I posted the other day in the welcome forum. We adopted a 2yr old male husky from the shelter (which they said was calm and child friendly hahahaha). We've had a problem with him not eating and he's bitten me a few times while trying to control the leash. We're starting obedience training and planning to get a bike for exercise. Just wondering what I should do in this situation...

He always turns aggressive when he meets new dogs. He growls at even the friendliest dog. Just outside our house he saw the neighbors dog for the first time. The dog was friendly, nonthreatening, and even walked away when Jax freaked out. I held him back and then took him inside. Now he's launching himself through the air at the front door like a maniac. He's hit so hard a few times he's yelped. I've tried restraining him. I tried his crate and he started headbutting it so hard I had to take him out. It's been an hour. He is NOT calming down. I have no idea what to do. He has also done this before when my husband left to go somewhere... but not nearly this violently. He keeps getting away from me and continuously hitting the door.

We're already having difficulties with his aggression towards us while trying to control his leash. And the couple times I tried playing and he got too excited and bit me.

We got him strictly bc we were told there were no aggression issues... we are trying to have a family. We took him for several long walks where he saw dogs and kids. He didn't freak out too much then. Too interested in his walk outside the shelter. I am so frustrated. My husband is less patient than me. I don't want to be the person who returns an animal. I don't. I absolutely have no idea what to do here. We now have to put off having kids bc we adopted the "wrong" dog?

Ugh. I want him to be happy and healthy. I have no idea what to do.

wow I am not sure what to tell you to help. I think I would have left him in the crate even if he was head butting it. My rescue sounds like as sweetie after reading about your issues. SHe had food aggestion problem which I throught we had over come but they came back on Sunday so we have to work ont it.

I am sure someothers will have good advice for you on how to deal with these issues.

Wishing you guys the best..

My husband even picked up rescue remedy on the way home. Used it. It's doing NOTHING. I'm scared he's going to hurt himself. He's hurting himself inside the crate too.

He's still trying to get out.

I'm not an experienced dog owner... it's why I specified what I was looking for at the shelter. They assured me that he was ok... said I may have to work on separation anxiety with him (which I was and am fine with).

I am trying my damndest to be calm and cool with him. Just nothing is stopping him.

He makes Suka sound so easy! I must have been lucky and adopted a well-behaved lazy sibe!

Not eating for a few days after you adopt them is normal. They are getting used to their new surroundings, their new schedule, and it is quite possible he doesn't trust you yet. (My boy, Suka, was abused...and it took weeks for him to fully trust me.)

Have you tried the NILF method? (Nothing in Life is Free). Googling it brings up lots of good hits.
Basically, the dog gets nothing unless he does something in return. Example: Sit for food/treats, good behaviour before walk/outside, etc.

By biting...how hard it the bite? Is it just a nip (could be out of excitement) or is it harder and draws blood?

And I'm not sure if there is a problem posting links to other husky forums, but there is another one I belong to where I made a 'Guide to Dog Body Language' thread. It might help you out with dog-dog interactions, letting you know if he is truly aggressive, fearful, or just really really excited: http://www.husky-owners.com/forum/showthread.php/30806-A-Guide-on-Dog-Body-Language

I don't know what to say about what he's doing right now. I hope someone can chime in and help.

As for the biting, it's hard to say without seeing it happen, but the bites probably aren't out of aggression. I'd bet that coming from a shelter at age 2, he probably hasn't been socialized very well. It's annoying when puppies are mouthy when playing, but it's painful and dangerous when a large dog acts similarly. I'd read this thread (if you haven't already):
Puppy Biting

I adopted Pippa in August and there are days when she's really good about not being mouthy, but then there are days (like today) that she mouths more when playing. You have to be consistent, but it will pay off.

Was he on leash when this happened with the neighbor dog? Often times dogs, that wouldn't normally, will act out aggressively when approached by a dog when they're leashed. It makes them feel more vulnerable.

Did the shelter say anything about him being dog friendly?

