Greetings All,

I would like some help in identifying my husky, Anakin, please. His details are listed below including images. I rescued him from a shelter in April 2015, and I was told he was about 4 months old at that time. They were going to destroy him, and though I have never owned a dog before, I had to have him so I brought him home. I know he is primarily husky, Siberian I believe, but I think there may be some other breed in there a bit. I was thinking german shepherd maybe, due to the ear size and his general body size and large paws. Can anyone provide insight? I have no interest in breeding, etc. (he's neutered anyways) but now that he is 1 year old I am very curious. So my questions are as follows:

1. Do you think he is close to pure, or is there something else in the mix? And if so, what?
2. Any suggestions to get him to stop play biting and chewing on me?
3. Any other nutritional suggestions, fish oil, etc?
4. Suggestions on chew proof toys?

Name: Anakin
Age: 1 year January 1st 2017
Color: Black and white
Coat: short hair, under 2in avg length
Eyes: Brown
Weight: 55lbs
Length from nose to tail base: 38in
Tail length: 15in and naturally curls over back
Girth at chest: 30in
Height from front paw to top of shoulder: 25in
Neck: 16in
Diet: Nutro Young Adult Large Breed 2 cups twice a day, 1 tablespoon coconut oil at night for coat
Meds: Nexgard chewable for flea and tick, Heartguard chewable for heartworms

Basically, I'm a new owner and terrified I'm doing something wrong. He's an inside dog all the time, except for walks and play of course. He seems very healthy, but I'm curious about his breed makeup and if I need to adjust feeding, etc.

Appreciate any insight!
-Mike

Hey Mike Congratulations and thank you for rescuing Anakin, I'm sure he appreciates it.

I'm with you, he looks Husky but there's something that isn't quite Husky ... it might be the eyebrows but then again any color and combination is allowed in the breed standard (except one that eludes me at the moment).

He should be outgrowing the mouthyness - but it's also common with the breed, they don't have hands, so they use their mouths.  Two methods I've seen recommended here are:

• Swap out a toy for your hand when he starts being mouthy.  It redirects his attention to something different.
  
• At his age, a sharp (not loud) "No" should help, but then turn around and stop playing.  It shouldn't take him long to learn that "nibbling" means no play.
  

Use the two of them together - "No bite", swap out a toy and go away ... he wants your attention and will learn how to get it in a way that is acceptable to you.

Welcome aboard!

Anakin looks good to me. Maybe a little GSD in there (?) but I think he looks just like my Siberian Husky. Anyhow, I am sure that later on today there will be more people on here to give you some advice on the biting and feeding thing.

He looks at least mostly husky to me...probably full husky just with enormous ears!

Biting - he wants to play. I hold my hands to my chest, Command "sit" and do not touch puppy until sitting...then (with heavy leather work gloves) we do a bit of Hand/face wrestling, rubbing hears, etc - if I have a tug near by, that...over time, all I have to do now is hold my hand up like a crossing guard and say "eh eh" and Archer gets the message. But when he sees the gloves, he's ecstatic, he loves the smooshy face hand mouthing but now its solely at my discretion.

amymeme wrote:

He looks at least mostly husky to me...probably full husky just with enormous ears!  

Biting - he wants to play.  I hold my hands to my chest, Command "sit" and do not touch puppy until sitting...then (with heavy leather work gloves) we do a bit of Hand/face wrestling, rubbing hears, etc - if I have a tug near by, that...over time, all I have to do now is hold my hand up like a crossing guard and say "eh eh" and Archer gets the message.  But when he sees the gloves, he's ecstatic, he loves the smooshy face hand mouthing but now its solely at my discretion.

Thank you amymeme. I'll try something like that. I've been using "No" etc., and he is usually fine with just me- except the chewing. But the moment someone walks in he jumps on them and this has got to stop. Went through 2 complete courses at PetSmart and all we learned is "Sit" and "Shake". Loose leash walking is impossible so I'm forced to use a choker collar which I hate. If I could stop the jumping/play biting and the pulling when walking I would be a happy dad!

By choker collar, do you mean a choke chain? A prong collar is safer, and, since I have used both (the choke chain over 40 years ago ) I find the prong collar more effective - seems to be more responsive to leash pressure. And, because it has a martingale type chain, the dog or you can't accidentally really choke the dog.

At 1 year, your boy is still very much a puppy. A teenage puppy. Do you remember yourself at, oh...13 years old? Wanting to try everything, see everything and frustrated by limits because, well, you were all grown up at 13!

