Hope Springs Kennels: Husky Damage

Husky Damage

We all know that a dog, especially a puppy, can be destructive when left to it's own devices. Huskies take that fact to the extreme! When interviewing a potential husky puppy parent, I always ask "Are you aware that huskies can be destructive?". From the people who have never owned a husky before, the answer is almost always "Yes". From the husky enthusiast, the answer is a good-old-fashioned belly laugh! Because they know what a husky is capable of, while many new husky owners don't quite get the whole idea. So, who's to blame? Bad puppy? No. Naughty owner! Let me try to make this clear: Huskies are VERY intelligent. Are you intelligent? I bet you are. Now, lets put you in your new husky puppy's place.

You are left all alone with a toy or two for a few hours. In the beginning you are happy to play with your toys, right? But what happens, when you get bored? You're intelligent, remember, so that little squeaky toy will only entertain you for so long. Hmm... what to do? Let's explore! Ohhh, a plant. Looks nice. Smells nice. Leaves taste kinda bad. But what's all this brown stuff that the plant is in? Let me touch it. Huh, that's interesting. Let me touch it a few more times. Hey, look at me, I'm digging! Wow, digging is FUN! So let me just digdigdigdig... hmmm... no more dirt in the pot. All right, what else is fun around here? My owner must think it's OK for me to do this, or they would have moved it, right? OUCH! My teeth hurt... but chewing on the plant's pot felt good. Too bad it broke. What else can I chew on to make my teeth feel better? Oh, there's one of those things my mom wears on her feet... I think it's called a shoe. It's real pretty, and it smells like her too! Mmmmm... leather...

I think you get the idea! So what can you do to keep your husky happily away from your new $500 Gucci handbag? Don't leave it where he can get it for starters! Make certain you have lots of toys for him to enjoy, and swap them out regularly so he doesn't get bored with them. Get a Kong toy and stuff it full of peanut butter - that should keep him happy for a while. But most of all, keep him under constant supervision! A puppy is a baby. You wouldn't let your 8-month-old child wander around the house without keeping an eye on him, would you? There is no difference. The puppy needs to be taught, just like your child does.

You can also give him a job to do. Teach him to fetch your slippers, to put his toys away after playing with them, etc. Take him out for a long walk. A tired husky never tore up anything, and you could probably use the excersise yourself, not to mention it's a great way to bond. Send him to a puppy day care, or organize a puppy play group. There are a ton of things to do to keep him happy, you just have to use your imagination. If all else fails, ask your vet or breeder for their suggestions. Believe me, they want your pup to be happy as much as you do!

Still, I can ramble on all day (as I often do!) but nothing I can say will take the place of the great photos posted below. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... enjoy!

Have a picture of some redecorating your husky did? Send it to us... we'd love to post it!