Hi everyone -- So glad to find you all! We adopted our five month old Siberian Husky, Winter, just last week from a shelter. He and an older mixed-breed dog ran away from their owners (not sure how long the dogs were on the road) and were picked up by animal control. Previous owners chose not to pay fines for not having neutered nor vaccinated the dogs, so here we are. Winter is my first husky; my previous dog was a Great Pyrenees which I raised from a puppy. Pyrs are not easy, either. We had been looking for an older husky, but the shelter was desperate, and called me to look at this cutie pie, and the rest, shall we say, is history! I've done lots of reading and research, though after reading some of the cautionary tales on the site, I'm a bit, uh, worried.

Winter is sweet and friendly and seems to have bonded well with us already - we love him! But with five months of not having been trained nor housebroken, he is something of a handful. We think he was very much ignored before. He's very bitey at times, and he doesn't empty his bladder completely outside (though he goes each time we take him out!), so he has many, many accidents, soon after he comes back in. He had his first vet check with our vet yesterday, and he was amazingly good, and has a clean bill of health. Our vet doesn't suspect any bladder problems. I'm following the accepted housetraining techniques, as referenced on your site.

I'm lucky enough to live adjacent to conservation land with some great trails that aren't much used, and even less used by dogs, so I've been able to take Winter for some great walks without worrying too much about him coming in contact with other dogs before he's done with his puppy shots. That is, until the deluge (again!) of the last few days. Exercising him definitely is key.

So I'm here to learn whatever I can and make some connections. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your dogs.

Beth and Winter

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(I'm using Chrome, so I don't think this image will work. Next time!)

Welcome!! Glad that Winter found his forever home with you! Can't wait to see some pictures of you guys!!

Kale and I say HELLOOO from California

Welcome!!
Looking forward to pics of Winter!
I'm sure you'll find tons of great info and support here!

Welcome! Can't wait to see pics of Winter

Welcome! thanks for taking Winter in and giving him a home. im wondering if having him fixed will stop the "marking" in the house, that and some super good pee cleaner

Welcome! Winter is a very handsome boy!

Thanks for the welcomes, everyone! Your dogs are all bee-yoo-tee-full! Jennifer, Winter was neutered at the shelter before I brought him home, and I'm using enzyme pee cleaner, like I've always used, so I think that's okay. I'm wondering if five months of peeing wherever and whenever he wanted is the culprit, and it's just going to take a lot of time. I'm just really puzzled by the not emptying his bladder completely. Of course, I should 'fess up and say that I've never had a male dog before, either. Oy. :-)

I also have to 'fess up that I'm not sure how to get a picture into my signature from my Mac. It seems to be a different process than the one I used for my avatar. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

We have a mac as well, and I use the "host an image" function to upload pictures, then once they're uploaded copy the address for the BB code, and paste into the text box for your post. Good luck.

Welcome to both you and Winter! Can't wait to see some pics!

Thanks so much, Meredith. I think maybe I've got it now. Sheesh. This is what happens when I'm puppy sleep-deprived.

aw he's adorable. welcome!

Welcome! He is such a handsome boy!

wintershuman wrote:

Winter was neutered at the shelter before I brought him home, and I'm using enzyme pee cleaner, like I've always used, so I think that's okay. I'm wondering if five months of peeing wherever and whenever he wanted is the culprit, and it's just going to take a lot of time. I'm just really puzzled by the not emptying his bladder completely. Of course, I should 'fess up and say that I've never had a male dog before, either. Oy. :-)

Welcome and congrats on adopting! As for Winter not emptying his bladder, I wonder if it is a male trait. I will be curious to see if anyone else speaks up about this cause my boy doesn't empty his bladder either. However, I had no issues with house training him but I also got him at 12 weeks of age. I'm sure once Winter realizes that inside is a no no, he will save his marking for outside. Dakota loves to save "some" for every tree and bush he sees on our walks.

Kale doesn't completely empty his bladder but iv'e never had an issue with him peeing in the house. I was really on the housetraining and would take him out to go to the bathroom every 45 mins or so. I thinks he's only peed in the house once and it was the second day that I brought him home! lol He only poops in the house when he has colitis and I don't read the signals in time

I guess I would take him out as often as possible and say something like "go potty" (that's what I say lol) and when he goes give him lots of praise and a treat.

what a cutie! embry always empties his bladder outside when we're home. we got him at 10 weeks, but he was miserable to potty train, he didn't stop peeing on puppy pads till he was 9 months old

Welcome and kudos for adopting! Winter is gorgeous!

And my adopted male never empties his bladder either...never has. That's why we have to take "potty walks" to empty him out by him peeing on everything...even that rarely ever empties his bladder...boys. Gotta love 'em!

You're welcome! I'm glad you were able to work, and he really is beautiful

Hello Winter sure is handsome! I think Val makes a good point with going on Potty walks . Has everything to do with marking.

Oh! It's nice to see a previous Pyrenees owner as well !

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome! What a handsome boy.

hypers987 wrote:

Kale doesn't completely empty his bladder but iv'e never had an issue with him peeing in the house.
I guess I would take him out as often as possible and say something like "go potty" (that's what I say lol) and when he goes give him lots of praise and a treat.

Ditto here! This is my first boy too and I have noticed that he will wander around peeing multiple times EVERY time I take hime out. I also use the "Go Potty" command. Just start saying it every time he is peeing and he will begin to associate peeing with that command. Now, at almost 10 months, I know my boy is NEVER finished after one pee, so I guide him back to the "potty area" and say the potty command again to get him to pee more.

I really think he has probably been so accustomed to peeing whenever and where ever he wants, these new rules are just going to take a while for him to catch on.

He's a looker! Welcome to the forum!