My friend fosters Huskies. She usually gets them from the organization she belongs to, but she and her husband rescued a 6 yr old Sibe yesterday from a "breeder" of show dogs and breeding dogs in a town near us. Now, she doesn't know the man's name or name of the kennel but the man is dying of cancer and is moving. She has no name of vet, no vaccination papers, no AKC papers, no idea what the dog was fed, etc.

I went over this evening, and she told me about her new foster (without the above information). Thinking he was from the organization I went out to see him. She suggested taking a treat and I did. He was nervous, so I didn't push it. Just stood still, whistled softly occasionally, offered a treat, no staring, and he would take it. Then I went inside with mixed feeling about the dog.

Later, her 10 mth old granddaughter was at the sliding door window, banging on the window and screaming with laughter at the dog. This dog was pacing back and forth, barking, backing up and then jumping toward the window. I stepped over so he could see me looking out the window and I told her to quietly remove her granddaughter because the dog does NOT like the baby's presence. His body language spoke this, and not...hey I want to play with baby, but more like, I want to stop this noise.

He is not crate trained or house trained. He has been used for breeding and has had no social contact. I found out later the old man had told them to take treats out whenever they go out to the dog so they could approach him.

Her neutered male has been humping this guy. I told her that was a bad thing to let happen and she said she stops it when it goes on. I told her he may accept it now, but there may (or will) come a time as he acclimates he will take down her dog and he may try more than a disciplanary take down. For now, she need to keep all three dogs away from this dog until he can be assessed by someone knowledgeable and a vet to certify he is healthy.

I also told her to keep the baby away from the dog for now.

I looked into this dog's eyes and I am not sure she is ready for this dog. This dog is NOT like her other happy to meet you Sibes. I know I haven't seen all of his behaviors yet, so he may be a pussycat who is just nervous...but my gut tells me differently.

I don't know what to tell her more than I already have. I did suggest she contact other Siberian rescues in the tri state area, but they won't take a dog without an owner release and she doesn't have one.

So, if you would, please help me formulate an argument that might convince her this isn't the dog for her.

(I suggested she join this forum, but she won't. She is willing to watch my Marker DVD when it comes in the mail Tuesday or Wednesday.)

 Quote: Jo Harker

Later, her 10 mth old granddaughter was at the sliding door window, banging on the window and screaming with laughter at the dog. This dog was pacing back and forth, barking, backing up and then jumping toward the window. I stepped over so he could see me looking out the window and I told her to quietly remove her granddaughter because the dog does NOT like the baby's presence. His body language spoke this, and not...hey I want to play with baby, but more like, I want to stop this noise.

Sounds like it's going to end in the baby getting bit or a dog fight. Neither of which would be the dogs fault. At the minimum the dog needs to be on a leash or in a crate. I'll let people with more tact give you a good argument. Make sure that she understands that crate training a husky can result in a doggy opera and it may be better to put him in a room as far away from the bedroom as possible.

I have had a happy go lucky sweet pea of a husky, and now I have my current difficult, dominant, pain in the butt husky. Both huskies with their typical quirks but night and day as far as temperament and personality. Levi would not have hurt a fly and loved everyone from day one, whereas Yote would most likely be a dangerous dog if he had not had so much socialization and work put into him.

Even an easy husky is not going to be the easiest dog to deal with and train, much less one in his apparent state of mind.

My main concern is that if this dog has not been properly socialized he will see the small squealing fast moving baby as a prey item. Or as a threat that is small and easily taken care of.

If at any point I thought a dog, even one of my own that I love so much, was going to be a danger to my son.
I would think seriously about not having it. It just isn't worth the risk to a child.

She needs to start at square one with this dog, get some good earplugs and a very sturdy crate. He should be kept away from her other dogs for now and learn that humans are the source of good things.

I think that hand feeding him might be a good thing since he was willing to approach you if you had a treat. At least as a starting point for him to bond with humans and see them as the source of good things.

No matter what she needs to stay on her toes with this dog, to keep herself safe.

Thanks to both of you for confirming my suspicion that he may be a danger (at least now ) to the granddaughter and suggesting to keep him away from the other dogs.

I think this is where I suss out Mr. Frawley's articles on introducing a new dog, dominant dog, hybrids ( NOT that he is one, but we don't really know his breeding yet and she always wanted one), and anything else I can find pertinent to the situation, and forward the links to her. That should be okay with Mr. Frawley, right?

This is also where I do intensive homework. My past teacher is no longer living and he helped me tremendously with my past adopted dogs (each with quirks and dangers) and I have never been on my own working with a dog of this nature. (Hambone is so completely different from my other dogs I forgot what it was like.) I think I will be ordering some more DVD's next paycheck.





Edited by Jo Harker (01/24/2009 04:55 AM)
Edit reason: removed redundant info

Jo,

As long as you're sending her articles, why not include the one on dog bites and children? It's very graphic and the pictures speak volumes.

Also, while I laud what you are doing, I just want to remind you of a general truth; any time you care more than the person you are trying to help, it doesn't tend to work out the way you plan.

I am not trying to discourage you. It's just that your friend sounds a lot like people who are opposed to raw feeding and won't listen to reason, or like the parents who published those videos of their kids riding those poor boxers. Anyone who tries to convince those parents that what they're doing is wrong and dangerous is probably wasting their breath.

FWIW, I agree that this sounds like a potentially dangerous situation. Very sad.

leih

 Quote: leih merigian

Jo,

As long as you're sending her articles, why not include the one on dog bites and children? It's very graphic and the pictures speak volumes...
any time you care more than the person you are trying to help, it doesn't tend to work out the way you plan.
leih

yes I will send her those too, and your right, this probably won't work out. BUT, I have to try.

 Quote: Jo Harkeryes

... I have to try.

Go for it!

leih