First post in here - be nice and advice please!

[Vicki_Krystal]

Well guys, I have a Husky from a rescue centre. He is nearly 8yrs old, has a couple of issues but nothing too bad.

First night he wouldnt eat but settled fine, went to sleep etc.
The next day he ate and all seemed fine.

The cats have bopped him on the nose a few times, so all is well there.
He has been walkies on the beach and hills, can be strong with other dogs though, and has an unhealthy obsession with chasing birds (the flying type!)

In fact the dog appeared to be settling in fine.

Until this morning.
OH took him for a walk and he was fine.
A man with a westie type dog approached from the other way and let his dog come over to Oscar. They sniffed eachother with waggy tails and then BANG, westies head now fully in Oscars mouth, westie screaming, owner of westie threatening to punch my OH..

Oscar let go of said dog - but, for a dog we were told was fine with other dogs, it was a bit of a shock.

My mum is now scared of said dog and now doesnt trust him with the cats.

I have called the charity, who have suggested some behaviour work with the dog but im not sure if the damage is now done as far as my mums confidence?

We have had the dog since Friday, so not quite a week, and i know the dog has to settle etc BUT the other dog did nothing wrong - we held onto oscar as instructed by the centre, ie loose lead so as not to back him up, and the other dog approached quietly.

I dont want to send him back as im a softy and he deserves a home but im in a quandry as to what to do?

 

[blackcob]

Do NOT trust him with the cats. Which rescue centre did he come from? It worries me that they rehomed a husky to someone with cats, they have a ridiculously high prey drive, they cannot be trusted with any small mammals or birds. They should hopefully have told you that they cannot be let off the lead either, unless in a totally fenced in area away from livestock.

That said... without witnessing the incident it would be very hard to tell, but was he actually attacking the other dog? Huskies play hard and they play nasty - to an outsider it looks like they're killing each other but it's just what they do, it's all teeth, pinning down, howling and growling, ragging each other by the neck. It can be very intimidating to other dogs.

I had to actively teach mine to tone it down with non-huskies and avoid situations where they are running loose with unknown dogs where it might escalate into mad husky play - fine with dogs they know, and who can give it to them right back and enjoy it, but not with strange dogs who may find it aggressive and especially with small dogs who could be easily hurt by rough handling. As they are always on a lead it's fairly easy to keep to this.

If you think it's a more of a case of leash reactivity (does he ever lunge, bristle, bark/howl, stop and stare at passing dogs while on the lead?) that's something a good trainer or behaviourist can work through with you. My rescue husky is fear-aggressive on the lead and has made huge improvements with some basic focus training.

 

[Fahrenheit]

No advice but hope everything works out of the best, there is alot of knowledgable Husky people on AAD

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

Hi Black Cob,


Yeah we have been told and did a lot of research into the breed regarding being let off the lead (only in back garden has ours been let off)

He passed a cat 'test' at the centre, and, seems to leave the cats be - specially the ninja one that has taken to leaping at the dog from the backs of doors etc.

He displays ALL of the behaviour you state towards other dogs as they approach, but as soon as they go past he returns to being placid again.

 

[CorvusCorax]

As BC, do not have a husky but a GSD who also play rough, very vocal and likes to slam other dogs upside down, which is of course rude.
I do not let him offlead around small dogs, big dogs I ask permission. There are only two local dogs I am totally comfortable to let him run with, one is another GSD the other is a doberman, the latter, because he cannot catch him and it tires him out

Sounds like nothing to serious, just rough play, but do be careful and discerning about who he plays with and make sure he is in a good collar (or head collar) and lead combo if he is strong, not a harness unless you want to be pulled by him.

If it happens, try not to lay on the dramatics, separate the dogs calmly and quickly and firmly with no screaming matches, it does not help.

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

Both dogs were on leads, not loose.

The only dramatics were from the other bloke, my OH told him to just carry on walking.

The main problem is, with mum now refusing to walk him, he wont get a full quota of walks as myself an OH work - and im not sure this is fair on the dog.

The dog is lovely bar the above, and myself and OH are devestated he may have to go back.

 

[blackcob]

I forgot to add the body slamming, they make me wince sometimes with how hard they collide.

