Husky Behavior Tips

Husky Behavior Tips For Training Is Written By Lynn Orbison

Tip #1

One of the ways that dog mushing is different from other forms of dog training is that mushing works best when there are multiple dogs working together. Obedience, agility, search and rescue, all these working dogs work one-on-one with a person. There may be other dogs working with other people, but they are considered distractions and the dogs that ignore the other dogs are often the winners.

In dog mushing we ask the dogs to work together. And this brings power, but also MANY built-in distractions.

They say that kids that are home-schooled often have different social skills than the kids that do the public school system. Dog mushing is sorta like the public school system. Large kennels are like big schools, where anonymity is possible. Small kennels are like small town schools, where everybody knows everybody.

Husky Behavior Tips #2

A dog that is raised in a large kennel often suffers from culture shock if sent to a pet home where it is pampered.

I used to raise up a sponsorship puppy each year for the Alascom Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race. A local musher would donate a pup to the club, and I would raise it. We would present the pup as the sportsmanship award to a musher in the race that spring. These were winter pups, so they were still cute and cuddly and made a great photo-op for the sponsor and the race.

Eventually I requested to have three pups from the litter because the single pup missed out on so much team socialization that depending on the temperament of the animal, they were set up to fail as a race dog for an open class sprint musher.

One pup enjoyed sleeping on the couch and napping in laundry baskets so much that he pretty much refused to pull in harness at all. But, if I took three pups, then the Alascom pup could maintain a pack status, and the other two pups could keep each other company while the sponsor pup was out doing public appearances. I found all three dogs developed better.

Husky Behavior Tips #3

If you have a dog with a bad habit, and you add another dog to the mix, guess what? Yep. They teach each other the bad stuff just as quick and easy as they might teach each other the good stuff! So, the absolute gem in your dog yard is the seasoned veteran who knows all the rules.

If you're new to the sport, try and find one of these, because they can make your job SO much easier! But, be aware, they also come with some baggage.

Husky Behavior Tips #4

Dogs are not cars. They run differently for different people. Dogs that are used to being passed around might fit in quicker and easier than a sled dog with one home. Any dog can learn to run for a new person if that person is perceptive and willing to help the dog adjust.

Husky Behavior Tips #5

Many sled dogs want to run so bad they will run for ANYBODY, any time, any place! These are the dogs that will blow your socks off if you give them a chance. These are the dogs that pet dog owners say have bad behavior.

If your dog isn't a sled dog, and if you're new to mushing, you've got your work cut out for you. You' will grow together as a team, and you will evolve into what you both want and need.

Husky Behavior Tips #6

Be aware that dog mushing is different for each of us. Your way is neither right or wrong, it's just your way. Same goes for me. But if we can share information and dogs, then maybe all of us can learn from each other and modify our own way to make it better, more fun, safer, faster, slower, whatever we want!

Husky Behavior Tips #7

What do kids learn in school? Heck, ask any teacher and they will tell you that more than half the work is guiding the young person in social skills. Such as remembering to get signatures, bringing the right books and tools, playing well with others, keeping to the schedule.

Learning is happening all day on every level, not just in the classroom with a designated syllabus.

Remember this as you work with your dogs. They are learning ALL the time.

Husky Behavior Tips #8

If you don't guide and teach dogs what you need them to learn, they will be picking up stuff that THEY want to learn. Team spirit really exists, so be aware of who is hanging out with who. Rearrange your dog seating chart to help you in your role as teacher.

More Husky Articles

home from husky behavior tips

This is the one and only "beginning mushing" book out there. This is the book you read cover to cover before you hit the trail.

This Skijor book is for anyone who wants to teach their dog to pull (and the publisher just happens to have her picture at the top of this webpage!

This is a must read if you are going to mush with your dog. This is the book every musher owns.

Click here for my dog care book.