Hi all. I need some help. I posted yesterday but things have got worse. I want to explain more....


I have had dogs all my life and after a small break of a few years I have got my siberian husky. We have had a few normal puppy related issues (no sleep for 3 nights, messing everywhere in her crate) however a new problem has emerged that is causing great concern.... we have a cat. Our husky initially was great with her and as the cat is very laid back she tolerated Luska (husky).
The last 4 days however Luska has taken to chasing and jumping on the cats back trying to bite her neck..... this is 100% not play!! We have tried all techniques including removing Luska from the situation and averting her attention, feeding the cat first so Luska can see she is part of the pack and it only seems to be getting worse. Luska's temperament has also changed from a meek and relaxed pup to things like throwing herself at glass doors when we put her out for barking at the cat or weeing etc. Luska chased the cat through the garden today and I am sure if I didn't catch her in time it would have been a bad ending and that cannot happen. When they are inside we can separate with Luska in her crate etc but outside we can't stop the cat going in the garden.
I guess what I am asking is whether this is a manageable situation or should I look to rehome her whilst she is young enough to bond again.

We keep our cat and our husky completely separate. My son's dog plays with his cat...though it is not for the faint of heart. When Tony the cat goes limp, Archer the dog knows to let go.

At present, I would keep the two completely separate. If cat can give puppy a good solid smack in the nose, that would go a long way towards making puppy behave (she's not declawed, I hope.) Several people on here have cats that coexist with huskies. I don't. I think it works better when a young pup comes into household with adult cat. Puppy is still so young, I would recommend tethering her to you in house or crating her when tethering is not conventient. That way, you have a lot more control. Only let puppy and kitty together in a strictly controlled fashion. WHen you see puppy starting to "fix" on kitty, interrupt the stare - wave your hand in front of puppy's face, pick her up, put her in time out (not crate - that's a "happy place").

Good luck. And search on here for cats and huskies. There has been quite a lot of discussion on that.

Thanks amymeme, sounds like we are doing all the right things then. The problem we have is when the cat comes into the back garden (good size space). I dont want to tether the dog as this is not fair on her as they need to exercise and I cannot take her out for another 2 weeks. Another question which might work towards a possible solution... I had planned on buying a good size kennel with a run so Luska can be outside in the day with fresh air and space to move (around 12ft run). I am aware though that they are pack animals and keeping her away from the pack 'us' can also have negative implications. Obviously she would not be in there all the time but it would give another space to put her whilst we 'sort' things. Any thoughts?

Just following on from the last post we took Luska for her 2nd and final injections today and explained everything to the vet who was quite concerned with the behavior we noted:

Chasing down the cat
Going for the cat when she is asleep in her safe bed
Throwing herself at the patio door when put outside
Soiling her crate even when the back door is open and she has already been to the toilet outside

I have spoken to the behavioral specialist today and although they cannot come out until the end of May (which is a long wait) they have said the behavior is not normal.

I wanted to reach out and ask the husky experts what your views are... please help.

I love my dog a lot but we have 3 small children and a cat and I dont want to be in a worse position before they come out and assess.

Is this behavior typcial in a husky pup? We have friends with a husky pup who does seem much more well rounded.

Please help!

How old is pup? It really seems as though your pup has way too much freedom for her developmental age. And probably needs more activity, mental stimulation (ie, training. In short bouts, the attention span is not there yet) Set up a potty schedule appropriate to puppy's age. Every 2 hours and after meals and after play time if she is really young (8-12 weeks or so) Tethering her to you (ie, leash on dog tied to your waist) is a time honored technigue to allow you to interrupt undesirable behavior just as it begins - when the correction is most effective.

As for the throwing herself at the door when she is, essentially, banished for bad behavior...she wants to be with her pack. You need to work small amounts of time, frequently throughout the day, to attending to just her - training, grooming, playing, interspersed with quiet time in a crate. This will provide some structure and will build a bond. She can't be left to her own devices - she WILL get into trouble. Just like a 2 yr old human.

I will add on to Amy, since I think this is an issue to husky puppy owners in general....and have more than just one person telling you the same thing may help you.....This is not unusual behavior and sadly many vets and behaviorists are going to tell you it is unusual. Firstly kitty needs a safe zone that puppy can not get to, use baby gates or some other means so that kitty has space that puppy can not get to. Secondly, as Amy said this puppy has far too much freedom. If you got the puppy before 8 weeks of age, this problem is amplified, they were never taught valuable life lessons from their siblings and mama, and now you need to step up and give boundaries. I would make it a priority to start leash and obedient training now. A tired husky is a good husky, it is our common belief and motto here. Lastly, huskies are known to have temper tantrums, yep, like Amy said they are like babies, and will throw fits if bored. Save your money for the time being. Work with your puppy, you can teach obedience in house, you can teach leash manners in small areas. 15 minutes of using his mind will tire him out, other times play with him. This is a critical bonding time between you and your puppy, if you are not working with him several times a day, you are not building trust, respect, and that important bond. Time outs need to be as long as him calming down, a couple of minutes. Crate time so he can have quiet time is essential, tethering him to you so he stays out of trouble, having a set schedule for potty breaks and playtime and training time will set him up for success.