Hey guys! I'm so glad I found this forum. I never thought I'm going to be searching for help online - but unfortunately, now I have to.

I'm a happy owner of two husky bitches for some time now (3 years old) and despite the usual ups and downs, things have more or less been great. Last couple of weeks though - an absolute terror.

One of them keeps barking late at night - no reason known to me. It usually happens when I'm in the kitchen (and she can see me from the balcony where they rest) and always very late at night. Balcony doors are open, kennel I made for them on the balcony is open, she's free to roam around. Sometimes she runs into the kennel happily and then starts barking. Quite weird.

I believe it all began when I built them a kennel. It has one entrance but two separate "rooms" inside for them. It was good initially (they both loved being inside) but after the fight they had (I suspect one wanted to own the place - I was too optimistic) I decided to put sliding doors to their "rooms". It was great for three days…then one of them started barking and would not stop. If I called her out she would't come until the other one went so I thought it has to do with position in the pack. Now she does't wanna come out even when she's inside alone. She just peeks out and barks here and then.

Saddly, I was then left with no choice (2am, job) but to put them both inside. Long story short, we ended all being in my room. The first one left to stay with me, the second one wanted to go back outside as I believe she felt better there. Now, this first one (barking one) kept dissobeying and standing up, watching me while I sleep, putting paw on my bed, sometimes growling. This is the me-getting-nuts-part…

I keep giving her the lie down command and she keeps getting up. This can go up for hours, leaving me mad and aggressive. Eventhough I can be quite rough sometimes she keeps standing up. Eventually things settle, and she sleeps the night ok.

It's clear that I have dominance issues in the pack but Im not sure how to fix them (sometimes I even don't know which one is the dominant one as they behave differently in different situations). First thing I would like (want!) to do is to establish full control over the stubborn bitch but have no idea where to start (surprisingly, even though the second non-barking bitch is the one that enters first, drinks first… she is extremely humble and subordinated to me). I can't leave them outside unlocked as I fear they might fight. If I lock them one usually starts barking. Leaving them wandering around the flat is a no go.

There is lot more background to this story which I will write about later. But if anyone encountered anything similar or perhaps has an idea of what to do I would really appreciate if it was shared!

Btw, we're on three walks daily: 8 am (6 km), 6pm (5-6 km) and 11 pm (6-7 km) so I believe the lack of exercise isn't an issue here.

Thnx a lot!

Tired owner

Hm. This is an interesting one... Firstly I have some questions.

How long ago was the fight?

Are they spayed (may or may not matter)?

Can they see each other when they are in their rooms?

What was the sleeping situation before you built the new kennel?

Have they shown aggression toward each other since the one fight?

I don't think this is a dominance issue, I think it might be an issue caused by a change in routine.

wpskier222 wrote:

Hm. This is an interesting one... Firstly I have some questions.

How long ago was the fight?

Are they spayed (may or may not matter)?

Can they see each other when they are in their rooms?

What was the sleeping situation before you built the new kennel?

Have they shown aggression toward each other since the one fight?

I don't think this is a dominance issue, I think it might be an issue caused by a change in routine.

Hey, first - thnx a lot for helping me out!


Here's a story with a bit more background.


The bitch that barks was with me since she was little. We lived in a different place for a year. She was a bit stubborn but never had any major issues with her. Then I got another bitch in co-ownership. I expected them to fight here and then (same age, built, both maturing). Those fights they intially had were short but quite serious. I couldn't really establish which one was the dominant as they behaved differently in different situations. Fight was usualy provoked by passing by (territory). I once got really pissed off at both which seemed to do the trick as they never fought again. All went great for a while.

Then came the moving. Due to circumstances I had to move in with my mother (she got injured bad and needed assistance) temporarily. By that time, I also found out the newcomer was suffering from Leishmania. The treatment begun, all went well, bitches got along, they were staying inside. As the situation with my mother didn't seem to be going to better I decided I'll keep both dogs outside this winter and so I built them a kennel (hair was all over the flat!).

