Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone,
I have some issues with my baby, Sapphire. I got her as a pup and shes now 6 months old. We tried everything possible to crate train her as a pup but she would scream constantly all night long and defecate all over (even the top!) of her crate somehow. After about 2 weeks of trying to get her use to it we finally just put her outside in our dog run (about a 6'x 30' run) and shes slept there ever since. She has also been through PetSmart's puppy training course with "some" success.

Until recently, she had been free to roam around with our other dog (a blue heeler/beagle mutt) and I would just put her up for the night. One day we look outside to find that she had taken or killed a chicken from our neighbors property (he raises chickens for a living so theres a lot he throws out that die). Needless to say she was eating it and would snarl like a wild animal when we got close to her. I have no idea why she did this or why she acted the way she did, but we finally got her away from it and have had to chain her on a tether close to her kennel.

I hate to do it but now Im afraid if our neighbor caught her over there he'd probably shoot her. Since shes been tethered up shes gotten a lot more aggressive towards our family, and its nearly impossible for anyone to walk her because she pulls so much (even with her harness on) Anyone had a problem with wild like behavior? I'd bring her in the house but we also have an indoor yorkshire terrier that shes a little rough with. Id like to get her to calm down some or figure out a way to discipline her so I could start letting her stay inside. Anyone have some suggestions? Thanks for any input!

Jon

>>Hey everyone,
>> I have some issues with my baby, Sapphire. I got her as a pup and shes now 6 months old. We tried everything possible to crate train her as a pup but she would scream constantly all night long and defecate all over (even the top!) of her crate somehow. After about 2 weeks of trying to get her use to it we finally just put her outside in our dog run (about a 6'x 30' run) and shes slept there ever since. She has also been through PetSmart's puppy training course with "some" success.
>>
>>Until recently, she had been free to roam around with our other dog (a blue heeler/beagle mutt) and I would just put her up for the night. One day we look outside to find that she had taken or killed a chicken from our neighbors property (he raises chickens for a living so theres a lot he throws out that die). Needless to say she was eating it and would snarl like a wild animal when we got close to her. I have no idea why she did this or why she acted the way she did, but we finally got her away from it and have had to chain her on a tether close to her kennel.
>>
>>I hate to do it but now Im afraid if our neighbor caught her over there he'd probably shoot her. Since shes been tethered up shes gotten a lot more aggressive towards our family, and its nearly impossible for anyone to walk her because she pulls so much (even with her harness on) Anyone had a problem with wild like behavior? I'd bring her in the house but we also have an indoor yorkshire terrier that shes a little rough with. Id like to get her to calm down some or figure out a way to discipline her so I could start letting her stay inside. Anyone have some suggestions? Thanks for any input!
>>
>>Jon

>>>>>>>>>>>

What a nightmare. There is a whole lot wrong in this situation. You are going to need expert help in person. A veterinary behavior specialist is the safest and most reputable expert for such a case.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Husky doesnt think your alpha.
You and the dog and possibly your family need to get trained.
Huskies are pack animals, they act like they do (stubborn) to keep the alpha mentally and physically strong.
There was a good show on the other night about the evolution and development of modern dog breeds. Thre was a family with a "behavior" problem with a husky, the big problem as the husky rescue that did the homecheck here for a second husky (rescue) told me about the majority of the dogs they get is with the owners, not the dogs. Huskies are designed to pull sleds after thousands of years of selective breeding for 30-40 miles a day, they NEED alot of exercise. If they do not get exercise, if they are bottled up in a crate all day away from their pack (their family) alone, then let loose they destroy things, they go crazy with happiness for hours.
They need to learn who is alpha, they need it reinforced constantly. They need alot of exercise (every day), they need alot of socialization.
The young 6 month old husky they got as a personal pet at the rescue was left in a crate alone with no one home for 10-12 hours a day, then not exercised every day. He went wild when left out and would not listen to the owners. So therefore bottled up even more, which made him worse. The rescue was told he was "un-walkable" the rescue showed up and put him on a leash, in about 50 ft on the leash he walked nice for them.
The former owner was asked a few questions..
1. why did you get a puppy, and not rescue and older calmer mature dog?
2. why did you get a high energy dog breed and not expect to give it regular exercise.
3. why did you get a heavily pack oriented dog breed with your schedule?
The answer for most of these was that they saw the husky puppy for sale and it was so cute, so they bought it.
The owner said that they contacted the rescue after they realized they couldnt handle him. Hes been a beautifully behaved husky ever since he went to the new home.
I found it easy to crate train my husky, in 24hours time. Of course a few weeks of teething problems are all the real problems I had, but I knew what I was in for when I got mine.
Get the husky and yourself trained, if you plan on keeping it you wont regret it.
Oh, I use raw diet for mine, and he was posessive with raw meaty bones, just as he was with his old food, but it wasnt hard to stop that behavior also, again, you are supposed to be alpha.
I hope this helps you.

I completely agree with the previous post. My husband had a husky before we were married and I had never been exposed to that breed. The first thing I had to learn was that I had to show Otis that I was the alpha and not him. This was quite the battle for awhile - but I won!! And then it gets even more interesting when you introduce other dogs into the pack. There is a strange hierarchy amongst pack animals. We are always the alpha but there is also an alpha amongst the animals.

And exercise and entertainment is a must for this breed. We have now had 4 of them. We currently have 3 (Otis passsed away last year) and we've been through many couches, lots of drywall patches, etc. I personally do not believe in crate training. The exchange for that was a destroyed house until the babies were 2 1/2. But I love them dearly and wouldn't have it any other way. They know they can pretty do whatever they want until mom says otherwise. These dogs are my best friends, the greatest dogs in the world. I'll never have another breed.