So, I've noticed with our pup that she manages the craziest things. The first example was about a month ago when we had her spayed. The first night with the cone on she managed to get it off. The cone was TIED to her collar. She then decided to take all the clips off and chew the hell out of it. Then, last night she some how got her tags off. The metal ring holding it to her collar was pulled apart. I mean, REALLY, how does she manage this crap? Are we not keeping her mind busy enough? We buy her a new toy on average every two weeks and by then she usually has it into pieces. Her kong and this chew cow are the only two she hasn't decided to destroy. Suggestions, product or otherwise?? I would love to focus her energy more and get her out of this destructive mode.

Sounds like a lack of exercise to me. How often is she walked?

Maybe 3 times a week. If we dont walk her we play out in the yard. Play time is like usually an hour but she runs the whole time and comes in spent and passes out on the floor. She does get more active when its cooler. The weekends she is usally out where we are. I was considering an attempt at having her pull me on roller blades to work her out more.

How old is she? I wouldn't have her doing pulling if she's under 1.

She needs to be exhausted a few times a day. Mine go out in the yard to wrestle 2-3 times a day and come in exhausted every time. That only lasts about an hour, lol.

If you can't exercise her that much, try training her (mental stimulation). Huskies are a high energy breed and will destroy things when not properly exercised.

Koda wrote:

Sounds like a lack of exercise to me. How often is she walked?

Yep, I'm with Tori. The days that it's raining or for some odd reason I can't walk them they go on "destroy anything" mode. Well, I should say, that Kody does. Mya is pretty over it and just lays there all pissy (lol). Kody is 11 months and totally takes out his "energy" on EVERYTHING the day he doesn't get a walk. Little s**t! LOL

I really think it is important to go for walks everyday, more than once a day if possible(obviously days when it storms this is not possible, but even in the heat you can do early AM and late evening, I did it in AZ). Even if it's just for 10-15 minutes. I know a dog can burn a ton of energy doing laps around the yard and playing around, but walks are so much more than just stretching their legs. It's mentally stimulating with all the smells, sounds, everything, and that itself is just as exhausting as the movement in walking.

I never, ever had issues with Koda being destructive or being a trouble maker (aside from when we moved into the apartment, but that was a one time occurance and he was freaked from some traumatic family situations) and 100% believe it's due to him getting so many walks, going to the park, doggy daycare, etc.

Sounds like not enough exercise to me too. Appa goes on three 30 minute walks a day, (i drive home 25 minutes on my lunch break to accomplish the lunch time walk) with running around playing fetch thrown in, and that's not enough some days. We use doggie daycare 1 day a week and friends with dogs on particularly active days. Normally Appa is a dream, but when gets energy built up he's a real punk.

Edit: oh, and he's 7 months old, FYI.

Heatherlee wrote:

Even if it's just for 10-15 minutes. I know a dog can burn a ton of energy doing laps around the yard and playing around, but walks are so much more than just stretching their legs. It's mentally stimulating with all the smells, sounds, everything, and that itself is just as exhausting as the movement in walking.

Agreed!!! They'll run around the yard (in the heat) and be tired for like 20 minutes, but after going on a 15min walk they're done for the night!!

Walking 3 times a week is not nearly enough. She needs DAILY walks and daily backyard running/playtime both. Get some mental stimulation in there too, she needs it. Better yet, as Heather mentioned, it'd be better to get in at least 2-3 walks per day. Huskies come with needs that have to be met...or you will face the consequences as you've already discovered...and as she gets older and her exercise needs are not met you can expect the misbehavior and destruction to continue and/or get worse.

I always like to use this photo for reference when we are talking about nonadequent exercise and destruction... credit to Kara and her pup Kye at around 6 months! (modeling on the couch without a care in the world is Miss Chloe!)



Don't be a victim!

lol love that pic Heather

I will try to work more walking time in. I thought she was getting more out of play time in the yard but I will mix it up. I will also get her some new toys to keep her interested.

