My Parents Dogs attract Crazy People

[Latekin]

So, my parents have two female Siberian Huskies. Bella is about 16 now. We got her when I was still a young thing, and we pretty much grew up together. She's an aloof old girl, affectionate and friendly enough, but on her own terms. She's also now blind.
We got Skadi when I turned 20. She loves everyone! And cuddles! According to Skadi, everyone needs to play fight with her and cuddle her and watch T.V. with her because OMG people! Her and Belle have always been my girls, and were very upset when I moved out.

They've been really happy this week, because they've been staying with me while my folks are on holidays! I've been really happy because my big fuzzy cuddle buddies are with me!

Unfortunately, in Australia, huskies seem to bring out the crazy in some people. I know its crazy people, because not only did I grow up with Huskies, but in my quest for various bits of knowledge, I took a basic doggie training course with my partner! Not for qualification for anything, but it just seemed like a good idea at the time. Here's what's been happening:

*Three people so far have messaged me on Facebook to tell me that huskies are literally the devil in doggy form. All of them were stories about huskies destroying owners backyards and being unreasonably energetic or just awful and unreasonable critters.

*Two ladies pulled up beside me and my housemate at 8:00pm at night as we were walking the girls home (they get icecream doggie treats from the shop when they behave on walks!) to yell horrible things at us for daring to have these noble creatures in Australia as they couldn't possibly ever adapt to the climate! How dare I ever walk them in Summer! Surprised when my dogs growled at them.

*Three people have randomly run up to my old blind girl and tugged at her tail. And then been offended when she responded aggressively. Seriously?! She can't see you! She doesn't know you! Leave her alone, because she won't bite you, but I sure as hell might!

*People let their kids play with Belle and Skadi without permission! That crap could be dangerous people! You don't know my dogs!

*My neighbor has been complaining that my dogglies bark all day and night. Hahahaha, nope. I have been home with them. They've been sitting in the loungeroom with me watching Bones reruns.

*Stop telling me my dogs are growling at me. I know my dogs. They're just vocalizing at me. Huskies do that. Bella was letting me know that she wanted my sammich.

To refute all of these people:

Huskies aren't evil. But they are really frakkin' smart. They need to be kept entertained, and that's easy enough. Spend time with them, talk to them, let them be around you, and play with their toys with them. Lock them outside all day every day, and your shit will be ruined. At least that gets them attention. They need to be with you!

I know the heat isn't good for my dogs. That's why they're inside, with me when it's hot. We have airconditioning. When they go out to pee, there's a big old kiddie splash pool for them to drink from and roll around in. When we go for walks, it's later at night, I bring water, and it ends with ice cream treats for everyone. They also blow their wooly undercoat in Summer. It's cool folks, me and my girls have got this!

Don't harass any dogs. Ever. Not just my old blind girl. Bella might make scary noises at you, but she won't bite. No guarantee on other people's dogs. Dogs all react differently to different things, but nobody likes harassment. Ditto for playing! You don't know if my dogs are friendly. They are great with kiddies, but they're also strong, enthusiastic and sometimes bigger than the kid that wants to play! Skadi also likes to sit on people, and does not realise your four year old isn't strong enough to be her people seat!

My dogs are huskies bro. They don't bark. At anything. They'll howl at times, but I notice when they're doing that, believe me, because holy crap do they get loud. As for growling? I know my girls. They're chatty. "Rarararargh." is not husky for "I am going to bite you" it's husky for "I am frustrated because you are paying more attention to your sandwich than me right now." She's been doing this sinxe I was ten dude. If I'm not flipping my shit here, you don't need to either. My dogs and I will all look at you like you're nuts.

Pics of goggies to follow, because they're too damn adorable to keep to myself.

[XCashier]

Yes, please post pics!

Despite the fact that humans and domestic dogs have coexisted for several thousand years, far too many people are amazingly stupid about dogs.

