I need help please

[jkjemildner]

Hi everyone! I am new here  I am the owner of a 7 month old Husky named Moose.  When we got him he was taken early from his littermates and mother. We didn't know that that was wrong at the time   He was 6 weeks old when we got him.  I have 4 kids that range in age from 11 to age 3.  When Moose was younger he growled at my 3 year old when she was near his food. I was told to take his food away from him so I did.  He never growled at her again until a week ago.  Also last week my son went to get the dog out of trying to eat things in the kitchen sink and Moose bit him. He didn't draw blood but left a mark.  Moose nips quite a bit.  He also bit my husband last night when he went to put him in the kennel. He said come on Moose lets go to the kennel and Moose ran and hid then came out after my husband walked away.  Then My husband tried again and tried to lead him to the kennel and he got my husbands wrist. Again he didn't draw blood but left a mark.  We have said from the beginning we wanted to get Moose trained but we hadn't done it yet.  I talked to a dog trainer today and she told me first thing I need to do is get him neutered. She said she won't come and see me until he is neutered.  I also talked to a husky rescue today and she told me she doesn't even know if Moose can be turned around..she said maybe 60 % chance he can be trained. I am just devastated about this.  I don't know what to do. The other thing we are having a problem with is that we don't have a big area for him to run.  He has to stay tied up because he will run towards the road which our road is 50 MPH so we have to be careful  Our worry is that we aren't being fair to him to have the space he needs to do what he does best.  We are making him an appointment to get neutered next week and then I will contact the trainer but what are some things I can do now? Im scared for him to be alone with my 3 year old. I do want to explain that while he has "bitten" I just don't feel like its aggressive..but then I don't know what is considered aggressive? He is a happy dog and we love him but he jumps on people and doesn't listen. We want to have a good relationship with him and have a good family dog. PLEASE HELP ME HERE!! 

[Rachael_Astro]

Hi, if he is tied up a lot then a lot of this can be down to frustration. Can you not keep him in your house? How much do you walk him? Huskies are pack animals so need to be around people and/or other dogs. They also need a lot of exercise
With the food, that is food aggression. You need to teach him that people being around him when he is eating isn't a bad thing. Never take food away from a dog when they are eating. When he is eating have 1 person stand around him, and throw bits of food into his bowl. Also try hand feeding some of his food to him
What was your reason for not training him?
Huskies are prone to having selective hearing and they are very stubborn so are quite difficult to train, so by leaving it so late you are going to have a lot of work on your hands but I wouldn't say it's impossible. The biting could be an element of fear, which could stem from being taken from his mum to early among other things. You need to gain his trust, be gentle and patient


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[Jo]

I agree with Rachael, would also suggest looking for a new trainer, one who is also a behaviourist I dont understand why she wont see you before he's neutered????
When hes bitten was he dragged by his collar, this could be in self defence if he felt threatened?
Good luck and hope you get this sorted



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[robke]

must say I agree with the above...

why would the trainer want him neutered ??? if she is of the opinion that it will calm him down...walk away find a different trainer / behaviourist they do not all calm down and it will delay your training another few weeks while he is recovering...

food aggression I am of the opinion you have given the dog food and tell the humans to let him be... your kids will scream if you take their fav food away from them...you will be annoyed if the waiter takes your plate away half way thru your meal...

[chelseafan]

Huskies are a breed apart, they're not just dogs, they need alot of exercise, they need stimulating and human interaction, I'm only speaking about my experience with my two. If bored and left alone he will become frustrated and destructive. Have you put any boundaries in place with the children when he's eating and resting? Nipping is also quite common, they can do this if excited not just aggressively, as for the trainer suggesting neutering, walk away from that one. Training is ongoing with my two and it was constant when they were very young but it's paying off now. Patience and a lot of time is required to have the dog that you want, and you'll get much more back from your husky. I hope you sort things out for all of you.


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[Emma]

Agree with the above. Also I wouldn't advise letting your children stop him doing things he's not allowed. Partly because they're at risk and partly because if he's anything like mine he's less likely to listen. My youngest is 13 and he knows that if the dogs are up to no good then to come tell me and I'll sort it out. The other day my eldest (he's 20 next week, so an adult) tried to get something off Ice and ice layed on top of it and refused to give it up. I went over there and he let me have it, he knows very well who he can give the run around to and who he can't. They're smart dogs. Also if anyone's trying to lead them out by grabbing their collar or cornering them that's a bad idea. When feeling threatened like that dogs can have a fight or flight response. Take away the option of flight, you're left with the other option.

 

 

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[Rachael_Astro]

Further to the above, when you say they are tied up how do you tie them up? Huskies are amazing escape artists and will escape from most situations! Do they have access to shelter and water all the time?

