Adoption Questionnaire

Adoption Questionnaire

A set of honest questions to help you and your family decide whether you are ready to give one of our huskies a forever home.

If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs, please take the time to read through the following questions. They help us get a better idea about you, and help you picture what life would be like for you and your new dog at home. Our dogs' health and well-being is our number one priority, and we want that to continue in their new life. We are not trying to dig into your personal life, but to flag things people often overlook when getting a new dog, especially a husky.

  • An honest self-assessment for prospective adopters, not a vetting interrogation
  • Huskies usually cannot be walked off-lead and need a secure outdoor space
  • All dogs are fully vaccinated; boosters needed every few years and most are not spayed/neutered
  • Many dogs come from low-socialisation backgrounds and bond with just two or three people
  • Adoption is a long-term commitment - dogs often live to 15 years

Before you decide

Battersea Dog's Home in the UK has a great factsheet to help you and your family think through adopting a new dog. As Battersea caution, giving a home to a rescue animal is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, but it is important you feel ready for, and understand, the commitment of taking on another life that will be totally dependent on you.

If you are hoping to adopt one of our dogs, please download a word copy of these questions as a questionnaire, complete it and return it to us.

Questions to challenge yourself with

What are your reasons for wanting a dog? Do you own a dog now, or have you before? Why this particular dog, and do you understand their history and how it could affect their behaviour? Who are you adopting for, and are all family members in agreement?

Huskies don't always look and act the way films portray them, so we recommend researching the breed to understand what to expect. Many of our dogs came from other farms with little socialisation, so they may never be completely comfortable with strangers and tend to bond with just two or three people. Do you have the patience to spend time bonding with your dog?

Practical considerations

Where will your dog spend most of its time, and where will it sleep? Do you have a secure garden or outside space? Huskies are very strong, intelligent dogs, so they need a secure area if let outside unsupervised, and most cannot walk off the lead. How many walks a day will your dog get, and how much time will you spend together?

Are you financially able to care for your dog? All our dogs are fully vaccinated, but boosters are required every few years. We don't spay or neuter all of our dogs, so yours likely isn't. Are you willing to deal with any medical issues that arise, and do you have anybody to care for your dog if you become ill or need to travel?

A long-term commitment

Are you ready for a long-term commitment? Dogs can live many years, often to 15. We have older or retired dogs who need a good home for their remaining years (which could still be 5 or 6!), as well as younger dogs who can't run in teams due to size or health and have most of their lives ahead of them. Please consider this when you decide.

If, having thought through all of the above, you are still interested - GREAT! We can't wait to hear from you. And for those who do give a husky a final comfortable home, petfinder in the US has great tips for your first 30 days together to ease the transition for both of you.