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Is my Husky lonely?


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I don't know whether or not to get a companion for my boy Koda. 

Koda is such a good boy, honestly the best dog. Yes he has Husky traits (luckily both my husband and I have grown up around the breed and have experience), but he's such a good boy. He is a lovely boy to have around, isn't destructive (as long as he isn't left alone), sleeps all night (sometimes he doesn't want to get up in a morning), walks nice on the lead (though this changes if he sees a squirrel or a pigeon 😂 ), is great with my nieces and nephews, and we can take him anywhere etc etc.

So I don't really want to upset this, or upset our lives by adding a second dog as we are always so busy at it is. Plus I honestly think that finding another Koda will be near impossible.

Koda is never left alone as my husband and I are self employed and I'm always working from home or out on the farm with him; and for one day a week I've been letting him go to Doggy Day Care, as he absolutely loves other dogs! I let him go so that he can socialise and play all day - he loves nothing more than having doggy friends around. He has the best time when he's there. I've been in and watched him playing.

The more and more I research, the more I keep hearing that Huskies in particular (of all dog breeds, as they are known for being the most social) are happiest in pairs and with a canine companion. It's really bugging me as I don't know what to do. I just want Koda to have the happiest life possible and I don't want to be denying him anything (especially companionship if he is craving it). He's such a quiet boy at home. Lively outside and on walks, but in the house he mostly just lies down and relaxes (well, I hope he's not depressed or lonely)!

I really don't know what to do for the best. I don't want him to be missing out on having a companion if that's what he needs!

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It sounds as if your dog has one of the best lives going,  parents at home, parents who know the breed well,  a farm to run around in,  and once a week getting to see his doggie friends.    If nothing changed I would say he has a life that lots of dogs would envy.

I can only say what I have observed with my own dog(s).    When Lunar (Utonagan) went over the bridge, Marley (husky) went into a deep depression  - a previously  extremely high energy, bouncy happy dog, turned sad, did not even enjoy a walk, moped around the house, refused to play with us or anything.     After a couple of months we got another rescue husky  -  and Marley brightened up immediately.   Mikey came with several problems - which did not make for an easy integration, but now 18 months later, they get on well, keep each other company  -  Marley has not been bored, or sad once.

As your dog has never had a companion at home  - you are his 'pack'  -  and whilst my instinct is to say yes, get another dog for company, - its just me  - I have nearly always had two dogs at a time.      Your dog gets a whole day with his doggie friends,  only you know your dog well enough to know if he would react well to another dog in his 'pack'.

It would also depend on the age of the incoming dog, male or female, rescue or pup  - so many variables.

 

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Thank you so much for your reply. 

We took a female (10 months) on trial not too long ago and whilst Koda loved her, she was very aggressive towards him in the house and would bully him.  He is such a softy!  Absolutely loves others dogs, but is such a gentleman.  He gets on fantastic with my brother's Dachshund, and is a gentleman with him too (if the Dachshund wants some of Koda's food for example, Koda will step back and let him).  So it didn't work out with the female who returned we had to return to her owner.  I just don't want to end up in the same situation again, or end up with stuck with a dog that doesn't get along with Koda (as Koda loves every dog we come across).

I've registered with some of the rescues, but they very rarely get in a suitable dog (something that loves other dogs and is fine with children - I don't have children, but my brother does and they do visit). 

 

So Koda will get on with any dog really; we just need to find a dog that suits us.  We have such a wonderful life style with him at the moment and I worry about upsetting the apple cart -so to speak. 

 

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Sounds like Marley and Koda would make fantastic buddies  -  he is the friendliest and most tolerant dog I have ever had  -  Mikey even drags him around the garden by his long neck fur - and he still does not react.    If you know of a very secure dog park somewhere between the two of us - I will happily bring Marley down for a play date.   Mikey does not know how to play nice - or share anything so best not include him.

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  • 1 month later...
On 4/30/2021 at 9:42 AM, wolfpup said:

Sounds like Marley and Koda would make fantastic buddies  -  he is the friendliest and most tolerant dog I have ever had  -  Mikey even drags him around the garden by his long neck fur - and he still does not react.    If you know of a very secure dog park somewhere between the two of us - I will happily bring Marley down for a play date.   Mikey does not know how to play nice - or share anything so best not include him.

So sorry! I’ve only just seen this reply!! Koda would love a play date with Marley 🥰 we regularly hire an enclosed field just down the road from here. Koda loves it there. When we hire it, we are allowed up to 6 dogs. But it usually ends up Koda on his own lol 

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1 hour ago, Nic_and_Koda said:

So sorry! I’ve only just seen this reply!! Koda would love a play date with Marley 🥰 we regularly hire an enclosed field just down the road from here. Koda loves it there. When we hire it, we are allowed up to 6 dogs. But it usually ends up Koda on his own lol 

When you say  'near here'  -  can you be a bit more specific? like a village name?     It takes me around an hour and a half to get down to Manchester  - so if the play field is south of Manchester I am looking around 2 hours journey each way.    Does the field have 6ft fencing  - Marley cleared a 4ft wall before he was 12 months old!   He is on the small side for huskies - but can jump like a show jumper !

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