Adopted: Mishka

Hi! My name is Mishka, and I am beautiful, very sweet, affectionate and loyal!
Quick Facts:

• Breed: Siberian Husky
• Gender: Female, spayed
• Age: 2 years old
• Size: 55 lbs
• Good with…
• Dogs? Yes!
• Cats? No
• Kids? 12+ years

 

Background:

Since puppyhood, I was raised by my Dad, along with a big sister Husky who is 1 year older than me.. We lived in a cool outdoor kennel, and would get walks and very loving attention from our dad. He loves us both very much but he recently got married and moved to a new location, and he is not allowed to have dogs on the new property. So, we’re all very sad, but I need to find a new home, as does my sister Skye.

Personality:

I am quite affectionate for a Husky. Once I get to know you, I run up to you and rub my body against your legs to be petted, all the while smiling my huge, overjoyed smile that you are here and we can spend time together! I also try very earnestly to give kisses, but don’t *quite* understand the concept…I sort of smoosh my nose into your face rather than licking you–it’s more of an Eskimo kiss perhaps? My favorite place in the world to be is wherever you are. I would literally sit on your feet if you let me! Sometimes when the rescue lady would be cooking in the kitchen, I would come up to her and poke her in the butt with my nose, with this big smile on my face, as if to say, “Hello! What are you doing? Do you remember that I’m still here? Want to do something?”

I am a happy and good-natured girl, and am extremely intelligent and curious. I am also a sensitive girl, who gets anxious and a bit overwhelmed by facing lots of new things at once, so will need your kind patience and help as I get my bearings and regain a sense of comfort, safety, and security in any new home. Soft tones and gentle guidance are what I respond well to–anything punitive or scolding just upsets and confuses me and won’t work at all to help me learn anything or feel safe.

The rescue woman who took care of me after I was spayed last week says I have the wonder of a puppy but the self-control and manners of an adult. By this she means that I am interested in and curious about everything (much like a young puppy), but also very responsive to gentle guidance (much like a well-mannered adult)! For example, I found a sock once, and I was like, “Ooh, what’s this??” and picked it up, thinking it was a toy. But the rescue lady saw me, laughed, and said “ah-ah” and I dropped it and got lots of pets for being such a good girl! (And believe me, I’d rather have pets than a sock!) Part of my strong curiosity about everything is probably due to the fact that I always lived outside, so everything about being indoors in a home is new and interesting and wildly fascinating!

I love outdoor exercise! I love going for brisk walks, and (no surprise here) can pull quite hard on leash (that’s why we’re sled dogs!), so need a strong human walking partner. I would love to be your jogging partner, and would love to accompany you on hikes! We huskies always need to be on leash, because we run fast and don’t look back, and I certainly would not want to get lost from my family, ever.

I “talk” like all Huskies do. I don’t bark very much at all, but I “chatter, making lots of “woo-woo” and “aaar-aaar” noises, as well as some half-whining/half-singing vocalizations. It’s very hilarious and endearing and actually communicates a fair amount about what I am thinking and feeling!

I am smart! My smarts are a great thing…usually! I did figure out how to work the gate latch in my former fenced enclosure, and would let myself (and my sister Skye) out to so we could have interesting adventures! That is… until my dad moved the handle higher up on the enclosure’s door, so I couldn’t reach it anymore. I guess Huskies aren’t the only ones who have smarts!
I love treats! Especially raw marrow bones that I can chew and chew and chew. I love food in general and will eat as much as I can…and then steal my sister’s food too, so I need to be fed separately from your dog (probably why I am a bit chubby)!

I would love someone who would teach me things using positive training. As an outdoor dog, I didn’t really need to learn much training like sit and wait and stay and such, but my mind is so lively and I have a strong urge to learn and understand, and would probably blossom immensely with some fun, positive training. I would also love to be taught tricks we think, and I also seem to love games. I thought that when the rescue woman was sweeping the floor, it was some awesome floor hockey kind of game!

Cohabitation:

I love company and I love people. Once I get to know you, I am incredibly affectionate and loyal and loving. More than the stereotypical husky, who is often a quite independent sort of dog. Me…I get a bit sad and anxious when I am left by myself! I would not be happy as an only dog in a home, and am hoping that I will get adopted into a home with another really nice dog for me to be pals with.

As for other dogs, I like them very much, but do get anxious when they are dogs unknown to me and they get all up in my business. The lovely neutered male dog whom I stayed with for a week after I was spayed (in the rescue woman’s house), was constantly trying to kiss me and be within 1 inch of me at all times, and honestly, it really stressed me out! The rescue lady really tried hard to make sure I wasn’t being so stressed, but even when she asked her dog to leave me alone he just wouldn’t stop! I guess I’m just too irresistible, but I had so much going on at that time, and it was just too much. Over time I would have gotten more comfortable (I did start to try to play with him a few times in the backyard, running after him and I would have loved to do that more!), so we think I would enjoy a calm dog who had a better sense of personal boundaries (or was a better listener!).

When I was in my former home, my sister dog and I would play and play and play and wrestle and chase and have all manner of fun together. I would love to have this with another dog again!
I am not ok with cats, so should not live with any. I would be fine with older kids, but not little ones, as I might accidentally knock them over in my exuberance.

Medical:

I am super healthy, recently spayed, in terrific shape! I could lose a few pounds, and look forward to doing so via lots of great walks and jogs with you!

Summary:

My ideal adopter is someone who has a sweet, calm energy and will enjoy my bountiful spirit, mental brightness, and physical agility.
If you are interested in adopting Mishka, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca , Syracuse, Binghamton, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.