Sorry if this sounds harsh but I don't agree with dogs being tied up. Dogs are members of the family and shouldn't just be left outside.

What have you done about the jumping up as you say he hasn't had any training?

And you say you are scared for him to be alone with your 3 year old. NO dog should ever be left alone with a child, no matter how calm or friendly they appear to be


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[Jay]

I agree with the others, and I would check with other trainers.  I think most dogs can be trained, so I would not give up hope

[jkjemildner]

To be perfectly honest we had no idea what we were taking on when we got our dog  But we love him and want to try. We took on this responsibility and want to help him if we can.  He gets put on a lead outside because he was going to the bathroom inside a lot..he likes it outside but he isn't out there all day. He has been good about not going in the house now as long as we watch him and we keep the rooms closed.  As far as getting him trained again..we are very busy..we just hadn't had the time.  We know now though that we should have gotten it sooner. Again thats why we are trying to do something now.  I have had a trainer and a husky rescue tell me he has to be neutered. I plan on calling another trainer today and talk to them and see what they say.  The problem is that to many of us are trying to be alpha and we know it has to be one of us.  We have just been bad dog owners to be honest and we don't want to be. We are trying to get help  

[Rachael_Astro]

To be perfectly honest we had no idea what we were taking on when we got our dog [emoji20] But we love him and want to try. We took on this responsibility and want to help him if we can.  He gets put on a lead outside because he was going to the bathroom inside a lot..he likes it outside but he isn't out there all day. He has been good about not going in the house now as long as we watch him and we keep the rooms closed.  As far as getting him trained again..we are very busy..we just hadn't had the time.  We know now though that we should have gotten it sooner. Again thats why we are trying to do something now.  I have had a trainer and a husky rescue tell me he has to be neutered. I plan on calling another trainer today and talk to them and see what they say.  The problem is that to many of us are trying to be alpha and we know it has to be one of us.  We have just been bad dog owners to be honest and we don't want to be. We are trying to get help [emoji20] 

The alpha theory is absolute rubbish to be honest, he just needs proper training which is going to take a lot of time and patience. You will need to make time!


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[BingBlaze n Skyla]

So long as your all on the same page with training the alpha rule is crap , sure they'll be one person the dog will listen to more then others but no need to be alpha , just firm and consistent and get a routine with him , dogs thrive on routine and direction

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[jkjemildner]

I have found a place that is close to me that does a 6 week course for basic obedience..She said he does NOT need to be neutered to start so I think we may go that route.  Just waiting to talk to my husband.  In your opinion do these classes work? Or should I try something else? I don't want to spend the money if they won't work

[Jo]

Make sure its a reward based training, its not a miracle cure or just about what goes on in the classes its about the 'homework' you put in between classes, its on going and hard work but so worth it. If you're
still unsure just have a long chat with the trainer running it, they should be happy to answer your concerns.



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[Al & Walker]

Huskies are very energetic creatures. A lot of training is required along with any dog, but the husky is more independent and a bit stubborn. When it comes to the food situation, sitting with your dog while they eat is a good idea, petting them and taking the food away here and there to test to see how they react. If they growl, scold them and do not return the food to them. Keeping this up will insure that they understand growling makes the food go away. 

Keeping your husky on a cable is a good idea because huskies do not have a tendency to stay with their owner unless very well trained to do so , BUT you must understand that the cable needs to be as long as it possibly can, and they only should be out when going potty. But he will need much more exercise than a backyard cabled up life.  huskies are endurance animals and need to be pushed as much as possible.

Kenneling can be rewarded with small bits of treats at first to better welcome the idea of the cage to the dog. Giving them a positive reward will increase his familiarity and hopefully make him more willing to go in on his own. 

My Husky is about to be a year old next month, and he is not nurtured. Yes, he did jump, and he was very hyper with company. Working on teaching them to sit before you pet them is key. They jump because they want to be closer to you or something that's in your hand, teach him to sit, then pet him.

 Things that help are distractions, bones and toys. If you are expecting company, then take the pup on a walk to wear him out a bit. 

 

Best Wishes! 

Al & Walker 

 

[Rachael_Astro]

I have found a place that is close to me that does a 6 week course for basic obedience..She said he does NOT need to be neutered to start so I think we may go that route.  Just waiting to talk to my husband.  In your opinion do these classes work? Or should I try something else? I don't want to spend the money if they won't work

In my opinion, classes like that are only good for socialising dogs with other dogs. Your dog needs so much more than basic obedience, you really need a dog behaviourist to come to your home. If someone can see what's happening in your home it's a lot easier to give tailored advice, rather than just generic training

And huskies are not like collies and spaniels, they are very difficult to train! They have a 'what's in it for me' attitude and they have selective hearing. So even basic obedience is a challenge!

