A husky would be a great fit for his outdoor activities, but the vast majority of huskies can not, ever be trusted off leash. I have some husky mixes that can be, but the purebreds vanish into the mist. One of the purebreds comes back eventually, but it's not really what I'd call reliable recall! It is a rare husky who returns on their own after an escape. It's usually a big hunt to find them and they are often a very long way from home. It took a month to find my Delta when he escaped and he was over 50km from home! (He's a husky cross). For most huskies, no amount of training will ever make them reliable off leash.

Husky breeders lie when they tell that the breed only sheds when they blow their coats twice a year. Huskies shed year round. Huge chunks of fur come out when they are blowing their coats, but they leave fur everywhere, all year.

What kind of yard does he have, particularly the fencing? One of my dogs, Mac, can clear a six foot fence from a standstill; several of them are great climbers. Muskwa thinks chainlink is a ladder. My fence is 7 feet high in most spots with a layer of fencing along the ground for about a foot and another layer buried about a foot underground. That stops the diggers. I use the same fencing that elk ranchers use to confine their herds!

That's one of the things I wasn't fully aware of--huskies dig alot! I have craters in my yard big enough for two or three dogs to nap in! I can't plant flowers or landscape in my yard. Even my greenhouse is outside of the fenced area!

Huskies are not known for their obedience skills. They are stubborn and can be very difficult to train. You have to make it worth their while or they'll completely ignore you. Huskies have selective hearing...they may not hear a command or their name no matter how many times you say it, but they can hear a cat or a treat bag from a mile away!

Don't confuse their stubborness with stupidity. Huskies are extremely smart. They actually problem solve and if you don't keep them tired and entertained, they will find their entertainment. Often that involves destroying things, digging, escaping, ect.

Does he have smaller animals? Huskies have a high prey drive. I do have cats, but I'm very careful about letting the dogs near them. When one of the cats did get outside last May, the dogs killed her immediately. They are not aggressive at all, they just saw a small furry thing and their instincts took over. I'd never let any of mine near a small dog and they never see my cats unless they are directly supervised.

Several of my dogs are featured on this page, showing their typical husky behavior!
http://www.gimpydogs.com/huskybreed.html
Another great page if you thinking of a husky:
http://www.shca.org/shcahp2b.htm

If he really wants an off-leash dog, I would not recommend a husky. A Lab might be a better bet for off-leash activities and for obedience.