My husband and I got our wonderful husky last year at eight weeks old. We did tons of research from the start, asked experienced owners for advice. We enrolled him in training courses and I learned my love for dog training and started the process to become one along with my grooming career. Ace our husky was a wonderful addition while he was young we did and still do tons of stuff with him. Walks, hiking, biking, mental simulation, mini training sessions. But he is starting to become a night mare to own. I left my day job because his day care kicked him out and we cant left him at home alone anymore. Even though he is crate trained he has found any and every way to get out of the kennel or move it to different places in my home to ruin my stuff. We have been though many different crates. He either opens them bends them or pushs the bottom out to be able to move the kennel around. If he stays in the kennel thanks to zip ties he poops in the kennel and rolls it to get it all over him. Then he gets it out of the kennel on the walls and carpet. He has eaten that side of our bed, our clothes, shoes, the walls, floor boards, door frames, tile, and carpet. I live in a rental home and have to keep it in shape. So i have hundreds of dollars of repairs to do. So I tried over and over again to help if he has anxiety problems, but none of them work. It doesnt matter if I kennel him up to go down the road or to the store he will poop in the kennel and if he gets out he will tear anything up that restricts him to one room. When he gets out he poops and pees on my couch and bed. He has attacked our other dog and caused him to have a scar on his head.

I have tried everything I know including boot camp. Gone to trainers and they say hes a lost cause. The thing is he doesnt even just do it when no one is home he does it even if hes sitting on the couch with you. He has gotten up and pooped all over even with me in the room. Or sitting right next to him. I am out of ideas. my husband is sick of him and says enough is enough. He wants Ace gone, but I just feel like Im missing something. Please help!

PS there is nothing medically wrong with him. We are not first time dog owners either

Alexis, this isn't going to be nice, but I have to say what I read in your message.

You've given all the reasons for surrendering him ... but to whom can you surrender an unruly dog? You haven't given any reasons why you want to keep him, do you - you?
You (and I presume this was a mutual decision) made the commitment to keep and train this cute puppy.  You were going to be his first and last home, yes?

He didn't get like this all on his lonesome ... you are responsible for training him - and honestly it sounds like you failed.

Right now, it's time to take him back to ground one.  He gets no privileges unless they're earned (NILIF!).  That means no couch time, no time in bed, no petting, no food, no treats, no play time unless he earns them.   (actually, in my book no couch time and no bed time should be an absolute.)
Your husband has to be on board with a complete rehash of training - he has to do things the same way you do, Ace must know that what you want and what your husband wants is the same thing.

You need to take him out every hour - yep, 24/7 - until he's house broken the right way.  You need to make sure that he sets, stays and makes eye contact before he gets his food.

One of my most strong recommendations is that an untrained pup must be on lead if not crated - that means in the house and when the lead does something unexpected you look to see why.
Begin crate training all over - Ace is not crate trained. He may be trained to go in his crate but he's not trained about what to do once he's in there.

I have a pup here now who was someones pet; she's, at 6 months with me, beginning to be dependably house trained (it's also a hit and miss at times, we're getting there)  I couldn't tell when she wanted out, I couldn't tell *if* she wanted out so we did the basic puppy house training routine.  As I said, it's working but not all the time. I do have the benefit that she's not destructive ... she gets plenty of play time with me and her "siblings". Retraining someones pet is a PITA ...

I dont think you understand. He was fine until two months ago. My house is a very strict house hold. You must sit stay eyes on me to get food. You must ring the bell to go out, you must stay in your place in my sight if you are out of the kennel. If you break that rule you get sent to the kennel. My thing is about his kennel busting I dont see how my training has anything to do with this kennel troubles. He only does this to spit us when we leave. The pooping in front of us happens for God knows why, but I sure in the hell dont and neither did the other trainer I paid over 1000 to put though his boot camp to stay in his home.
I have been able to train many unruly dogs including two other huskies. Why I cant fix my own dog I dont know.

Of course I chose to be his one and only home. Thats why Im here asking for more advice not simply getting him put down like my husband keeps trying to get me to do. I have done exactly what you are suggesting thats pretty much a basic method for anyone who knows anything about training period. I need something that maybe isnt as common. He doesnt respond to positive training nor shock collars. His own breeder suggested putting him down along with the vet. Im asking for help not insults.

What happened around you, in your house, 2 months ago?

I am currently dealing with a 6 yr old rescue with food/dog/people aggression. Hoping I can resolve this with him...if not, its curtains for him unless an experienced professional steps and volunteers to the rescue.

I hope it doesn't come to putting him down but you certainly have your work cut out for you.

Just a note...sounds a lot like separation anxiety.

I definitely don't want to put him down. But I know another home would most likely do the same as the husky rescue I got ahold of around me said he is not a dog that they feel a foster home would take on. He would basically not be worth the work. I would never just place him in a home myself unless it was to someone who has working huskies as that's what two of the people in my husky meet and greet group thinks he would do best with.

