AboutLabman Expertise Housebreaking, feeding, training
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience Since nobody with Eskimo experience has signed up, I will do my best using my general knowledge of dogs. I have experience and training through my volunteer work with a large dog guide school in modern, proven methods. The service dog schools have acquired a wealth of knowledge about raising well behaved, healthy dogs with long, active lives. They do not share it with the general public, but pass on the best of it to those like me that raise puppies for them. I am part of a group that has raised dogs for 6 different service dog schools. We meet monthly and share information.
Please don't send me medical or breeding questions. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months.
Expert: Labman Date: 2/23/2005 Subject: American Eskimo dogs and cats
Question Can you tell me how well American Eskimo dogs will blend with cats? We are blending a family and will be blending a dog and cat. Wondering what to expect.
Thanks
Answer There is no telling. Much of it depends on the age of the dog and cat and their previous experience. Unless they were raised with them, most cats want nothing to do with dogs. They will either flee, or stand their ground with arched back, unsheathed claws and spitting and hissing. Most dogs want to approach the cats. I am not sure whether they see them as a playmate or a snack. An older dog and cat could settle into ignoring each other before too long. Younger ones could become playmates. The worst would be an older cat and a young puppy.
The few Huskies I have known were gentle creatures without the strong prey drive of the terriers bred to kill vermin, which is how they may see cats. Having the right relationship with the dog will help. The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.
If one will be invading the others territory, it might be best to take it to visit the other. Perhaps even watch the sofa, the china, the pet dishes, etc. being packed up and consolidated in the new den. If the cat doesn't have any furniture, it might be a good idea to buy some of the poles and boxes with the small entrances. They will give the cat a safe place to retreat to. Neither dogs or cats move well. They have their home, their routine, and did not ask to change. Nor did they want others moving in. The cat likely will not be happy about a dog moving in. Nor will it be happy about moving into a dog's home. I see this when I visit the hardware store with my puppy, and the cats there do not like it.
