GinaB
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me how trainable these dogs are? I know you can't let them off leads as they don't come to call, but how about teaching simple commands and walking to heel etc?
Training a siberian husky..?
- Thread starter GinaB
- Start date
JAK
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine has both show bred & racing bred huskies & has successfully trained them to a very high standard of obedience, though they were not 'easy' dogs & not reliable enough for competition, being very distractable & prone to losing interest in favour of something more exciting (usually edible! lol) at the drop of a hat!
Here in the UK we tend to categorise dogs as trainable/not trainable, only relying on a few specific breeds for competition work & discarding everything else as only capable of learning the absolute basics!
In the States however, people regularly train & compete all kinds of breeds, inc. sighthounds & sled dogs, often with great success, which shows what a very different attitude they have to the very concept of what is possible!
For example, a friend of mine bought a bulldog & was assured by her (very experioenced within the breed!) breeder that they would not be able to let her off the lead & must not let her over-exert herself!
Bearing in mind the dog's shape etc. I told them this was utter b*ll*cks & although sensible enough not to let her charge about in the heat, they now have a super-fit bulldog that can be let off the lead, always comes back when called & plays a wicked game of football! lol
So.....huskies? Difficult but not impossible for a competent handler to train to a reasonable level, though may never be reliable off the lead. Food goes a long way in motivating sled dogs & short, fun training sessions are definitely the key as they get bored very quickly!
Good luck!
Here in the UK we tend to categorise dogs as trainable/not trainable, only relying on a few specific breeds for competition work & discarding everything else as only capable of learning the absolute basics!
In the States however, people regularly train & compete all kinds of breeds, inc. sighthounds & sled dogs, often with great success, which shows what a very different attitude they have to the very concept of what is possible!
For example, a friend of mine bought a bulldog & was assured by her (very experioenced within the breed!) breeder that they would not be able to let her off the lead & must not let her over-exert herself!
Bearing in mind the dog's shape etc. I told them this was utter b*ll*cks & although sensible enough not to let her charge about in the heat, they now have a super-fit bulldog that can be let off the lead, always comes back when called & plays a wicked game of football! lol
So.....huskies? Difficult but not impossible for a competent handler to train to a reasonable level, though may never be reliable off the lead. Food goes a long way in motivating sled dogs & short, fun training sessions are definitely the key as they get bored very quickly!
Good luck!
Cyrus
Well-Known Member
Wish my sibes where food motivated they are until they get outside the front door lol lol lol
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
My mam has one and he is very well behaved and I board 2 very well behaved ones, The training these dogs where given was no different to any conventional training, it did however take the longer to get the hang of the basics,i.e recall, coming when called....prefering to to do a few laps of the garden before surrendering to the command, the ones I mention are all crate trained/or have been as a puppy and now dont need one...and I am aware that one took alot of persiverence by the owner as it took a long time to house train.
They dont sit still for a minute
exept when they are completley worn out, esp when puppies.
Although they act a little numb at times they are very bright dogs....I dont think the training differs to much from normal dog training...u just have to be patient and dont expect a whole lot all at once...training seems to come on a little slower as keeping there full attention fo a good period of time is pretty challenging.....and of course there is the keeping on the leash factor...which means exercise must be still be accesible so a large enclosed plot of land is a must....or some other form of stimulating exercise, extra long walks.
And a good understanding of their over all needs, i.e most people seem to think its ok to keep them as solitary pet,when they enjoy the company of other dogs, more so than other breeds, or leave them a home for long hours and expect no destruction or anxiety.
This is an over view of the vast amount I have come across....but u would get much better info from some that has a few huskys and have always owned the breed...I think CYRUS on here has them. might have gt that name wrong
appologies in advance.
They are also renound for digging and making a good job of making the garden look like a baron waste land
....this may well be the ones that have just been bought and left out all day long....and been extremley bored
We have had more then a fair few in our rescue
its definatley a breed u need to do some extensive reading on before just deciding to buy one on the spur of the moment, or talking to those who have experience....but they are extremley pleasurable dogs in the right hands.
They dont sit still for a minute
Although they act a little numb at times they are very bright dogs....I dont think the training differs to much from normal dog training...u just have to be patient and dont expect a whole lot all at once...training seems to come on a little slower as keeping there full attention fo a good period of time is pretty challenging.....and of course there is the keeping on the leash factor...which means exercise must be still be accesible so a large enclosed plot of land is a must....or some other form of stimulating exercise, extra long walks.
