Training an adult husky at home. Training and raising a husky at home

The Siberian Husky belongs to the factory specialized sled breeds, bred with the participation of aboriginal Far Eastern dogs. The breed is actively used by sedentary coastal tribes, represented by the Yukagirs, Kereks, Asian Eskimos and coastal Chukchi.

The Far Eastern dog is perfectly adapted for kennel keeping, and can also withstand severe frosts very easily, but cannot stay in the open sun for more than an hour and a half, which is due to the characteristics of the coat. It is for this reason that the enclosure in the local area should be located in some shade.

The dog kennel requires special attention. The roof must have a slight slope, which will allow the pet to jump up and rest. In winter, sufficient bedding of hay or dry straw is placed inside.

The area of the enclosure should not limit the dog’s free movement, as otherwise the pet may develop physical inactivity. It is not recommended to use painted mesh as a fence, as it is easily chewed by animals and can cause injury. To protect against precipitation, a canopy must be installed that does not interfere with natural air ventilation.

Aboriginal Far Eastern sled dogs are one of the most ancient breeds. Currently, the Siberian Husky has also gained great popularity as a companion dog and show breed, and is often kept in apartment conditions. The main advantage of apartment living is the opportunity to be in constant contact with the dog and involve it in the life of the household, which is especially important for such a sociable breed as the Siberian Husky.

Proper upbringing and training allows your pet to behave extremely carefully even in a limited space. The main unpleasant moment when keeping an apartment is the molting of a pet, which often lasts three weeks. The Siberian Husky sheds a couple of times a year. During this period, the dog completely loses all of its undercoat. If the animal is kept in warm conditions all year round, in the absence of a pronounced change of seasons, molting occurs all year round, but is not too noticeable.

No less problematic is the ability of dogs of this breed to actively chew on any objects. The interior, wires and shoes suffer especially badly from the teeth of playful and very inquisitive husky puppies. It is for this reason that it is very important to start raising a pet from a very early age, as well as provide it with a sufficient number of special toys.

This is interesting! When kept in an apartment, the animal is given a fairly cool place, on which dense bedding that is convenient for hygienic treatment is laid. If the dog lies on the bare floor, bedsores that take a long time to heal often form.

Optimal conditions of detention

Lack of free space and physical activity, as well as poor nutrition and hereditary predisposition, can significantly reduce the life expectancy of a pet.

On average, a Siberian husky lives about fifteen years, but in order for the animal to maintain excellent health throughout this time, it must be provided with proper walking and nutrition, education and training.

Walking a Siberian Husky

The owner of a husky must adhere to the basic rule - never leave his untrained pet for a walk without a leash and supervision in any unfenced areas. When choosing an activity for a walk, you need to take into account the dog's temperament and physical capabilities. Dog sledding and ski joring, which is also a sled sport but involves the use of skis, are very suitable for activities during winter walks. You can also engage in weightpulling - competitions in pulling loads over a distance, walking and cycling.

Important! As practice shows, the Siberian Husky is not a water dog at all, so any training with such a pet in a natural or artificial reservoir will initially be doomed to failure.

When choosing a type of physical activity during a walk, you need to remember some breed characteristics that any Siberian Husky has. Until a year old, all the joints, ligaments and bones of such a pet are not fully formed, so they are easily damaged. Small puppies should not be allowed to run up steep stairs on their own due to the risk of tearing the groin and shoulder muscles. Long distance running with pets under three months old is strictly contraindicated. Harness running without load can be started from the age of nine months.

Dog diet and nutrition

When preparing your own diet, you need to correctly determine the main type of nutrition and take into account all the features of metabolic processes. To feed such a dog, you can use ready-made industrial dry food or natural food. The Siberian Husky has a digestive system that perfectly assimilates fatty and high-protein meats, which is due to protein-fat metabolism that is atypical for other dog breeds.

When choosing ready-made food, preference should be given to high-quality mixtures produced under trusted brands and intended for medium-sized dog breeds. Such feeds are completely balanced in their composition, as well as optimal in nutritional value. It is advisable to feed a puppy and a young dog up to a year old with dry granules soaked in water or meat broth. Huskies are switched to adult dog food from the age of ten months.

The basis of a natural diet should be 75% meat products, including beef, veal, lamb, rabbit and poultry. Such products are given to the pet raw, but scalded with boiling water, as well as boiled, cut into small portions. Also beneficial are offal and boiled low-fat sea fish, cleaned of bones. It is important to remember that the Siberian Husky does not have chewing teeth, so minced meat cannot be fed to dogs of this breed.

