Hi everyone, I have a 9 week old little boy who is driving me crazy...literally! I researched and read for 2 months straight on Sibes and their temperment/behavior and personality, but nothing could prepare me enough for this little monster pup! I need help/advice on how to deal with his crying/howling/tantrum when I put him in his crate and he doesn't want to be in there...I know I'm supposed to ignore him and be alpha, but he goes on for like 20-30 min non stop and then my 15 month old daughter starts crying because she is so irritated by it!! It's really hard for me to interpret his whining/howling...whether its for attention or he needs to go potty. I, generally, take him out and lead him outside to go potty...sometimes he goes, sometimes be just wants to play and pick up everything on the floor...if he just plays I will bring him back in and back in his crate he will go and back to the howling/whining!!! He did so well for like 5 days straight and then all of a sudden he's back to being a pain in the butt and its becoming overwhelming. He's also been having more aggression today...biting hard and growling at me when I stick my hands in his food bowl while he's eating so that be hopefully doesn't have food aggression...I'm sure that he is feeding off of my negative energy, but I'm so overwhelmed! I know he's just a puppy, but I need help disciplining him in a productive way...I don't want him to fear me, I want him to respect me. I'm in over my head, I know this, I know I need patience and I'm trying...with him an my 15 month old it is taking every single oz of patience I can muster up!! I don't want to give him up, because we love him and I know he's a good pup...I guess I just need guidance in how to train/discipline/not totally lose my mind!!


-Shay

Take a deep breath. Crate training is one of the most stressful and emotional tasks. Puppies thrive on routine. Have certain times throughout the day that are allotted crate times, make them short and involve toys and treats. Kong toys are perfect crate training "accessories". They can be filled with treats like peanut butter. I used to stick them in the freezer so it would last longer. And of course, which you already mentioned, ignore him when he is in a tantrum. Puppies are like children, they test and test and try to figure out the boundaries, just like human babies. Only let him out when he is calm, even if it has only been for 15-30 seconds. Remember, start small and gradually lengthen the time. He will soon come to see his crate as a good safe place.

As for the early food guarding, start hand feeding. I hand fed Kale for the first 4-5 months that I had him (got him at 5 weeks). Then start putting it in a bowl with your hand in it, practice picking up the bowl while he is eating, but before putting it back down, put a yummy treat in it, so he knows that when you pick up the bowl he gets it back with something better in it. He needs to realize that you control the food, not him. another trick to have him respect mealtime is to have him sit and wait for it, this is the perfect time to teach both commands. He can only eat when you give him a release command. If you have anymore questions we are all here for moral (and emotional) support I wish that I had discovered these awesome people when Kale was a pup!

I'm currently reading, "Siberian Huskies for Dummies"!!

Loads of info, and lots of training ideas.

What Brooke said^^ Good luck! You're gonna need it It gets better, it does, just be patient, time flies!! It will all be worth it in the end

Thank you guys for your advice..I have been so overwhelmed lately with my 15 month old daughter and our new husky pup and have been a bit emotional lately because of it. I just want to make sure that he grows up to be a good dog and has a good temperament and I'm trying to be patient and remain calm and not get frustrated with him, which can be difficult at times. Both of my babies seem to be testing me lately, which is not making it easier for me lol. He has been doing wonderful with going potty outside and gas stopped going potty in his crate, which I am so happy about!! And he is doing well with basic obedience training and I gave been feeding him his food in my hand and making him sit, lay don, or give me his paw before he gets to eat each handful of food out of my hand he is doing well.

One thing I am still concerned with is leaving him in his crate by himself, if I need to Ho somewhere for an hour or two. The other day he was throwing a fit in his crate and got the top part of his mouth stuck in the small space where the latched are to hook his crate closed, so I heard him crying(poor boy!) and because of where he got his mouth stuck I could not open his crate and I had to get him un-stuck, which wasn't that easy. I'm thinking about getting him a plastic kennel to use to leave him in when I have to go somewhere, but won't have the extra money for that for a couple of weeks...so, I'm a little nervous to leave him in his crate alone for the first time tomorrow when I have to take my daughter to a Drs appt. :/

I'm going to look into that Siberian Huskies for Dummies book! Thank you!