Quote Originally Posted by husky_lover
Just wondering, does your husky get up on the kitchen counters? I can't seem to get thor broke of stealing the bread off the counter. It doesn't matter where I put it.

It's called counter surfing and it's a breed trait. In my house anything edible on the counters is stored in the "food safe", which before huskies was known as the Microwave! I also have a Sssssssssscat cannister on the counter at night. It's a canned of compressed air with a motion detector in it. Movement sends out a beep and a blast of harmless air. Supposed to keep cats off the counters, but works for counter surfing huskies.

Seperation anxiety can be difficult to deal with, can occur in any breed, but is not a typical husky trait. The breed standard calls for an aloof, independant nature! I have 24 dogs, one has seperation anxiety. He's a shelter dog and I attribute it to insecurity.

The hardest part is not reinforcing the behavior. In Anvik's case, if it's not between 11pm and 7am, I let him howl(the noise by-law here only applies during those hours!). My father in law and my neighbors both say he quits within 30 minutes after I leave for work and doesn't start again until I get home. I do let him screech for awhile before I go get him when I get home. He has to stop screaming before he gets any attention, even if it's just for a few seconds, he has to shut up! He's crated at night so he doesn't annoy the neighbors. I get up once a night with him. He pretends he needs to pee, but I think he's really making sure I'm still around.

Check out Patricia McConnell's booklet, "I'll be home soon"--short, easy to read, highly effective strategies for dealing with seperation anxiety.

I've never used St.John's Wort with an animal. (Note to women if you are taking it yourself, it does decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills). I have used Rescue Remedy in cats, dogs and myself with some success.