A natural diet must include vegetables, such as carrots, spinach, beets, lettuce, pumpkin and zucchini, and cucumbers. Vegetables should be given grated, raw or fresh, seasoned with vegetable oil. The best cereals are oatmeal, buckwheat and rice, cooked in meat, vegetable or fish broth. Approximately 10% of the diet should be low-fat fermented milk products.

Education and training

Husky training is the basis for problem-free keeping of this breed at home. The Siberian Husky is by nature a very energetic and active pet, which from a very early age requires not only proper training and education, but also discipline. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a dog that is completely uncontrollable and completely disobedient to the owner’s commands.

This is interesting! As practice shows, the training process is especially difficult for inexperienced and novice Husky owners, so it is advisable to entrust such activities to experienced dog handlers.

The breed has a difficult character, which can significantly complicate the educational process. It is generally accepted that the Siberian Husky is quite difficult to train due to its very independent nature, as well as its intelligence and closeness to wild wolves at the genetic level.

It is very important to start raising and training a pet as early as possible, immediately after the puppy goes through a period of adaptation to new conditions. Basic commands that are required for training: “Place!”, “No!”, “Near!”, “Come to me!”, “Sit!”, “Lie down!” and “Voice!”

Care and hygiene

From a very early age, the dog must be accustomed to examinations, as well as such basic procedures as bathing, cutting and combing. Any Siberian Husky has a very thick and rather difficult coat, so the annual shedding when kept in apartment conditions can, if not properly cared for, very quickly turn the entire room into a solid “fur rug.” Your pet needs to be brushed regularly with a special wide-tooth comb, as well as a massage brush or a brush with long bristles.

The Siberian Husky is a very clean and absolutely self-sufficient breed, so, as a rule, there are no problems with care. It is important to remember that between the Husky's toes there is quite long and thick hair, which is designed to protect the paws from freezing in very cold conditions.

However, housing requires mandatory cutting of this wool. It is also necessary to regularly brush your teeth or purchase special chewing bones, inspect and clean your ears and eyes, and trim your nails.

Even passionate dog lovers always react with great excitement to the appearance of a puppy in the house, especially if the puppy is a husky. How will the pet perceive its new owner? How can I help him settle into his new home? What to feed, how to properly care for and how to train a husky? This is only a small part of the questions that a person faces who wants to adopt a puppy of this breed into his family. In this article we will try to lift the veil of secrecy that hides the peculiarities of training as much as possible.

Character of the breed: who is a Husky suitable for?

Siberian Huskies have a very stubborn character, they are independent and have their own opinion about everything that happens. The owner must become a leader for his pet, be persistent and strict when raising it, therefore dog handlers do not advise a person with a weak character to get a husky puppy. Otherwise, the dog will understand that it is stronger than its owner and will take on the role of leader, establishing its own rules in the house.

For all their activity and temperament, they are very kind and sensitive animals; they will fit perfectly into a family with small children. You can pacify a dog's obstinate temperament by loading it with frequent physical activity - walks and training. With a sufficient level of physical activity and the owner's awareness of how to properly train a Husky, the dog will easily become obedient and flexible.

Proper maintenance and care

You need to analyze the character of the puppies and choose the one you like from the entire litter after they are 3 weeks old. Until this time, it is difficult to draw any conclusions - the puppies are still too passive and do not show character.
It is often difficult to select the best puppy from a litter - there may be several of them, and the pet may change as it grows.
Many people seek to take custody of a baby husky in order to raise him on their own. However, if for some reason an adult dog appears in the family, there is no need to panic. It is possible to avoid mistakes, since there is no need to train a Husky as an adult - now you have an already trained dog that does not need to be trained.
Before adopting a puppy, you need to correctly calculate your strengths, capabilities and availability of free time - a small pet requires much more attention than an adult dog.

Basic rules of training

Contrary to the popular belief that huskies are difficult to train, the experience of dog owners proves the opposite. Dogs of this breed are very smart and quick-witted, and if the pet stops following commands, this does not mean that he is stupid - it means that the puppy has lost interest in the process itself. Now the question arises: how to train huskies at home so that boring training is perceived as a carefree pastime?

To make training easier and faster, try to interest your baby in an exciting game. The owner's voice when voicing commands should be calm, clear and persistent. Most often, huskies respond better to a request than to an order - this is their difference from service dogs.

