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Calling on siberian husky owners.... I am at my wits end!!

31 replies

Natalie1989xo · 20/10/2014 09:34

So picked up our husky puppy on 2nd October and he has settled well, gets on with our 4 year old staffie and all seems ok.

I found training my staffie very easy and this pup has knocked my feet from under me! He will sit on command for a treat and then bite your hand for it, which I can deal with and work on.

But it's the toilet training, he just doesn't completely get it, he will pee and poo outside in the garden which is fab I know, and I am keeping him in the kitchen currently as it is hard floor. In the mornings there will be about 3 or 4 poos and a puddle of wee. I know he obviously won't hold it all night at 10 weeks but I am wondering if i am feeding him too late or too much and adding to the problem? He is dry fed on Wagg currently and is fed at
6am 1pm and 7pm. Is 7pm too late? He is taken outside at leaat every hour all day until 9pm when we go up to bed. DH comes back down about 10.30 or 11 to let him out. Then at 5.30am Dh takes him out again.

This is just so hard, much more so than I thought. So if any husky owners can guide me or share my pain I will be forever in your debt.....

OP posts:
Natalie1989xo · 20/10/2014 09:37

Also, he does mess on the floor during the day so perhaps he needs every half hour outside?

And his poos are quite runny? The breeder said he was wormed but I am not so sure? His vet appointment for vacs and health chexk is at the end of the week so I suppose I could ask then.

OP posts:
ilovemonstersinc · 20/10/2014 09:37

We got our husky when he was older from a dogs home so cant help too much but I think your expecting a little too much too soon? I might be wrong but I would try and wait it out. Could you try and see if he will pee on the puppy training pad thingys?

GobblersKnob · 20/10/2014 10:04

Not a husky owner, but I would be aiming for outside to toilet, after every meal, drink, play, sleep and otherwise every 20 mins at that age (unless asleep), are you staying with him outside?

Also Wagg is a pretty awful food.

I have two friends with huskys, they are gorgeous but high maintenance, and were VERY demanding as youngsters.

Rainicorn · 20/10/2014 10:09

Is he always in the kitchen? You need to be able to see him to watch him for signs he needs the toilet and take him outside straight away.

With treats, hold it in your fingers so that only a tiny bit is exposed, bring it towards him and use a word, eg nicely, and release it to him once you're sure he won't snap it up.

Rainicorn · 20/10/2014 10:10

I would also change his food as Wagg is not the best food for any dog. You want a food where the meat is the first named in the ingredients list and not grain.

Star85 · 20/10/2014 10:18

Hi we had a Siberian husky/Alaskan malamute and the 1st thing we were told from the breeder was they have a very delicate stomach. Wagg is no good unfortunately.
Huskies are a very difficult breed in my opinion, I had mine for 2 years and in the end I had to rehome him :-( they are very smart dogs who need a lot of time and exercise. That being said my friends has a huskie who is 7 now and he is just perfect makes me sad to think I don't have mine now.
Id change his food, speak to your pet shop about a decent brand, I'm sure they can't have too much wheat. Persovier with your training, and make sure you are strict when teaching to walk on the lead. I neve taught mine to walk on the lead i used to run him and by the time he was fully grown he refused to walk and would pull me everywhere! Best of luck to you xxx

Natalie1989xo · 20/10/2014 10:27

He spends a lot of time in the kitchen, he is supervised when outside and when out of kitchen for play or fuss. I don't allow him to roam the house as he pleases. I wanted to but read online to keep them confined whilst house training.

I don't like using wagg but it was what the breeder was giving him, so I will have to try change him over slowly. My staffie has wainwrights which is a hypo allergenic food, made from lamb and rice.

I would like him on that really. I just need to tell myself that this puppy stage isn't forever Sad I much prefer adult dogs Sad

OP posts:
Rainicorn · 20/10/2014 10:29

I'd start changing his food now. Mix it half and half for a week or so then 3/1 for the next week then onto the good stuff

Natalie1989xo · 20/10/2014 11:16

I think I will and hopefully he will start doing normal poos! Sorry but I am sick of cleaning up sludge! Ugh!

OP posts:
GobblersKnob · 20/10/2014 12:09

Don't worry about changing his food, start half and half and increase, should only take three or four days. Maybe try giving four meals a day too instead of three.

The puppy stage isn't forever, this too shall pass. Puppies drive me nuts too, they are like babies imo, great when you can play with them for a bit then hand them back Wink

toboldlygo · 20/10/2014 13:30

Agree, ditch the Wagg, it's poor quality generally and sibes tend not to tolerate high grain food.

Sibe puppies are bloody awful and will test you in terms of training and behaviour every day until 2-3 years old, at which point they become only a mild pain in the arse.