First of all, the dog's owner knows far more about that dog than you do. Unless you see the owner obviously abusing the animal (i.e., hitting it, screaming in its face), then MYOB and STFU.

Second, dogs are dogs. There is no "devil dog", only a dog who's been badly treated, and that can be any breed. Despite physical and minor personality differences, dogs are basically domesticated wolves. Wolves are very pack/family oriented and don't do well being left alone for long periods of time. Any dog, even a Chihuahua, will get antsy and destructive if they're left on their own for too long.

Third, always ask the owner's permission before you approach a strange dog! You don't just run up to it and pet it, and you definitely never pull its tail. Of course it reacted badly, I'd react badly if you ran up to me and grabbed me too!

So yeah, basically use common sense and there won't be problems.

And yes, I've heard Huskies vocalize. "Bow-row-roo," is very different from barking. And kind of funny when you can almost make out words.

[Latekin]

Bella, a little while before she went blind.


Skadi, watching birds out the window.


The girls sleeping on "their" couch.


The old dog bed. We had two, but, they both liked this one...so they turned it into a bunk bed! There were many arguments over who got the top bunk.

[Luna Baby]

Oh, they are so absolutely gorgeous! Love muffins!

[Latekin]

Have some more photos, my Dad takes a whole bunch of the pups.

Skadi growing up with Bella:

[XCashier]

Puppies! They're beautiful.

[Sapphire Silk]

Wow! Your girls are drop dead gorgeous.

I love Huskies. They're great dogs. But they are high energy . . . they're WORKING dogs. They're used to working every day; it's in their nature. So yeah, if you don't give a Husky enough to do to burn off that energy you're yard is going to be a mess. But they're not aggressive as a breed, but they are very loyal and pack oriented.

Any dog can growl; it's a warning to back off to strangers, and a way of communicating play with pack members.

You should heard the shit talking between Copper and Goldie (EE's Carolina Dogs) when they play. Goldie grumbles when she's unhappy or wants to be left alone. Copper does have a tendency to bark; he's got a strong territorial instinct. Goldie used to have one, but not so much anymore.

[MoonCat]

They're beautiful!

My sister and I once met a Husky that a guy was walking near a big summer art festival here. Biggest dog I ever saw. I mean that was Dog with a capital D! His name was Northstar.

I really wish people would mind their own business when it comes to other people's animals. They just make themselves look stupid. Yelling at you that it's too hot for them, and yet Bella's been living there 16 years already. You're obviously doing it right.

[EricKei]

I had always heard that same stuff, too, about them being hyper and destructive. I have a ten-ish year old husky (or possibly a mix) -- Prince, he has always been the opposite. The worst thing he's ever done when tied up outside (as in, for half the day, when I had to pull a long shift at work and had nobody else to let him out/in) was just to whizz on the patio instead of on the grass. He's sedate, quiet (unless I howl at him just for giggles), doesn't jump on furniture or anything. He just wants to be near his hoomin. ^_^ In the years I've had him (I inherited him (kinda) from an older lady whose hubby had passed away, and she could not physically handle him), I've heard him bark once a year or so - ever.

He's on painkillers and antibiotics atm, tho, as he apparently developed edema in a foreleg (not broken, according to X-rays) v_v Getting him to take them is easier said then done, of course. He no longer trusts hot dogs, and he's become wary of chicken tenders. Peanut butter is next up for a hiding place for the pills Mom was caring for him until this manifested, but he's over at my place now. Landlord was afraid his dog would get territorial, but I convinced him -- that, and Mom can't really care for him with the injury.

I've been able to take him out for short walks -- often less than a block so far, but he's slowly been improving and regaining muscle tone and appetite/weight (he was down to 50 lbs before I took over, used to be 75)...And heck, I need the exercise too. He only shows difficulty sitting/lying down and negotiating the 3 stair steps in front of the door.

Obligatory pics:

[Latekin]

Hgn! Evey time I see a husky I have to ask the owner for play times, or if it's ok for playtimes. I know the breed and adore them, and husky playtimes are so awesome!
Prince is adorable! Big old softie?

