So i have a 2 year old husky that I got when he was about a year old. I never gave him any exercise because he was always a very calm husky. Over time, he began to be more depressed and very indipendent and he was very isolated and he was never anyone's "best friend". This dog would growl at me when I took his toys away. He growled at anyone who went near him when he was eating. He never played with anyone and etc. I recently began to run with him because he was very skinny. I've been running with him for a week and I have definitely see a change in his attitude. He looks a little more happy now. My question is: What else will come as a result from running? Will he trust me more? Will he grow closer to me? etc.

When I said "he growled" I meant that he did it before and he still does it

It sounds like you have a dog that has been ignored and neglected (mentally). Exercise and play is key bonding time with you pup, so I can understand if he doesn't feel like part of the pack.

Sounds like the growling is behavior that can probably be alleviated by attention, socialization, and training.

I don't know if you did any research before getting a husky, but they tend not to be any one person's "best friend". They are social pack animals that tend to love anyone who has some special treats or attention for them! And regardless of how 'calm' they may seem, every dog needs exercise for more reasons than just physical.

Bottom line: spend some time with your dog. Exercise, play, train.

I'm going to be blunt here. But reading your pasts posts it kind of seems like you want low maintenance dogs that obey you every command. That is not huskies. I also saw you allowed your dogs to breed, which is a whole other issue entirely.

I knew what I was going into when I got a husky. They were described as very energetic dogs that need exercise. They were also described as dogs that were very social and very playful. My husky was neither. He was very calm and he was very serious and not at all social or playful. I think that the fact that he spent a whole year tied up to a post before he came to live with me has an effect on his attitude. He won't ever play with me unless I bring a tennis ball home and if I do that he proceeds to eat it. Trust me, I did expect to get a dog that would eat furniture, destroy things, and etc, buy I also expected him to be happier.

Yes, I did let my dogs breed. This is because in my country it is not normal to get dogs castrated. I don't think that the fact that he is a father affects his attitude. If anything it affects the mother's attitude but I do not have a problem with her.

...I'm sure she meant that breeding two dogs who are intact just because it's possible and convenient is highly problematic...not that breeding would affect your dogs

If you're interested in the debate just search "ethical breeder" or "so you want to be a breeder."

If not, cheers

Pewis wrote:

I knew what I was going into when I got a husky. They were described as very energetic dogs that need exercise. They were also described as dogs that were very social and very playful. My husky was neither. He was very calm and he was very serious and not at all social or playful. I think that the fact that he spent a whole year tied up to a post before he came to live with me has an effect on his attitude. He won't ever play with me unless I bring a tennis ball home and if I do that he proceeds to eat it. Trust me, I did expect to get a dog that would eat furniture, destroy things, and etc, buy I also expected him to be happier.

If he's skinny, I would check with the vet to make sure its not a medical issue and try increasing his food portions, running is only going to build muscle and not solve an issue of low weight. My Yuki is VERY lazy as well, she will sleep all day if I let her. I have had her since she was a pup and we have always done interactive games and short walks but she is lazy by personality. However, just because she is lazy doesn't mean I never take her out - she LOVES going on walks and going to the dog park. If I didn't take her walking once in a while, I'm sure she'd go insane because even if shes laid-back, she still craves the exercise. It seems you can already tell, he IS happier when you run with him, because you are paying attention to him, and giving him something to do. It sounds like he is lacking mental stimulation, just because he is lazy or laid back is no excuse to ignore basic needs. Your dog will not trust you overnight. If you truly want him to bond with you, you need to start being more involved with him in both physical and mental activities.

By skinny I didn't mean stomach wise. I just meant that he was out of shape I guess.

As in underdeveloped in the muscles and structure? That would make sense given the lack of exercise.

yeah exactly