Puppy Training

[ginnah]

I have a dog, Samoyed/Siberian Husky mix. She is a little over a year and 1 month old. She is so hard to train. Stubborn and a LOT of personality. I would not change that. But there are a few bad habits I'd LOVE to make an end to.

- Digging : She loves to dig up the yard.

- She does not listen : She listens great until she gets bored. I had her down at the lake that we live on with our Lab. She listened fine until the lab didn't want to play with her anymore then she wandered and would NOT listen at all. I need a solution to this.

- Jumping : She will not stop jumping on people. You take her paws and put them back on the ground, she jumps up again. She keeps doing it and will not stop. It hurts and she's a fairly big dog.

- Licking/Chewing : For some reason, people recommend training dogs with treats. I trained her to sit, she does it well, but the thing is, when you have her sit now and go to pet her, she licks and bites your hands expecting a small treat. How do I break that habit?

Obviously I need a lot of obedience help with her, and sadly there aren't any classes near here for me to take her, and get advice for myself. Please, very good advice would be great.

<3

[JUDY S]

I am sure Mamabear will have advice for you, but I do know that huskies are notorious for their stubborn, difficult to teach behavior so I want to wish you luck!

[Traci]

I've met and worked with numerous huskies and malamutes, etc....in my experience they are highly trainable, fast learners and are extremely well behaved once trained.

Ginnah, if you don't have classes in the area, perhaps look for a trainer who will come to you, you might pay a bit more, but with the problems you're having, it would probably be worth it. You can't train an adult dog overnight, particularly one who has learned the current behavior, it's going to take time, and alot of patience and comittment on your part.

[Tambrey]

mamabear will be able to help some...but a good trainer will help being right there...

we have a purebred black lab and he is WELL over 100 pounds of SOLIDNESS...he has no idea how BIG he is because he is a lovable teddy bear...we have 3 other mixed breed BIG dogs as well...(and a mini doxie!)

My 17 year old son is 6'2" and weighs 300 pounds and does not mind them jumping on him to give him hugs, and he encourages it by patting his chest for them...much to my dismay and we have discussed this, because not everyone is as big as he is!!...

So, I taught our big dogs to not jump by saying "FOUR ON THE FLOOR!" and I refuse to acknowledge them until all 4 feet are on the floor...then they get love...hugs and pets, and I repeat the word "LOOOOVE (name)!" to them while I am hugging and petting them...but if they start to jump, I stop loving and repeat four on the floor to them....they got that one down now...they still might start to jump, but as soon as they hear that phrase, they stop...

I guess this way my son can get the loves the way he wants from them, I can get mine!

[ginnah]

@ JUDY S : Yes, yes. Very stubborn but she is still a great dog. I love her to death and I appreciate the luck a lot.

@ Traci : We had an obedience class that was a 45 minute drive away every night for like, a week, but sadly I don't have my license and it just wouldn't work out. I'm working on getting my license, late at that, and hopefully, if they have another class sometime in the near future, I can bring her there. She is up to date on all of her shots, I just need to get to the Town Hall and get her registered/licensed.


@ Tambrey : Yes, I know the lab thing as well. I think the last time we took him to the vet he was over 150 lbs. I still wonder if he's pure bred lab. He is just built really, really big across the shoulders. My brother does that with my puppy, Maya, this husky we are sort of discussing here. It's frustrating. And one thing that bothers me too, is I'll try and call my dog when she's in her stubborn mood, my brother calls for her the total opposite direction and she listens to neither of us.

[Marty]

I had a problem with Biscotti jumping up on my elderly MIL whose skin is fragile at that age. Somewhere, maybe on another forum, it was suggested to have her fold her arms across her chest and look up at the ceiling....dogs are supposed to hate that. So I had her try it...and guess what, it worked!

The biggest issue is that MIL hates to do that to Biscotti!

[ginnah]

To me that would make her jump even more. She jumps for attention and she thinks you're playing with her if you try to get her off of you. D;

I mean, I could try it of course, I'll let you know what happens, but who knows with her. Lol.