Punishing a naughty puppy

Huskies are dominant by nature. At the same time, they are smart enough to understand the attitude of family members towards themselves. If the owner begins to beat up the pet, the husky will not let go of his - using cunning and charm, the pet begins to do everything that is smart enough to do.

There is no point in punishing your dog; it is better to start raising your pet properly from a very early age. However, if there are gaps in education, punishment cannot be avoided, especially when showing aggression towards family members or other dogs. How to train a husky if the dog is completely out of control? You cannot hit your pet; in extreme cases, you can firmly grab the withers and press it to the floor, showing your advantage.

Encouraging a Husky Puppy

An obligatory point in training is encouragement for correct execution of commands. For a puppy, this may be a favorite treat, which for an adult dog will be replaced by verbal praise. The dog should be praised upon any successful completion of training in a soft and friendly voice, different from the one in which the commands are given. Shrill and aggressive notes from the voice must be removed - they are unpleasant for the pet’s ears.

At what age can a Husky be trained? The optimal age to start training is 3 months. With the right approach and acceptable severity of the owner, a baby husky will grow up to be an excellent friend and a beloved family member.

At this age, the puppy forms an emotional contact with its owner. All exercises are aimed at creating strong relationships, creating a sense of security in the puppy, and including him in the “pack” - the family.

Command "COME TO ME!" before placing a bowl of food or giving a treat. In the game they called, petted, released.

The command “SIT!” At any opportunity. It is better to do it ten times during the day than to train for half an hour straight (this applies to any commands).

Any games she likes (with a ball, with a toy, searching for a bone). It is useful to give something tasty to smell and cover it with your palm. The command "SEARCH!" She must figure out how to get something tasty from under your hand. Or hide your hands behind your back.

At home:

Team " TO ME!» before putting down a bowl of food or giving a treat. In the game they called, petted, released.
Team " SIT!"At any opportunity. It is better to do it ten times during the day than to train for half an hour straight (this applies to any commands).
Any games she likes (with a ball, with a toy, searching for a bone). It is useful to give something tasty to smell and cover it with your palm. Team " SEARCH!". She must figure out how to get something tasty from under your hand. Or hide your hands behind your back.
Talk to her more in a calm, low voice, but without cooing intonations.

On the street:

Allow her to interact with pet dogs. Do not interrupt sniffing.
Important! In a safe place, having let her off the leash, call her from time to time (so that you touch the collar) and let her run again. Don't put her on a leash right away. If the puppy is passionate about something, then he does not hear the owner. We need to get her attention crouching and tapping the ground with keys or a pebble, toss the glove. You can run away from her, hide behind a tree (so she can see it). Never chase a dog in order to catch it. This is the key to flawless execution of the team " TO ME!". And never scold your dog after it has approached you.
Be careful not to make a mess. If you grab something, you can throw a tin can with pebbles into it (it rings loudly), or take it out of your mouth with your hands, shake it by the scruff of the neck, swearing. Team " IT IS FORBIDDEN!».
Pick her up as little as possible. Now it’s better not to do this at all.

“At the same time, when building emotional contact with a puppy of the age of fear, one should keep in mind that all the stress and experiences of this age are fixed in the psyche very firmly and for a long time. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right degree and form of expressing sympathy for a puppy in a stressful situation, so as not to increase unpleasant emotions by what the puppy may perceive as manifestations of confusion and uncertainty of the owner. Such factors that increase stress in a puppy include, first of all, the high tone of the voice of the owner (mistress) and sing-song, cooing intonations - for a person, both serve as an expression of sympathy and consolation. Much more effective are forms of consolation such as patting the puppy on the side of the shoulder blades, pressing him sideways to the owner’s leg, and covering the back of the nose from above with the palm of the hand with light compression with the fingers and the heel of the palm on both sides. These gestures of the owner most closely resonate with species rituals expressing support and patronage from the elder.

One of the common specific situations that should be avoided at all costs at this age is lifting the puppy in your arms in such a way that its back is pressed to the owner’s chest and its tummy is open outward. In this case, all vital organs are not protected, which dogs always instinctively protect from any dangers from the outside. It is especially harmful to take the puppy out of the door in this way, when the transition to open space is critical, or to “protect” him in this way from a running dog. Often, such inept treatment of a puppy by an owner becomes the cause of insurmountable cowardice in an adult dog.”

