The Siberian husky is an animal whose beauty easily attracts, as its relationship with the wolf makes its appearance different from that of other dogs. Many may be called upon to adopt a dog of this breed, but before deciding to do so there are certain factors that must be taken into account.
In Animal Expert we want you to have at hand all the necessary information about the animals that interest you, their behavior and the best way to take care of them.
That is why this time we present you a guide on how to train a Siberian husky, because the nature of these canines sometimes makes this task a bit more complicated than with other races.
Meet your dog
The Siberian Husky is a breed of dog characterized by being athletic, independent and with primitive instincts. Also, because they have such an independent personality, training them is often more difficult than other races, as they try to make their own decisions and explore what's going on around them.
On the other hand, they require greater stimulation than other animals, as they must burn the large amounts of energy they store, so taking them for a walk, jogging and playing with them are daily activities that you must understand and accept when you decide to adopt one. The absence of these stimuli makes them destructive animals.
It is important that you know that it is a breed of dog characterized by having a rare ability for escapism, so you will probably have to implement certain security measures in your home to avoid accidents, such as the animal getting lost going out into the street.
First steps
First of all, so that your Siberian husky has irreproachable behavior, the most important thing is to give him the proper education He won't understand in one day for another, what you want will not be able to retain all the orders, but with perseverance and constant positive reinforcement, you will not only behave well, but you will also create a very strong affective bondWith your dog.
The ideal time to start training is between 3 and 4 months of age, but don't despair: if your husky is older, with the right instructions you will also be able to correct those behaviors that you consider undesirable. Before beginning the process of education/training your Siberian Husky, there are certain things you should keep in mind:
- Define what you want to teach him: If you want him to learn to sit down, to lie down, not to climb on furniture, that he does not pull the leash when you walk him, that he does not dig in the garden, that he can be left alone, etc.
- Set which word will correspond to each command: Use simple words, such as "Okay", "Here", "Stay", etc., defining which sound will accompany the action you want it to perform. If you change the word you will only confuse your dog and he will not understand what you want him to do. These words must be decided with the rest of the members of the family nucleus.
- Reach compromises with the family: Before the dog arrives at home, it is necessary to establish with the other people who live the house which things will be allowed and which will not, because there is no point in trying to teach the husky to get on the sofa while another member of the family allows it.
- Who will educate and train the dog? It is highly recommended that the main adopter be the one who practices daily obedience with the dog, although all the family should practice it from time to time. It is not recommended to send the husky to training programs with professional trainers unless his master is also going to attend the sessions, otherwise, when he returns home, we will not know how to communicate in the same way as the trainer.
- Give him a place: When you have decided to adopt the dog, it is necessary to establish which place in the house will be used for his rest, because at the end of the day the dog will want to retire to a space that he considers his own. He can be "furnished" with a blanket or dog bed and some toys. This corner should be selected in a place in the house that has little traffic, although without isolating it from the rest of the family, as this situation causes anxiety. Don't forget that a Siberian Husky (or any other dog) should not live in the garden.
- Never mistreat your dog: Whether during the training process or in daily life, never, ever hurt your dog, not verbally or physically, not even when you come home to find they've destroyed your favorite collection or messed up the floor. Remember that he is a living being who feels the same as you do and that he should be treated with respect and affection.
Start training
The best time for your husky to assimilate the instructions you want him to learn is at the end of the day, when he has already spent his energy on games and walks. Otherwise, his hyperactive spirit will prevent him from following what you say.
1. Educate you step by step
In training routines, do not overwhelm your husky with dozens of instructions a day or make him repeat the same actions over and over again when you see that you do not achieve the desired result. From 5 to 10 minutes, about twice a day, will be more than enough. Remember that training should be fun for him, through which he is educated, you should never turn the sessions into something he wants to run away from.
If you notice that no matter how many times you repeat a certain instruction, it doesn't follow it as it should, leave the training until there and continue the next day. This way you will prevent frustration from taking over you and being reflected in your voice, and you will both be able to rest.
After each session, successful or not, spend quality time with your dog, petting him and staying by his side for a while. This will strengthen the bond between you. When it comes to taking him for a walk, you should do it on a leash, to prevent him from getting away from you thanks to his adventurous and curious spirit.
two. Reward learning
The positive reinforcement is extremely important to fix what has been learned. When your husky complies with the order as expected, reward him with a treat that you have prepared for that purpose. You must have the rewards at hand, since you need to offer them immediately after of the success obtained, so that they understand what the desired behavior was.
As you progress through the training, the food rewards will be alternated or replaced by caresses and positive words, which will they will bring the same satisfaction to your dog.
3. Don't punish him, guide him
You should never resort to physical punishment or yell or scold your dog in an angry voice, as this will only confuse him. When your dog carries out an inappropriate behavior in our presence, we can say a dry and firm "No" or "Hey" so that it stops doing it. If, for example, we see him chewing on our shoes, we will reprimand him with a "No" but after a minute or two we will offer him a teether so that he can continue chewing if he wishes.
If, for example, you come home and your dog has relieved himself on the floor, it won't do any good to scold him, because he won't understand what you mean. Never rub his face on the ground or anything like that, it's humiliating for the animal and you don't want that. It's best to calmly pick up the mess and proceed with training to teach him where to consider his bathroom.
While you are practicing obedience, it is effective to withhold treats until the command is correctly obeyed. Don't reward him if he hasn't done what he should.
4. Talk to your dog
During the entire training process, don't forget to talk to your husky using a slow and calm tone of voice. The sound of your voice will calm him down and he will easily get used to distinguish the different modulations you use to give each command.
Use simple and short words when you talk to him, and say them in an affable way, so that he can increase his confidence in you. you while learning your instructions.
5. Socializing
For your dog to learn to interact correctly with children, adults, all kinds of pets and even have a positive attitude in all kinds of environments (away from fear and aggressiveness) it will be very important to socialize him from puppy. It is a process in which we will teach him and we will introduce him to all kinds of living beings and objects, so that in his adult stage he has no fears and can relate correctly.
However, socializing an adult dog is more complicated, so if your dog gets along badly with other dogs, is afraid of children and even barks at bicycles, it would be ideal to consult a specialist ethologist or a canine educator.
6. Basic and advanced commands
Teaching your dog basic obedience commands is essential for his safetyand that of other people and animals that may meet him. For this reason, as well as to improve your relationship, it is important to teach our husky the most basic commands: sit, come, stay still… It will also be useful to teach him commands complex ones that help us in our day to day.
Teaching obedience improves the canine skillsof the dog, improves his mental stimulation and amuses him, something very positive in his day to day day. In addition, he will love that you spend time with him. Obedience is one of the best tools to improve a dog's mental he alth.
7. Combine training and exercise
A great way to mix training and exercise is to get started with agility. It is a sport in which the dog and the human must follow a course of obstacles that the dog must be able to overcome. The level of obedience is rewarded as well as the speed of the dog. It is undoubtedly one of the most recommended sports.
Always remember that the key to success in properly training your husky is patience, respect and love.
