Thought I'd introduce myself and my new puppy - DogForum.net

Lynn · 05-23-2006, 02:07 PM

I found this sight through a search engine because I'm looking for some good tips on training and behavior correction between now and getting into obediance class. We just adopted an 8mo old red and white Alaskan husky, not to be confused w/ a Siberian

I got her from an animal control shelter an hr south of where we currently live. Originally I had planned on adopting a husky mix from a local shelter, but while I was playing w/ it and talking to the kennel specialist about him, someone else came in and said they had to take the dog b/c someone out front just paid for and adopted her (so he was adopted right out from under me almost literally)

Then as I was leaving someone was bringing in a lost malamute mix so I went and asked to have a choice hold put on him so I could have the first opportunity to adopt him when available to the public....his owner..was standing right behind me in line and was there to look for him. Needless to say, I was almost striking out yesterday, even after a few months of looking for the perfect dog. The shelter game me a list of others around the state and the first place I called said they had a lot of huskies right now, so I drove down to see them. One little girl caught my eye. Playful, sweet and lots of energy (plus she's young enough that I figured I could train her to get along w/ our cat, since most older huskies don't like small animals due to their high prey drive). I got her out and played with her and immediately fell in love. The assistant was telling me that she came in with 70 other huskies from an animal hoarder. The lady that surrendered them had kept just over 70 dogs out in a back plot, chained up and though they always had food, they weren't socialized, had never been indoors, and no vet care. Most of the huskies got adopted but the 2 littlest ones were there for a long time. Just recently one of them got adopted and then the little girl I now have came home with me last night. She's very submissive around people and will lay down or get close to the ground when someone goes to pet her. She doesn't like the leash but she's getting used to it slowly. Her biggest fear was stairs because we have a flight of stairs to get into our home and the first night I would have to carry her up and down because she would lay down and wimper when she looked at them. This morning I carried her half way down, then set her on the stairs and encouraged her to go the rest of the way. She was stepping very soft the whole way but she did it, and since then today she's been up and down the stairs several times, each time getting more confident. I'm really proud of her and her fast learning.

Aside from the skittishness, her biggest quirk that I find so far is that she likes to eat the cat's toys...and I mean litterally eat. Our cat, also a rescue, has several catnip, stuffed toys around the house and if I turned my back for a second she would grab a toy and start to rip it up but the second I tried to get it from her, she up and swallowed the darned thing. Naturally I was very disturbed and called the night ER vet. They told me just to watch her, make sure she wasn't vomiting, had bowel movements and was still eating....needless to say, this morning I saw what was left of a turtle and a mouse in her stools...so they seem to have passed. I'm just keeping an eye on her but she has been fine thusfar. (and I've hidden the rest of the cattoys from the dog).

I think the cutest thing about having her here with us now is our cat's interactions with her. He was NOT happy when she came into the house to say the least. He arched his back, hissed, growled, etc. It took a couple hours but he finally calmed down when he realized she had no interest in him at all. (it drives our cat nuts to be ignored) so he followed her around the house ALL night until I kenneled her for bed then laid on top of the kennel all night with her. Our husky likes to walk around our dining room table and so our cat woud jump from chair to chair and reach out to bat at her as she walks by. Or, she'd get in pounce position and jump towards the dog but just far enough back in case the dog decided she wanted to snap at him. Though, they were in the kitchen and he jumped towards her and didn't take into account that he would slide on the floor and ended up sliding right between her front paws. He was outta there so quickly and she just stood there and looked, didn't even budge.

Ok, I think I've been longwinded enough. Just thought I'd share my first day's escapades because she's absolutely adorable. I think once she's socialized with people and comfortable w/ us she'll be the most wonderful playful dog. Oh, and obviously we haven't picked out a name for her yet. She was named Lil' Red at the shelter but I don't like that and have been looking for an alaskan name for her. So far I've come across Anana (beautiful), Shtiya (my strength) and Suka (fast) but if anyone has any suggestions I'll gladly take them because we don't want her to go nameless for long. I'll try to get a picture of her soon.

kelsiebug · 05-23-2006, 02:34 PM

welcome. post a few pics of your baby. please!? go to chat and we can talk about our babys.

kelsiebug · 05-23-2006, 02:43 PM

i like the names, .liberty, freedom, jana, sable, sadie, i like that name....anana, i really do.

