Hello Dr. Diane, I’ve found a husky who is I think is 5 months old but he refuses to stay inside a house I’ve built for him. He is strong. When we feels that we will leave him, he starts to act strangely making sounds and standing on his legs. Please help; I am hopeless:( and when I take him for a walk he always walk sniffing the ground and doesn’t obey the path am walking in. Thanks a lot
It sounds as if you have built your dog a house outdoors. It would be far better for you and your dog to live together inside your home (or at least spend as much time as possible with him inside your house.) Being left in a doghouse in your yard provides him with shelter but little enjoyment or stimulation. You really need to spend a lot of quality time with him and to socialize and obedience train him. It sounds as though he suffers separation anxiety s well as boredom, loneliness and frustration when he is left alone outside.
You may want to consider spending a lot more time and interaction with your puppy. Huskies are very intelligent and absolutely need to be socialized and obedience-trained. They are very independent. However, the more time and interaction you have with him, the more he will want to please you and understand and accept your commands.
You must keep in mind that dogs are pack animals that thrive on companionship. They are very social. Their behavior is much better and they are much happier when they live indoors with their family. In addition, dogs are den animals – they enjoy and appreciate having a safe, quiet, secure and comfortable place to sleep. When you have a dog, you become the dog’s “pack” and he wants to be with his pack. Forcing a dog to live outside with little or no human companionship can cause your pet great stress as well as psychological damage.
Dr. Pomerance is an animal behavior specialist and an expert on topics such as deciding which puppy is best for your family, how to pick out a rescue, and on healing from the loss of a pet.
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