Dog Behavior, Bonding, and Dog Play

Alaskan Huskies learn dog behavior through playing. This play ultimately leads to bonding and forming a pack. But what about humans? How do huskies bond with us?

Through dog behavior.

When dogs play they are communicating. Communication is the essence of a community. Dogs play to establish trust, learn problem solving skills, and for nonthreatening interactions. A group of dogs is called a pack. A pack is socially complex and ever changing. A pack can be a litter of puppies, a group of dogs at a dog park, or a sled dog yard. Dogs who are denied playful social interactions lose the ability to read other dogs subtle body language or learn new problem solving skills.

A husky can take a long time to build trust and bond. How long? The average bonding time is a year.

No matter what words you use to get your for your husky to do something, your dog is ALSO reading your posture and body language. If you stand rigidly and repeatedly yell get over here, your husky reads rigid body, aggressive posture, loud noise CAUTION and he probably does not want to approach your signals.

Of course humans would understand the words and the posture giving us subtle clues to the whole picture. Your husky translates your actions into something he can relate to dog behavior. If you offer calm signals and gentle rewards your dog will respond accordingtly.

If you grasp this concept, you are on your way understanding dog behavior and to building a great bond with your alaskan husky! Let me add that it is no easy task to keep your emotions and reactions intact when your dog is running as fast as he can towards a busy street.

It is also important to understand your presence around your husky in order to successfully bond with your dog.

Presence

Understand your presence? What does that mean?

It means when you are bonding with your husky you can not be distracted. When you take her out for a walk or a potty break you have to turn off your cell phone or ipod. And turn off that little voice inside your head too - the one that is dissecting your days interactions with a microscope. Your husky knows the minute you are distracted.

When you are distracted your dog takes control because in dog behavior you gave it up (without realizing it). Not control in the power struggle sense. Control in the Hey, the human is not listening so I'm off to do my thing. And we know what doing her own thing means...

Chewing on something, chasing the cat, running off.

Imagine this scenario: You are out on your dream date. Your dream date talks on her/his cell phone constantly throughout the date. Would you feel like this dream date was trying to get to know you better?

Probably not.

And you may not want to go on a date with them again. On the other hand, if your date pulled out their cell phone, turned it off, and offered you full attention, you would be flattered (and maybe flustered) that they were so interested in YOU.

Sidebar

I am not suggesting that you follow your dog around like an infatuated lover. Instead, use interactions with your dog as an opportunity to get to know him better. Sometimes getting to know someone means shutting your mouth and just listening.

Quality Time

You cannot be present all the time. This is one reason you want to keep your husky on a leash. Remember, if you are interesting, the leash becomes irrelevent in the equation. Your dog will want to follow you.

You could say the leash is to remind you to be present, not remind your dog to follow you!

Training Tip. Be honest with yourself about how much quality time you spend with your dog. While your husky would love two hour walks everyday, it is most likely not in the realm of possibilities (if it is, fantastic!).

Make the most of many short 10 minute bursts throughout the day. If you walked your dog for 10 minutes, 6 times a day, you will have covered a distance of 4 miles. If you throw in a few hours at the dog park and a trip or two to the dog daycare each week you will reach the exercise level necessary to keep a husky socially happy.

Exercise is the most important part of bonding with your husky.

Training Tip Notice your dog behavior (yes you, not your dog) as you walk by other dogs, do you find yourself rigidly staring at the other dog the whole time? Or pulling at your own dog? Your body posture reflects your thoughts. Do you hold your breath? Tighten your shoulders? Clench your teeth or hands? Freeze to the sidewalk? If you do those any of those behaviors work on calming yourself down by stopping and breathing. If you can concentrate on breathing fluently your dog will notice.