Lynn · 05-23-2006, 02:45 PM

here's her pics.

This is apparently her new favorite napping spot (I think it's because she's so used to being kept outside that she doesn't think twice about it rather than the warm bed inside...but I'm working on it)

This is the cat trying to get her attention by preparing to pounce and swat.

ChessieLvr · 05-23-2006, 02:55 PM

Welcome! She's beautiful! Looks very wolf-like!
I didn't know that an Alaskan husky and a Siberian husky were two separate breeds. What are the differences?

Lynn · 05-23-2006, 03:03 PM

thank you. Alaskan huskies are a direct mix of wolves and any number of working dogs typically. I didn't know there was any different either until the lady at the shelter told me what she was so I went home and looked it up.
Here's some really good links w/ quick info.
http://www.lusitano.dk/AlaskanHusky/races.htm at the bottom of this page there is a chart that shows differences.

http://www.lusitano.dk/AlaskanHusky/AlaskanHusky.htm this is the homepage

though, I will add that they are not an officially recognized breed by AKC, in part because when the AKC asked mushers to breed this dog for them, they turned down the request because the mushing society doesn't breed for looks but rather performance

ChessieLvr · 05-23-2006, 03:24 PM

Thanks for the info! An interesting read. I don't know too much about the nordic breeds.

She looks like a Suka to me!

nancy · 05-23-2006, 03:41 PM

Hi and welcome to the forums, what a lovely pup.

kelsiebug · 05-23-2006, 04:31 PM

SHES VERY PRETTY! i love her color.

*Taeric* · 05-23-2006, 07:24 PM

Welcome to the forums.

05-23-2006, 02:07 PM	#1
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 401 Rep: 12 Unique Rep: 1	Thought I'd introduce myself and my new puppy I found this sight through a search engine because I'm looking for some good tips on training and behavior correction between now and getting into obediance class. We just adopted an 8mo old red and white Alaskan husky, not to be confused w/ a Siberian I got her from an animal control shelter an hr south of where we currently live. Originally I had planned on adopting a husky mix from a local shelter, but while I was playing w/ it and talking to the kennel specialist about him, someone else came in and said they had to take the dog b/c someone out front just paid for and adopted her (so he was adopted right out from under me almost literally) Then as I was leaving someone was bringing in a lost malamute mix so I went and asked to have a choice hold put on him so I could have the first opportunity to adopt him when available to the public....his owner..was standing right behind me in line and was there to look for him. Needless to say, I was almost striking out yesterday, even after a few months of looking for the perfect dog. The shelter game me a list of others around the state and the first place I called said they had a lot of huskies right now, so I drove down to see them. One little girl caught my eye. Playful, sweet and lots of energy (plus she's young enough that I figured I could train her to get along w/ our cat, since most older huskies don't like small animals due to their high prey drive). I got her out and played with her and immediately fell in love. The assistant was telling me that she came in with 70 other huskies from an animal hoarder. The lady that surrendered them had kept just over 70 dogs out in a back plot, chained up and though they always had food, they weren't socialized, had never been indoors, and no vet care. Most of the huskies got adopted but the 2 littlest ones were there for a long time. Just recently one of them got adopted and then the little girl I now have came home with me last night. She's very submissive around people and will lay down or get close to the ground when someone goes to pet her. She doesn't like the leash but she's getting used to it slowly. Her biggest fear was stairs because we have a flight of stairs to get into our home and the first night I would have to carry her up and down because she would lay down and wimper when she looked at them. This morning I carried her half way down, then set her on the stairs and encouraged her to go the rest of the way. She was stepping very soft the whole way but she did it, and since then today she's been up and down the stairs several times, each time getting more confident. I'm really proud of her and her fast learning. Aside from the skittishness, her biggest quirk that I find so far is that she likes to eat the cat's toys...and I mean litterally eat. Our cat, also a rescue, has several catnip, stuffed toys around the house and if I turned my back for a second she would grab a toy and start to rip it up but the second I tried to get it from her, she up and swallowed the darned thing. Naturally I was very disturbed and called the night ER vet. They told me just to watch her, make sure she wasn't vomiting, had bowel movements and was still eating....needless to say, this morning I saw what was left of a turtle and a mouse in her stools...so they seem to have passed. I'm just keeping an eye on her but she has been fine thusfar. (and I've hidden the rest of the cattoys from the dog). I think the cutest thing about having her here with us now is our cat's interactions with her. He was NOT happy when she came into the house to say the least. He arched his back, hissed, growled, etc. It took a couple hours but he finally calmed down when he realized she had no interest in him at all. (it drives our cat nuts to be ignored) so he followed her around the house ALL night until I kenneled her for bed then laid on top of the kennel all night with her. Our husky likes to walk around our dining room table and so our cat woud jump from chair to chair and reach out to bat at her as she walks by. Or, she'd get in pounce position and jump towards the dog but just far enough back in case the dog decided she wanted to snap at him. Though, they were in the kitchen and he jumped towards her and didn't take into account that he would slide on the floor and ended up sliding right between her front paws. He was outta there so quickly and she just stood there and looked, didn't even budge. Ok, I think I've been longwinded enough. Just thought I'd share my first day's escapades because she's absolutely adorable. I think once she's socialized with people and comfortable w/ us she'll be the most wonderful playful dog. Oh, and obviously we haven't picked out a name for her yet. She was named Lil' Red at the shelter but I don't like that and have been looking for an alaskan name for her. So far I've come across Anana (beautiful), Shtiya (my strength) and Suka (fast) but if anyone has any suggestions I'll gladly take them because we don't want her to go nameless for long. I'll try to get a picture of her soon.

