stay with me and Mallow on a permanent basis very soon!

Hannah was found in a hoarding backyard along with her puppies. They were neglected, unsocialized and scared of everything. So, along with Hannah, I helped to foster her two daughters, who have since found amazing homes of their own – but it doesn’t stop there.

Valerie is roughly six years old and is guessed to be a husky-pitbull mix. Despite having a difficult start to life including being hit by a car, shot by a BB gun, and being on the euthanasia list in an overcrowded shelter, you wouldn’t have guessed it to look at her today. Thanks to Hollywood Huskies Rescue, Valerie has managed to put her past behind her. She now loves food, snuggles and napping on a warm soft bed. She is crate trained, house trained and walks greatly on a leash. Despite everything she has been through Valerie is extremely gentle, loving and friendly to every dog and human she meets.

However, when a dog is rescued, their problems do not disappear overnight – Valerie’s medical bills are extensive and the wonderful rescue that saved her needs help to pay them, as do many others.

Ever since I adopted Mallow, the daily crisis’ rescues such as Hollywood Huskies Rescue face always play on my mind. I, like many like minded dog lovers, now volunteer at shelters, saving as many dogs as I can from death row. In this process, I have fostered around 35 dogs, many being husky or husky mixes – but this is not enough. I hope that other dog lovers can open their hearts and their homes to these beautiful animals, and take the next step into saving a dog’s life.

Follow along with Mallow and the amazing work he is doing to save lives on his Instagram, @mallowhusky. If you feel inclined to do so, Mallow's Rescue would be forever grateful for any amount you are willing to donate! See their information below.

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Dino’s Epilepsy Story

March 2019 was just like any other day. I was getting ready for work, when I was suddenly startled. A loud unfamiliar noise had emerged from the other room. My instincts told me something was wrong. I instantly ran through to find Dino rolling around on the ground, flailing and foaming at the mouth; he was completely incoherent.

Completely unaware of what was happening to him, my heart stopped as I tried to decide what to do. His convulsions lasted for thirty seconds or so, but felt like a lifetime. My first thought was that maybe he had come into contact with something poisonous. I’d never felt so helpless and terrified before. That was the first time Dino had a seizure.

Within the following weeks, his seizures continued and became more frequent, which ultimately led to Dino being diagnosed with epilepsy just before his second birthday. At the beginning of his diagnosis, like any owner would, it was hard not to break down with every seizure he suffered – and it wasn’t even the seizure that broke me, but the look he gave me after they were over before coming to comfort me with kisses, even though it was he who was the one who was suffering. Of course, I comfort him back, along with his sisters who too are always right there to make sure he is okay. 

[Dino and his sister, Aspen]

It’s now been three years since Dino was diagnosed with epilepsy, each of those years bringing a new mountain of emotions with them. The hardest part for all of us has been having to come to terms with the fact that not only is there no cure, but no one knows what triggers his seizures in the first place. The lack of explanation and fear of the unknown makes me constantly question his triggers; Are there any? If so, what are they? I want to help him to avoid them at all costs, but it breaks my heart to know that I can’t.

Over the years, adjustments of medications have helped to spread his seizures out, and as of January 8th, Dino has been seizure free! I know that Dino cannot escape his illness, but the way he handles each hurdle he comes across, and the support he has around him, makes me feel assured that he will be okay. I’m glad that he is still our charming, sweet-hearted Dino.

Show Dino your support by following him on Instagram @detroithuskies

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Aspen: The Siberian Walk of Shame

We have two dogs, Aspen and Dino. They are brother and sister – and boy can you tell! Both are beautiful husky pooches, with bright eyes and mischievous minds. They love to go on adventures, and we love to join them. However, we haven’t been able to go on as much as we’d like after Dino was diagnosed with epilepsy. He suffers many seizures which mean that he needs constant caring eyes on him, which ultimately has led to our lack of freedom when it comes to going out on adventures together. (Read his story here).

When his seizures began to settle down, we made the decision to purchase a camper. Best. Decision. Ever. The camper has meant that we can now all go on trips together, without the worry of Dino suffering a seizure alone. Having the camper allows us to easily travel just about anywhere with Dino and Aspen. We feel confident doing so, as not only have they taken on training classes, but have continued training at home alongside being well socialized, preventing any separation anxiety and moulding them into two happy and confident dogs.

