I know that I'm going to jinx myself by asking this, but in the 2 weeks or so that Jake has been with us he hasn't touched one thing. Well, he knocked the guinea pig cage over but beyond that... Have I just lucked up? He's home by himself (and another dog and 3 cats and 1 guinea pig) for about 7 hrs per day.

amynbebes wrote:

I know that I'm going to jinx myself by asking this, but in the 2 weeks or so that Jake has been with us he hasn't touched one thing. Well, he knocked the guinea pig cage over but beyond that... Have I just lucked up? He's home by himself (and another dog and 3 cats and 1 guinea pig) for about 7 hrs per day.

Kya has only destroyed ONE thing in our house. My favorite pair of RED shoes! ( I haven't been able to find a pair since). I think it really just depends on the dog. We leave her alone in the house with our cats and poms all day long. She never messes with anyone. As long as the TV is on and the fan is on, she is a happy dog.

amynbebes wrote:

I know that I'm going to jinx myself by asking this, but in the 2 weeks or so that Jake has been with us he hasn't touched one thing. Well, he knocked the guinea pig cage over but beyond that... Have I just lucked up? He's home by himself (and another dog and 3 cats and 1 guinea pig) for about 7 hrs per day.

Rescues don't show their true colors for about 3-6 months. I wouldn't count your chickens just yet

ETA: Are the cats and guinea pigs in another room? I would also NEVER leave a husky, especially a rescue, home unattended with cats and small animals within reach.

Usually huskies do have a high prey drive lots of exercise and training can keep it at bay. But since you are still new to your husky I would keep your cats and pig in a safe area away from your husky.
A husky I had for 10 yrs never showed any prey drive and one day while outside with my daughter and her pig as usual she just up and snatched it out of it's pen. It was the one and only time she ever did it.

I don't know, my dog leaves anything alone that isn't food or fabrics. His prey drive is pretty weak. He'll start to chase smaller animals, but all I have to do is grunt and he'll disengage and go back into pack drive. I took a personality inventory because I was applying for SAR course (just checking around) and his pack/fight drives were insanely high, while his prey and flight drives were nill to none. But hey, he's 7 months or so, so he has time to go 180.
I do notice he's a LOT more cooperative with walks when he's been to the dog park or seen his brother in the last few days. Maybe the other animals give him enough exercise that he doesn't go into prey drive.

The guinea pig is kept closed in a room away from him and the cats have managed to stay out of his way. He doesn't bug them too much unless it's both dogs together, then I think they ramp each other up. Thanks for the input everyone!

our rescue's destruction peaked at around 6mo of us having him. You might be lucky, but I'd give him some time to finish settling in......

Koda wrote:

Rescues don't show their true colors for about 3-6 months. I wouldn't count your chickens just yet

really?! is that hearsay or confirmed by multiple folks with rescues? I've had mine for 2 and 1/2 months now...After the first few weeks, i noticed some changes, now i see subtle changes but mostly in good ways. he stays at home all day while i am at work and likes cardboard to rip up. I also got him a long stuff toy i put treats to keep him busy. (somehow he gets em out which is perplexing) I do kinda lay him down on the floor before I leave though and tell him to stay and be a good boy. sometimes when i get home he is sound asleep and doesn't even wake up! Of course I give him tons of free running excercise on trails and forests around me, sometimes with other doggies too, so he should be fulfilled in that way at least!

massak wrote:

Koda wrote:

Rescues don't show their true colors for about 3-6 months. I wouldn't count your chickens just yet

really?! is that hearsay or confirmed by multiple folks with rescues? I've had mine for 2 and 1/2 months now...After the first few weeks, i noticed some changes, now i see subtle changes but mostly in good ways. he stays at home all day while i am at work and likes cardboard to rip up. I also got him a long stuff toy i put treats to keep him busy. (somehow he gets em out which is perplexing) I do kinda lay him down on the floor before I leave though and tell him to stay and be a good boy. sometimes when i get home he is sound asleep and doesn't even wake up! Of course I give him tons of free running excercise on trails and forests around me, sometimes with other doggies too, so he should be fulfilled in that way at least!

It's a widely accepted trait of rescues. It takes them a long time to settle in and really show their colors. Koda took about 4 months to make a peep. He used to never howl and while he was destructive from the beginning, he had other characteristics that didn't show through until later. Hailey took a good 6 before she started showing all her true colors. She guarded at first and wouldn't let Koda near her. She still does some of these things but she was an angel left alone before but not she'll destroy almost anything she can get her hands on when we are gone. And those are just my two-- many people here can tell you similar stories about their own rescues.

we have found that when that short attention span kicks in, he does stuff in protest.
If its jumping on me whilst sat of the sofa or just pinching the little un's dora slippers.

But he has chewed plenty of hair brushes, the vacuum attachment/brush, ripped up hand towels for the dishes.
I think one of the best he has done, was when he was about 8 months old, i was sat playing call of duty with my sennhieser headhphones, as i was playing away, i was wondering why it was going in and out of stereo, getting all crackly and cutting out.. I look down between my feet and there sat is a fur ball, with a wire in his trap, looking all innocent..lol

And the cat...we keep him well away..
The cat was fine with a ridgback, but he does chase her...

Oh yeah he has a sock fetish too, just eats them if he gets the chance..usually the kids leaving them about, we had to stop that real quick..

Luna destroyed 3 couches so far. I also left her alone for about 5 hours without supervision She hasn't touched anything in about 3 months so I'm crossing my fingers that she grew out of it. I don't keep her in her crate at all anymore.

artoaky wrote:

Luna destroyed 3 couches so far. I also left her alone for about 5 hours without supervision She hasn't touched anything in about 3 months so I'm crossing my fingers that she grew out of it. I don't keep her in her crate at all anymore.

yeah but look at that face..how can you stay mad at her..
we leave the house, he gets in his cage/crate of his own accord, is just routine now..
he sleeps there and goes in when he is being moody or naughty..
but we only put the bolt across when we go out..
he sleeps the night here on the couch...its his now i think...