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#1
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Syberian Husky Gone Mad???
Hello all. We have a 3 year old solid white male Siberian Husky that
has been great until recently. I know all about the hard headed, "Ill do what I want" attitude huskies have. I have grown used to this and haven't tried to hard to teach him much because he doesn't want to be taught. He will sit and lay down, but that's about it. And he will only do that if you give him a treat for it. Besides this, he has been really sweet to everybody and everything, except cats. But everything changed in one day. One of our kittens wondered into his pin (it's a HUGE fenced in yard) and he seemed to have a great time with it. When I found him he was tossing the kitten around like a rag doll. The kitten was still alive (somehow) so I ran to try and rescue it. I chased him for 10 minuets with a screaming kitten in his mouth before I got hold of him. It was at this point that my sweet husky turned into a daemon dog! When I tried to get the kitten from him he growled furoshisly and bit me several times. I am not one to be dominated by a dog and have NO fear of them, even if they are trying to tear me apart. Thus I showed him who is boss in the way I have been taught to do, I rolled him over on his back and forced him to submit. But I am not sure how well he submitted as he was still growling the whole time. Needless to say, the kitten didn't make it. And it appears my huskies attitude never recovered either. This happened over a year ago but he still growls at anyone whenever they try to scorn him for something, or if they try and touch his neck/collar in any way. Today I yelled at him for tearing up a light in our yard and he bared his teeth and growled at me as if he was about to attack. I immediately grabbed his legs and flipped him on his back in the submissive position and bared MY teeth at him and he bit my hand, hard! Like I am bleeding hard. I LOVE my husky, but I love my 1.5 year old son more. I cannot have a dog that is going to think he is the boss of my family. Especially if he is willing to hurt us. Please somebody tell me how I should cope with this problem and get my husky to realize he is NOT the leader of my pack, I am??? If he ever bites me again, my wife, or my son I am going to have to get rid of him. And I would really hate to do that as we all love him. But something is wrong with him. ANY ADVISE PLEASE! |
#2
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In article . com,
toothpick wrote: Please somebody tell me how I should cope with this problem and get my husky to realize he is NOT the leader of my pack, I am??? It seems more likely to me that the issue here is that your dog can't figure out why you've started getting aggressive with him and is trying to protect himself. I wouldn't swear to it but Siberians, as easy as they are to get along with in general, will tend to become defensive more easily than some other breeds. I've seen other Siberians turn into fear biters when their owners alpha rolled them or were otherwise heavy-handed. I think that the key to your problem, actually, is your decision not to do much training because the dogs are "hard-headed." Siberians can do quite well with obedience training as long as you take care not to bore them and not to be heavy-handed. In fact, if you don't put energy into training them they're more likely to become bored, ill- mannered, pushy, and uncooperative. I really don't think there's much you can do about cats except keep them away from your dog. Siberians are extremely predatory. That does not mean, however, that they're predatory towards humans. Dollars to doughnuts that the change in the dog's behavior has to do with a change in *your* behavior, not because he got to kill a kitten. I'd lay off the alpha rolls and all that physical dominance nonsense and start making the dog work for everything it gets (no dinner unless he sits for it, no pets unless he sits for it, and so on). I'd also give serious consideration to talking to a behaviorist, because I'm pretty sure you're not going to be able to work this out on your own. And I'd definitely, *definitely* get the dog into a beginner obedience class. -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
#3
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I have been doing the alpha rolling and ear holding (which he hates
even more for some reason) ever since he was a puppy, its nothing new. But during that time he was strictly an inside dog and I did it to teach him house manners. Which did work. He is very well house trained. But the MASSIVE amount of hair shedding, and his desire to RUN, convinced us to fence in the yard and let him out about a year ago. Since then I have only been aggressive towards him 2 times, for killing my cat and eating my yard lights. You refer to "fear biting," that could be why he did it I guess. But it certainly seemed like EXTREME ANGER biting to me. After letting him up he walked around with his nose in the air like he had just kicked my butt and was proud of it. It seems clear to me that he wants to dominate me. The main thing I can't figure out is why he growls whenever you touch his neck. For example, I was petting him yesterday and he was licking my hand and wagging his tail at the same time he was aggressively growling because I had my hand on his neck to pet him. And when I walk him on a leash, which is his FAVORITE thing to do, he growls every time I tug on the leash. But he doesn't seem to mean it in an aggressive way. Yet today he growled and bit me so I am somewhat confused on that issue. I think you are 100% correct that the source of his problem is the fact that I stopped working with him after putting him outside. It seems he has now lost respect for me as the alpha because I am not training him any more. I will start working with him more and making him obey for food and treats. Hopefully he will come back around. One other thing I forgot to mention. I just recently got another female Sibe to keep him company. She is about 7 months old. They play all day and seem very happy but they have VERY different personalities. She is extremely submissive, and extremely FAT, he is EXTREMELY dominate, and eats very little. He spends most of the day biting her neck and holding her down on the ground until she yelps. Is this normal? I am beginning to think the male husky might just be a ******* (pun intended)? |
