Husky

[tatyanavf1]

TJ Wolf‎ to Husky Fan Club

Okay folks I’ve been spouting off about understanding the mind of the Husky. I’ve asked you to study their history in order to get inside the mind of the Husky. Now I’ll give you some conclusions I’ve made and maybe you will start to understand what I mean.

Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think so. I guess you have to decide if what I tell you makes any sense.

Why does my Husky want to escape and run off?

I think the reason for this behavior comes from thousands of years of DNA. They were bred to be sled dogs and you might ask yourself, “Why would a dog want to pull a sled over ground he might have covered two weeks ago?”

The answer makes perfect sense to me. Huskies are not slaves; they have a strong yearning to see what is over the next hill or around the next curve in the trail. Pulling a sled to satisfy this urge is just a minor annoyance. They are explorers and hence the need to escape and see the world. Whether that is pulling a sled or digging under your fence, they are bound and determined to see the world.

Maybe not the best thing for us who want them to stay home. But a good trait for a working dog.

“Why does my Husky just look at me like I’m insane when I give him a command?”

I think the answer to this is in the history and DNA as well. A good sled dog was intelligent, so much so that men relied on them to use their God given senses that man doesn’t have. A lead dog cannot be a mindless slave that only follows orders.

The dog needed enough free rein to make decisions man can’t make. You are traveling on a frozen river with your team. You hope the ice is thick enough to support you but you are not sure. A smart dog can tell things you can’t and saved many a team and musher from death… If they listened!

With this intelligence comes a price as nothing is free. You either have a dog smart enough to save your life, or a mindless slave. The slave does whatever you want regardless of the danger. The Husky keeps you alive because he/she can think. Great thing if you are running a team in Alaska, but not so much in an apartment in Queens.

So to convert 4000 years of DNA into urban living requires some brain power on your part. Rollerblade, or bike, or skiing are all part of the solutions to keep you and your dog happy. The Husky needs to run, to see what is around the next bend in the road. If you cannot find a way to fill this need they will punish your house with teeth and claw.

You have to find the best mix that works for you and your dog. Demanding obedience without understanding why they act the way they do is just wrong. It’s not an easy job to convert a Husky into the urban environment. It can be done but you have to understand them first. You find the answers by understanding where they came from.

TJ Wolf

Earning the respect of your husky:

So many people buy a husky because they are the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. I agree with that, but along with your husky comes many responsibilities. Huskies are not normal dogs in the way most people think of dogs.

If you buy a puppy you have the job of teaching him/her about how your life together will be. Huskies respect the leader because they know what’s best for the pack. They respect firm but fair discipline just like mom handed out.

Look I’m like you, those eyes look through me to my very soul. I would give anything for my dogs, but I also know that they cannot take my position as King. I’m the pack leader above them, and it’s my duty to make them understand that.

Huskies like to know where they fit in the pack. But along with that they want to climb the ladder and be the leader. You can let them be the leader of the dogs, but you can never let them be the leader of you or your family.

The mouth of a Husky is like our own hands. They mouth just about everything they encounter. I never like to strike my dogs but if they put their teeth on me in more than just a love bite, I slap them on the snout and tell them, “NO!”

They are smart enough to quickly figure out this is not acceptable. You see the battle is to love them, but still maintain that humans are at the top of the chain of command. If you fail at this... the husky will rule your life and you will be miserable because of it.

It’s hard to be a leader, it’s hard to give out this discipline, but that is what huskies expect from you. They won’t hate you for being in charge. They want to know where they stand in the pack. I show Nikki a pair of shoes she chewed up and scold her. She goes and pouts, and it breaks my heart but she learned that chewing shoes was not acceptable.

These little things you do mean so much more to a husky than you. You go through the door first, not the husky. You decide if your husky sleeps on the bed with you. When you share your bed you are telling them you are a sibling not the leader. If you must do this, make them sleep at the foot of the bed.

Think like a leader not an equal. The husky will not only accept that, but won’t hate you for it. Hating a person like your boss is a human quality that dogs don’t have. They respect a leader who is firm but fair. Don’t flip out because this won’t work on a Husky or any other dog for that matter.

Dogs are not humans! Remember that at all times! You are a God to them...one who can manipulate the world around you. You are a God in your huskies eyes, you can do things they can't even comprehend.

What kind of God are you going to be? You have the big brain so use it wisely. Teach them, and you will both enjoy the benefits. Be a benevolent God, not a monster.

You must catch them at the act that is wrong if possible. The attention span is short and laying down the law works best when you catch them at it.

You cannot train or hope to train a husky that does not respect your authority. Be firm, be fair, and be in control or all hell will break loose. As hard as it may be, don't let your emotions rule you or your husky.

You do the same things with your own children, at least I hope you do/did, why not with your dog?

Hey, I'm not perfect by any means. But I think I understand my huskies because I've spent countless hours just observing them, and done many trial and errors to figure them out.

We all love our Huskies to death! But the role of being the supreme leader is yours to play. They are counting on you to guide them, because they want to please you and be part of your pack.

It's your job to teach them what you want.