And a good understanding of their over all needs, i.e most people seem to think its ok to keep them as solitary pet,when they enjoy the company of other dogs, more so than other breeds, or leave them a home for long hours and expect no destruction or anxiety.
This is an over view of the vast amount I have come across....but u would get much better info from some that has a few huskys and have always owned the breed...I think CYRUS on here has them. might have gt that name wrong
They are also renound for digging and making a good job of making the garden look like a baron waste land
We have had more then a fair few in our rescue
JAK
Well-Known Member
Well, the same particularly talented husky I watched doing absolutely stunning heelwork in an enclosed hall was a different animal when attached to a sled.........nothing on earth would've got through to him then! lol
(I held him once on a 'walk' when he hadn't been given a specific 'heelwork' command & was just 'doing his own thing'..........I have never in my life felt anything so powerful - much smaller & lighter than one of my GSDs, it took all my physical strength just to hang on & I was expecting to be whipped off my feet at any moment!)
If he wanted to work (obedience I mean!), he was brilliant.........if he didn't, you were stuffed basically! lol
He never went off the lead, as he would've pounced on, killed & eaten anything smaller than a cocker spaniel in seconds!
Sit, down, come, fetch, find, he could do it all though - I think he thought it was kinda dumb & a waste of time though!
(I held him once on a 'walk' when he hadn't been given a specific 'heelwork' command & was just 'doing his own thing'..........I have never in my life felt anything so powerful - much smaller & lighter than one of my GSDs, it took all my physical strength just to hang on & I was expecting to be whipped off my feet at any moment!)
If he wanted to work (obedience I mean!), he was brilliant.........if he didn't, you were stuffed basically! lol
He never went off the lead, as he would've pounced on, killed & eaten anything smaller than a cocker spaniel in seconds!
Sit, down, come, fetch, find, he could do it all though - I think he thought it was kinda dumb & a waste of time though!
Cyrus
Well-Known Member
Yup Cala I do
Two very wonderful but very hard work boys would I be without them? Never
Cala is right siberians can be trained but they are not easy and not for the faint hearted when you ask a lab to do something the lab will ask how high, a sibe will ask why you have to find the answers to that why
My boys do not walk to heal but then that is because I choose to allow them to pull and because of that I walk them in a walky belt (the best invention ever made) even though I allow them to pull (I do this because I work my dogs and want them to do what they are born to do) they are very responsive to my voice commands, they understand steady, gee (turn right), haw (turn left) and on-by
They can do everything a "normal" dog can do sit, down, wait, paw etc
Join the sibe space forum and chat to loads of other sibe owners they`ll be able to give you loads of info and if you do decide to bring a siberian into your life they`ll help point you in the right direction of good breeders etc
Oh and just because I love to show them off a couple of pictures of my "pack" taken on saturday
Two very wonderful but very hard work boys would I be without them? Never
Cala is right siberians can be trained but they are not easy and not for the faint hearted when you ask a lab to do something the lab will ask how high, a sibe will ask why you have to find the answers to that why
My boys do not walk to heal but then that is because I choose to allow them to pull and because of that I walk them in a walky belt (the best invention ever made) even though I allow them to pull (I do this because I work my dogs and want them to do what they are born to do) they are very responsive to my voice commands, they understand steady, gee (turn right), haw (turn left) and on-by
They can do everything a "normal" dog can do sit, down, wait, paw etc
Join the sibe space forum and chat to loads of other sibe owners they`ll be able to give you loads of info and if you do decide to bring a siberian into your life they`ll help point you in the right direction of good breeders etc
Oh and just because I love to show them off a couple of pictures of my "pack" taken on saturday
Cyrus
Well-Known Member
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Sit, down, come, fetch, find, he could do it all though - I think he thought it was kinda dumb & a waste of time though!
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Sounds like my kind of sibe JAK
Sit, down, come, fetch, find, he could do it all though - I think he thought it was kinda dumb & a waste of time though!
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Sounds like my kind of sibe JAK
GinaB
Well-Known Member
Your lot are lovely Cyrus, I do think they are stunning dogs, but not the breed for me.
The reason I asked is I know a guy who has two huskies and refuses to try any amount of training. He said they are an untrainable breed and it is stupid to try and train them.
