Trust Is A Disease

[brian brown]

I have to say, I'm constantly reading on Facebook about people who let their huskies offlead in woods etc.

I used to let my own girl off when she was younger, brought up with 2 collies, excellent recall, then her prey drive kicked in, not now!

For anyone contemplating it, against all breed advice, take a read

Edited to add, this is NOT about my dog, I found the article & just sharing

 

http://www.siberescue.com/Common/Leash/leashTRUST.html

 

"Trust is a disease:
There is a deadly disease stalking your dog, a hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend.
It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called trust.
You knew before you ever took your puppy home that it could not be trusted.
The breeder, who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed it into your head.
Puppies steal off counters, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off lead!
When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice of the breeder you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.
At home the house was "puppy-proofed". Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the door to the living room to keep at least part of the house puddle free.
All windows and doors had been properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "CLOSE THE DOOR!"
Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes .9 of a second after it was opened and that it really latched. "DON'T LET THE DOG OUT" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "NO!")
You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and a disaster will surely follow. Your fiends comment about whom you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.
And so the weeks and months pass, with your puppy becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you know it your gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.
Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?
At this point you are beginning to become infected, the disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind.
And then one of your friends suggests obedience. You shake your head and remind her that your dog might run away if allowed off lead, but you are reassured when she promises the events are held in a fenced area. And, wonder of wonders, he did not run away, but come every time you called him!
All winter long you go to weekly obedience classes. And, after a time you even let him run loose from the car to the house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And remember he comes every time he is called. You know he is the exception that proves the rule. (And sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out the front door' to go potty and then right back in.)
At this point the disease has taken hold, waiting only for the right time and place to rear its ugly head.
Years pass - it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much when he was a puppy.
He would never think of running out the door left open while you bring in the packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets into the garbage, but nobody is perfect!)
This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer.
He spies the neighbour dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping outdoors, jumping out windows or coming when called due to traffic.
Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running.
Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever - Your heart is as broken as his still beautiful body.
The disease is trust. The final outcome; hit by a car.
Every morning my dog Shah bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy.
He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car. Please do not risk your friend and heart.
Save the trust for things that do not matter
 

[Jay]

Everyone should read this. Very sad reality. If you can save just one dog

[Jase]

Oh wow, thanks for posting this.

[Elyse]

This is true. Sad, yet true. 

I hate it when people say their husky is the 'exception' to the rule. NO. JUST....NO. One day your furkid will get distracted by something, won't listen to you, and you'll lose them as a result. 

I've had to refrain from telling my friend off (the one I've been talking about who lost her husky in July) for letting it off leash, because I know she's still grieving. But my god...she KNEW the risks, yet she still let it off leash anyways! 

Edited September 29, 2014 by SolitaryHowl

[NOBELHOWLUC49]

Thank you for your story I will be making sure my family read this...  Just in case they ever feel it is ok to let Noah off the lead in an unsecure area...

So very sad... To be honest I hate seeing any dog off lead especially walking by roads...

[Andy]

Sublime, Eloquent, poignantly told.

Everyone with a Husky should read this.

 

However there are those who simply know better, until the worst happens to them.

It's unfortunate that a dog has to suffer for their arrogance

[Emma]

Blooming brilliant Brian. [emoji106]

I Should print it off and superglue it to the next person to tell me I just need to train them better.

[Andy]

Brian, With your permission

Once the thread has run it's course I would like to rename it to "So you want to let your Husky offlead. . . Please Read This first"

and pin it in the Training section.

 

 

[goingsolo]

The only time solo is off lead is when he escapes which has only happened twice. On walks he is attached, as is Charlie cuz he cant be trusted either.

[brian brown]

Thank you for your story I will be making sure my family read this...  Just in case they ever feel it is ok to let Noah off the lead in an unsecure area...

So very sad... To be honest I hate seeing any dog off lead especially walking by roads...

 

Not my story lol.

I used to let Mishka off when she was younger but not any more. My dogs are fine

This is a story I found on another forum, heartbreaking

[brian brown]

Brian, With your permission

Once the thread has run it's course I would like to rename it to "So you want to let your Husky offlead. . . Please Read This first"

and pin it in the Training section.

 

@Andy, I found it via another forum so go for it

Credit to TOTTSHR (Sorry had to edit link is not allowed)

Heartbreaking story really, that's why I posted it.

If it makes just one person think!

My dogs are fine, as I said, I used to let Mishka off when she was younger, not any more, her prey drive kicked in, that was the end of that lol

[Andy]

@Andy, I found it via another forum so go for it

Credit to TOTTSHR (Sorry had to edit link is not allowed)

Heartbreaking story really, that's why I posted it.

If it makes just one person think!

My dogs are fine, as I said, I used to let Mishka off when she was younger, not any more, her prey drive kicked in, that was the end of that lol

Thanks Brian

Will credit the original poster

Original link to the article in first post is fine

[brian brown]

Thanks Brian

Will credit the original poster

Original link to the article in first post is fine

 

Okie dokie Andy

[Jase]

Great idea to make this a sticky - well done and I am sure the author would be very happy that it might help make a difference 

[sarahjng]

I want to staple a copy to the forehead of all the people at the dog park who tell me I'm a bad owner for not letting my boy play off lead. ( it's not enclosed, and the park is right next to a very main rd)

[valkyries]

[Nikknoo]

I wish I could hand copies out to people who think I'm being over protective, or the people who say "my husky is 4 now and I always take them off the lead, they've gained my trust".

Mine onlycomes off the lead in a secure fenced park but otherwise unless there's 7 foot walls around I wouldn't dream of it, I've seen her loose control over a bag been blown by the wind!!

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[robke]

but there are still some peeps who will not listen cause they think their dog is the exeption to any rule...and it does not matter if a husky or not...

[Martian]

Brian, poignant words that mean so much.

 

Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom with us all.

[mydiamond]

My dad pressured me to train Diamond walk off-leash in his first months home. He never follows obediently like Lassie, but he'd always dart back home. Until one night he dashed right past, into the empty lot right next door, and through a hole on its fence. Took us almost an hour to find him and bring him back home. I felt like the stupidest, luckiest person in the world. No more off-leash walks since then. I don't care what anyone tells me. I'm sorry to hear Shah wasn't as lucky please pass on my deepest condolences x

[hobbit feet]

I shared with someone thinking of purchasing a husky about not allowing them off the lead, explained the reasoning for this. some owner then commented to say I'm stupid and know nothing... 3 months later same owner posted her dog had "run away on a walk" harsh lesson x

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[brian brown]

Idiot! (not you)

[hobbit feet]

I would never risk it, one time my husky flipped off her halti, off lunar ran after a sheep.. Me running behind, time I got up one end of the field she was at the other, I finally got closed jumped for her.. Landed on a sheep. Luckily the farmer was laughing so much he never used his gun. Needless to say I never used the halti head harness again.

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[SibeHush]

I disagree that trust is a disease. Misinformation and a generation of +p training fads have muddied the waters as to what our dogs are capable of achieving. Most of us have become facilitators to this sicking line of thought and those who are not facilitators are quickly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the lost and misled.

[JudithMarie]

The story brought tears to my eyes, very sad... 

I usually hear stories when someone lost their husky or how they escaped when they were off leash... Why, why would anyone walk a husky off leash, I don't get it. I almost never have Daisy off leash, only once in a while on a small football stadium which is all fenced and there's no way of her running away and only when she's with other dogs on that stadium. Otherwise, it is a big NO. 

I will share this story to every husky owner I know walks their dogs off leash.

Edited October 27, 2015 by JudithMarie