I don't know what would of happened that would trigger this. I found out my pit mix has an inoperable tumor about two months ago. But my pit has had many issues for the years I've owned him. My other dog started aging better with his new medication that he got about two months ago since we discovered why he was having aggressive mood swings.

I tried keeping my other dog with him, in the same room with lights and Tv or music on. Did the whole act like your leaving and come back and reward him method. That didn't seem to work either. He does fine during those trainings at just when I'm actually gone. I have tried driving down the street and coming back even and he seems to do ok. I knew he always had an aggressive streak with food and water so we feed in crates now and have two water stations. My other dog and cats fear him so much they use the one in our office and not the one in the kitchen that Ace uses most. I tried to break him of water guarding but it's hit and miss with him. I'm sure he will prefect it one day.

I love this dog to death, like I said I quit my job to be home with him for focus on him more. His day care kicked him out for being aggressive towards the husband and towards two other dogs. Plus he was a fence hopper and I think he just became a liability more than anything. I tried to get family to watch him but my family hates him. They hate dog fur and of course huskies shed a lot so they said nope. Plus mom had a husky a many years ago and she got rid of the dog in a blink of an eye. Saying her and huskies (satans dogs) don't mix.

Ps do you know if another method to cure this problem?

Alexis, I wasn't intending to insult you or your dedication to the pup.  But sometimes I can be brutal ...

I have some thoughts but first the question how have things at home changed since you found out your other dog was ill?  I think I'd look there for causes.  What medication is you pit on?  What affect can it have on a healthy dog and is it something that might be secreted through the skin / saliva?

You're right, BTW, I have a Husky I rescued who's now bitten me 5 times ... each progressively worse.  She's been with me for something like 3 years now and I'm comfortable that I won't get bit again.  At the same time there was no way that I would or could have passed her on to someone else, with her history she'd be put down rather than rehomed to anyone.

Other than a complete retraining campaign, I have no ideas, sorry.

I think Al's suggestion of strict retraining might be a good idea.

I know you said there was nothing medically wrong but how exactly did you test that if the dog wasn't doing any of these behaviors before two months ago and all of a sudden is acting out this strongly there must be a reason. Especially such strange behavior as pooping in the crate and rolling in it where he didn't do that before.

You could also look into some anxiety medication while you work on training him. The dogs don't do things to "spite" us. It sounds like he might have some separation anxiety with the kennel destruction as well as the item destruction. Medication could also help while you are crate training him.

http://leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

http://leerburg.com/dominac2.htm

Neutered?

Amy, excellent articles,I'm glad you posted them.

Alexis, people are failing you and your dog. Firstly, not all huskies are alike, some may not be difficult at all, some difficult ones can be changed, and some need strict guidelines. Yours is the later. What type of exercise do you provide your pup, and I am not talking dog parks? Huskies in general need continued training for all of their lives, that means that just because your dog knows how to do the basics, you need to continue reinforcing them. As the others mentioned you need to retrain as your first plan of action. I also suggest you look up the "place" command, this also will help an unruly dog. Lastly, and sadly your breeder is failing you and her/his dog that they produced. I am not being snarky, but, it sounds to me that your pup is not from a responsible breeder, and I will tell you why. If after you personally do a puppy boot camp, and there is no success, I am leaning towards a possibility of rage syndrome, it appears around 2 ish, when they are fully mature, and it could be a "brain" issue, example wires crossed, tumor, poorly bred. I would along with retraining, get a complete physical exam, have a vet check for possible injuries that may not be seen, get blood work done, there are many issues that result in this type of behavior blood tests can rule out these items. Physical pain can cause all sorts of issues. What type of food are you feeding? Your pup may be having a reaction to something in the food. And lastly, if all suggestions are not resulting in positive changes, I suggest a neurologist.

There are many avenues that you may have to walk down on, start with the strict training, read the articles Amy provided you, look up the place command, and get a complete physical, are the things that I would start doing right now. Then take the rest of the suggestions one by one.

This is one of those things where we'd need to know basically every detail to have a chance of giving much advice.
And you have to be VERY analytical about the last two months.
Dogs rarely change behavior in such extreme manners without some sort of trigger, cause, or reason.

How much exercise does he get. What food does he eat? How much food does he eat? Is he on any medications? Have there been any life changes prior to the change in attitude? Did you move, was there a job change, activity level change, mood change in you or your husband, stress level change, pregnancy, etc?

My first suspect is the other dog, especially since you mentioned some major changes to his life. In particular, the medication to treat mood swing. Your writing wasn't very clear on these details though so more info here would helpful.

