Need Help with Siberian Husky!!

    • Bronze

    Need Help with Siberian Husky!!

    Help!  We have adopted a 1 year old female husky.  We have two other dogs in our household.  She whines and cries, doesn't like being outside (that is where the dogs stay until we get home from work).  Last night she was up for almost 3 hours (until 1am) whining, crying, panting, trying to get on our bed and trying to get out of our bedroom.

    I went to guide her yesterday to come upstairs with me and she bit me! She is intolerant of our other two dogs.  The other two romp and play outside.  She paces for hours on end outside and when she finally lays down, she is off on the side of the house where the other dogs are not.

    Does anyone have any suggestions?  We have had her since Mon, resuced her from the local shelter.  I told my husband she has a week to settle down and behave, if not I told him we are taking her back and choosing a different dog.  Thanks!
    • Gold Top Dog
    I used to breed Huskies...........but, any rescued dog needs more than just 4 or 5 days..........this poor dog has not had enough time to get used to everything, and needs to be nurtured.
    Did you do research on the breed?
    If you take this dog back it will be known as a "Biter", and will not have a chance.
    Please, be patient, Huskies when trained properly can be great companions.
     
    Let the dog adjust, and then work on training and socialization.
     
    Why did you pick this type of dog?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Instead of taking her back, take her to obedience class.  At least the instructor will have some suggestions for you, including the fact that you don't grab a frightened dog physically to lead them, you use a leash, which she can drag around for a week or two until she gets used to you.  If she's housetrained, and not destructive, or if you can crate her, why can't she stay indoors?  Are you sure that she isn't frightened or being bullied by any of your other dogs?  Rescued dogs need months to acclimate sometimes, but if your hubby can't wait, take her back.  But, frankly the bite was from your ignorance, and may cost her her life. 
    A word to the lurkers and newbies - snownose has a good point - research your breeds!!!!!!!  Also, learn about pack dynamics and the things that can go wrong, before you bring a second dog into your home, or before you bring any dog in to a home with children age 10 and under.

    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

    Instead of taking her back, take her to obedience class.  At least the instructor will have some suggestions for you, including the fact that you don't grab a frightened dog physically to lead them, you use a leash, which she can drag around for a week or two until she gets used to you.  If she's housetrained, and not destructive, or if you can crate her, why can't she stay indoors?  Are you sure that she isn't frightened or being bullied by any of your other dogs?  Rescued dogs need months to acclimate sometimes, but if your hubby can't wait, take her back.  But, frankly the bite was from your ignorance, and may cost her her life. 
    A word to the lurkers and newbies - snownose has a good point - research your breeds!!!!!!!  Also, learn about pack dynamics and the things that can go wrong, before you bring a second dog into your home, or before you bring any dog in to a home with children age 10 and under.



     
    Good advice.
     
    Just to add, the entire household dynamic can change when you go from 2 to 3 dogs. 
     
    It really takes from 3 to 6 weeks for the new dog to adjust to the routine.  The first day the dog should just spend in it's crate getting used to the sounds and sights and smells of the new home.  Then a few minutes at a time out to explore, on lead. 
     
    This is the time to use alot of positive reinforcing with this new family member.  Treats should be used to encourage and yes, even to bribe the dog into learning that the humans are in charge of the resources and are leaders of the family unit.  Boundaries should be gently demonstrated, and reinforced.  (If you don't want your dogs on the couch, don't allow it at all.  Gently tug the leash and redirect the dog to it's appropriate place!) 
     
    New dogs need to be introduced on neutral territory, not just thrust into the middle of the family.  The resident dogs can feel as if the new dog is an intruder, however if they are introduced in neutral territory the resident dog is more apt to think "I have a new friend."
     
    Listen to spiritdogs advice, she's got multiple dogs and knows alot about dog behavior as she trains dogs professionally.
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: texasppony

    I told my husband she has a week to settle down and behave, if not I told him we are taking her back and choosing a different dog.  Thanks!

     
    Your dog needs guidance, she might wont figure it out by herself, here are some links to help you
     
    [linkhttp://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep02.php]http://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep02.php[/link] (2nd topic)
    [linkhttp://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep04.php]http://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep04.php[/link]
    [linkhttp://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep06.php]http://cesarmillaninc.com/blog/Season2ep06.php[/link] (3rd topic)
    • Gold Top Dog
    And some really good additional links that might help:
    http://www.geocities.com/~riskebiz/secondtime.html
    http://www.cbrrescue.org/relocation_anxiety.htm
    http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/dog_library/shy_dogs_firstdays.pdf
    www.clickerlessons.com (If you learn to communicate with your new dog, the anxiety level may go down)
    Consider using a DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) diffuser for a while.





    • Gold Top Dog
    It looks like you live in a warm climate . . . I am wondering if maybe being outside all day in the sun is too hot for your husky?  That could explain why she is not happy ouside.  Does she have access to a cool, shady area, with fresh, cool water?  If not consider crating her inside instead and see if she is happy there. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: acesmom

    It looks like you live in a warm climate . . . I am wondering if maybe being outside all day in the sun is too hot for your husky?  That could explain why she is not happy ouside.  Does she have access to a cool, shady area, with fresh, cool water?  If not consider crating her inside instead and see if she is happy there. 


    That actually could be one aspect of why she doesn't like the outdoors, although I suspect the panting might be more from anxiety.  Do you have tile floors anywhere in the house?  My heavily coated dog (in the photo) likes nothing better than to sprawl on the cool tile.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Spiritdog's idea of DAP is a good one.
    [linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=270184+001[/link]>http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=270184+001]http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=270184+001[/link]

    Other ideas:
    (1)  Happy Traveler

    [linkroduct_id=5][color=#000000][size=1]www.arknaturals.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=displayfaqs&;product_id=5
    >http://www.arknaturals.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=displayfaqs&;product_id=5][color=#000000]www.arknaturals.com/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=displayfaqs&;product_id=5
    [/link]
    [size=3](2)  t-shirt snugged with a large safety pin may also work
     

    [size=3]Don't ask why a snug shirt helps. No one really knows. It may be like swaddling clothes for infants. The DAP is even used in shelters to keep the dogs calmed.
    [/size]
    [/size][/size][/color]