Last night we took her for a walk, which we dont do often during the week, and when she came back she went in her crate and went to sleep.

We also started an indoor fetch game last night, she had fun with it. Oh, and she is 8 months old so I will wait for the 1 year mark before getting too intense. Would it be better to have her pull me on roller blades or ride a bike while she hopefully runs next to me when we get to that point?

Thanks for the advice, I will certainly be getting her more walking time.

HuskyLuvver wrote:

Would it be better to have her pull me on roller blades or ride a bike while she hopefully runs next to me when we get to that point?

i think this depends on how good you are on roller blades at least with the bike you can get the attachment to help with a center of gravity and balancing. although you can get a belt that they use for canicross/skijoring to help with the center of gravity. thats what i use when i run with nikki

Quote :

Last night we took her for a walk, which we dont do often during the week, and when she came back she went in her crate and went to sleep.

This is what we strive for on a daily basis. He usually crashes for an hour or so then he's just nice and relaxed the rest of the time.

I would also say it's not just about mixing it up, but doing both within the same day for us with our pup. We go on 3 walks every day with a time in the park most days.

Our 8 month old has to have walks everyday. Ideally we walk a mile twice a day, plus yard time, and wrestle time, and zoomie time... Sabaka has not been destructive from lack of exercise, but rather annoying. We CANNOT sit until he "gets his wiggles out". Tonight we were trying to pack and fold laundry and he was woofing at us and jumping on us to try to play because he had not had his evening walk. I know ...annoying and ill mannered...

HuskyLuvver wrote:

Would it be better to have her pull me on roller blades or ride a bike while she hopefully runs next to me when we get to that point?

Rollerblades all depend on the dog and how well you can control them, as will rollerblades those "brakes" aren't going to save you if your dog is out of control, you'd have to just let yourself drop to the ground and hope they don't put forth the effort to drag you and simmer down, where as will a bike you have a lot more control over your dog's movements and being able to stop safely. Koda is great with rollerblading but he doesn't drag me and even if he sees a small animal I can get him to chill pretty easily and sit, but if he weren't so easily to control (like when he was a year old) I would have NEVER even tried it.

HuskyLuvver wrote:

I will try to work more walking time in. I thought she was getting more out of play time in the yard but I will mix it up. I will also get her some new toys to keep her interested.

Last night we took her for a walk, which we dont do often during the week, and when she came back she went in her crate and went to sleep.

We also started an indoor fetch game last night, she had fun with it. Oh, and she is 8 months old so I will wait for the 1 year mark before getting too intense. Would it be better to have her pull me on roller blades or ride a bike while she hopefully runs next to me when we get to that point?

Thanks for the advice, I will certainly be getting her more walking time.

As Shannon and Heather stated. rollerblading will depend on how good you are and how well you can control your pup. I consider myself pretty good on rollerblades, but will not attempt to take Storm just because he's very strong. I could handle Ginger, but remember, your feet will be on wheels, so it's not like you can plant a foot and stop.

You could make the walk focused and a mental exercise. So not only would it be physical exercise, but also mental. You could practice sitting at corners before you cross the street, or practice walking on a loose lead. You can exercise discipline by making the walk focused and not let her go sniff everything and mark everything.

I try to make everything I do with Ginger and Storm some sort of training exercise - their walks, feeding and play are all structured and/or disciplined to some degree, but they also get free time to relax or play.

If you only have time for a short walk on a certain day, try taking a new route and letting her sniff everything and anything. This is also a mental exercise and will tire her out. Of course, this is just an occasional thing in addition to their twice daily walks. On their regular walks, they have to keep going and can only sniff when I allow them to.

I took her today for a walk for about 30 minutes. Kept her by my side but then let her get out and investigate some. Then when I went out to cook on the grill I took her with me and she did her zoomies. Shes sleeping under the coffee table as I type this.

Sounds like she's doing great. We haven't had zoomies for over a month now. Some times I miss it...