[mamabear]

Yep i'm here and just as stubborn as a Sam/husky!

I do agree that a professional dog trainer is key BUT if they are not willing to talk to you first about "your" behavior with your dog and being alpha then send them walking and dont waste your time.

I would recomend first that you get a vet check up to make sure that she is healthy and there is no reason to start training with her. If you have had a vet visit recently then that should be fine but please call vet and ask if it has been longer than 6months. If there has been unsual behavoir then please see vet first before starting this.

I have some questions before I can try to help. Sorry for seeing this so late.

1. Is she fixed?
2. Was she abused before you got her or was she a pup when you recieved her?
3. During puppy hood (if you had her then) do you know if she was scared at any time during about 4-5 months of age. Anything it could be...thunderstorm, getting caught on something, being swatted by a cat or other animal.

Is the lab a male or female, fixed or not? How old is the lab?

I would like you to go to this sight and try to get the book or go to the store and get it. It is only a few dollars, please if it is more than $4.00 dont get it because amazon has it for about that. I like the book and it is hte only one I recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Leader-Pack-have- ... 189176702X


If it does not pull up then put this in the search engine and click go.

How to be the Leader of the Pack...And have Your Dog Love You For It. The author is Patricia B. McConnell .

Sam's and Husky's are very hard working dogs. They NEED a job to do. There are a few things I would like you to do before while you are typing to me back and forth and getting that book.

STOP your brother from opening his mouth. Tell him that that dogs life is your responsibility and if he doesnt shut his piehole she can get hit by a car one day because he is helping contribute to her not listening. (that should shut him up ). NO ONE in the house but you and your dh should be feeding the dogs.

Dogs DO NOT get fed before you, ONLY AFTER you and they must work for it. ALWAYS!

Dogs DO NOT go on furniture ever during this period and you do not get on the floor to their level. You are higher then they and when they are cacting this way you must make they know that you are alpha. If you have a husband then he is alpha over all of you and you are alpha female. I know it sounds chauvinistic but that is reality. Men are the the alpha over females when it comes to the animal kingdom and personally I'm fine with that, i see that job and i dont want it. LOL

Once I know a little bit more about these dogs I can help more. This is a very typical alpha problem.

I will be helping with both dogs though just to let you know. Because Maya's training all depends on who else is in the house as a human and how old the lab is and how long he was there before her. I would like to know if there are children there as well and or grandkids that come at all. Also has there been any change in their surroundings, moving,a child leaving (moving away to college or just move out), a death in the family(sorry to ask and sorry if this is so but i need to know), has anyone been diagnosed with something recently or any stress or trauma recently, have you started menopause or just found out you were pregnant? I ask these questions because this all effects the dogs and their training.

i would like to say that although the Samoyed and Husky's are very stubborn dogs THEY ARE highly trainable and smart. They NEED to work and if not working they get bored and we all know what happens with idle hands. THEY DO NOT want to be alpha and if you come accross as not being one yourself then they get stressed and try to take on that roll and get confused. Therefore the whole licking and biting occurs and the whole not listening is completely being alpha. When they demand to be petted or fed or lean into you that is all dominance. This is normal and trust me it wont be over night but they will love you and be better off once you start.

As far as the jumping you might have to be a bit more alpha and demanding when dealing with. A mother would nip her pup for doing something that is not liked. You are not her mother but you are her alpha and if you are upset and yell at her she will respond. CLEAR commands are also best. I would highly recomend that you figure out what commands you want and in what language. I use german and english. And I have trained my dogs to only obey the family (kids included.) My son who is 4 can tell my dog to go outside in german and he will do so, but if someone comes here and says to do it in german he will look at htem like "yo who are you?" LOL

I use these commands in german but i will say what they mean in english.