He's finally settled and fast asleep. Ugh poor puppy. I want him to settle in soooo badly. I'm really attached to him already.

I feel like the biting is more impatience and frustration; trying to physically control me rather than hurt me. I hope. I'm just concerned about how he'll be with children. I'll check out that thread, thanks.

Yes he was on his leash. It was right outside the house at the end of a walk. I really hope that's it. I haven't let him actually get too close to other dogs while walking him. I tried once but he starting growling and getting so worked up I felt it wasn't safe.

At the trainer he was very jumpy (which he is all the time really). But she said his jumping was aggressive. Clearly not just an excited jump. He was very stressed about being there. But I haven;t ever observed a moment when he was perfectly relaxed. I was hoping that would come with time.

I m glad you are working with trainer. A bit of information it seems that a lot huskies end up in shelters at about 2 years. My Kerian (the lighter colored husky in sig) was 2 years when we go her at the shelter.

Nothing life is free is the way to work on training I think. Google it.


Huskies do skip meals from time to time give him some time.

Hi,
it could be that your dog is unsure of himself and lacks confidence and social skills, rather than being actually aggressive. You need to work on keeping a calm state of mind and body language, as dogs are really sensitive to how you come across.

I never used to watch Caesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) on TV until we got our Kaya, but I think he does great work with the dogs he sees. You might want to catch it - I know his methods have helped us with Kaya, and she's only 4 months old.

We've only had Kaya for 2 months, and it's taken a lot of work just to get her to be a confident dog around the house and with different situations. Nothing happened overnight - we started off doing certain things which didn't work and had to find other ways that did work. It takes time and patience, especially if you not an experienced dog owner (we're not, Kaya is our first).

I adopted my sibe too, she was about 3.5 years. Had the same problem with the not eating. Just stick to whatever feeding schedule you want to be on, don't force the issue, eventually he'll come around to eating. Even though you desperately want him to eat (I know it worried me alot), make sure knows that you control the food and when he eats. In the meanwhile, you can kick start it by hydrating your kibble with a little chicken broth or water. I also added a little wet food to the bowl for the first week or so. You just have to make sure to mix it in very well so that the wet is inseparable from the dry.

As for the other issues, I haven't dealt with them so I can only offer advice in theoretical terms. I say be patient, just like every other aspect of owning a husky, patience is so important. He's only a few days out from the shelter where he may have only been for a few days. Before that he may have been in a less than desirable environment. So Jax has probably had a lot of stress in a short amount of time. Once he knows that your home is now his home too, he'll hopefully calm down.

Ditto on the Nothing in Life is Free training, I really like the philosophy behind it.

It seems that even at 2, most huskies still have insane amounts of puppy energy.

have you tried getting hims some exercise walk him he'll tire out and get comfortable with you.

I've never adopted a dog from the shelter, but I think there's a lot to be said for patience. Jax is in a brand new environment, one he's been in for a short period of time. Prior to that he was in the shelter for however long that was and before that who knows? Do you know any of his history?

From what I've read from other adoptors, it can take a long time for a dog to adjust to his new home and family. I'm not talking days or even weeks, but months.

Chances are you need to earn his trust. Does he allow to pet him, play with him (I know you mentioned playing once and he got rough) all that? You want him to respect you and love you but it's possible you also need to earn trust first.

I'm hoping some of the other members who are experienced with adopting/rescues will chime in here.

We adopted Bodi at a year and five months.

He had grown up with other dogs, been sold and then came back to the original kennel when it didn't work out with his humans. Then he was back in the kennel with other dogs for some months before we got him.

As a result, he wasn't very well socialized to people. He was beserkers in the house, running constantly, bouncing off the walls, pooping on our bed. We were beside ourselves and we were experienced husky owners.

Two things helped. One, dog training, or more accurately, human training. And two, massive amounts of exercise. Because he was an adult, I could run with Bodhi immediately, 3-7 miles. Exercise is like a sedative to a husky. They need it to calm down. It takes the edges off.

I know where you are coming from, but it will get better.