► Dog Training

Forward

"... the dog never makes a mistake. He is just a dog and he does what he does because he is a dog and thinks like a dog. It is you that makes the mistake because you haven't trained him to do what you want him to do when you want him to do it. Or you have misjudged what he is able to do, physically or mentally. So if a mistake is made in the team, it is you that made it; not the dog."
By George Attla - Everything I know about Training and Racing Sled Dogs...

Basic Training (Housebreaking)

We must admit that we where learning at first with our first husky, as it took three weeks to get her to understand that toilets where to take place outside, not on the lounge carpet, but with our second a year later, it took two days. It's a learning curve for all of us if you haven't had dogs before, and having a Siberian Husky as your first dog presents all kinds of challenges because of there independent nature. We would advise anyone taking on a Husky for the first time to purchase books like we did before hand, and take up puppy classes once you have your new arrival, they will do you and your new arrival justice, and you will learn how to get your new puppy to do what you won't it to do. This I can not stress enough as there are in the UK alone, hundreds of unwanted Huskies held at welfare centres, due to there previous owner/owners not having the right knowledge and training to understand them to be able to train them, leading to the dog becoming to much of a handful for them.

Training (General Obedience)

Siberian Huskies have a very good attitude to learn when focused in the right direction. They tend to pick up things quickly - that also means there ably to sum you up quickly - but can become bored very quickly with the same repartition if you go over the top. Make learning fun, lots of praise when doing the right thing and only discipline when called for, never discipline a dog when returning to you, you will destroy the recall/come command at drop of a hat. Yes it's true, it's a common believe that Huskies will not return when off lead, but there are some that are fine, I have one, although I would not attempt such an act where there are roads near by, it's always better to be safe then sorry.