Husky Issues

[ashesbashes]

I got a siberian husky 4 months ago.. love him to death, but he won't listen to anyone but me. I recently left him with my mom while I flew to California for a job interview.... overnight he destoryed a leather recliner,(she thinks its inhumane to put him in a crate overnight) and completely forgot his house training, and now even though I'm back he's still misbehaving....any suggestions?


I"d post a picture but i have no clue how..

[shihtzulover850]

Start NILIF(nothing in life is free)!!! Now! That is the best thing too do. Google nilif and see what comes up. lots of pters have tried it. Now to post pictures. Someone somewhere posted a thread on that but I can't find it so someone else can help with that. What you need to do is get an account with photobucket or ImageStation. They probably have instructions on their site I don't know. I hope this helps! And Welcome to pet talk!!!!

[Glacier]

All very typical husky behavior! Obedience isn't their strong point. Many huskies are untrustworthy unsupervised.

How old is he? Huskies go through a teenager stage when they are between 7-18 months old. They forget everything they ever knew and act like hooligans!

I say this all the time, but I'm gonna say it again. A tired husky is a good husky! They need a lot of exercise every single day. If you don't provide enough, a husky will find a way to amuse themselves. They are extremely smart and need to be kept busy and tired. A bored husky is a destructive animal.

[dab_20]

I'd have to agree w/ Glacier on this one. Husky's are known to be a handful, but they are still wonderful dogs. As she said before A tired Husky is a good Husky! Couldn't agree more. Maybe having a friend do training with him with you. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, too.

[DrKym]

HI I am new to this site but have had all kinds of dogs for 30 yrs, mostly rotties danes and cockers (a new dobie mom though whooohooo) however my ex and I lived with a Husky(it was his when I married him) and Max was quite a handful! I have to agree with the nothing in life is free method! I wound up treating Max like one of my foster kids that had bad tude lol you want this I want that so here is how we get there (my way) and it was a repetitive thing he did finally become a sweet heart (ahem) but I never ever left him to his own devices longer than it took to shower lol. Have heart in the end when he grows up a bit mentally it is all worth it! they are amazing dogs and have their unique place (in everything all the time).Btw hello all and my pleasure to meet everyone.

[cyber-sibes]

Gotta love those huskies (if you're going to keep your sanity raising one!) I have found that a lonely husky is also a destructive husky. They are very pack-oriented, I think more so than the average pet. They love company, human or canine. You might want to consider a period of doggy dare care so he can work off some energy rough-housing with other dogs. I also found "fetch the ball" works well to tire my female out, although not all huskies will fetch.

[ashesbashes]

Thanks for the advice.... we go running a two miles together every day..maybe I shoudl step that up.. He's only 6 months old, and when its just me and him he's great, it's when he's at my moms he goes insane....

[shihtzulover850]

Thanks for the advice.... we go running a two miles together every day..maybe I shoudl step that up.. He's only 6 months old, and when its just me and him he's great, it's when he's at my moms he goes insane....

You should also assure your mom that keeping him in a crate is not cruel! unless he is locked up for hours and never played with.

[lv4dogs]

You have recieved some great husky advice so far.

I think a 2 mile run might be a little too much on his joints at that age. Breaking it up might help as well as slowing down the pace just a touch. A 1 mile jog perhaps twice a day???? Of course you probably should add in a couple sessions of fetch or the like in your yard each day too.
You don't want to do anything too strenious until he's 2 years of age.

Kong toys, buster cubes, etc.. are great toys, they keep them busy for a little while & it works their mind too.

Avoid rawhides for now, they only teach the dog to chew as the dog has to chew them a lot to make them tasty. The dog may think if he cheews something long enough like rawhide that it too may become tasty.
Also avoid any toys that resemble household objects, like rope toys resemble the fringe on throw rugs & blankets, old socks & shoes look like new ones, etc...

Good luck & welcome to PT!!!

[ashesbashes]

Thanks again for the advice... He already has a ton of toys....and he doesn't like to be in the fenced yard unless I"m right beside him at all times...even when my other dog is out there as well.. I've only ever been away from him 2 days since I got him, so I wouldn't think it is abandonment issues...I'm not sure he LOVED te doggy park I took him to today, so I'm going to put that into his daily rountine as I can...and pray he does okay next week when I have to fly back to Cali...

Here he is, his first night home

[anna_66]

Your boy is beautiful (got any more pictures)!

The only thing that I can think of besides what has been suggested already is getting him into some obedience training asap!

We didn't realize when we brought our little girl Roxey (husky) home what a handful they really were. But now she is 5 and one of the best behaved and well mannered dogs I've ever had.

Good luck!

[cyber-sibes]

Aw, he's such a handsome little guy! Reminds me of someone I know... Anna has a good suggestion about the obedience classes. Learning as much as you can about husky behavior will help. I also go on a husky board here: www.everythinghusky.com
There are links to all kinds of info on the northern breeds, and lots of great husky owners who will share their knowledge/experiences with you. That's great that there is a dogpark near you, it may take a few trips but I guarantee he'll grow very fond of his dogpark playtime!

[shihtzulover850]

i love the red eyes!! lol he looks scary! very cute though

[ashesbashes]

Thanks--- I can't ge a single picture of him w/o the eyes turning red, and I'm too lazy to take the time to edit itout!!! He was so small then...I'll have to post pics of him now..i