Kennel was super great - they loved staying inside - but I made a mistake (at least thats what I think it happened). I saw one of the bitches munching on the blanket inside the kennel. I suspect that same bitch started treating that blanket as an object. One day they had a fight - short, but severe, as before. Ever since then the first bitch (lets just call her "barker") didn't want to be inside the kennel anymore. I didn't force her. I also replaced the blankets with hay and they both enjoyed the kennel as they did before. Until they fought again. I believe the new one tried to push the "barker" one out (at least that's what I suspect). I then built the sliding doors and this is where the barking and extortion I'm mentioning in the opening post begun.

Now, to answer your questions:

- the last fight was about... 3, maybe four weeks ago.
- no, they aren't spayed.
- depends on the position they're lying. If they want to, yes, certainly... they can face each other.
- they were both inside. No issues at all. No barking, growling, no fights.
- well, there were more fights so it's hard to say. There is only tension present with feeding and in the kennel when passing by. I think it's safe to say only certain situations envoke the tension, otherwise it's all great.

Oh, I also must add, the "barker" is the one that allways starts calling to the play (paws, pose, growl, jumping). They play together (inside, outside) but I've never seen the newcomer start it.

You've been helpfull allready wpskier222 - thnx! Any ideas how to proceed?

well im not sure if i can help at all but i do have a female and she is a bigger PIA then my male. is there a reason they are not spayed? that may help the fighting. it is always said its harder to have 2 females together then a male and female and 2 males. the one that is now inside with you at night, any way you can have a kennel in your room for her to sleep in so she is not up and moving around and bugging you or do you think she will still bark. could she be barking cause the other dog is not in the room with you 2? have you tired both of them in your room at night even if the other would rather be outside? is the barker still a problem then? other then the walks do you do any mental games with them to wear them out?

jbealer wrote:

well im not sure if i can help at all but i do have a female and she is a bigger PIA then my male. is there a reason they are not spayed? that may help the fighting. it is always said its harder to have 2 females together then a male and female and 2 males.  the one that is now inside with you at night, any way you can have a kennel in your room for her to sleep in so she is not up and moving around and bugging you or do you think she will still bark. could she be barking cause the other dog is not in the room with you 2? have you tired both of them in your room at night even if the other would rather be outside? is the barker still a problem then? other then the walks do you do any mental games with them to wear them out?

Thnx for helping me out!

My room is relatively small and bringing kennel inside is saddly a no go. I've been thinking hard and trying to find a reason for her behaviour but nothings comes to my mind. It also seems to appear randomly. I can be in the kitchen for hours and she will be ok with it. If I open the dishwasher at say, 6 pm, she will start barking. If I left them alone with my mother she (the barker) even came inside and started barking to / at my mother for no reason. She would never do something like that with me on the other hand. She's definitely trying to express herself in a way not yet understood by me. It's quite frustrating.

As for activities - I'm trying. The barker has a mind of her own (like probably most huskies). She and her gf are mostly interested in rabbits and digging holes :)I'm trying to prevent her from playing with the other bitch too much as I would like to show her, she can play with me. Now, playing with her usualy means pulling a rope, sometimes (rarely) jumping for a branch but most of the times biting my hand. She loves that. We used to play like that ever since she was little and it stuck with me. She doesn't bite (another thing that makes her different - she's amazingly gentle with her teeth) so I don't mind that much. I'm probably ignoring the psychological aspect a bit too much here. The problem is though, the barker has an attention span of 2,3, 5 minutes max. Another funny thing, she allways wants to play on the same locations (same spots) - they seem to trigger her wish to play. The other bitch isn't interested in any games. I sometimes provoke her, make her drop on her back and hold her like that for a bit - that makes her crazy and she begins running like insane while the "barker" tries to catch her. They enjoy this a lot.

To summarize, yes, there is extra action involved besides walking only but truth be told, I could probably do a bit better.

And yes, having two bitches is quite a task

Btw, if anyone is inerested (it's sometimes easier to actually see the dog than trying to make up a picture in your mind), here they are.