How long do you walk him for per day?


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[chelseafan]

Have you thought about researching online to help you train him. I'd start at the beginning, teach him to sit and wait, reward with a treat and lots of praise.
I'd recommend a behaviourist rather than classes as they can work one to one with you and it's tailored for your dog.
I wouldn't take food away from my two, why? If a dog growls it's a warning, it's not a reason to scold, he's communicating.
With my two I have a routine, for walking, feeding, playing and training, husky's are intelligent, they can be stubborn and wilful, but consistent training with rewards works well, but you need time and lots of patience.


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[DanUK]

There is a lot of good replies hear but some are very direct and harsh. The op is asking for help and not judgemental replies so let's all help [emoji847]

The only thing I can add to the above is that a husky will take over your life and you need to be 100% sure you want to persist with the issues your facing. I think you should as its very rewarding. It's not wrong giving up a dog if you feel it could have a better chance elsewhere.

Good luck [emoji106]


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[Rachael_Astro]

There is a lot of good replies hear but some are very direct and harsh. The op is asking for help and not judgemental replies so let's all help [emoji847]

The only thing I can add to the above is that a husky will take over your life and you need to be 100% sure you want to persist with the issues your facing. I think you should as its very rewarding. It's not wrong giving up a dog if you feel it could have a better chance elsewhere.

Good luck [emoji106]


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The problem with giving up a dog with behavioural issues is that they will probably be passed from home to home, which will result in even more issues. When you give up a dog how can you know for sure they are going to a better home? And what if they end up in a rescue where they put dogs with behavioural issues to sleep, or if they bite someone and get taken to the vet to be put to sleep. They have taken on the dog and he is their responsibility


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[Emma]

Another thing I wanted to mention was you have a lot of different things to tackle. Don't overwhelm yourself and try to do them all at once, prioritise one or two and work on those first. The biting is the main priority. definitely involve a behaviourist rather than an obedience trainer. You need to establish what's triggering it and how to correctly respond to it. A lot of the time the training involves teaching the humans how to behave just as much as the dog, lol. Also to help learn the body language of your dog and how to watch your own too as dogs read your body language too.

Emergency measures until you can get hold of a behaviourist: feed away from the children, don't leave food laying around where he can get to. When your children are eating something keep him out of the room. If he needs stopping from doing something then an adult does it. Food aggression/resource guarding is not uncommon in pups and In a lot of cases can be worked on successfully. At 7 months old, I wouldn't write him off as a lost cause at all.

 

With toilet training, the best thing to do is to go out with them regularly and praise them like crazy as they're going to the toilet. It's time consuming yes, but with a pup that's par for the course. Sleep deprivation reminiscent of having a young child springs to mind, lol.

 

 

 

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[ARMANI & ALINAH]

I just pray you keep your puppy, never let him down and never give up on him. HE IS SO WORTH IT! Since you have 4 kids, now you have a 5th and treat him as you treat your children. The puppy needs LOTS of play time. Get some dog ropes, chew bones (not to be ingested), sturdy balls (not tennis balls), and a good harness & leash. If you see him starting to sniff the carpet/floor, he probably needs to go potty. I'd take him out every 30mins even if you don't think he has to go and say, "go potty." To get MOOSE to know his name, say his name all the time before you ask him to sit, potty etc. Please do not keep him on a metal stake in the ground outside; he will escape. Plus being on a stake outside, alone & scared is no way for a dog to live his life. MOOSE will learn to respect you all and you all have to respect him when he eats etc. Always have water available at all times. Feed him 4cups of food (if dry) daily since he's a puppy. Give him treats but he has to sit. Play with his toys "with" him. The only reason he's biting is because he really wants to play so keep him occupied. You & the kids can all together go on walks with MOOSE & use his harness & lease (family time with your pup). If the kids bug him while he's eating, he will probably bite so respect him so he can eat. Never strike him in the head, face or anywhere because that will do nothing but cause aggression & fear. Some times he can have cage/crate time because he will be needing sleep here & there since he's growing & just to give him some space. Give your sweet baby tummy rubs, pet him & give LOTS OF LOVE! MOOSE has to adjust to 6 humans so that's a big change for him so be understanding. And lastly, please do not give up on your precious baby MOOSE!
We are all here for you & willing to help you every step of the way!🤗

~ANGIE

[ARMANI & ALINAH]

*WELCOME MOOSE & JK*
~ALL THINGS ARE PAWSIBLE~


~ANGIE