With their piercing eyes and fluffy coats, Huskies are a beautiful dog. However, they can be difficult dogs to train.
They need lots of exercise in the form of walks, jogs and play. Ideally, your back yard should be big enough for them to run around in and fight, chew and chomp to their hearts’ content.
Ears are one of a dog’s most distinctive features, and Huskies are known for their perky ears that stand up and sway with the wind. These ear movements are important to understanding dog behavior, as they communicate several different emotions. Typically, when a Husky’s ears are puffed up or standing straight up, it indicates that they feel alert and ready to defend themselves. It can also indicate that they are feeling submissive or interested. However, it’s important to look at the ear movement alongside other body language and behavior cues in order to determine what exactly your dog is trying to tell you.
During their early stages of development, puppies’ ear cartilage is soft and pliable. This is why their ears are floppy at birth and for the first few weeks of their life. Then, as their ear ligaments grow stronger, they begin to stiffen and stand up, giving them their classic pointy appearance. This process can take between four and seven months, depending on genetics and individual puppy development.
Teething is another factor that can cause your puppy’s ear to flop, as it puts pressure on their neck muscles and jaws. The good news is that their ears should quickly return to their normal erect position once teething has stopped.
It is important to avoid touching your puppy’s ears, as this can put pressure on the delicate cartilage and interfere with their natural growth and positioning. You should also make sure to feed your dog a balanced diet that will help support healthy ear growth.
You should also check your dog’s ears regularly for signs of infection, wax buildup, or debris. Gently wiping them with a cotton ball is a simple and effective way to keep their ears clean. Additionally, you should trim their nails on a regular basis and brush their teeth daily to keep them healthy. If you notice any signs of infection or irritation, you should contact your vet right away. They can advise you on a safe and effective treatment for your Husky’s ear problems.
Teeth
Puppies have sharp, narrow baby teeth that are designed to cause pain during suckling. When they bite their mom, she reprimands them with her teeth and this provides important lessons in bite inhibition and learning to read her body language. These deciduous (milk) teeth eventually begin to resorb and the crowns fall out. This is important because it allows the permanent adult teeth to erupt where the milk tooth roots were, giving them more room and improving their overall alignment.
Teething is a major part of the puppy experience and it continues until your husky is anywhere from 7 to 10 months old, depending on the individual. Most first-time husky owners are surprised by how much their new puppies bite and chew, and they often assume this behavior is out of anger or frustration. The reality is that the puppies are simply looking for relief from their discomfort, and they can only find that relief by biting.
If the pups are not kept busy on a regular basis, they will gnaw their way through furniture and other items in your home. This is also one of the reasons that huskies require more playmates than many other breeds. Having playmates provides the puppies with companionship and mental stimulation that can prevent them from developing a variety of bad behaviors born out of boredom.
Husky puppies, like all dogs, love to chew things. Give them plenty of chew toys and edibles to satisfy this natural instinct, which will help with their discomfort during the teething process. This is also a good time to start brushing your pup’s teeth with a dog-friendly toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste to reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
This is a disease that can occur in the eye of Siberian Huskies, and it causes small white crystal deposits to form on the front surface of the cornea. The condition causes the cornea to lose its transparency and can lead to vision loss, blindness, and even death in severe cases. The condition is hereditary and there is no treatment. However, the vet can prescribe eye drops that help to control the symptoms and prevent further damage.
Health
Despite being one of the healthiest purebred dogs around, Husky puppies can still be affected by certain health conditions. Regular checkups, early detection, and proper nutrition can help manage these diseases so your puppy can remain happy and healthy throughout his life.
Hip Dysplasia: The hip joint doesn’t fit properly into the socket, causing pain and discomfort. Keeping your puppy at a healthy weight and exercising him regularly can help prevent this condition. Cataracts: The lens of the eye can develop a cloudy appearance, which can lead to vision loss and other problems. Regular eye exams can help spot the signs of cataracts, and medications can treat them.
Zinc-responsive Dermatosis: The skin can become red, hairless, crusty, scaling, or oozing if your pet doesn’t get enough zinc in his diet. We can prescribe a regulated amount of added zinc to your dog’s food to help prevent this disease.
Glaucoma: This is a painful disease that leads to blindness if not treated immediately. Our vet can perform annual glaucoma screenings to catch this disease before it’s too late.
Hypothyroidism: In this condition, your pup’s thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. This can cause weight gain, hair loss, susceptibility to other health problems, and behavioral changes. We can diagnose this disease with blood work, and medication can help manage it.
Ear Infections: The ears of huskies can get very dirty and smelly, so it’s important to clean them regularly with a high-quality ear cleanser. If your husky begins excessively scratching their ears or seems in pain, visit us as soon as possible to diagnose the problem.
Food Aggression: Because of their strong hunting instincts, huskies can be food aggressive, especially as adults. We can teach you how to prevent and manage this problem with positive reinforcement training.
Your Husky will need lots of exercise, including daily walks and 3- to 5-mile runs. Be careful when exercising your dog in the summer, as his thick coat can easily overheat. Exercise your husky in the coolest parts of the day and make sure he has plenty of water to drink after his workout.
Training
Puppies have a lot of energy and will get bored or act up if they aren’t exercised. Teach your puppy to play fetch, try a flirt pole or just go for a jog. Keeping your dog happy, healthy, and entertained is one of the best ways to avoid nipping, barking or chewing.
Husky puppies are very curious and want to explore everything they see. This is why it is important to socialize them early. Exposing your pup to people, places and other dogs is essential for their mental health and helps prevent aggression in later life.
It is also important to teach them obedience commands. This will help them to understand what you expect from them, and how to behave in different situations. Consistency is key when it comes to training; if you reward your dog for bad behaviour one day, but punish them the next, they will not learn what they are expected to do.
You should also start working on recalls this week. This is a great way to tire your puppy out and will be useful if they ever run off. Practice in an enclosed area to begin with, and then gradually increase the radius of exploration.
Another thing to work on is preventing your Husky from jumping up on people. While this can be cute, it is also a dangerous habit and can cause injuries to humans and other dogs. Try teaching your puppy a sit-to-greet so they can greet visitors without jumping up or knocking them over.
It’s also a good idea to continue working on generalization this week, so your puppy understands the follow me and recall commands in different parts of the house. If you can, take your puppy on a walk or to a park where there are other dogs and people.
Husky puppies are naturally playful, and playing games with your pup is a great way to entertain them while subtly teaching them obedience skills. Games such as hide and seek, and fetch can help to get their energy out and also teach them not to grab items off of other people or things they find on the ground.