HELP-Aggressive Husky??

[afears01]

Hi. My mom has a 5 year old female White German Shepherd, who is a bit food aggressive, but she listens when you tell her "no" and she has gotten to be great friends with my female boxer. She still won't let my boxer eat out of her food dishes, but she will let her drink from her water bowl. It took us about 2 weeks to get the two used to each other. My boxer was instantly submissive (we always go over to the German Shepherd's house), and does not show any aggression when she is told to, in effect, back off by the Shepherd.

My question, after a long winded introduction, is this:
My mom just rescued a Husky mix, female, from a man who was getting rid of her. She couldn't bare to think of this beautiful husky in the shelter. The man stated he had to get rid of her because she chewed everything in his house when he wasn't home, and was an excellent escape artist with regards to the outdoor pen he tried mightily to keep her in.

She appears, most of the time, to be very sad. She doesn't wag her tail much, unless you take her for a car ride. She also loves to hear "Wanna go outside?" She is extremely calm, and prefers to lay behind the chair in the livingroom. She comes when called, but almost reluctantly. The previous owner said he was her 2nd owner, and he got her from the shelter as well.

She was given a bone, and although she won't eat it, she guards it with her life. The German Shepherd is not allowed anywhere near it. She also will not allow the other dog near her food dish. She does not appear to be food aggressive towards people. Strangely, she will NOT accept doggie treats, bones, snacks, or anything else. She sniffs, and walks away.

She also does not like my boxer. She has nipped at my boxer when she (boxer) gets too rowdy and wants to play. She lets my dog know, but my dog is too hyper to get the point, so we have to step in and take control by putting either my dog or the husky in the crate for a while until they calm down.

I would really, really like to be able to go over to my mom's house and take my dog with me. I have taken my boxer over there every weekend since I've had her, about a year now. How do we get them all to be friends? How do you change food aggression in dogs?

I sincerely apologize for such a long winded question. I am very new to this, and I wanted you all to have as much information as possible!!

Thanks so much for any help you may be able to give!!
Abbie

 

[joce]

Huskies are really picky. Some get along with all dogs,and others could care less about them and in some cases flat out hate other dogs. My girl jsut can not be around some dogs. If you could find a one dog house for her it may be great but I've dealt with my girl like this for six years You might want all the dog to play and get along but honestly the husky could probally care less. while you are over jsut let her hang out in a room alone or in a spot that is just hers.

this dog actually sounds a lot like my girl. How does your mom let her outside? I am one that would never trust a husky in a fence or a run. I've seen my girl climb a six foot chain link and squeeze between the cover on the top. She has also snapped even the heavy duty trolly things. We jsut use a tie out we replace every two or three months.

these dogs are insanely smart and jsut like we don't get along with certain people,or how some people jsut want to be alone,it happens with dogs also.

And to solve the food aggression just take it away. I think you mean towards the other dogs,right? I would not feed even my dogs together let alone some that don;t live together. It was a treat that started the first fight between my corgi and husky.

 

[filarotten]

Maybe I'm strange, but I don't, and would never expect my dogs to eat from the same bowl. They each have their own food bowl spaced about three feet apart. Nobody fights over food, I have never had that problem. Plus, I want to know exactly how much each one of my dogs is eating. Now, when it comes to bones, I do feed them in different spots. Maggie in the house, Roxie in the front, Brutus in the back. Never had a fight, but Roxie will guard her bone until she decides to eat it. I respect her wishes.
Why don't you feed your boxer in its own bowl and give it a bone of its own? I guess you don't watch your dog's food intake. I'm confused as to why you expect them to share their food and bones? Do you eat off your own plate or are you required to share it with your mother when you visit?

This poor husky has been thru enough, give it some space, love and respect. It also sounds like your boxer could use obedience training, it seems to be the pushy one.

 

[afears01]

Maybe misunderstood

I apologize, this is to filarotten, I may not have explained the situation very clearly. My boxer is not in the same home as the husky. The new husky is my mom's new dog, she has a german shepherd as well. I only refered to my boxer because she was rowdy around the new husky, and the husky did not appreciate it. I have had dogs all my life, and I have never been under the impression that they should eat from the same bowl, I was only trying to ask what we could do to LESSEN the food aggression. You seemed angry in your response, or exasperated, and I apologize if my post made you feel like you were dealing with someone who had no clue what they were doing. I was only looking for tips. We did give them their own bones, in separate rooms, but I was hoping to avoid a fight when one goes into a room where there is a bone already spoken for. We also realize she has been through alot, that's exactly why my mom wanted her. My mom is home 5 days out of the week and felt this dog needed her, and to be with someone who could help her.

As for my boxer, she is just hyper, as most boxers are. She calms down, and does not need any training. She is anything but pushy. When she gets to be too much, I tell her to "go to bed" and she simply goes in the crate until she calms down. I would call that pretty obedient. And the boxer does not live with the husky and german shepherd, as you would know if you read my post carefully.

As for you, Joce, thank you for the tips. We tie her up with a cable chain, but she doesn't appear to want to run when we are there with her. She is as calm as could be. When there isn't anyone home, however, she really does all she can to get free. I believe she may have been neglected or ignored much of the time. She doesn't pull on the leash, did just fine when we took her to Petsmart, and lays right down in the car. She is also fine around my children, ages 4 and 2, but we are watching her and THEM very carefully. I have been teaching my kids how to interact with dogs, not the other way around. Kids have a funny way of exciting and pushing any dog over the limit of tolerance, that I know all too well. So we are very careful.

My mom has taken the food bowls away, and feeds them at separate times in separate rooms. We feel this is the best way to do things until (if ever) they decide they can leave each other alone when eating. The husky is only about 30 pounds, and looks very small for a husky mix, is this unusual?

Once again, thanks for the tips!

 

[mojozen]

She may have seperation anxiety if she's trying to get "free" when your mother is gone. It may be that she's looking for your mom when she's being destructive - that's one reason to do crate training... but also she may just need some desensitizing to the fact that people DO leave. Others can give you tips on that ...

Even if she behaves well with her new family - i'd suggest training classes anyway. It'd be good for her to be out, and teach her quickly that she can trust her new family.

Plus while you may have had dogs your whole life i don't know if you've had rescue or shelter dogs. If you have then you will know what i speak of next, but if you haven't try and keep this in mind -

It can take anywhere from a month to a year for a dog's TRUE personality to come out if they have been bounced between homes. What you see now may not be who she really is... she won't show that until she understands and accepts (on her own terms) that she's found a good home. When she relaxes, lets down her guard, and starts to come out of her shell that's probably when you will be able to truly asses who she is as her own self.

Just my opinions though.

 

[filarotten]

Now, I understand, I'm so sorry I misunderstood. Has the dog been to a vet recently? If not, I would definately take her in for a check up. Being very thin she may have worms or something else wrong. This could have a lot to do with her not eating, her grumpiness and not being playful. Keep us informed with her progress.