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Monday 7 May 2012

A few tips for training a Husky

If you want to the best training information when it comes to training your Husky, the first place you need to start is by looking at yourself. The key principle in training a Husky is understanding that your Husky is waiting for leadership and will respond to your input. Although Huskies are one of the smartest breeds of dog, it's wrong to believe that they are waiting (or wanting) to outsmart you. As a group animal, Huskies want to be in a pack - your pack - and will do whatever is needed to be accepted within the family unit. Animal instinct should never be confused with disobedience, and negative traits exhibited by your Husky are what you'll want to deal with first. This involves focusing on moulding how their natural instincts are reflected in their behaviour. Getting angry and shouting at your Husky will do little to change that behaviour, and you should remember that your Husky is looking for a strong leader.

Core Training

There are numerous basic methods that owners should consider when training a Husky. These techniques can be the difference between a well trained and poorly trained dog, and can often reduce the stress levels involved in Husky training significantly. They focus on different areas required to mould a well behaved and well rounded Husky, but all of them reinforce the idea that you are the master of the environment that your Husky lives in, and that their behaviours are dependent on your approval.

Crate Training

Crate training is - as the name suggests - a technique in dog training that involves placing your Husky in a crate for different periods of time during the day. Crate training mainly focuses on teaching your Husky that he shouldn't mess where he sleeps, but it can also be used to teach your Husky to be calm (reducing barking) and also reduce the anxiety the Husky may feel when presented with a new living environment. It's important that interaction is maintained whilst crate training; your Husky should be able to interact with family life even when inside the crate as this will encourage positive interactions with people the Husky may encounter. It's important that crate training is never used as a punishment, as this can reduce the effectiveness of crate training overall.

Leash Training

Walking a dog - especially at first - can be a stressful and difficult task, especially when it comes to keep them under control. This is why training your Husky on a leash is so important. Before going out for a walk, you should wait for your Husky to calm down as this will increase his awareness of your commands whilst outside. If he pulls on the lead, stop walking and make him sit, again waiting for him to calm down before continuing. Most dogs with leash problems simply aren't aware that their behaviour isn't acceptable, so it's up to you to encourage positive behaviours in them. In the case of pulling on the lead, for example, stopping when your Husky does this will eventually result in the Husky associating pulling with stopping, and he will stop pulling. In the majority of cases this sort of training is very successful.

Alpha Training

Huskies are a pack animal, and within their packs there is always an Alpha. Alpha's are the ones that in control of the pack, and it's important that you work to putting yourself in this position within your home. It's possibly the most important step in training your Husky, as a Husky who does not acknowledge your leadership will be far harder, near impossible, to train well. As soon as they know you are the leader they will be more receptive to your commands, which will make training and living with your Husky easier in the long run. It's worth noting that they will constantly challenge your position in the home, so it's important that you maintain your dominance. Any sign of weakness on your behalf will be taken advantage of by your Husky, so it's crucial you are always firm with them.

Obedience Training

Obedience training is an important area of Husky training as it can mean the difference between a Husky that listens, and a Husky that does not. Many trainers and owners find themselves attending group training sessions, and this is a really good thing. It teaches your Husky not just to obey you, but to obey you in the face of distraction. It also teaches them social skills they would otherwise lack in a closed environment. A solitary Husky that encounters another dog can be quite aggressive, so giving them the chance from an early age to develop positive behaviours in this area is very important, and will make your life easier. Obedience training can be used at any age - young or old - to refine certain annoying behaviours in your Husky, so if you have an old dog and need to teach it new tricks formal obedience training is well worth considering.

Consistency

May websites and books related to dog training will repeat a need for consistency over and over again. It's a very important element in any dog training, as a lack of consistency can lead to confusion for your Husky. If, for example, you tell your Husky off for going on a chair, but in other situations invite him up onto the same chair, this can be very confusing and offers conflicting messages to your dog. You will need to develop rituals and regimes that your dog can follow easily, as they respond best to consistent principles. It's important that everyone in your household knows precisely what the rules are and how to deal with the Husky in any given situation, as inconsistency from person to person will have a detrimental effect on your Huskies behaviour.

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