My 9 month old husky Alpha is making it REALLY hard to give him exercise! We got him from a family that kept him inside but then put him out on a chain and left him outside for some reason. He was seriously attention starved when we got him. We cleaned him up and we've been letting him stay indoors. Anyway, I would love to take him on walks/runs/or biking but he gets SO out of control when outside.

He will charge toward literally anything that moves: grass, birds,cars, bugs, cats, dogs, shadows(lol). Once he gets into this 'mode' there is no distracting him. Once he has his eyes on his prize then that is it. Inside he will sit, stay, and do other commands but outside it is like he's a different dog.


If I attempt to walk him and stop when he starts yanking toward some object he will put his belly toward the ground and pull so hard that I can barely hold his leash. If there isn't anything around and I stop when he pulls we'd be there for hours. He is so hard headed. If I start walking him the opposite direction he will walk but have his head turned as far as possible to watch what got his attention. He has ran into all sorts of things because he keeps his head turned backwards. We can him Toucan Sam because he is so nosy and curious.

Inside he is such a well behaved dog with good manners. I know he needs way more exercise than running around the yard but he is just making it really hard. I don't want to make him afraid of pulling so he can pull me on skates, bikes, and sledding this winter. I just want him to behave enough to be able to walk/run with him. I think we will have him fixed but I've heard that it won't help any with Huskies.

Sounds like he needs training way more than he needs exercise. He's amped up enough already.

Do you have a few hundred bucks for training?

I would get him on a prong collar or e-collar immediately, either myself or pay a good Balanced trainer to help you.

This dog needs some serious structure and guidance and some more nuanced conversations about what is allowed and not allowed, including some consequences for all that brattyness and foolish monkey business.

He's had zero rules and zero guidance and zero structure and zero expectations so far, and there is no way you're gonna change any of that without some serious training. An impulsive, strong willed, bratty Husky who does what he wants when he wants is a nightmare. They are strong and determined and not very inclined to please people, generally, and yours even more so.

Depending on where you live I can get you in touch with a Balanced trainer should you decide to go that route.

Thanks for joining the forum and bringing your problem to us. We can definitely help.

Would you characterize any of this reactivity as aggressive? When he sees a dog, do you get the sense that he wants to kill the dog, or is he reacting to the fact that he's on leash and can not approach the dog how he wants?

If it's the former, your training costs will go way up. Just an FYI.

No he isn't aggressive toward dogs he just wants to say hello and play. He acts the same way around people that come up to him outside as well.

Training may be a good idea. I live in Middle Tennessee if you know anyone that could help!

Okay, would you be okay with prong collars and/or e-collars?

If you are okay with those, contact Curtis at  www.thecalmk9.com   and tell him Jeff from Seattle/T3 sent you

Ok will do!

It'll be the best investment in this dog you will ever make.