Please Help w general Aggression

[Siber]

Hi i have rescued a husky and he is a great dog most of the time, until evry so often he decides he desent like what you are telling him, he meets this with snarling growling or biting. He just about accepts me and my partner but stil has issues.

He desent like most other people or dogs.

I need advice as i want him to be with me most of the time

We run a nice village pub and it would be great to leave him downstairs eventually,

I am struggling as he hates bieng left alone but can be aggressive so i cant have him downstairs.

We have only had him off the old owners 4 days

Please help

Thank you

[SarahNukka&Shadow]

Hi Leigh and first off, welcome to the pack, secondly well done for rescuing this boy! God only knows what hes been through to make him like this bless him!

As for his problems.. I also have a rescue boy who will growl and snarl if he doesnt like what your making him do, I just ignor his snarling make him do what Im asking and then praise for him have done it even if I had to make him... he is learning slowly but surely... now if your boy bites you Im not sure if this would help you... when he has bitten is it a warning nip or is it a full on bite? Very tricky!

For the seperation anxiety have a read of this thread: http://www.husky-owners.com/forum/index.php?/topic/11844-separation-anxiety/ some good advice on there about how to help him over come this... SIberian wolf also has a fear aggressive boy who she is working with so maybe PM her to get some ideas for socialising your boy.

Personally I would consider a basket muzzel and the gradual socialiastion.. getting strangers to aproach him slowly down at his level and offer him treats on open palm and then quite praise for calm relaxed behaviour around strangers. Maybe start by just keeping him behind the bar, even crating him just downstairs so he gets used to the noise around the pub and can still see you and again praising calm behaviour!

Good luck please let us know how you get on with him! husky hugs!! xxxx

[madmally]

Have you thought about a trip to the vets to rule out any physical issue. Maybe worth looking at getting a professional behaviourist involved which the vet may be able to refer.

It may be exacerbated by a lot of factors but you just have to stick to your guns. We were fostering a very anxious fearful husky who would growl and snarl when approaching the crate but it was just about showing her that just because of this behaviour i was just going to stand my ground not pay attention and not give in.

It is always better to be safe but let us know how you get on. xx

[Tan J P]

first of all congrats on yor rescue,cant offer any useful advice i'm afraid but there will be plenty along who can.

as it is only very early days all i will say is stick with it and be firm with him but also let him know that he's loved and wanted

and he's got no reason to be fearful of you.

we privately adopted Marley last yr and for the 1st few days he was obviously unsure of us,use to circle me and growl but i stood my ground and

carried on doin whatever i was doin not showing him it was unnerving me slightly.

with-in that 1st wk,Marley became our 2nd skin and decided to let himself love us and we've never looked back.

he is stupidly cute:D ,loves cuddles and giving kisses.

good luck with your new addition!

[Arooroomom]

Huskies are by nature stubborn and want to do things their own way. Even after all this time mine get snarky sometimes when i'm asking them for something they don't exactly "feel" like doing. But, I make them do it anyway. These dogs need a firm but gentle hand and can't have owners who allow them to get away with anything/everything. How do you react when he does this? If you are cringing away and allowing him to carry on as he likes, it's only enforcing the growling snapping. Is there any particular behavior that he doesn't like doing? Or could it be anything?

I think it's a really good idea to put him behind the bar or in a crate to get him used to the sights/sounds/smells. You could periodically drop bits of treats through the top of the crate so he can start to associate everything with positive rewards. And this is also just the very beginning, he may still be getting accustomed to you and how things are run. Did his old owners provide any information? The key with these dogs is consistence

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

welcome to the pack well done on rescuing this boy - cant really offer any advice but at 4 days he is still settling in - give him time

[lokis_mom]

I'm sorry don't have much experience with that so can't really give advice besides give him some time--Welcome to the forum, I hope everything works out

[mrs_aggie]

Welcome to the site I have a rescue dog (shepherd mix) who was and still is extremey wary of men 90% of the time. It took her a while to stop growling when my hsband came home and even now 3 years later she barks like mad at any man who comes into the garden and the odd workman in the house I dont know if it would help with yours but I make Bella lay down either in another room or at my feet when workmen are here, although she can get up to go sniff, after about 5 or 10 minutes she'll generally let them give her a quick stroke at which point she gets loads of praise and fuss when she comes back.

I defiantely agree with the suggestion of using a muzzle while trying to socialise your dog, although Bella is more likely to run away than bite anyone we always muzzle her when she will be in a situation where she could be uncomfortable, ie pet passport control, meeting a new vet etc.