[Aspen and her brother Dino]

Don’t be fooled though, this story is not about Dino – it’s actually about his sister Aspen!

Aspen is the definition of ‘strong independent woman’. She’s unapologetically herself, which, a lot of the time is great, however there is one aspect of this mindset that is more on the embarrassing side…

When Aspen has to go, she has to go. That’s right, Aspen’s lack of shame has lead to many incidents – all stemming from the fact that she isn’t ashamed to loosen her bowels. No matter where she may be, the poop bags are always on hand – and it’s the same when we’re going on adventures in the camper!

One of our favorite trips was the time we visited an outdoor shopping centre in Traverse City, Michigan. The dogs received lots of pets, treats and compliments – I blame myself for not reading the situation. As always, the flurry of fuss and attention got Aspen very excited, and she just couldn’t hide it. That’s right, Aspen couldn’t help but let one loose and poop right in the middle of the shopping centre. Not only was it in the middle of the centre, but on what looked like a ‘Walk of Fame’ handprint and signature memorial.

If this were to have happened a couple of years ago, we would have died of embarrassment, but over the years we’ve learnt to just laugh it off – after all, what else can we do? The timing and placement was perfect – perfect enough for a picture of it to go straight on the dog’s Instagram page. Aspen’s followers are used to her antics by now, and as always were finding this one hilarious, that was, until we received one comment that stood out from the rest. What was this comment? I hear you ask. Well, this comment was short and sweet, simply informing us that the memorial which Aspen chose to do her business on was in fact that of none other than Melissa Gilbert, of The Little House on the Prairie! It’s safe to say that we were mortified; but hey, if a girls gotta go, a girls gotta go!

Follow Apsen and more of her hilarious antics on her Instagram page, @detroithuskies

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Dexter: Mischief, Mayhem, Madness

We all know that one person who just can’t help but get into mischief – it’s in their blood! Well, the same goes for dogs. Some dogs stick to being on the sensible side, some get into mischief here and there – but they know their boundaries, whilst some dogs just love to cause havoc, all day every day. Well, it’s safe to say that this pooch loves to cause havoc, all day every day; No dog does mischief quite like Dexter. From sneaking up on traffic wardens and having a cheeky sniff (literally), to breaking into a building site and hopping onto the back of the trucks, Dexter knows mischief like the back of his paw. And sure, these antics are all well and good, but Dexter’s most risky move of all doesn’t come close!

One day, on a walk with his owner, Dexter was feeling adventurous and so decided to have an explore of his surroundings. ‘What’s wrong with that?’ I hear you ask. Well, nothing, as long as he doesn’t sneak through the fence into the nearby cemetery.

 

Unfortunately for Dexter and his owner, during this particular exploration, if you hadn’t guessed already, he had managed to sneak through the fence into the nearby cemetery. 

 

Dexter’s owner shouted and screamed as the mischievous mutt danced between the gravestones like a spirit dog, running and jumping; he was having the time of his life! Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his owner, who eventually had to climb over the locked gate, screaming for Dexter to come back.

‘It could be worse.’ I hear you say, ‘At least there wasn’t a service on.’ Well, my friend, that’s where you’re wrong. It couldn’t be worse, because there was a service on, and everyone attending was witnessing Dexter’s antics, by which point the churchwarden had also noticed. Mischievous? Yes. Embarrassing? Definitely. Dexter does it all.

So, after what seemed like an eternity, Dexter was finally reunited with his owner, who were both now faced with an angry churchwarden running towards them in the middle of a cemetery, whilst a group of mourners watched in awe. I think it’s safe to say that Dexter won’t be welcome to any services any time soon.

[Dexter laughing]

See more of Dexter and his mischievous adventures on his Instagram @thathuskydexter

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Pomsky Alerts Owners of Stroke

It was mid-March 2016 when Cwtch began to act strange; unlike ever before, she would never want me to leave the house without Tom, and when I did, it wasn’t without her going crazy trying to stop me. She would constantly run between myself, the door and Tom, barking – it was as if she was begging me not to go! But it wasn’t just when I left the house, Cwtch also hated it when Tom said that he was tired and tried to have a rest, or go to sleep. Every time Tom tried to lie down for a rest, Cwtch would not allow it. She would do anything to stop Tom from resting; she would jump up onto him, sit behind his head, lick his head and even pull at his hair, every time without fail.

