So I'm trying to determine if we should get another husky.  If we do then it will be a rescue since there as so many in need!!!  Seems like people see only a "pretty dog" and then end up way over their heads    Anywho, so our boy Zeus is 13 and when he's not enjoying short walks or eating, he likes to pretend to be a throw rug   Our house is of a crazy sort with 3 kids and all of them have ADHD.  Zeus is okay with the older 2 kids cause they can be respectful of his space but it's a different story with the youngest.  So now to protect my child and Zeus (Zeus has bitten before -- problems with dominance), Zeus spends his time secure in our calm and cool bedroom.

I have said that we will take a break from owning dogs but will have another husky own us in the future when the youngest gets a little older and can understand things better.  But after 13 years of an up and down relationship with this breed I couldn't see myself without one.  I'm sure y'all know what I mean!!!

I guess I'm not really sure.  I've seen so many that need to be rescued but will the "old man" want another pack member?  What do y'all think?  Any advice or criticism would be appreciated!!

My male lab is 12 and like throw rug dog now. He does not care for the new puppy who is lower energy for a husky puppy from what I read, but he deals with him and after a few growls puppy has learned to give my old man his space. Puppy will try to sleep by him at times but I am happy I have third dog who still has more energy then my puppy.

I would say it could be done but you may have problems to deal with and you have to be mindful to still give old man lots of love. To do it again, I would have probably waited.

Were you thinking of puppy or a dog?

Hey and thanks for the reply. I'm not 100% on getting another one right now but I do think about it sometimes!! If I did it would definitely have to be an older one so their energy levels could match.

Why do you think Zeus' issues with your youngest are dominance related? From the sound of it, it seems like its quite a hectic household and perhaps the youngest doesn't properly interact with Zeus? Especially since he is older and may be feeling a bit more arthritic. If you're having issues now with your youngest and Zeus perhaps it would be wise until he/she is older and can more properly interact/respect a dog. Especially if you're going through a rescue. Not that there is anything wrong with a rescue (all of mine are and do well with children in controlled interactions), but just using the info you provided about the current issues with one of your children and Zeus.

arooroomom wrote:

Why do you think Zeus' issues with your youngest are dominance related? From the sound of it, it seems like its quite a hectic household and perhaps the youngest doesn't properly interact with Zeus? Especially since he is older and may be feeling a bit more arthritic. If you're having issues now with your youngest and Zeus perhaps it would be wise until he/she is older and can more properly interact/respect a dog. Especially if you're going through a rescue. Not that there is anything wrong with a rescue (all of mine are and do well with children in controlled interactions), but just using the info you provided about the current issues with one of your children and Zeus.

Arooroomom, things are crazy in my household and I have decided that another doggie in the house might be a little too much.  My youngest has sensory processing problems and because I can't get him to understand how to respect Zeus there is (and has been) little interaction between them which is a shame cause Zeus does love all of them.  About a month after the bite Zeus went lame in the back and vets think he had a clot that resolved itself.  We then started him on meds cause the night of the bite Zeus had been on a long walk with a doggie backpack which must have put extra pressure on his back and he never let on that he was hurting.  Right before the bite my youngest one was walking along beside Zeus with his arm on his back.

We had a behavioralist come in that specialized with breeds not as domesticated as other dogs and informed me all of those "cute" things Zeus did were actually him trying to be dominant and I never corrected him.  He has never just walked up and just bit anyone so now it's a struggle everyday to make sure he knows who's at the head of the pack.

I love him to death and ignored many ppl who said he should be put down, including the vet.  So now I keep human feelings out of it and he happily spends his day in the bedroom away from the chaos (lucky boy!) and comes out once the youngest one is in bed.  We walk in the evenings and now my little guy is in kinder so Zeus gets to be out all day long.

Sorry so long winded but I've been so defensive over this cause ppl have told me keep Zeus is a mistake but he's just being a husky and saw a weakness and left he had to step in to keep the "pack" strong.  

I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy

Arooroomom, actually our female Sheeba was a rescue and turned out to be the sweetest thing around. She would lay down with you where Zeus never would and was wonderful with the kids. She was very submissive. I will have another husky and it will be a rescue cause I think they are more appreciative. It's like they know