It sounds more like an issue of leash reactivity - some of which may just be down to the fact that he hasn't been with you long and is still finding his feet, some of which may be ingrained behaviour, lack of appropriate socialisation etc. - a good trainer and a regular weekly training class should give you the tools to sort this out. Focus training is key, I'll leave that one to CC.

An excuse to post some 'orrible fighting husky pics...

This is all normal, if slightly alarming for owners of 'normal' dogs.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Get the dog used to a good strong headcollar like a Gentle Leader that gives the handler lots of control (ie don't just whack it on and off you go) and tell your Mum that these things happen with dogs. Because they do.
They're not perfect automatons and the other dog was not hurt.

Keep walking when a little dog is around and ask permission with the big guys.

You've given an old guy another chance, don't give up on him so soon x

(Stick 'focus training' in the search bar, I don't have time for the full ramble )
Or look into clicker training.

 

[CAYLA]

I would find a training class and get him used to be around other dogs on the lead whilst having focus/his attention on you.
Try to stear clear of allowing him to approach other dogs or them approach him until you have attended training and have better understand of handling him in such a situation or ask on here re detailed focus training and as suggested the correct tools for walking inc a good training lead, a halti or a check chain (the last bit would be useless if you don't know how to use one correctly or have anyone to show you) if that is the case then stick to a halti for better head control.
Husky or no husky if a dog has never been taught to walk on a lead and keep focus around other dogs because it has never been trained to do so and quite possibly this has just been avoided (hence him being handed to rescue and passed around) then they will act this way, a husky reacting this way would no be less horrifying that any other breed and esp if the recieiver is a small dog owner and it looks like the dog may be gobbled up

I would ask you mam not to panick and tell her that this behaviour counts for a very high percentage of difficulty owners experience with their dogs be it rescue/breed or a dog owned by the same person from a puppy and it can be worked with.
I would also certainly air on the side of caution in the house with the cats by always separating him from them when ever knowbody is in the supervise and always have a secure collar on him but do not separate him from them completely if he otherwise is ok with them. It could be he has lived with cats before, sure they have high prey drive like many other breeds but they can live along side cats.
I have to say as a rescue I would bring the dog in with my cats in my home for a good few weeks in order to cat test, a fleeting moment in a rescue based center with him peering in at cats through mesh or literally walking by one would not suffice to me.
Near enough all dogs have chase instinct, so be aware outside is not the same as inside, outside they are (fair game) so if you cats are outdoor as well as in be aware he could chase them when they jump back in to come home and he is out toileting. So be firm now if he ever shows over selous interest and give him a reprimand and "leave it" like you mean it in a "no" messing around voice.

Have you ever handled or owned a larger breed dog with any such issues? if not it could be a little over whelming for you all and I think before handing him back atleast rule out training or asking the rescue for their behaviourist number and if you are unsure and think it alarming the advice you are given then you can always check back on here for advice

 

[ladyearl]

Nothing specific to add already good advice but just allow some more time, the dog is very new to you and you to him. Training club is a good idea as it will allow him to learn to greet different breeds of dogs.

I'm 4 weeks down the line with my rescue collie. Two days after getting her we met a New Foundland and she went nuts on the lead barking and looked awful. I felt it was a fear based reaction as I was pretty sure she hadn't come across many breeds before. Since then she's met all sorts of dogs and is now bonded with me. Last night we met another NF at training club and she greeted the dog properly and all was well

 

[Spudlet]

All good advice. I recommend a Dogmatic head collar, which in my opinion are the best as their design prevents them riding up into the dog's eyes.

I would avoid all greeting on the lead at the moment and find a training class. Go and watch without your dog first to see if you like the way they do things.

 

[blackcob]

This is how they rag each other about by the head - normal for huskies, absolutely not on with neurotypical dogs.

Ditto the advice about not greeting on the lead yet, it's not necessary, you're quite entitled to tell everyone else to bugger off with their 'it's alright, he's friendly!' dogs, when I want to socialise I go to a dog training club full of likeminded people, I avoid the average numpty on the street with their ill socialised dogs.

[youtube]H1LOY1qJ8AA[/youtube]

 

[Cyrus]

They don't like to let go do they BC its always a competition between mine who can hold on the longest :-D