Where to get a puppy?

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I didn't properly elaborate on my husky story: if you don't want a dog that will run away from you at first chance, will growl at you if you disturb their space regularly, will scold you with howls all the time, will kill anything smaller than it (though they can learn to coexist with cats), sheds ridiculously, has to be disciplined constantly, will definitely chew your couch up at least twice, holds grudges, hates toys and needs a different kind of food every few days........ don't get a husky. Siberian or otherwise.

I love my huskies, but never again. If you're not really - and I mean really - motivated and dog-experienced, just don't.

I'm at rabbit carcass #49 over the four years since I built a dog fence, which they somehow squeeze into and then can't get out of when there's two ridiculously fast huskies chasing them (they cooperate, one heads them off, the other flushes and chases). That's the rabbits I know of, these things can clean a carcass in minutes. I mean, they can take a porkchop and eat it like there's no bone in it.

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The picture doesn't do a good job of showing it, but one dog is about 80lbs and the other is about 110lbs. Sisters.
 
Shaman said:
I give my huskies scraps but not at the table, always in the same place and I always make them "stay" before praising them and giving them the scraps. However, my mother had dinner with us and I told her at least three times before and during dinner not to feed the dogs. She snuck them some food and I caught her doing it, she didn't understand why I was so angry... thinks she's a dog person, but huskies aren't just regular dogs, they're clever and highly food-motivated.

Since that ONE incident, my dogs now hang around the table and will even sometimes howl at us because we're not sharing. Yet, we don't and never have shared at the table. ONE incident. Grrrr.
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We baby sat our daughter's dog for a month or so and only gave it tiny treats. When she went back home our daughter was not happy with her pup's expectations.

If it's not your dog, don't train it. Also the stranger that wants to give it a piece of chocolate because it's cute, deserves a punch in the face.
 
Shaman said:
I give my huskies scraps but not at the table, always in the same place and I always make them "stay" before praising them and giving them the scraps. However, my mother had dinner with us and I told her at least three times before and during dinner not to feed the dogs. She snuck them some food and I caught her doing it, she didn't understand why I was so angry... thinks she's a dog person, but huskies aren't just regular dogs, they're clever and highly food-motivated.

Since that ONE incident, my dogs now hang around the table and will even sometimes howl at us because we're not sharing. Yet, we don't and never have shared at the table. ONE incident. Grrrr.
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My dad used to do the same thing with our Huskies. if you stick to your guns, your Huskies will quickly learn who feeds them and who doesn't - after mom leaves they'll try begging, if the find it frivolous they'll stop.

My camp husky is the same. He's all over the guys that feed him, can't be bothered with those who don't.
 
We don't feed our dog at the table, he hovers and his head is right at table level but will then just chill on the floor. A different story when we go to my parents house. They do feed from the table and he will walk right up beside my mom and stick his head under her arm lifting it for food, while still being gentle for 190lbs. He openly bugs them both, leaves me and my wife alone. He likes it, they do as well cause its smiles all around when they can spoil him and he still respects the boundaries later.
 
Been two weeks with Lucy so felt a short update is in order.

She's been great overall, but is now comfortable in the house. Enough to start nipping at the kids (and me/wife) when she gets excited and grabbed my smallest lightly by the calf which obviously scared the hell out of her.

In the time she's been with us, she's had 3 accidents in the house (2 pee + 1 poo) and outside of that she has been very communicative in when she wants to go out. I typically take her out at 4-5am, and last outing is at 11pm-12am depending on timing and how she whimpers.

We have a crate, but it's hidden away and I'm tempted to bring it out.

She gets super excited outside and when she gets the zoomies...I could watch her for hours as you can really see the Australian Sheppard in her go.

Walks...very hit/miss as she can go for a few hundred metres without issues, and then will turn around and whimper / jump / fight the leash to get home. She can pull home from about 700-800m away without even being on our street.

So training will continue, my wife has spent an awful amount of $ on toys, snacks, etc.

Recommendations for training? I heard PetSmart has a good course for dogs of all ages.

Should I buy her foot booties for outdoor walks in -10C? Wife thinks her paws are cold so she doesn't want to go far.
 
mimico_polak said:
Been two weeks with Lucy so felt a short update is in order.

She's been great overall, but is now comfortable in the house. Enough to start nipping at the kids (and me/wife) when she gets excited and grabbed my smallest lightly by the calf which obviously scared the hell out of her.

In the time she's been with us, she's had 3 accidents in the house (2 pee + 1 poo) and outside of that she has been very communicative in when she wants to go out. I typically take her out at 4-5am, and last outing is at 11pm-12am depending on timing and how she whimpers.

We have a crate, but it's hidden away and I'm tempted to bring it out.

She gets super excited outside and when she gets the zoomies...I could watch her for hours as you can really see the Australian Sheppard in her go.

Walks...very hit/miss as she can go for a few hundred metres without issues, and then will turn around and whimper / jump / fight the leash to get home. She can pull home from about 700-800m away without even being on our street.

