hollywoodhuskies wrote:

I read somewhere (might be here?) that having a husky is like being a politician who constantly is being re-elected. You have to keep proving you're a better leader.

This made me laugh and I think it is so true with most huskies. I've never had an issue with Dakota minding me, but Willow sure does like to test me on a daily basis!

Megan, do you think you can get your hubby to read this thread? Some people need someone on the outside to tell them what they need to hear.

mheath0429 wrote:

Oh melissa, believe me, i know. The hard part is getting him to realize what he did was wrong, im gonna let him cool down and then address the situation. This stuff is just really stressing me out.

Definitely let him cool down a bit and then try to reason with him. My hubby would blurt out the "we're giving her away" when we first got her and she would do these things. My reply was "fine, then I'm going with her...it is what it is". He would calm down a few days later and be loving on her all over again. He's grown up a lot since then though and now he says that he would give me away before her

I have every intention of having him read this thread, he really needs to, but he hasnt been ignoring her, i wont let him. He is doing better tonight but it is definitely going to be a bumpy ride.

mheath0429 wrote:

I have every intention of having him read this thread, he really needs to, but he hasnt been ignoring her, i wont let him. He is doing better tonight but it is definitely going to be a bumpy ride.

Give it a good three weeks for him to go through all the emotions and get back to normal. And don't watch any Cesar Milan. Hubby also wanted to give Frosti back - over my dead body. Guess who's Daddy's little girl now?

Perhaps try the tether thing in the meantime, having her leash tied around your waist when you're home. And have him feed her - but make her wait until he says she can eat. And exercise her as much as you can. Those three things usually cure a bunch of ails!

I know its too soon to tell, but i approached to pull a piece of paper out of her mouth and used really positive reinforcement and she spit it out without a growl! sorry. Im just happy about that.

mheath0429 wrote:

I know its too soon to tell, but i approached to pull a piece of paper out of her mouth and used really positive reinforcement and she spit it out without a growl! sorry. Im just happy about that.

That's fantastic! Little steps is how it's done!

This article might help your hubby understand the way a dog thinks a little more. I read it before I got Sky, and thinking back to some of my favorite quotes helps me laugh off things that would probably make me really upset or angry otherwise. It helps explain to me how dogs are so much more reactionary and in-the-moment than we are. They don't plan ahead to do things like snapping at you.

Why Did My Dog Do That When He Knows It's Bad?

Although it isn't exactly related, I especially love the example about the dog chewing trash.

I hope that helps a little. My bf and I had a difficult discussion about getting rid of Sky when she had had several destructive nights in a row not long after we got her, and it was not fun at all. But now I don't think he'd ever want to get rid of her.

Thank you miranda!

Miranda, that was a good article! My hubby must read that. He doesn't understand that him telling them "they're a bad girl/boy" 30min after the "incident" is not going to work. They have no clue why they're being called "bad". Gotta catch them in the act!

Those pretty blue eyes are so hard to punish sometimes,,,

mheath0429 wrote:

I know its too soon to tell, but i approached to pull a piece of paper out of her mouth and used really positive reinforcement and she spit it out without a growl! sorry. Im just happy about that.

YAY!! *high five* She's not aggressive at all, it was how she was approached and how the situation was handled.

Yeah she is being a verey good girl

Clear case of resource protection. I understand that your husband is a bit scared of the dog now, I think that is normal, but showing the fear to the dog will only make things worse.
And why does he want to get rid of her, it wa shis fault. Instead of wasting energy for thinking about getting rid of her he should put his energy in properly training her.

True - but on a more positive note - how's it going now, Megan?

hollywoodhuskies wrote:

True - but on a more positive note - how's it going now, Megan?

Yes yes! We want to know if Delilah and your hubby are cuddling yet!?

I realize I'm a bit late to reply, but anyways...

Have you ever thought of putting her in her crate when you feed her? To avoid these sort of problems, I feed my dogs in their crates. I also give them their Kongs and bones in their crates.

Of course, a crate may not always be available so getting her used to people handling her while she's eating is still important.

Just a thought to avoid future problems, especially when around children/people who don't follow the "leave the dog alone when it's eating" rule.

This is from so long ago, but I thought I should update on Delilah and her Resource Guarding.

Delilah is a completely different dog. We have been practicing NILIF, but more importantly we have been working with Delilah to trust us. Chris willingly admits that he was an idiot and Delilah doesn't get Zukes anymore. Thankfully, she loves antlers and will gladly let me "borrow" hers

As you all know, we got Cato about 2 months ago. I was terrified of how she would react with him. Her guarding was under control with us, but I didn't know how she would feel with another dog. We started feeding them together. Chris holding Cato's Bowl, and I had Delilahs. She hated it and I could tell she felt demoted, but she dealt with it. Not even a growl. We took baby steps and how they eat in the same room at the same time with supervision and Cato is even allowed to lick hers clean.

She has come very far, thanks for those who helped and didn't judge.

I feel sorry for your husband, but there was a better way for him to handle it. And your dog could have reacted much worse, it could have been a full on attack. She didn't, and that was good. Balon gets a bit growly around bones too, but only towards the lab, and we are working on that. I have always taught him since he stepped paw into this house that I would take anything anyway anytime, me or any other human. That hasn't been an issue. He gets possessive around the lab sometimes, we have been working on letting him know there is no reason to guard anything, there is plenty to go around. I had a greyhound that about took my sons hand off over a rawhide bone, she NEVER got another one!

June,

We certainly know that now. Sadly it was trial and error, I wish it hadn't happened but we are both better pet parents because of it. We had to learn the hard way.

I just wanted everyone to know how far our girl had come

OMG I didn't realize how old your post was so sorry lol but I'm so glad to hear everyone is doing better, that's great! And I meant to say my husband would have reacted the same way, telling me to get rid of the dog and all, men are so funny!

No Problem! I wasn't worried. Let it help you too though - and maybe show this thread to your hubby!

So glad to hear the positive update! Yay! Congrats!

Hubbies sometimes need to CHILL out. We're better at going with the flow.... Hubby was so upset when we got Frosti and the dogs didn't get along. I think I'm getting mine a Thundershirt... (hubby, that is!)

Update:

Since having Cato, Delilah's guarding has gotten immensely better. I never have an issue with him, or her.We have had many people over with their dogs and she is very sweet and shares her toys and even antlers if the dog has been here a few times(otherwise, i leave them up). Cato is a dream and wouldn't care if you took anything from him, as long as he got pets!

Here is what worked for us:

1. A lot of hand feeding, about 6 weeks worth and then we slowly let her eat out of her bowl.
2. Feeding meals at specified times and only from us, so she knew we bring all that is good.
3. NILIF training.
4. We did have a behaviorist come, but in reality nothing that was said was different than here.
5. Trading with higher value objects helped immensely.

Now, when Delilah has something and I go to grab it, she knows she will get something great and relaxes.

Please note: This thread is from 2011

Yay!!! I'm worried about Nisha when me and my bf move in together. She's his 10 year old county shepherd that's never lived in the city, and she doesn't like Kale... we'll see how it goes...