Dominance can be a huge issue within the husky breed. Naturally, they are pack dogs and establish dominance amongst themselves. Once they view you as part of their pack, they will test their limits with you to try and establish dominance over you as well. You must push back and show that you are their alpha. After much research, we decided to try a few different things with Rokee.
- Never feed them or give them any treat before you eat. The dog should be on a routine feeding. In the morning for breakfast for example- sit down and eat your food and be sure that they can see or watch you eat. If they beg or jump up at you for some of your food, sternly say, “no!” and command them to sit. Once they have calmed down, continue eating. Once you are finished with your food, immediately feed the dog. The same goes for any type of treat. Pretending to eat the treat you are about to give them by just putting it up to your face while they watch will do the same thing. In packs, the alpha is the first to eat. Your dog will soon recognize this pattern and will view you as alpha. Your dog needs to understand that you control their food. You are in control.
- This next one was most difficult for us and Cherokee. She has a retractable leash
that goes out to 32 feet. She is used to being able to run those 32 feet and would often sit back and wait for us to be 32 feet in front of her so that she could then bolt when she felt the leash reach its limit. She would run to us, then past us for the other 32 feet, giving her a 64 foot run. This would burn a lot of her energy after she would do this quite a few times. We read, however that when a dog is allowed to “lead” you, they are establishing their dominance. The best way to break this is restricting her on the retractable leash so that she can only walk right beside us. She was not a fan of this at all, nor were we since it was twice as hard to burn all the energy that she has built up! We have found alternatives, however such as taking her to the dog park and to our community beach so she can run. -
While it may be obvious that you control the toys, treat, and food: it is not obvious to your dog. It is said that the husky breed is the only breed that can literally survive without you. You need to show them that you are in control of their things. Never give them a treat or even a toy without something in return. For example, make them sit or lay down or preform any other type of trick before letting them have their toy.
All of these things as I was reading them sounded so cruel to me! I love her and knew she wouldn’t be a fan of any of it, but soon realized that if we didn’t start doing something, she could end up being potentially aggressive as she grows up. We are still in the process of working with her, but she has gotten better! Her tugging and pulling on the leash has lessened. She is getting better about jumping all over you (which we thought was funny at first.) She still is very stubborn when it comes to known commands. She takes your command as a suggestion instead of a command. We are working on it. Silly dog.
So graceful.
A New Experience 