#4
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"toothpick" wrote in message oups.com... [..] .. Since then I have only been aggressive towards him 2 times, for killing my cat and eating my yard lights. You've said it all in this senence - you are not capable of thinking like a dog, an he cannot be blamed for not being able to think like a human. Find a good sibe rescue and get yourself a goldfish. Diana |
#5
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In article .com,
toothpick wrote: The main thing I can't figure out is why he growls whenever you touch his neck. The dogs of that breed have excellent memories and hold a grudge. Seriously. I'm not keen on pushing dogs around to start with but with Siberians it's likely to backfire, as you've discovered. For example, I was petting him yesterday and he was licking my hand and wagging his tail at the same time he was aggressively growling because I had my hand on his neck to pet him. And when I walk him on a leash, which is his FAVORITE thing to do, he growls every time I tug on the leash. But he doesn't seem to mean it in an aggressive way. Yet today he growled and bit me so I am somewhat confused on that issue. You need to do two things: 1) forget about this "dominance" crap and start thinking about leadership instead, and 2) find a good trainer and get the dog into classes. I'd also think long and hard about finding a behaviorist - you've now got a potentially very serious problem and need some outside help. -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
#6
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toothpick wrote:
I have been doing the alpha rolling and ear holding (which he hates even more for some reason) ever since he was a puppy, its nothing new. Well, it was incredibly stupid and wrong to do then, and its even wronger to continue with it now. But during that time he was strictly an inside dog and I did it to teach him house manners. Which did work. He is very well house trained. In other words, he lived with you and you were a part of his "pack" so he put up with physical aggression from you as a part of living with you. Now that he doesn't live with you anymore, why would you think that you have any "insurance" to be getting away with getting ridiculously aggressive with your dog? But the MASSIVE amount of hair shedding, and his desire to RUN, convinced us to fence in the yard and let him out about a year ago. Wow. There are brushes, and you can easily use a fenced in outdoor area to *exercise* your dog without banishing him to a life alone outside. Since then I have only been aggressive towards him 2 times, for killing my cat and eating my yard lights. And you've also greatly diminished any relationship you might have had with him to begin with. So it stands to reason you're not going to get away with just popping out there and attacking him when it makes sense *to you*....especially when it makes no sense at all *to him*. You refer to "fear biting," that could be why he did it I guess. But it certainly seemed like EXTREME ANGER biting to me. Why would one automatically exclude the other? After letting him up he walked around with his nose in the air like he had just kicked my butt and was proud of it. It seems clear to me that he wants to dominate me. Um no. I seriously doubt that. Who taught you that's the only way dogs interact with anyone else? That's simply untrue- and when handled poorly (as in this case) it only teaches the dog to be aggressive to humans. And that's just what's happened so far. The main thing I can't figure out is why he growls whenever you touch his neck. For example, I was petting him yesterday and he was licking my hand and wagging his tail at the same time he was aggressively growling because I had my hand on his neck to pet him. And when I walk him on a leash, which is his FAVORITE thing to do, he growls every time I tug on the leash. But he doesn't seem to mean it in an aggressive way. Yet today he growled and bit me so I am somewhat confused on that issue. You've likely created an ambivalent emotional state in the dog, coupled with a LOT of confusion. He didn't even know he was doing anything wrong, and *from his perspective* you have this tendency to just out and out attack him for no reason. I think you are 100% correct that the source of his problem is the fact that I stopped working with him after putting him outside. Yes, although part of the problem is that you put him outside. Unless you spend over 8 hours each and every day out there *with him*, he is alone for roughly 22 hours a day. This is NOT good for a dog, and its a recipe for behavioral problems. Although at the very least, I would do as Melinda suggested and get yourself a *qualified* behaviorist and enroll him in a positively based obedience class ASAP. It seems he has now lost respect for me as the alpha because I am not training him any more. Please stop looking at this (and at your dog) solely in terms of this Alpha crap. Just stop. a) its not necessarily a very good way to train in the first place and b) you're clearly not doing it in a way that's safe at all. He's got no leadership, its true. But mainly he simply has very little relationship to the humans in his family at all. He has to be *part* of a pack for Alpha theory to even be a factor (and frankly, I think its misused by for more people than just you, so I tend to not even use the word "alpha" in my own training). Instead, you moved him outside, gave him his own little world with no leadership, no mental challenges and no community, and then when he doesn't behave the way you haven't taught him not to, you go out and "dominate" (code word for corporal punish) your dog.....the same dog you effectively threw *out* of your "pack" in the first place. I will start working with him more and making him obey for food and treats. Hopefully he will come back around. Please only do this under the guidance of a behaviorist as you honestly run the risk of making this much much worse unless you learn a different way of approaching this than you have been. One other thing I forgot to mention. I just recently got another female Sibe to keep him company. She is about 7 months old. They play all day and seem very happy but they have VERY different personalities. She is extremely submissive, and extremely FAT, he is EXTREMELY dominate, and eats very little. He spends most of the day biting her neck and holding her down on the ground until she yelps. Is this normal? I am beginning to think the male husky might just be a ******* (pun intended)? He's clearly poorly socialized and poorly trained. He may also have a not so great temperament, but even if that's the case, he's getting no help from his people. I'm not clear on why you were having budding (and serious) problems with your existing dog and yet you went out and got another one. If she's just out there with him as her main source of socialization, it stands to reason you're simply going to end up with two serious behavioral problems on your hands. Tara |
