Behaviour

Leash pulling

For centuries Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes have been bred to pull. There is no denying it – they are great at it – and they love it.

To see them pulling a sled is to see them in their element.

But this basic instinct is not so convenient when you are trying to enjoy a relaxing walk down the street.
If left unchecked your arctic will pull you like a sled – it’s no walk in the park I assure you!

Teaching your arctic to walk on a loose leash from day one is critical to your success. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see results. Yes your dog may take longer to train than others, but it is possible. Consistency is key.

“But my dog loves to pull!”

Then let it! Give sledding a go. Or how about Weight-pull? Maybe Skijouring or Canicross is for you?
Your dog is smart! It can learn to pull when told to, and still walk loose leash when required.
Need to drain excess energy on daily walks? Try backpacking!

Leash-pulling is a major contributor to on-leash reactivity and dog aggression. Don’t let frustration build in you and your dog, start your loose leash walking training today.

Stranger danger and barking in your Akita

Akita’s can be an excellent alarm, in fact, it’s unlikely you’ll ever need your doorbell again. One foot onto your property from a stranger and your ‘Akita alarm’ will sound. The postie, however, may not be delivering parcels to your door in the future.

Not all Akita’s will do this but many do, having been bred to protect the family home.

For this reason, Akita’s can also be aloof, or wary of new people and will not tolerate other animals entering their home or yard.
Careful socialisation as a pup will ensure your Akita is friendly towards your houseguests and other people whilst out and about. Even still don’t expect them to be everyone’s best friend straight away, they need to get to know a person before they can earn the trust of your Akita.

When home your Akita may look to you to decide if your new visitor is friend or foe. But an empty home can be another story altogether. Whilst some Akita’s don’t back their barking up with a bite, their history as protection dogs remains strong in some. It’s not recommended for strangers to enter your property when your Akita is home alone.

Introducing your Akita to another dog you wish to bring into your home, even just for a visit, should be done outside the home initially on ‘neutral territory’. Once the dogs are comfortable in their interactions with each other, only then should you consider bringing another dog into your Akita’s territory.

Dogs can’t tell us with words when they feel afraid, but they sure are telling us with their bodies. Do you know what to look for?

Many dogs stress during periods of change in their lives. It’s important to be ready to recognise the signs of anxiety in your dog and remember to give them space, especially when settling in.

Even a relatively well-rounded dog that has not experienced neglect or harsh treatment can be stressed or fearful in a new home or new environment. 

This poster from Dr Sophia Yin shows many of the common signs dogs will exhibit when feeling unsure about something.

Visit Dr Sophia Yin’s website to learn more or download a printable version of this poster.

First impressions count! Make sure yours are the right ones, learn how to approach a dog correctly and safely.

As hard as it can be to accept – not every dog wants to be greeted with the enthusiasm we may have for it.

Whilst we might be ready for full-body hugs and face squishing, our furry companions may not be. In fact, even a well-intentioned pat or hand gesture may be too much for some dogs.

Similarly, while some dogs may welcome new canine playmates with a wagging tail and play-bow, other dogs may be more wary and require a much more cautious introduction to each other.   And we can’t expect all dogs to like every other dog, in fact being unwelcoming of strange dogs is something our arctic breeds are noted for and necessary precautions always need to be taken to avoid altercations.

Whatever the reason may be, many dogs need space when meeting new friends, whether it be people or other dogs.   So here’s what you need to know in order to get off on the right foot, or paw as the case may be.

This poster from Dr Sophia Yin shows how to (and how not to) approach and greet dogs.

Separation anxiety in dogs is the fear or dislike of isolation which often results in undesirable behaviour. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of canine behavioural problems (Polin 1992; Voith and Borchelt 1985). As social animals, it is normal for puppies to form
attachments to their mother and littermates. Once a puppy is separated from its family group, it becomes attached to its owner. Attachment implies a trusting relationship and is the foundation of a good, healthy bond between owner and pet (Polin 1992). However, when a dog becomes overly dependent on its owner, problem behaviours may result. There are many problem behaviours associated with separation anxiety including defecation and urination in inappropriate locations, destructive behaviour, excessive barking and whining, depression, and
hyperactivity. These behaviours may also be the symptoms of other problems. However, if undesired behaviours are clearly related to the absence of the owner, occur shortly after departure and a prolonged greeting response occurs upon the owner’s return, separation anxiety is the probable cause (McElroy 1989). If a problem behaviour has persisted for an extended period, a visit to the vet will ensure that there
are no underlying medical problems.

Read the rest of the article here: Separation Anxiety (PDF)

When you hear the term resource guarding in dogs, it generally is about a dog getting grumpy when someone or another dog coming near their food. But in reality, it’s the dog defending anything that it sees as valuable to them because they fear it’s going to be taken from them.

Whenever we get a call about resource guarding, it’s usually when it’s gotten pretty bad. The dog growls, snaps, lunges in an ever-widening radius around its food (or toys, bed, owner etc.). Sometimes the dog has had a fight with another dog or may even have bitten someone.

The arctic breeds have a natural survival instinct to protect their food and perhaps toys from other dogs and animals, which is to be somewhat expected, so precautions may need to be taken to avoid these situations.  However, it is not acceptable for them to exhibit these behaviours towards people, and this is a behaviour we can do something about.

Read the entire article here: resource guarding (PDF) by Kelly Byrne from There and Back Again Dog Services

Introducing a new dog into a home with children can be daunting. As a parent, your child’s safety is of the utmost importance.

You’ve found the right dog, but how can you be sure your children will be right for the dog?

Teaching children how to interact appropriately with dogs can be a challenge.
These fun posters by Dr Sophia Yin aim to help your child understand how the dog feels in a way kids can relate to.

As always, constant supervision of young children and pets is a must.
And remember to never let children and dogs interact whilst either are eating.

Visit Dr Sophia Yin’s website to learn more or download a printable version of this posters.