This is a quote from the book of Natalia Dmitrievna Krivolapchuk, a famous St. Petersburg zoopsychologist. I was lucky enough to study with her. I advise you to buy her books “The Dog Who Loves” and “The Dog You Don’t Have to Be Afraid of.” There are a lot of subtleties that you won't find in other authors.

SHMAKOVA Natalia Mikhailovna

Psychologist, member of the Guild of Psychotherapy and Training

Co-owner of the Siberian Husky kennel “Silver Wind”.

In the photo: Siberian husky - Eshka: at 2 months and 5 months (classes on the site). Photo: Tatyana Soladtova.

The activity and temperamental nature of the husky requires a carefully thought-out education system. Moreover, due to the specific conditions in which this breed was formed, their training must follow special rules. Let's find out how to raise a husky so that the pet does not cause problems.

Initially, huskies were sled dogs and this determined their character traits. They are characterized by intelligence and independence - the leader himself chose the most convenient path, focusing on a given direction, everyone else worked in the same mode. Lazy dogs were punished by the pack itself, and this developed the breed's habit of working with full dedication, while appreciating the “contributions” of others. Hence the tendency of these dogs to imitate.

At the same time, they are weakly attached to the owner, since usually the team was used by different people.

The hunting instinct is highly developed and without socialization these dogs perceive other domestic animals as prey. Security instincts are very poorly developed.

There is a strong tendency to dominate: without proper training, huskies impose their own rules on their family, and even bite when they “disobey.” This breed is categorically not recommended for beginners, since it is very difficult for a beginner to train restive huskies correctly.

On the street, it is better to let them off the leash less often - huskies tend to run away and wander.

When to start

New owners have a natural question: at what age should they start raising a husky puppy? Most often, the start of training for teams is 2.5–3 months. Some owners begin training at 2 months. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the dog.

For a husky puppy, 2 months is the age when you can already “introduce” him to a collar.

How to raise a puppy

Raising a husky should begin from the first days of being in the house. The stubborn and willful nature of these dogs will become a big problem if left to chance. Immediately, unbreakable rules must be established: a place to sleep, a feeding schedule (it can change depending on the age of the dog, but not on a whim), permitted and unacceptable behavior.

The next important question is how to toilet train a husky. Take your puppy to the litter box or diaper 5-10 minutes after eating, immediately after sleep, or at the moment when he just begins to sniff the floor and sit down. Reward him when he relieves himself in the right place. Especially actively praise him for the things he has done on the street. After a while, remove the tray. Walks should take place at the same time.

Now let's figure out how to accustom a puppy to a collar. Put it on your dog for a short time at first. If the puppy tries to throw it off, distract it with play or a treat. Try to do this before a walk so that the collar is associated with joy. Then train him to use a leash. To make your dog listen and follow you, first lure him with something tasty.

A very important question is how to stop a husky from biting. If the puppy begins to bite your hands even during play, stop the fun immediately. Send the dog to its place in a stern voice. Also, if the puppy bites you, you can press him to the floor or hold his mouth with your hand for a while.

The puppy should only play with dog toys and not old shoes and other human things, otherwise he will not know the difference between old and new.

It is necessary to train the dog so that it does not show aggression during veterinary examinations. Bring treats to the veterinarian's office to reward good behavior.

What should you do if you feel that raising a puppy has been difficult, he often bites and ignores commands? In this case, you need to take a training course with a dog trainer, who will give advice on how to make the puppy more obedient. A book on training will also come in handy, but keep in mind that huskies are working dogs, not service dogs, and a number of the usual training rules do not apply to them.

Training and teaching commands

Husky training at home should be regular, but not boring. It is better to do it in the form of a game. When you train your dog, your voice should be calm, even and low - this breed does not tolerate shrill intonations. Often such dogs are more effective in the form of a request than an order.

Training a husky puppy begins with the command “Come to me!” Moving a couple of meters away from the dog, say the command in a friendly manner and show the treat. Praise as soon as the puppy moves in your direction. Give a treat for completing the command correctly. Also use these words when calling your dog for regular feeding.

An important part of training a husky is the “Place!” command. The baby needs to be taught it from the first days. Each time you take him to his bed to rest, repeat “Place!” To teach your puppy to return to the bed on command, you can put a treat there. If the baby categorically ignores the bedding, check it - it may be uncomfortable, located in a draft, etc.

