Hi. I am new to the forum, but my mom has a husky (she has owned one before) and is having some behavioral issues that she needs help with. My mom's husky keeps biting her in a playful way, but my mom's hands and arms are all bruised up pretty bad. She got her husky from a rescue and I think it's 1-2 yrs old. She tells her no, but she doesn't know how to be scary with her "no." I think her dog still thinks she is playing with her. I told her to put the dog in its crate til it calms down, but that doesn't work either. The husky also starts to bark excessively when she doesn't get to bite my mom. My mom has resulted to a shock collar sometimes, and that helps some. She just uses the ringing function on the shock collar. FYI, my mom is very short and not strong enough to pin the husky down (as in settle hold). She has bought lots of toys for the dog, but she chews them all up and just wants to chew on my mom like she is a play toy. Any advice????

She does not to be scared or pinned or crated. This not a behavioral issue that can be trained or scared away. This is a Husky being a normal Husky, one who needs lots of exercise. As in, at least 3 miles of brisk walking or jogging every single day, no exceptions.

What is her exercise routine on a daily basis? Please be honest.

She gets walked at a brisk rate for about 40 mins 2ce a day

I understand huskies are chewers, but certainly chewing on your owner is not acceptable. We never had this problem with our previous husky (who we had from a pup to old age).

Well she could use a lot more than that both in total time and number of times.  

What type of stimulation and interactions is she getting while at home?

This is a classic case of intense boredom and understimulation.  It takes an extraordinary amount of time and effort and energy and physicality to keep these dogs entertained and content and calm, especially a rescue at this age.  

Most Huskies end up in rescues because essentially their owners could not keep them from being bored.  

That said, they are extremely mouthy,  both physically and verbally.  The key to curbing this aside from proper amounts of daily exercise is earning their trust and respect and teaching them they are not the initiators of this type of play and social interaction.  

That is exactly what this behavior is: play and social interaction.  They use their mouths to interact with everyone in their world and it is completely normal.  

The frequency and intensity of this will decrease dramatically once she is no longer bored and understimulated overall.  

It also helps to intentionally engage in play with her where she is INVITED to mouth you or your mom.  Wear baggy sweat pants and a hoodie and get down with her and play. She will learn then that you both are in control, not her.   This give her a critical context where she understands what "Yes" is to correspond with the "No" she hears over and over again all the time.

Boundaries come second to physical/mental stimulation--these are much more primary for her than boundaries and discipline.

ncsugrad54 wrote:

I understand huskies are chewers, but certainly chewing on your owner is not acceptable. We never had this problem with our previous husky (who we had from a pup to old age).

But your current one is an adolescent rescue who doesn't yet respect you.

Totally different scenario here.

Ok I will let her know. I live 2 hrs away from her, so I can't help her with the exercise part. Thank you

Remember, they are mouthy.

This includes lots of teeth on skin and talking/barking. Why do they do this? Social communication. And your mother is constantly getting mouthed (not bitten) and barked at.

The dog is screaming for attention and for her needs to be met. She has to find ways to drain her energy and prevent her from becoming bored. This is the most fundamental of her needs outside of food and water. Given her age, it is even more difficult to do BUT even more critical that it is done.

Calmness is a default setting, not something to be forced or quickly trained. Right now, her default setting is unfulfilled and bored.

It's gonna take some work and lots of frustration to do a 180 degree turn on her default setting.

Ok thanks. I passed all this info along to my mom.

I am an older small woman who adopted an untrained 1 yr old shelter husky. I too, was covered in cuts and bruises - the first morning after we got him, I took him for a walk and then brought him into an outbuilding to let him run loose, threw a ball, he brought it to me and we played tug. Warning: playing tug with husky and a ball is NOT a good thing. That was my first bleeding - not intentional, he and I went for the ball at the same time and I caught a canine tooth.

Now, most recently, a year later, I've been sort of preening, thinking how my training was paying off. But then, my grandpuppy went home for a couple of days and we had another case of leaping all over me, mouth on my arm etc. So, yes while training is modifying things, the really important think is the amount of exercise Ami gets with Archer - they romp for hours in the back yard. So, if your Mom can find a dog park, a pal dog from a friend - letting them romp will go a long way towards curbing the biting.

In the meantime, as Jeff says, loose, old clothing (it will get ripped) and play -I cut off the legs of several pairs of sweat pants, tied knots in them for tuggies. A tennis ball, soccer ball, "the squawky chicken"...throw these, run with these but be prepared. Huskies also like to "body check"...that is come at you 100mph and fling themselves at you. I've done many a face-plant since getting Ami.

My uniform for play with dog is old sweat pants (usually over long underwear), sweatshirt under a carhartt hooded jacket (and too big so loose) and leather insulated work gloves. Cuts down on the bruises.

I also found a firm, loud "no" resulted in "watch me" and over stimulating. Now, I just stop, gently use my hand, palm out in a sort of lowering motion. And stop the play while he is over excited. I even used treats to train him not to body check me....when he is running towards me, I cross my arms, elbows at the side of my waist, wrists crossed over my chest and turned sideways. When he doesn't slam me, he gets a treat. He learned fast.

Good luck to your mom - a year later with Ami, he's (mostly) a different dog. But still fun and happy-go-lucky

I'm glad you saw this Amy.

Excellent advice Amy! Very honest and heartfelt solutions, more importantly you gave some great ideas on how to take care of a husky in any type of situation (bad weather, person that is older, smaller, etc.)