UNDERSTANDING YOUR HUSKY PUPPY

Whatever type of puppy you choose doesn't enter into it at all. This puppy only understands one thing and one thing only; it has just been ripped from its pack and it is alone. Your pup feels lost. His whole life has just gone from one of normal as he knows it, to one of fear. The first night home your pup will call, what we refer to as crying. Well he is not crying. He's calling out to the others, "come on I'm over here come and get me". And he will continue to call for his pack, waiting to hear them call back so he can feel safe again. Please understand all of this may seem strange to you, but think like the dog. He will call out in a sort of howl. Some pups are better at howling than others, either way its a howl. He'll carry on for a bit and then he'll stop. He's waiting for one of the pack to answer. When they don't he trys again. You'll notice the first night is the worst.

Throughout the day your puppy may either be a little nervous of you, or it may follow you right away. If the puppy follows you and seems content, your next night will not be quite as bad. But if the pup shies away from you, the next night could be even worse than the first. This pup has a chance of being a good and loyal member of the pack. He's not going to give up trying to find his old pack. This is where you come in. Do you think you'd like someone to come along and be your friend if you couldn't find your family? The answer to that is yes, right? Well the same thing holds true with your dog. He needs someone or something to let him know he is safe.

Understanding the primitive instinct of the dog now comes into play. He's alone and confused, he needs a friend. Go to him, maybe give him a little water. No doubt he has spilled what you left for him earlier. Use a soft tone when you talk to him. Reassure him everything is okay,. Try to get him to relax. This is where the word "EASY" comes in. If you do this you have just shown the pup that you have answered its call and have come to the rescue. The pup has made its first real bond with you, and now knows its call has been answered. You may not be quite what he was looking for, but you'll do.

Each pup is different, and like all animals, including us, each may take longer to learn. You can be reassured that the pup will come around. He'll soon learn he is part of this pack now. He will also want his place in the pack, and that's where you come into it again. You cannot let him think he is the top dog. If you do, he will not want to submit to you. If given the chance any dog would rise to the top of its pack. Only the strong survive in the dog's world. You may be looking at a little helpless pup, and you are. Just make sure that you understand this little pup is going to grow up and be a dog, and it could be a big dog depending on the breed you have chosen.

Now we can look at training your pup. First you should set up some rules for him to follow, and now is the time to do just that. If by chance you happened to get the dominant pup out of the litter, and believe me one was dominant, or you got the weakest pup in the litter ,does not enter into it at all. You have to show the pup you are the boss in this pack. You are number one. Every member of the family has to make this part clear. No one can let the dog think it is above any member of the family, if you do, that person will have no control.

Children have a way of exciting puppies. The pup wants to play and he may play hard. This can cause some problems. The pup starts out playing and as it gets a little rougher he gets a little more excited. The pup will play for control, he wants to be able to dominate this other pack member. The child gets excited, and the pup gets even more excited. The pup gets a little rougher. Soon the child is crying "the puppy jumped up on me and scratched me," is what you hear. The act the pup carried out is normal for him. He's just climbing his way to the top, and in his world he fights to get there. The pup will jump up on the child trying to knock the child down. That's what he has to do to win. If the child struggles the pup works harder to get this pack member down and make it submit.

Let's get one thing straight, this new puppy isn't a killer. It doesn't want to rip your child's throat out. It's just working out the order of things. He'll rough house with you too, and for the same reason. Only you are bigger, and can subdue any size pup. When you do this the pup has been put in its place. You can make it submit with no problem, a child can't. The pup will continue to try jumping up on the child. Try to remember your pup is just a kid too. Try to teach your children to use the command "NO" just like you do. If you can all do this, soon the pup reacts to the command. Remember earlier I said "NO" means stop doing what your doing and right now. Soon the pup starts to understand. Some take longer than others. Just keep in mind your pup will mature at a fast rate. What you teach him now will be very important.

Your children, being of different ages ,will no doubt play differently with the pup. A twelve year old will be able to play rougher than your four year old. Now the whole neighborhood knows you have a puppy. The young kids want to pet him. Well first thing puppy does is jump right up on little Billy and the child is afraid. The pup senses fear and jumps again trying to knock this new opponent down, and will continue until someone comes running to stop it. "NO" is the command used at this point and if the pup continues, grab it by the neck and give it a good firm shake.

That's the way another pack member would do it, firm and to the point. You have to understand at this point the pup may be just a little confused. Something tells him he has made a mistake. He will have to be reminded a few times before it sinks in that the weak are to be protected, and with maturity and age, the dog gets a grasp of what's expected by his new pack. In time you will see the mature dog let a young child pull on its fur and just lay there and take it. At that point he knows his place as a protector.

We have now looked at the pup in a nut shell. What you teach him now will make him a well adjusted dog in the future. If you have done your part right, the rest of the dog's training will be relatively easy. Not to say there may not be a few set backs. There will be. But you must continue to let the dog know you are in control and the head of this pack. Patience, and time, end in successful results. When you discipline your dog make sure to do it right. Don't make a half -hearted attempt, be forceful if you
must.