It is very important to teach your husky the “Fu!” command. Stop the unwanted action: take the forbidden thing from the puppy, push it away from the dangerous place, sharply and firmly saying “Ugh!” If the animal repeats the prohibited action, pin it to the floor.

To teach your dog to sit on command, show him a piece of treat, raising your hand so that he can only see it while sitting. You can follow the spoken command by pressing the croup.

Let's look at how to properly train a Husky at home.

Training must include rewards for correct execution of commands. At first these should be mostly treats, then they are increasingly replaced with praise.

You cannot beat huskies: dogs “trained” in this way will take revenge on occasion. What to do if unacceptable behavior occurs? Press the puppy to the floor and release it when it stops struggling. Another option: lift it by the scruff of the neck and hold it a little. It is necessary to punish for misconduct immediately, then the puppy will not associate incorrect behavior with punishment.

Training and education must obey once established rules. Likewise, the commands that accustom the dog to this or that action should not change.

It is necessary to ensure that all commands are strictly followed both at home and on the street. Training is easier if it is accompanied by outdoor games.

This is a dog of medium height, with a muzzle reminiscent of a wolf, but much cuter. Huskies often have blue eyes. Her body proportions reflect a balance of strength and endurance. Representatives of the breed have excellent immunity, they are cheerful, balanced, and energetic. But this is all about adult dogs. And in order for a puppy to become exactly like this, he must be raised. How to properly train a husky?

These pets love their owners and get along well with other dogs. Breeders recommend keeping them in pairs, otherwise one dog will have to pay a lot of attention. They need to be trained daily and given physical exercise, but this is a pleasant experience, because puppies are simply irresistible. The process begins only after the dog has been vaccinated.

Before this, you can only train and train your dog at home or on your private backyard in order to prevent infection from his fellow dogs. Initial training is, first of all, the puppy learning its name. Only after this can your pupil be taught commands. Usually purebred huskies respond to their name within 5-7 days. In order to speed up this process, the nickname should be short, with the presence of hissing sounds in the word.

Initial training of a representative of the breed is:

Limiting the part of the house where the pet can be.
Compliance with feeding regimen. Please note that the puppy must go to the toilet after this for 20-30 minutes. Only after this can you exercise and play with the dog.
Immediately decide on the toilet area. Dogs should relieve themselves in one place. Usually this is a special tray. And when you teach your dog to use the toilet outside, try to take it to the same place. Praise and reward for defecating there. You should not play with your dog in the toilet area. He will then not understand the purpose of the visit. Learn to recognize signs of the urge to empty your bladder or bowel. The dog begins to scratch the door, run around randomly, and whine. Don't miss these moments so you don't get angry later about the puddle in the hallway.
As your dog ages, teach him to go to the toilet in the morning and evening.
If, during the process of toilet training, your young husky still unpleasantly surprises you with puddles, do not scold him. It may be worth going to the vet and finding out if your puppy has bladder problems. In the meantime, use an odor neutralizer after cleaning up puddles. If this is not done, then the dog, thanks to its keen sense of smell, will return to that place and mischief again.

After the puppy is accustomed to the feeding regime, the toilet, the nickname, and has adapted to the leash, that is, it has undergone initial training, it needs to be taught commands. Start with the “no” command. Let your dog sniff a treat, such as a piece of fresh meat. Place it in the middle of the kitchen or hallway where your puppy can quickly reach it. When doing this, keep your pet on a leash. When he approaches the meat, sharply, but not very forcefully, pull his leash. Say “no” in a stern voice. The dog will whine and be offended. Patience! Repeat this 3-4 times. Next, switch to the game. After a few hours, repeat the training. Once your Husky has firmly mastered this command at home, you can reinforce it outside. Young dogs often pick up fragrant food wrappers on walks. You definitely need to train your dog not to do this. Say “no” in the same stern voice and pull your pet by the leash. Stimulate your baby with treats for obedience.

While walking, start teaching the “near” command. Say it when the pupil is at a great distance from you and bring the leash closer to your leg. The dog should be at a distance of half a meter from you and walk parallel, following the command. Praise obedience with petting and stimulate with treats.

The “sit” command is pronounced when the dog is next to you, and you hold the leash with your left hand from behind. Pull the dog a little and at the same time press the back of the body with your elbow. He will bend his hind legs and sit down. Say the “down” command while pulling the dog’s collar forward. The dog will bend over, and you help him bend his front legs and lie down.

Be patient when training your Husky. Your persistence will soon turn into pride in your adult and smart student.