* Aus! (Ows): Out! Drop It! Let Go!
* Bleib! (Blibe or Blipe): Stay!
* Bringen! : Bring! Fetch!
* Fuss! (Foos): Heel!
* Gib Laut! : Bark!
* Hier! : Here! Come!
* Hopp! : Up! Jump!
* Nein! (Nine):No!
* Pfui! (Foo-ey): Shame! Stop That! Drop That!
* Platz! (Plots): Down! (Place)
* Setz! , Setzen! (Zetze'n): Sit!
We also have one for Go outside and one for go inside. When we take them out we use these terms in german. I would in english use ONLY one word commands so for going outside I would use Outside and when you want her to go inside make her come to you using the word you will use for come here and then you go in first (we'll get into you going inside before her) then you say inside .

One word commands are best. We do have many other words we use on our dogs as they are working dogs but I did not put them on here as they wont apply to you and your dogs. But simple one word commands are best. Sitdown is not a command , Sit is one command and down is another. And stay is another. You will get the hang of it.

I have been very busy but once I know someone is looking for help like this I try to check often. I am away most of the day tomorrow after about 9am but i will check here before then and then when I get home tomorrow night. Please try to get the book at book store first before going on line , call the book store first. It is a paperback and not too many pages long. But it is so worth the reading of it.

[mamabear]

Oh jsut to let you know when you teach them to jump and bark it is a great thing! The reason for it is because once they learn wehn you say the command to do it that when they do it and you dont want them to do it you use the word you will use for shut up and they learn to be quiet. Shut up is a command yes! sounds rude but its not lol. We use german and it is translated to say SHTILL which means to be still. So when my dogs are fussing I yell SHTILL and they shut up. LOL. Also I do not say their names when one is doing something wrong or htey both are. I simply say the commands.

Example: Max (my dog) is barking at the kids when they are coming down the stairs and I have had it with the nonsense.

Mamabear: SHTILL
Max: thinks dang why oh why did she say that
LOL

Example: Max is running through the yard chasing a squieral
Mamabear: Pfui(which means stop that)
Max: Does not want to listen and keeps running knowing fully well I will be waiting there angry at the door.

note******YOU NEVER SAY A COMMAND MORE THAN ONCE

Mamabear: still trying to get Max back now says LHAS ES (Which means to leave it) it is an absolute command and he knows that that is the one command he must always obey at all cost no matter what he has in his mouth.
Max: knowing fully well I am upset and saying this to him knows that although I was upset with him not listening at first knows he will get praise for listening to his absolute command.

Max comes to me and I praise him for listening to the last command I said. Which was lhas es(leave it). He feels that he did right and I didnt have to go chase a dog and I saved a squirrel.

That command has saved his life and saved me from chasing him. He knows I wont go after him at any cost. He knows he MUST come back TO ME. And he has.

I would also suggest you buy a very long lead. Some are 25 ft. Go to the petstore or the local feed store if you have one. Since she does not listen you need to make sure she is secure when training her. Or in a fenced in yard.

talk to you later.

[ginnah]

1. Is she fixed?

Yes. She was fixed March 21st, 2007.

2. Was she abused before you got her or was she a pup when you recieved her?

I got her as a puppy. I actually new her and played with her from the day she was born. n.n

3. During puppy hood (if you had her then) do you know if she was scared at any time during about 4-5 months of age. Anything it could be...thunderstorm, getting caught on something, being swatted by a cat or other animal.

I don't remember as of now. If I think of anything I'll be sure to let you know. D;



The lab is male. He is fixed as well. He's around 14 or 15 years old and we've had him since 8 weeks.

I'll see what I can do about the book. I'm sure my dad will be happy to order it for me as long as I pay him back. Even as cheap as it is.

It's me, my parents, my brother [ 16 ]. My sister will once in awhile, at least every other weekend, bring my niece [ 3 ], and nephew [ 2 ], up and hang out.


The answer to all of these questions is no. (Also has there been any change in their surroundings, moving,a child leaving (moving away to college or just move out), a death in the family(sorry to ask and sorry if this is so but i need to know), has anyone been diagnosed with something recently or any stress or trauma recently, have you started menopause or just found out you were pregnant?)


I appreciate your help.

Also, she was born May 11th, 2006. So she's just a little over a year.