#7
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I cannot think like a dog? Actually I learn a lot by watching how wolfs
(this breed is very close to their nature) act in a pack. Have you ever looked at pack dogs in the wild? When the alpha male (thats me) is not pleased with the behavior of another in the pack he will bite his ears and roll him onto his back and stare him in the face till the other dog looks away and submits. This is how dogs keep their pack in order. This is some dogs nature. Sure this does not apply to a golden retreiver as they have NEVER been pack animals and have ALWAYS been domesticated. Sibe's on the other hand, are about as close to wild wolfs as you can get. They are pack animals and have the same customs as wild wolfs do. Try reading some books and watching discovery specials on Husky's in their natural environment before you tell me I am stupid. |
#8
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toothpick wrote:
I cannot think like a dog? Actually I learn a lot by watching how wolfs (this breed is very close to their nature) act in a pack. Have you ever looked at pack dogs in the wild? When the alpha male (thats me) is not pleased with the behavior of another in the pack he will bite his ears and roll him onto his back and stare him in the face till the other dog looks away and submits. This is how dogs keep their pack in order. This is some dogs nature. Sure this does not apply to a golden retreiver as they have NEVER been pack animals and have ALWAYS been domesticated. Sibe's on the other hand, are about as close to wild wolfs as you can get. They are pack animals and have the same customs as wild wolfs do. Try reading some books and watching discovery specials on Husky's in their natural environment before you tell me I am stupid. Um, if you don't include attributions, no one here has any idea who you are responding to. Tara |
#9
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toothpick wrote:
I cannot think like a dog? Actually I learn a lot by watching how wolfs (this breed is very close to their nature) act in a pack. Have you ever looked at pack dogs in the wild? When the alpha male (thats me) is not pleased with the behavior of another in the pack he will bite his ears and roll him onto his back and stare him in the face till the other dog looks away and submits. This is how dogs keep their pack in order. This is some dogs nature. Sure this does not apply to a golden retreiver as they have NEVER been pack animals and have ALWAYS been domesticated. Sibe's on the other hand, are about as close to wild wolfs as you can get. They are pack animals and have the same customs as wild wolfs do. Try reading some books and watching discovery specials on Husky's in their natural environment before you tell me I am stupid. Ok, I figured out who you responded to. What is with you and this overly macho Alpha crap? Melinda (who responded to you at least TWICE) is FAR more experienced in SIbes than you could hope to be....and she gave you very good advice. Diana put it more succinctly (and sure, a little more harshly) but she's not far off the mark either. You're not a frigging wolf....and neither is your dog! If your precious "alpha" nonsense was working out so well for you, then why on earth are you here with a behavioral problem that is spinning out of control? Get over it and get a new training model. Hopefully before this one gets your present dog euthed. Tara |
#10
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On 28 Apr 2005 12:56:16 -0700, "toothpick" wrote:
Hello all. We have a 3 year old solid white male Siberian Husky that has been great until recently. I know all about the hard headed, "Ill do what I want" attitude huskies have. I have grown used to this and haven't tried to hard to teach him much because he doesn't want to be taught... I am not one to be dominated by a dog and have NO fear of them, even if they are trying to tear me apart. Thus I showed him who is boss in the way I have been taught to do, I rolled him over on his back and forced him to submit. But I am not sure how well he submitted as he was still growling the whole time... I might be the only one to do so, but I noticed that you didn't mention your dog's name. To me, that suggests you two aren't very close. How unfortunate. I'm not an expert, but I just can see how alpha rolling really helps. I believe dogs that are in greatest need of improvement are also the least responsive to alpha rolling. I'm not sure you "know all about the hard headed, "Ill do what I want" attitude huskies have." Else, you'd have realized this is not something you should "have grown used to." This is the sort of thing we need to nip in the bud, at the earliest possible point. I believe Melinda's recommendations are truly sound. The physical manipulation I use with certain shelter dogs involves requiring them to pass close to me, move to a different point in their run, or using a short leash to compel them to walk near me. A few weeks back, I met a large, mixed dog at the shelter. He growled and showed his teeth the first two days, just growled early on the third day, and was very happy to see me on the fourth day (the last time I saw him). I was thrilled at his progress. I think there is a very important lesson for all of us, in your experience. When I die, I want to go where dogs go! |
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