Here's a video with prong and loose leash walking - there's lots of helpful stuff if you poke around the site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DILD3V7f-0A

I find using my hand, outstretched arm as in "stop" to be really helpful across the board. Ami, in particular, responds better to hand signals than verbal commands. With the "stop" any kind of running at you, jumping on people, bolting on leash (I also use a variation where my arm is extended down and I use my palm in sort of a patting motion in from of his nose - I don't touch him, just a sort of swiping, accompied by "eh eh eh" Both Ami and son's dog Archer at this point know to back off with these signals/verbalization.) You could incorporate these signals into daily training masquerading as play sessions. I had to - Ami used to come flying at me from all corners of the yard, leap into the air and do a little nippy thing on my arm...which, with my fragile skin, inevitably led to a flock of bruises. Husband, half-joking, used to say people were going to think he abused me ) After the day, he came flying at me from behind, leaped and landed in my upper back, flattening me face down in the lawn (leaving hubby laughing his #$% off, har har har) I committed to very focused training. I went outside with puppy, and just wandered around (in fenced backyard) Every time he approached like a space ship, I turned sideways with my arms crossed over my chest, close to body and hands tight under my chin, no eye contact, no nothin'. Since what he was seeking was interaction, this left him perplexed and stopped him. Then when he looked up, to say WTF, I patted him and either threw a toy or dangled a tuggie. I was really surprised when I saw mostly permanent results with only 20 minutes of this.

As for jumping up on people, the trick is to see the dog just as he gets alert to people coming in...make him sit immediately, use your hand in front of his face, say "eh eh" or wait or some other short word or phrase that conveys "nope, not now, not ever" And, this is where being short with an oversized dog is helpful - I often stand beside him in these situations and gently rub his ears - then, if I feel movement, just a quiet flick of my hand in front of his face and "eh eh"

Unless its my son coming over, then all bets are off

@amymeme

I'll try the video and some of those tips. Thank you! I can't get him to sit still when people are over so it's rough lol. Thankfully his new harness comes in today, maybe that will help with the walking.

Side Note: I've been told coconut oil (I found an organic solidified version I've been using) about 1 tablespoon a night and fish oil (I haven't started this one yet). From what I have read, it's good for their coat and digestion. Do you all agree? Anyone have a negative experience or suggestions as to which ones or how much? The fish oil I can only locate pills of, and I would rather a liquid to put over his food or something.

I believe you can get a liquid fish oil at Chewys.com. But, be careful of what you wish for...fishy dog breath is NOT for the faint of heart

amymeme wrote:

I believe you can get a liquid fish oil at Chewys.com.  But, be careful of what you wish for...fishy dog breath is NOT for the faint of heart

I brush his teeth lol. I was just thinking the softgels would be a problem. He'd have to swallow them not chew correct? Fish oil vs salmon oil? Anyone have a preference? Only coconut oil I can find is in a solid form. I read somewhere that dosing is like 1 teaspoon per 10 lbs. Seems a bit much. So I'm doing 1 tablespoon a night mixed with food. Doesn't seem to be affecting his poop any, but his coat seems silky and not as dry.

Michael, I use coconut oil, and I love it for my girls, has many health benefits. The coconut oil you bought is the correct kind. The amount is what I give as well, 1 tablespoon a day. I don't have experience with the fish oil, however, most people break open the capsule over their food, so the dog isn't taking the capsule and oil, hope that helps.

MiyasMomma wrote:

Michael, I use coconut oil, and I love it for my girls, has many health benefits. The coconut oil you bought is the correct kind. The amount is what I give as well, 1 tablespoon a day. I don't have experience with the fish oil, however, most people break open the capsule over their food, so the dog isn't taking the capsule and oil, hope that helps.

I didn't know if you could break them over haha as stupid as that sounds. You're probably right, I can't see an issue with that. Anyone have any clue what the dosing on fish oil is? I need to research fish oil/salmon oil honestly.

I believe people give a capsule a day, but I wouldn't over load and say give coconut and fish the same day, so, perhaps switch days with the oil? I have always stuck to the coconut, but have heard great stuff about the fish too, so switching shouldn't hurt any. My older girl is not a fish fan, so I have been reluctant on using it. I would have to look, but as long as the salmon oil is free from mercury/other stuff they warn you about, I would go with salmon, again research.

https://www.chewy.com/grizzly-salmon-oil-dog-cat/dp/29193

@amymeme

I've been doing some reading at work (don't tell my boss lol) and it seems Salmon oil is preferred by a lot of people as long as it is Alaskan (meaning freshly caught) and not Norway or Atlantic (meaning farm raised). So I will be getting some of the Grizzly above as it also has the Vitamin E that a lot of fish oils leach out.

Thanks!

Something random that we have come across at the vet clinic where I work is that if you are using a human version fish oil supplement make sure to check the ingredients. Have found some of them containing xylitol which is toxic to dogs. We usually recommend a dog formulated version instead for that reason.