Hi guys,

Owner of 2 huskies, just joined the forum. Ive searched for resolutions on a few issues I had been having with them on this forum, and thought id finally join.

Lilly - Black and White, was a stray we found on the side of the road in Prince George, BC when she was about 4 months old. Brought her to the SPCA on a long weekend to find out they had to no room, so we ended up keeping her for the weekend, then adopting her when nobody claimed her. She'll be 8 at the end of January

Charlie - Copper and White, we rescued from a bad home when he was 8 months old and he just turned 2 in September.

He's the one we've been having a new issue with now that we have a baby in the house... We thought we had his resource guarding under control (used to be a problem at the dog park with a water bowl, got into a couple scraps before we got him on the right track) but now he seems to be doing the same thing in the house with the baby when she's crawling towards the food dishes. We've been trying to teach our little one not to go that way, but how much can you tell an 8 month old not to do something?

Came here hoping to generate some ideas as this is really Charlie's only issue. He's fantastic on walks, great with our other dog, and generally very good with our daughter, except for this issue that I cannot find a solution too. All resource guarding articles/web sites I read mention other dogs, but nothing really mentions kids... thanks for any help you guys can provide

OMG! Another Canadian!! Yay!

We have 2 as well and live only about an hour and a half from Ottawa!

As far as Charlie goes, I would work on reinforcing his ignoring the resources. I think if you reinforce how you trained initially it would help him to recall that he cannot guard. We desensitized our rescue slowly for resource guarding, initially to us, then to the other dog, then the cat. It worked really well, and now its only when there is another dog around (and only with her favourite toys) We stop her every time. Consistancy is really important.

If need be, is there any way that you can remove the dishes when shes around (put them back down during nap time) or put them somewhere that she cannot reach?

Thanks for the reply Kelly.

My wife and I were thinking of putting the dishes up when she's around, so I guess it cant hurt to try. His resource guarding was always only the water bowl, and only at the dog park. He's a very gentle dog considering the place we got him from. We went to puppy school with him and he excelled admirably. He's never been a resource guarder with Lilly (though she would be pretty indifferent to him even if he did think he was the boss) and he's always been very gentle with my wife and I when it came to toys and treats and even other dogs in our yard... just that darn dog park

I guess we'll start putting the dishes up tonight when the little one is around and see if we can curb the behavior a little. Thanks for the suggestion.

On another note, Charlie was bought from a breeder outside Hawkesbury when he was young, any chance one of your two come from the area? The one closest to your arm in your picture has a lot of the same features/characteristics as Charlie.

Actually thats funny, thats my mutt! Shes a chow/husky mix we rescued thanks to the forum.

We bought Tika, the one on the right at a breeder in Ontario called Kortar Kennels. Where did Charlie come from?

The information we got from the previous owner was that he was bought from Siberian Husky Pups Ontario and they are located in Chute a Blondeau, Ontario which is out near Hawkesbury.

He's a pure bred copper husky.

Lilly, were not sure what she's mixed with, since she was picked up on the side of the road, but she's a good poriton of husky.

Don't know of them, Rip is the Chow-red. You can definitely tell she was poorly bred/puppy mill dog, which is a bit sad given that she now has hip displayia because of this. She has an awesome temperment, shes so cuddly and loving.
Tika was from Kortar and shes from a line that is bred for showing and temperment. Shes a lunatic. We love her to death though. Shes the funniest dog I think I have ever known.
Rip isnt too warm to other dogs, but Tika and her have been two peas in a pod from the moment we brought them together. We got Tika first, then rescued Ripley a year later at age 5.

Here is a decent example of the coloring and looks

I also have a sibe from Siberian Husky pups Ontario. she will be 2 in March.They are not a registered breeder. they are sled pullers that have a few litters a year to help with the costs. I have had a little trouble with the water bowl at the water park as well but we have no young children so no issues there. I will say that of the 3 huskies I have had she (her name is Eska) has been the most trying!! my first husky i never crated, never ate a single thing the second one ate my couch so we bought a crate. but she learned very quickly that if she didnt chew she got to stay out.   Eska was out of the crate for about 5weeks up until about 2weeks ago when my husband came home  to the couch all over the floor  .we have never had to crate her at night though she sleeps on the couch and doe,snt touch anything. She is a wonderful dog !! i would also suggest putting the dishes up.