05-23-2006, 02:34 PM	#2
kelsiebug Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sweet Home Alabama Posts: 2,304 Rep: 19 Unique Rep: 9	welcome. post a few pics of your baby. please!? go to chat and we can talk about our babys. __________________ Tell me that I can't do what I set my heart on, because I live to prove people wrong.

05-23-2006, 02:43 PM	#3
kelsiebug Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sweet Home Alabama Posts: 2,304 Rep: 19 Unique Rep: 9	i like the names, .liberty, freedom, jana, sable, sadie, i like that name....anana, i really do. __________________ Tell me that I can't do what I set my heart on, because I live to prove people wrong.

05-23-2006, 03:03 PM	#6
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 401 Rep: 12 Unique Rep: 1	thank you. Alaskan huskies are a direct mix of wolves and any number of working dogs typically. I didn't know there was any different either until the lady at the shelter told me what she was so I went home and looked it up. Here's some really good links w/ quick info. http://www.lusitano.dk/AlaskanHusky/races.htm at the bottom of this page there is a chart that shows differences. http://www.lusitano.dk/AlaskanHusky/AlaskanHusky.htm this is the homepage though, I will add that they are not an officially recognized breed by AKC, in part because when the AKC asked mushers to breed this dog for them, they turned down the request because the mushing society doesn't breed for looks but rather performance Last edited by Lynn; 05-23-2006 at 03:09 PM..

05-23-2006, 04:31 PM	#9
kelsiebug Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sweet Home Alabama Posts: 2,304 Rep: 19 Unique Rep: 9	SHES VERY PRETTY! i love her color. __________________ Tell me that I can't do what I set my heart on, because I live to prove people wrong.

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Thought I'd introduce myself and my new puppy

05-23-2006, 02:45 PM	#4
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 401 Rep: 12 Unique Rep: 1	here's her pics. This is apparently her new favorite napping spot (I think it's because she's so used to being kept outside that she doesn't think twice about it rather than the warm bed inside...but I'm working on it) This is the cat trying to get her attention by preparing to pounce and swat.

05-23-2006, 02:55 PM	#5
ChessieLvr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Coronado, CA Posts: 143 Rep: 11 Unique Rep: 2	Welcome! She's beautiful! Looks very wolf-like! I didn't know that an Alaskan husky and a Siberian husky were two separate breeds. What are the differences?

05-23-2006, 03:24 PM	#7
ChessieLvr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Coronado, CA Posts: 143 Rep: 11 Unique Rep: 2	Thanks for the info! An interesting read. I don't know too much about the nordic breeds. She looks like a Suka to me!

05-23-2006, 03:41 PM	#8
nancy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 291 Rep: 12 Unique Rep: 3	Hi and welcome to the forums, what a lovely pup.

05-23-2006, 07:24 PM	#10
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