Hello guys,

I am new to the forum. My husband and I got a husky mix about 9 months ago. We worked on training, which with little incidents here and there were going good aside from the occasional stubbornness. However, the  month and half our husky has been out of control. He’s turn U1 this month and isn’t neutered. He’s more stubborn than ever. Before he would follow the boundaries giving in the house such as certain rooms being off limit for him. Now he’s crossing all boundaries. He constantly barks at us, when we go to just sit on the couch or are in a different room than him. And he has started  using pee and poop to express. For example,  if I ask him to no enter a room and make him wait outside, while I enter the room. He will pee and poop in that room. It’s really annoying because now I have to crate him when I’m not around, which I hate! He also has to get crates when he starts barking because it’s the only way he settles. I hate it. I really want to have him always involved out with us.

His energy is at a 1000 lately. We run twice a day and occasionally take him for a light walk mid day. But lately he can come back EXHAUSTED and he’s still almost wired. I am wondering if this is related to him not being neutered. He has an appointment with the vet on his birthday 01/29 to get neutered. I’m really hoping it helps because I really want him to stay part of our family, I love him. But he’s becoming soooo much for us. I really miss the pup that had his energetic moments and stubborn moments, but could also just sit with us and relax, and watch tv

I attached a picture of our Paché

Its the age. He is pushing the limits. Most people crate huskies, i happen to have child gates in my house. Also huskies are prone to separation anxiety and some of it seems like that may be the issue. We have a howling while on the phone issue here and i use very small treats to reinforce sit and wait. I have had them hold that for over an hour. And who is exhausted at the end of your run? If he doesnt come in, get water and lay down he isnt exhausted.

And it sounds silly but maybe he needs a friend or a dog park.

By the way, where are you from?

We are from NYC! Do you think any of it will “ease up” when he’s neutered?

Also, how much crating is too much?. We live in an apartment as most ppl do in NYC. ( preparing to move to a house this summer). He was starting to be left out the crate at nights because he was doing so good , but then he started peeing and pooping in the house if he even HEARD us awake and we didn’t get up and go with him. It wasn’t a need to go out. For example, if we stepped out our room and just hung out outside he would gladly wait his time to go out. It’s about no being separated. And when he is separated against his will or feels that we all leave a room and he stays alone then he will poop and pee. Sometimes it almost feels like he does it out of spite.

Here’s the thing, if we are all home it’s a challenge from him all day. But the days my husband is working and the baby is at the sitter and it’s just him and I working from home then he just sleeps and chills ALL day. Even if he is outside my office separated from me.

We have come to the conclusion that we need to retrain him with limits and boundaries almost like starting from day 1. We figured we might as well wait until he’s neutered and hopefully that helps him not challenge every command we give him. Because what he does now is that if for example, we ask him to go “back” or “sit” when we go just hang out on the couch. He stands in front of us and barks louder and louder, if we ignore him he starts nipping at our feet. Until he has to be crated and then he’s sound asleep. Lately however, even that has been a challenge. He has started barking while in the crate, so we have had to cover his crate to block him from seeing us until he’s fully calm.

Please tell me this phase gets better as he gets older. I love him but sometimes I wonder if we got a “broken” husky.

Might be a baby amping up the dog or a you feeling stressed when baby and hubby are home and the dog picks up on it.

Yes it gets better and easier. By the time my were 3 they were couch potatoes. They go through a teenager stage where they deliberately ignore you. Your dog isnt broken. Everyone here jokes about siberian rug season.

The ignoring bad behavior umm i really disagree with that. In a dog pack the top dog would correct the bad behavior. In my house we use redirects. Back to the sit and wait. If the redirect is successful they get a treat in the end but they have to either be sitting or laying calmly before its considered a success.

Find out what your dog REALLY likes for sit and wait. Also mybe do food and treats in the crate with the door open. If he is refusing he has a bad association with the crate. You need to fix that. His crate should be his safe space not viewed as a punishment.

Read number 5 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/5-things-youre-doing-to-make-your-dog-misbehave/

There are even books on adolescent dogs. Im sorry to say you have a perfectly normal 4 legged teanager.

Everyone who's ever had a normal dog thinks Huskies are broken and those of us who've had a couple realize that what you're seeing now is the norm. Sometime <????> a Husky can be worse than the wildest teenaged human.

It’s relieving to hear this is normal for this phase he’s going through! I was starting to get worried. I had a lab/shepherd mix who didn’t act like this ever, so I really thought maybe he’s broken . Thank you guys! I will continue sticking to boundaries, correcting bad behavior, redirecting to desired behavior, and using his favorite food treat. And hopefully this passes in the next couple of months

Sorry to hear that!! If it is comforting…my really obedient GSD(2yrs now) was a pain during that phase..and pushing boundaries. Didn’t poop or pee but definitely tried to get her way when we said something is off limits. And it gets better and they calm down later. In her case, we spayed her at 16mos after she had her first heat cycle as recommended by our vet. And she was cranky during her cycle. What helped me is long hikes and walks/run to tire her out daily. Im from NY/NJ area as well. Hiking makes it a bit more interesting too as there are new smells to figure out and trials are sometimes technically challenging than a flat straight road. Can’t say much about my Husky since I’m still figuring him out and he is older when we got him.