We recently rescued two huskies from a local vet clinic that has an attached orphanage. One of the two dogs (Tango) who is a 16month old male has just developed a disturbing new behavior. When my mom is fixing dinner in the kitchen Tango likes to lay by her feet and keep her company, no harm there, however, when my father or I walk through the kitchen Tango will snarl and bare his teeth at us. If we reach just to give him a pat on the head or something, he will growl louder and he has even snapped at my dad. When we back off he will jump up and wag his tail immediately whimpering and runs to the closest person licking their hand and looking for attention. This incident has only happened in the kitchen, and only when dinner is being prepared and when meat is involved. This is not necessarily a protection instinct of my mother since the same has happened when others of us have been making sandwiches and such at the counter. Tango never tries to beg or eat our food off the table or counter, his own food is always eaten, but it seems we can't find a reason or solution for this behavior.

We have had the dogs for about three weeks, the other dog (Kaleb) is a 9 month old male, if that is of any use.


The black and white is Tango, the one with some brown in his coat is Kaleb.
(Harnesses don't normally stay on them, they had just gotten back from a run.)

I wouldn't allow them in the kitchen if ats how he's going to behave. It's a possession behavior over the food.

Either keep them out of the kitchen or put a leash on him and remove him from the kitchen when he behaves that way. Don't talk to him, don't say anything, just leash him up and take him out. If you can't get close enough to even do that I would highly suggest now allowing him in the kit hen at all.

Implement NILIF training now - he's testing you. Everyone in the family needs to reinforce that they are the boss over him. Google the term now and read up.

Chili also growled at me 3 weeks in - I withdrew all attention from and followed all NILIF training for the rest of the day. It made such an impression he hasn't done it again - huskies love attention and really hate it if you withdraw it.

Didn't know about the NILIF technique. I am reading about it now, very interesting.