So training will continue, my wife has spent an awful amount of $ on toys, snacks, etc.

Recommendations for training? I heard PetSmart has a good course for dogs of all ages.

Should I buy her foot booties for outdoor walks in -10C? Wife thinks her paws are cold so she doesn't want to go far.
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For booties, our dog hated them. We tried a few different sets, they were all a fail. Only a very small percentage of dogs will tolerate them. In general, if you can keep the dog mostly in the snow instead of in super-cooled, salted water, they should be fine.
 
Teething can be an issue for biting.

Here is a YouTube clip from a decent trainer.




Dog training schools are hit or miss. The good thing about them is controlled socializing as well as the training. Get the kids involved so everyone keeps things consistent with corrections and rewards.


I highly recommend crate training. Get it out, make it comfortable. They will enjoy it. Ours is in the living room and they spend time in it throughout the day as well as sleeping there all night.
 
nakkers said:
...............I highly recommend crate training. Get it out, make it comfortable. They will enjoy it. Ours is in the living room and they spend time in it throughout the day as well as sleeping there all night.
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Agreed. With my dog her crate was her 'private place'. She would go in when she wanted to be left alone. I would find her favorite things (toys, treats, etc) buried under her blankets. At first, when playing, she would lunge and nip to get her toy back and when she got it she would run with it to her crate. I realized I was being mean by teasing her by not letting her have her toy (picture a kid having his hat taken by the bullies). I changed my play tactics to have her play with me, meaning when she brought me a toy instead of teasing her with one. If she brought it back she wanted to play more. If she didnt, she was done.
 
nakkers said:
Teething can be an issue for biting.

Here is a YouTube clip from a decent trainer.




Dog training schools are hit or miss. The good thing about them is controlled socializing as well as the training. Get the kids involved so everyone keeps things consistent with corrections and rewards.


I highly recommend crate training. Get it out, make it comfortable. They will enjoy it. Ours is in the living room and they spend time in it throughout the day as well as sleeping there all night.
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It's their space when they get tired of people.
 
Shaman said:
I didn't properly elaborate on my husky story: if you don't want a dog that will run away from you at first chance, will growl at you if you disturb their space regularly, will scold you with howls all the time, will kill anything smaller than it (though they can learn to coexist with cats), sheds ridiculously, has to be disciplined constantly, will definitely chew your couch up at least twice, holds grudges, hates toys and needs a different kind of food every few days........ don't get a husky. Siberian or otherwise.

I love my huskies, but never again. If you're not really - and I mean really - motivated and dog-experienced, just don't.

I'm at rabbit carcass #49 over the four years since I built a dog fence, which they somehow squeeze into and then can't get out of when there's two ridiculously fast huskies chasing them (they cooperate, one heads them off, the other flushes and chases). That's the rabbits I know of, these things can clean a carcass in minutes. I mean, they can take a porkchop and eat it like there's no bone in it.

View attachment 76995
The picture doesn't do a good job of showing it, but one dog is about 80lbs and the other is about 110lbs. Sisters.
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What kind of dogs are in the pic? Ive only seen white Siberians in pure breeds other than Smoyeds.

I've had a Malamute (Chimo) , Siberian (Kita RIP) and now I have an American (Hobo). My Malamute was as you describe, the other 2 much better behaved and a lot easier to socialize with other animals and dogs -- friendly, never chewed a thing in my house, are not food motivated, come when called and walk without a leash - im pretty alpha, my dogs will submit if i show them a mad face. Sled-oriented huskies abits, particulary if they can corner them.

Huskies in general are pack-oriented and may behave badly without strong persistent alpha presence. If you're a low-alpha owner, they can behave like you say -- canine terrorists.
 
For dog training schools, look for local feedback from previous customers.

See if you can come out and view a class in session without your pup. You may not be allowed to be in the space of the class but, might have a way to observe.

Do they control the group well and provide good guidance to everyone. Much depends on the group of owners and their dogs.

Some schools have a trainer and an assistant. Having various dogs of different/beginner levels can be helpful in some regards.


The “top” trainer in our area s expensive and has a bit of an ego that is hit or miss with owners. Kind of a marine Sargent reputation. And structure is good for many but, he didn’t impress us.


We found a lesser known trainer with a good reputation working out of a church that is certified and has a good way with the owners that struggle as well as the pups. The training is really for the owners to learn the dos and donts and bring the learnings home to practice.

Some schools have pack classes to bring the pups out to walk, learn and train etc. Might be difficult to do this time of year. 🤷‍♂️
 
Another great thing to try is doggy day care. We sent ours to a local 'Doggy Den' when she was a pup. It helped her learn to socialize with other dogs, and let her burn off excess energy playing.

As she got older, the dog park was one of her favorite places to play and exercise. Her socialization skills she learned as a puppy at the daycare place were evident when she was big enough to play at the dog park.
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