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Canine Behavior/my siberian husky

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Expert: - 10/22/2008


Question
QUESTION: my 7 mo. siberian husky has been doing something very strange, he urinates while walking in a circle,usually around me.is he marking his territory or is he looking for my attention?

ANSWER: Is your dog lifting his leg or squatting?  How often does he does this: is it every time he urinates on leash, or has it occurred only once or twice?  Do you have other dogs?  Do you walk him on leash or is he free to move away?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: he has just started to lift his leg,he has done it three times the last two days.its only when he lose in the house.i have four other dogs only one other male a 5yr old chahuahua who is not fixed.the rest are females and they are spaded.he is only free in the house because sibes are known to bolt.

Answer
Your Husky is making a strong rank statement regarding you to the other male (and for the benefit of the females, spayed or not.)  I don't know what you mean by "loose in the house"; do you mean that you keep him on house leash normally?  In order to immediately curtail this developing behavior, you need to associate it with something sudden and unexpected that will startle the dog. DO NOT direct this TOWARD the dog.  Make a loud, unexpected and unusual noise while clapping your hands and move QUICKLY away from the dog as fast as you can.  Repeat this if he attempts the behavior again.  This should, within three trials, stop the behavior.

MEANWHILE, you need to establish some psychological rank with this dog.  Learn about positive reinforcement training (go to Karen Pryor's web site, read Patricia McConnell Ph.D., John Rogerson, Ian Dunbar).  TEACH this dog, with patience, praise and consistent reward in a fair manner (Huskies do NOT respond to abusive training, they become aggressive).  Teach him one behavior at a time and then ask him to "work" for you, for praise and reward, at various short intervals throughout the day for the next year.  The Husky is an intelligent, highly independent breed very close to type and requires fair, consistent, intelligent leadership.  Once he has learned to "follow" you, these developing dominance routines (directed at the other dogs) should self extinguish.

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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