Natalie1989xo · 20/10/2014 13:40

He gives it gob too! If I tell him no he will bark at me. He really is a cheeky chappy and I pray that he does not drive me to drink! Thank you all so much, I just got to a point this morning where I thought I am clearly not able to look after a puppy properly. He is so beautiful and full of love but I do spend a lot of time frustrated with him. Sad

OP posts:
VilootShesCute · 20/10/2014 23:31

Aw, I feel your pain. Hang in there. I turned to gin to get me through puppy stage.

mermaidstale · 21/10/2014 21:50

10 weeks old, he's a little baby. House training takes months and huskys are notoriously hard to teach anything.
Did you research the breed before buying him? Dogs' homes are full of cast-off huskys now they have become very popular and owners don't know what they are getting. Buy Gwen Bailey's book, The Perfect Puppy, and devote hours every day to training him well.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 21/10/2014 21:56

Gorgeous dogs but have to admit my neighbours husky was a right pain in the arse for the first two years. It's still hard work so I would brace yourself for a long road ahead.

Natalie1989xo · 22/10/2014 12:16

We have had a breakthrough! He held his bladder and bowels until he was let out this morning! Such a relief that we are in fact getting somewhere.

He sits on command, nearly there with paw, very slowly getting there with 'nicely' when taking treats and I am trying to teach him down when he jumps up my leg and scratches me Sad

We did do a lot of reading before we got him and apoke at length with the breeder for tips and what to expect but I still think we weren't prepared enough. Still, progress is being made and though he's a pain in the arse we will get there slowly. Thanks for all your advice Grin

OP posts:
dotdotdotmustdash · 22/10/2014 14:22

Did you research the breeder carefully? are they a breeder who competes, titles or or works their dogs? I'm a bit concerned about the knowledge and ethics of a husky breeder who feeds their dogs on Wagg. It's more the BYBs who would use a nasty brand like that.

Natalie1989xo · 22/10/2014 23:42

This is now what I am thinking, they don't do anything like that with them as far as I know. Our pup isn't KC registered and we didn't really push about it as we aren't going to breed from him.

I have got some chicken for him that I am mixing with his biscuits and then by the end of the week he will be mainly on the new food.

OP posts:
dotdotdotmustdash · 23/10/2014 10:19

Sadly, it does sound like a Backyard breeder. I only rescue, but if I were to buy a dog I would probably go through the breed club and thoroughly investigate anyone I was going to buy from as there as so many people out there breeding for the wrong reasons.

Good luck with your pup, I'm sure he'll be fine when he gets used to a better quality food.

Natalie1989xo · 23/10/2014 13:27

I just hate puppies :( So much hard work, we would much rather rescue but our rescue centre locally won't allow us ANY of their dogs as we have a child under 5. I would prefer to rescue, I really would.

We paid a lot of money for him tooSad

OP posts:
VilootShesCute · 23/10/2014 21:29

Crack open that gin, love...

toboldlygo · 23/10/2014 22:08

The Siberian Husky Welfare Association will rehome to families with children and they operate across all of the UK. £200 gets you a dog that is vaccinated, neutered and has spent time in a foster home (not kennels) having its temperament and behaviour assessed.

Backyard breeders are ruining this breed. :(

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Sulawesii · 23/10/2014 22:16

He will need tons of on-lead exercise when he's fully grown, I don't think you can ever let them off the lead. Will you run him?

Can you not crate him to make the toilet training easier?

dotdotdotmustdash · 23/10/2014 23:01

I'm in Scotland but my last two rescue dogs have come from reputable rescues in Manchester and South Wales. You just have to look around and chat with them. They will usually be flexible if the right home comes along. There are tons of young huskies in rescues as so many families discover that, while a husky pup is beautiful, an adult husky is a high maintenance dog!

As far as KC registration goes, it isn't a perfect system and while some poor breeders breed KC reg dogs, no good breeder will ever breed a dog without a KC reg as there is no purpose to it. If a dog isn't registered there's no verified history and no way of having it assessed as being a good example of it's breed. If your pup isn't KC reg the most you can say is that it's mother is a husky-type and it's father you can only guess at!

I hope you enjoy your pup and have the time and resources to raise it to be a good family pet, but next time you look at getting a dog, please, please make sure you're putting your money towards a better cause, whether it's a rescue or a good breeder who is breeding ethically and for the right reasons. 'Greeders' only continuing breeding because people give them money and they shouldn't be encouraged.

livelablove · 23/10/2014 23:12

I love huskies and the way they "talk". Beautiful dogs. You totally need to stop him jumping up and work on walking on a loose lead. They will pull! I would start now just getting used to lead and walking about the house and garden without pulling on the lead. Also do lots of recalls and try to socialise him a lot, maybe a puppy class?

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