What medication is the other dog on? How is the medication given to the dog? Does the husk spend any time licking the medicated dog? Has the husky been tested to see if the medication is in his system. If the medication is for mood swings, aggression, or has any side effects in that area, it could be that your husky is getting some of the medication in some way and it's having an effect on him. Did the husky's change of behavior start before or after the medication?

Did the pit go to daycare also?

Do the problems persist if the dogs are separated? As in you take the other dog with you and leave the Husky, does the behavior change?

Did you, or your husband's behavior towards the other dog change due to the discovery of the tumor? Maybe you started spending more time with the other dog out of sympathy. Gave him more treats, played with him more, allowed him to break rules that the husky can't. This could be severe jealousy.

As hard as it is, you (and likely your husband) need to sit down, put the emotions aside for a few minutes, and really try to figure out if there is anything that might have changed that could be leading to this behavior. Then you need to figure out how to fix the issue.

Full, in depth vet checkup is also highly recommended.

There are some great suggestions of things to try here and any that you have already tried (ie. blood work, physical exam, etc.) please let us know what you had done and the results. You said that the suggestion of sending him to a place that will work him was mentioned? What are your current exercise amounts? Have you tried making him a working dog yourself? I bike my dogs sometimes. Some of us even go as far as having our dogs pull a cart. He is old enough to start pull training.

Alexis, if a lot of what you've written since your first message had been in, my initial response would have been very much different.  I have to say that I'm sorry I responded the way I did, but given the information you gave, that was the best response I could make at the time.

Can we help?  I don't know - at the very least moral support for what has to be a rough time for everyone.  Let's all of us backtrack a little and see what Alexis has to say - then maybe we can put our collective heads together and hopefully really help.

You mentioned that the pit was "better with his new medication that he got about two months ago since we discovered why he was having aggressive mood swings."  Whats the chance that the pit attacked the husky before the medication change?  That the husky is now scared, litterly "shitless"  as in all over your crate and walls?

Also, Al mentioned in another post about using hog rings to beef up a crate.  This foster boy I have is a holy terror on a crate - a new crate arrives tomorrow.  Before he goes in, every joint will be either zip tied or hog ringed for reinforcement.  The thinking is, if the joint is stronger before puppy gives it a go, maybe he'll leave it be when there is no progress.  Plus, I'm going to put an ecollar on him and give him a little vibration every time he puts a paw or mouth to the crate.  I'll start in the room with him, then outside looking in a window...then, if and only if he sits on entrance and exit from the crate, we will move the crate into the house, I'll attach some bells to the sides, sit in another room and if I hear a bell, he'll get a vibration.  I have met my match...and so has Z'ev!!!

My advice would be to get rid of the husband. Just kidding.

Loki our older would do this shit in the cage bs at that age. Huskies can be very difficult going through puberty and rebel just like human teenagers. He never did the chewing though. He just turned 3 years old and he now stays free in the bedroom while we leave the house with no problems. My advice would be to just keep training him, he might be just going through a phase. I mean I know it's not easy, I went through days where I hated Loki but today it has paid off and he is the sweetest most loving pup in the world.

I also recommend you look into urban mushing if you haven't already. It did so much for Loki to pull something, even somedays just a tire around the block... he became more focused and task oriented after we started mushing.

I've told this story before.

I was walking down the street with husky #2, Tasha, on a leash.

Guy stops and looks at her wistfully.
He said, "I had a husky once. I loved that dog. I went on a business trip for a week and told my wife she had to exercise the dog. When I got home, my wife was hysterical. The dog had destroyed the sofa. I asked her if she had exercised him. She said she never had time. Then she told me I had to get rid of the dog. It was the dog or her. So I got rid of the dog. Worse mistake I ever made."

I'll admit, and I guess everyone knows, that I'm a bachelor - worse than that, I'm probably the male version of a spinster - however given the choice of "me or the dog" I'm afraid my response would have been "shall I help you pack?"

Al wonderful response!

Alexis, My husky Bandit is about the same age as your Ace. He is at times a holly terror, other times he is really good. I was told he is going through adolescence now. I keep him on a leash at all times. He has free roaming in the living room unless he gets into trouble then we hold the leash and keep him in one area. He went through phase one of training and passed with flying colors. The trainer said he is so smart it is scary. I agree. He digs at the carpet and bites at it. If he gets behind the couch he will rip the lining underneath. We put a towel in his crate and if we leave he will rip it up, but at night he doesn't rip it. He used to poop in the crate when we would leave during the day, we take his food away at least 3 hours ahead of time if we are going to be gone. He has quit pooping in the cage. We have a half acre yard that he has the run of with a six foot fence, he loves to chase balls and play in a kiddy pool in warm weather. I am thinking of getting a gentle leader and try to teach him how to walk without dragging me. Good luck and don't give up. It is probably the adolescence stage and he will out grow it. Can't wait until mine does.