[Cwtch attempting to stop her owner, Tom, from resting]

By this point, Cwtch had done a full 180 – she had become a completely different puppy, and we had no clue why! She was insistent on me not leaving Tom, and insistent on Tom getting no rest – little did we know why.

It was only until the following week that everything started to fall into place. We were out taking photos with Cwtch at the lake by our apartment, and apart from Cwtch’s usual odd behavior, everything was fine – that was, until we returned back to our apartment. However this time, it wasn’t Cwtch who was the problem, it was Tom.

Soon after we had returned home, I ended up having to rush Tom to the hospital after he had developed a severe headache, which led to him crumpling to the floor, hardly able to move.

It was that day that we found out that Tom was having a stroke – everything made sense from that point on. Cwtch knew something was wrong with Tom all along, and she was trying so hard to warn us.

[Cwtch with her owner, Tom, moments before he was rushed to hospital]

Cwtch laid by Tom’s head every night until he was healed through craniotomy; she knew that he was well again, and just like that, she changed back to the pup she was before.

[Cwtch laying with her owner, Tom, during his recovery]

This experience has made us realise just how clever – not just Cwtch, but – all dogs are. They know when we are upset, they know when we are unwell, they know when we are unsafe, and they do everything they can to help us when we are. It is up to us to listen to our dogs, and to appreciate these truly remarkable skills that they possess.

 

Tom credits Cwtch to his recovery; she kept him positive, she kept him playing, she made sure that he got fresh air each day through walking her. She never left his side, leading to his motivation to recover being higher than it ever could have been. 

 

Cwtch has changed our lives, and in the words of Tom, “I didn’t realise you could love a dog this much!”.

Visit www.preciouspomskies.com for information on available Pomsky puppies!

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Juno the Agility Star

We all know that a dog is a man’s best friend, and there’s no doubt as to why; they’re loyal, loving, and… can perform miracles? Well, that’s certainly the case for one pup. Don’t believe us? Just wait and see.

At five-years-old, Jessie was rescued from the streets by a local shelter after being found wandering around a university campus with no collar or chip. And although being taken to a safe refuge, where she lived for eight months, Jessie’s safety was not guaranteed, as she found herself fighting threats of euthanasia.

During her time at the shelter, Jessie had become mysteriously ill, and with no luck at finding a loving owner to take her home, the shelter had no other option but to euthanize her, which was due any day – the shelter had lost hope, and so had she. That was, until a miracle struck.

[Juno’s rescue shelters advertisement for an owner for Juno]

After coming across the shelter’s final call for help to save Jessie, one family didn’t hesitate when it came to taking on this husky pup. Jessie was adopted by her family just days before it was too late, dodging her upsetting fate, meeting her forever family, and quickly becoming Juno.

Juno’s new name is a 10/10, as not only does it sound fabulous, it also allows the pup to show off her amazing abilities to anyone she meets. Juno means “goddess of women, protection and fertility” in Roman mythology, which her owners decided to name her after their struggles with pregnancy. Juno’s family say that she is very rare and special, and that she has made them stronger both as people and as a family – which proves that not only is Juno a miracle dog within her own life, but in the lives of those around her, too.’

[Juno with her new owner]

So, whilst it’s clear that Juno loves a good miracle, it’s important to point out that she also loves to prove people wrong, especially in her new found talent as an agility dog.

Being both a rescue dog and a husky, Juno was rejected from multiple schools at the beginning of her agility journey. Alongside this, when people found out that a husky was due to compete in agility, many laughed, and would often underestimate her abilities. However, like she does, Juno soon proved everyone wrong, as at her very first agility competition, she placed third – You tell ‘em, Juno!

Juno winning third place at her first agility competition

Since her win, Juno has continued living her best life and smashing her agility game after seventeen months. So, not only is she continuing to prove those husky haters wrong, but she also continues to share her miracle gift with those around her; Junos family have since opened their own doggo bakery and boutique, working with senior citizens to create bandanas, of which a portion of the proceeds they make go straight to Junos shelter, giving other pups the second chance that they deserve, just like Juno. And who knows, they could just grow up to be the next generation of miracle pups!

See more of Juno on her Instagram @unimpressedhusky

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Hiking With Atlas: The First Time

Have you ever had your dog make a massive fool of you in public before? If you haven’t, lucky you. If you have, I feel your pain. 

