Hi All,

We've always been more 'cat people' until my 14 yo son decided we had to get a husky. We said sure if you get straight A's.  Oops.
He got the grades!

But now we're all totally excited.  We're a very active, outdoorsy family so we have the exercise thing covered. Our biggest concern is avoiding aggression with our cats which is why it had to be a puppy.  I've checked out the search function on this site and it looks like I can find a lot of good advice.  If anyone wants to point me to any "getting a husky puppy and you have cats for dummies" resources I would welcome it.

Thanks,
--Jason

Dog? Say what?


4 weeks

How to load pics:

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t16716-how-to-upload-pictures-udated-02-10-17

Since it's your sons dog - and I presume his first dog - you're going to have your hands full.  Stick around because you're going to have plenty of questions to ask.

First things first - Huskies are like no other dog you might have ever had. Because of the way they were used they are probably one of the smartest breeds going. They also tend to have a "what's in it for me?" attitude - you'll see that as the pup grows up and starts to think for himself.

As a puppy, training is generally pretty standard, teaching them to go out for potty, not to nibble everything (cats included). Once they hit a few months old, training takes on a whole new meaning.

I'll drop with this final comment. A puppy 10 weeks or so, isn't apt to damage your cats - assuming full grown cats - and they have 20 ways each to teach him to respect them. With a puppy introduction, you're pretty safe that he won't hurt them but just the same make sure that they have someplace - like a cat tree or beyond a gate - where they can get away from the infuriating ball of fluff. I have three huskies, added two kittens after the huskies were full grown and used a gate to keep them separate - it wasn't long before the kittens were coming through the gate and after a little "what's this?" phase the dogs generally leave them alone. Oh sure every once in a while the dog will chase one of the cats - but they're then apt to head back to the water bowl together. It can be done!!

Lots of closely supervised introductions to make sure all parties are comfortable will be needed.

I've heard stories of huskies that have lived with cats for years without problems, then all of a sudden something snaps. I doubt the huskies in these stories suddenly turned aggressive and attacked, but more of a situation where the cat did something that inadvertently triggered a natural instinct in the dog.

You'll want to make sure the cats have places to escape to. Natural safe spaces for the cats that the dog can't gain access to. Cats benefit from this type of design anyways, but even more so if your introducing something new to them, or they need a way to be safe or escape.
A series of shelves along a wall that the cat can climb, but a dog wouldn't be able to get to. A small hard shell pet carrier. Cut a hole in one of the plastic sides big enough for a cat to scrunch though, but a dog can't get into, and then stuff it under a bed, or in a closet. If there is an internal door that is always closed, putting a very small pet door that the cats can use, but a larger dog wouldn't be able to, creates a safe space.

Great tips you guys, thanks! Both our cats have shown an interest in dogs and a tendency stand their ground and in some cases even charge playfully so I'm hopeful.

When we got our second cat, we kept them separate for a week or so. It got to the point that they were hearing and smelling each other via the crack at the bottom of the bedroom door. By the time we let them into the same room together, the curiosity was so high they seemed to bond right away.

I'm thinking of taking the same approach with the pup.

Me personally, I would rather establish the cats as being at the house first sooner rather than later into getting the puppy while the pup is still getting to know the new place. He/she? is adorable, btw. I would start introducing smell the first night and then the actual cats from a distance by the next day potentially. It's easier for cats to get their bluff in on a dog that is still a little overwhelmed by the situation than it is when the puppy is getting braver and has established the house as its.

TwisterII wrote:

Me personally, I would rather establish the cats as being at the house first sooner rather than later.

I was just reading a thread that said the same. Too much curiosity could lead to fear on the cats part and aggression with the pup. It would definitely be more fun and easier to introduce them sooner!

Pupdate: here he is at 6 weeks. Already bigger than the cats!

I've read just about everything in the Training section. Really great info! Feeling good about my puppy arrival plan.

I'm sorry - poor pun time. At six weeks, he's a husky Husky!!
Also a good looking pup ... good luck with the cats, I really don't see much of a problem. He'll be curious, but as I said they have twenty ways each to tell him to "Watch it, bub!!"

Pupdate!

Wow, so Lachlan (Scottish name pronounced 'Lock-lun') or Lach for short, arrived as the sleepy little fur ball you see in the pic above.  After a week and a trip out to our beach house the growth in size and spirit is amazing! Overall I think were doing OK with training and this forum has been really helpful.  I also recommend this book, The Art of Raising Puppies from the Monks of Skeet.  We start formal training at Wonder Puppy next week. Our older male black cat Flip has taken the lead role in the "Watch it, bub!!" training.  I trimmed back his claws to reduce the risk of eye damage and Lach has learned to fear his right hook.  Cali, our younger grey Russian Blue female tends to steer clear, but we were shocked to find her following us around the neighborhood on his evening walk each night! This is doubly awesome because she had a bit of a weight issue and also seems to be eating less!

So far so good!

I had to laugh at the parade.  I have two cats (one black and one whitish) and when Sasha and I go walking we have a black shadow.  He won't walk with us but he doesn't ever seem to be too far away either.

The Monks of New Skeet have some really good short videos on YouTube for anyone who's interested.

My uncle has Blue Russians. Like 6 of them. lol.

Puppies aren't puppies for long. they grow like weeds, become awkward, then one day they come into their own and poof, you have a real dog. He's so cute!