So yeah, if you don't give a Husky enough to do to burn off that energy you're yard is going to be a mess.

This! But I've also found that it doesn't necessarily need to be high energy/work for you all the time, either. I'm pretty couch potato, but a half hour walk every night, coupled with some ball throwing during the day, and a bit of play fighting generally keeps them entertained. After that, they're happy to sit on me while we watch T.V. at night. Although we also have a sandpit for them for when they're bored. And my folks have a pool. So they generally have a lot to do.

[aulocksmith]

OMG they are so gorgeous!

I'd probably be one of those crazy people who couldn't help themselves to wanting playtime with them, but I at least ask if it's okay first. You'd probably never get rid of me though, as I love furry cuddles.

[Latekin]

Be careful, they regularly try to adopt people.

Like my housemate. The first time he met them, Belle did everything in her power to stop him going anywhere. She hid his shoes! That'll learn 'im.

[AccountingDrone]

I had a husky/shepherd cross bitch named Blue - she had the one brown eye/one blue eye that is moderately common in the husky crosses. Sweet temperment but sweet jumping Jesus could she dig! And we gave her a doghouse, she dug under it, and would sleep on top of it like snoopy, but she did not like being in the dog house.

Our neighbors tried to claim we abused her because she was out in the yard in the summer one August when it was seriously hot. So Animal Control stopped by. She had a huge bin of crunchies, an animal watering point hooked into the house water system and a doggie door. Yup, she could go in and out of the house any time she wanted ... she just did not like being inside anything. My other dog, Llugh, a *wolf* shepherd mix loved being wherever I was and was frequently inside.

[Blue loved sitting a little bit away from some crunchies she would take out of her bin and place on the ground, and then catch and eat the bird or critter that was lured in by the 'free' crunchies just sitting there. Very smart dogs, huskies!]

[Latekin]

Yeah, Bella uses her biscuits to catch cats. She never hurts them. She tries to adopt them. We have woken up to her snuggling all manner of critters she found in the yard, including bush doves.

[Ted_The_IT_Guy]

Getting him to take them is easier said then done, of course. He no longer trusts hot dogs, and he's become wary of chicken tenders. Peanut butter is next up for a hiding place for the pills

Just as a suggestion to all, I have found with my pups the best way to get pills in them is to grind them up and sprinkle it in their food. Wet food, or anything like that, the dog doesn't notice unless it is a strong taste. Easty to get pill grinders from your local drug store/dealer. :P

Had to do that for a week with two of my pups last week, as they had teeth extracted at the vet and had antibiotics/pain killers to take. We always have some boiled chicken breast on hand for the pups, as they have sensitive stomachs (they are schnauzers and schnoodles, happens a lot with that breed/mix), and they snarfed away.

We have 3 right now, plus a foster dog we are fostering for a local vintage schnauzer rescue group. Ours are 8, 7 and 6, and our foster we believe to be 9 or 10. He has hardly any teeth left (aside from his big canines), and he always looks like he is snarling due to the lack of teeth. But you'd have to look long and hard for a dog that is sweeter and more calm than JoJo...

Well, calm until my dad brings over his 4 month old papillon/chihuhaua mix...then it's nothing but romp, play, nip, wrestle, sit on the little guy.

Our 6 year old 2 springs ago had a REAL bad irritable bowel disease flare up and diagnosis. Controlled now, mainly by not allowing him even the slightest scrap of people food aside from unseasoned chicken/turkey breast, and things like sweet potatoes and bananas. He loves those...he's like a Gru Minion with bananas. But part of the initial "we don't know what this is" phase was a medication that had to be given to him via syringe to the mouth - just squirting it in there.

He did NOT like that. He'd run and hide after every dose.

BTW - Huskies are gorgeous dogs, especially these in this thread. My 6 year old Gatsby would love to play with them, even at only 14 pounds he LOVES bigger dogs if they aren't scared of him.