 

Last October we went hiking at our favorite spot in the area. Everything was the same as it always is, that’s why it’s our favorite – it never changes! Except for one thing: Atlas. Atlas is our youngest pup and was only three months old when we set out for our first hike with him in October, so there was no way he’d make it so far by himself. However, we wanted to include him in the experience which we love so much, which is why I decided to buy him a dog carrier backpack. I know, I know – ‘an owner that treats their dog like a child; what has the world come to?!’, and it appears Atlas thought the same thing, because he absolutely hated it.

[Atlas and Loki]

As soon as we unpacked his shiny new carrier it was clear that it wasn’t love at first sight for Atlas. So, I let him walk with our older dogs, Khali and Loki, for the beginning of the hike – to allow him to get used to the idea until it was time to go up the bluff; I stuffed Atlas into his carrier and off we went, let the real fun begin! – or so we thought. The further we walked, the more Atlas began to whine and squirm. He wanted to walk with Khali and Loki, but being the tiny pup that he was, we just knew that he wouldn’t manage it.

[Atlas being carried by his owner in his dog carrier backpack, with older dogs Khali and Loki walking alongside]

So, after what seemed like an eternity of yapping and whining down my ear as I tried to enjoy my peaceful hike, we eventually reached the top, where I let Atlas out of his carrier to stretch his legs – I don’t know who was more relieved, him or me! We walked for about twenty minutes until we reached the descent, by which time Atlas was exhausted and it was time to put him back in his carrier (which turned out to be easier said than done). 

 

We knew that Atlas wanted to continue the hike on solid ground, but we just couldn’t let him. He yapped and whined to try to convince me, but we knew what was best for his little legs, and so I picked him up to put him back into the carrier. Simple, right? WRONG. Atlas, being the drama queen that he is, decided to go completely limp as I went to pick him up and put him back into his carrier. It was a Saturday afternoon and the sun was out, so naturally, the trail was packed with hikers – hikers who were already staring at us for the yapping and screaming performance which Atlas decided to put on earlier, but now this?! Thanks a lot, buddy. With a struggle and the added pressure of our newfound audience, I managed to scoop one side of Atlas into the carrier, before plopping him over like a ragdoll and finally getting him secured. We continued our descent. Thank goodness that’s over…

[Atlas sleeping]
[Atlas being carried by his owner in his dog carrier backpack]

Never mind.

Atlas sprung back into action and was barking louder than ever before. As his yapping and whining intensified, so did the stares of passing hikers – let’s hope they weren’t expecting a peaceful hike as we were!

[Atlas, Khali and Loki]

Fed up by this point, we began speed walking towards camp, which we eventually reached after enduring hours of agony from Atlas. As soon as we made it back, I took Atlas out of his carrier before he cuddled up on me and fell fast asleep. I guess there was a light at the end of the tunnel after all – as after his constant yapping and whining, Atlas was now knocked out for the remainder of the day. Peace and quiet at last!

See more of Atlas and his puppy adventures on his Instagram @huskiesinthepines

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Husky Hates Holidays

Christmas – it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Just take it from this guy.

Okay, I’ll admit, it’s not the most convincing of images, and it might have something to do with the fact that he hates Christmas. Yep, you heard that right – he hates Christmas. But it’s not just Christmas that he hates; Halloween, Valentine’s Day, even his birthday – they might as well not exist!

 

No one knows why he is so against the holiday spirit that we humans enjoy so much – It’s been a mystery ever since he was a pup. Maybe he doesn’t like the hustle and bustle, it could be that he gets embarrassed when his owners dress him up, or maybe (just maybe), he’s just a massive misery mutt!

 

Don’t get me wrong, the holidays may just not be his thing – after all, I’m a big believer in the saying ‘each to their own’. However, in the case of this holiday hating husky, I highly doubt it. ‘Why?’, you might ask. Because, my friend, that isn’t a face of boredom; that is a face of pure misery.

 

Halloween? Miserable.

Valentines Day? Miserable.

St. Patrick’s Day? Miserable. 

His birthday? Miserable.

In all seriousness, what’s happened to this pup for him not to like his own birthday? After all, it’s a day dedicated to him! Not to mention the amount of pampering he receives from his owners – it makes me think that this may all just be an act after all…

See more of this Holiday Hating Husky on his Instagram @huskyanuko