The reason I asked is I know a guy who has two huskies and refuses to try any amount of training. He said they are an untrainable breed and it is stupid to try and train them.
Sugarplum Furry
Well-Known Member
This is my Sibe X GSD. Adores people, loves children, sleeps with the cat (!), highly intelligent but still really hard to train.
Cyrus your dogs are lovely, but if I put Timber on a walky belt I would be travelling up the lane at 30mph on my chin!
This is how big he compared to a normal sibe.
And this is our preferred method of excercise.
pocomoto
Well-Known Member
Trainable yes to a point in a controlled environment.
Trustworthy no once distracted by food or potential food they are gone! Even if hitched to a sled with 5 other dogs and a human! Husky "If you wanted that stick why the hell did you throw it away!" "Me fetch it? in your dreams, its not even edible!"
They are a VERY intelligent breed, (proven in behavioural studies), some more so than their owners! They have a tough attitude akin to their purpose, run until you drop! But in the RIGHT HANDS and with DISCIPLINE are a docile breed in the home and are excellent with children. Though they can be distructive and some have a taste for carpets and furniture.
Ultimtely they are a working breed and a real pack animal and need to be worked hard usually on a lead or hitched to a bike or sled, though there may be exceptions they are not a dog you can go riding with and expect to come back with you!
My sister has bred them for over 25 years and has had a handful capable of being let off lead in controlled conditions, but she has spent many hours looking for those who can't!
But then she races them and they are worked on a sled very regularly.
Malamutes are probably a better bet if you want that look but trainability but they can be a bit OTT with other dogs and at the end of the day have a mind of their own like most spits breeds.
I love Huskys but they are not for me. I need a dog that will not go and make its own entertainment with the sheep next door. I went with Austrailian Cattle Dogs, dingos instead of wolves, they still have a lot of attitude but are a bit more loyal and are obediant off lead.
Trustworthy no once distracted by food or potential food they are gone! Even if hitched to a sled with 5 other dogs and a human! Husky "If you wanted that stick why the hell did you throw it away!" "Me fetch it? in your dreams, its not even edible!"
They are a VERY intelligent breed, (proven in behavioural studies), some more so than their owners! They have a tough attitude akin to their purpose, run until you drop! But in the RIGHT HANDS and with DISCIPLINE are a docile breed in the home and are excellent with children. Though they can be distructive and some have a taste for carpets and furniture.
Ultimtely they are a working breed and a real pack animal and need to be worked hard usually on a lead or hitched to a bike or sled, though there may be exceptions they are not a dog you can go riding with and expect to come back with you!
My sister has bred them for over 25 years and has had a handful capable of being let off lead in controlled conditions, but she has spent many hours looking for those who can't!
But then she races them and they are worked on a sled very regularly.
Malamutes are probably a better bet if you want that look but trainability but they can be a bit OTT with other dogs and at the end of the day have a mind of their own like most spits breeds.
I love Huskys but they are not for me. I need a dog that will not go and make its own entertainment with the sheep next door. I went with Austrailian Cattle Dogs, dingos instead of wolves, they still have a lot of attitude but are a bit more loyal and are obediant off lead.
sylvapak
Well-Known Member
i have 11 huskies and would say that maybe one or two could be trained to sit, but thats about it. the rest of them, im sure will stick to their usual ways!!
suzysparkle
Well-Known Member
I have 5 of them. We have one who does all the usual sit, down, paw and learned it in about a day. She loves jumping too. Another 2 will do paw and, one will jump into my arms on command and one even plays fetch. The other 2 don't want to know - other than paw!! All of ours are worked regularly in harness (providing it's cold enough).
Problem with Huskies is.....they need to want to do it!! I have a Collie as well (need one dog that can be let off lead / chase ball etc) and have had labs and they are are like chalk and cheese. Huskies are VERY intelligent but are also very independent and have a very short attention span - unless running. You will get the odd one who would do obedience etc but it's rare. You are right about the never ever let them off the lead comment though. They really need to be worked as well, mine would go mad otherwise!!
Problem with Huskies is.....they need to want to do it!! I have a Collie as well (need one dog that can be let off lead / chase ball etc) and have had labs and they are are like chalk and cheese. Huskies are VERY intelligent but are also very independent and have a very short attention span - unless running. You will get the odd one who would do obedience etc but it's rare. You are right about the never ever let them off the lead comment though. They really need to be worked as well, mine would go mad otherwise!!