One of the real beauties of owning a husky is the character and attitude they possess, but sometimes you can end up with a husky that’s just a bit too hyper active and energetic. In this article we will look at some remedies we have learnt on how to manage, control and sometimes even modify the energetic behave to be more suitable for a loving family home.
The first point to remember and to make clear is that huskies by their nature are incredibly energetic and hyperactive. Obviously you will get some huskies who are calm but some do develop an excessive amount of energy which never seems to end or comes in short bursts that are so concentrated its like having a mixed personality husky!
Look at how you feed your husky
Huskies like a lot of sleep and are used to only eating small amounts of food as they have a very efficient metabolism. If you feed your husky any high energy food or high protein food they will store this excess energy up and struggle to get rid of it causing the hyper active episodes. Always feed the recommended amount for the type of food based on your dogs energy level and their actual body weight, don’t over feed as huskies will normally keep eating!
The approach we have found works best is to use the ‘Want Food, Work For It’ approach. We never feed the full amount of time and instead reserve some food for giving as treats and some food for the husky to discover in special treat toys or similar. By following this approach we are able to provide motivation for following commands (by giving food as a treat), the husky learns the human is the alpha providing food and stops the husky from being greedy.
The interactive food toys are a good option as it allows the husky to dispense some energy and put effort in to get to their food. In the long run this causes the husky to learn that food isn’t always readily available and requires some work and effort to obtain it, they burn energy and eat slowly which all results in a more controlled, calm husky.
One treat that can be given to your husky, especially when leaving your husky alone for short periods of time is to take a form of rubber treat toy such as Kong Classic or PetSafe Ball, filling it with a wet treat of your dogs choice (e.g. dog peanut butter) and then freezing the toy. Simply give the dog the frozen toy as a treat and they will spend an hour or two attempting to get the treats out again burning energy, consuming energy and providing a distraction.
If you are leaving your husky along and the excess energy is causing an issue then any trick to hide food, cause distractions or provide puzzles for your dog to solve will all help in controlling the energy. If your new to this strategy then a good starting point would be to check out some of the recommended treat toys on amazon and go from there, we have used all of this with great success so well worth a try.
Please remember some toys aren’t suitable for all dogs, for example some huskies when faced with a plush toy will nurture it like a baby whilst another may rip it apart like its a catch from a hunt. There for if your husky has shown any sign of prey drive towards small furies then your best bet would be to avoid any plush or material based toys, where as if your husky has the mothering touch then these may be the better option for your dog.
Watch the treats, look what they contain!
Be very cautious with what you give to your dog as treats, a lot of them are very high in fats and other substances which can cause too much energy, or reactions to the contents inside causing even more energy and hyper activity.
We have found the best treats for our husky have been from specialist producers who make fresh treats out of 100% natural ingredients, for example we have a local supplier who offers dehydrated chicken strips which our husky goes crazy for..
A lot of the off the shelf treats contain a lot and we mean a lot of pent up energy, unnatural ingredients and they offer no benefit to your dog so not ideal for training treats as effectively they can have the reverse effect!
Stay calm even when your husky isn’t
Your husky will detect if you raise your voice, become agitated or react to their hyper activity. When your husky decides its time to be like this then make sure you stay calm, talk to your husky in a calm voice and act as if nothing is wrong.
By remaining calm and in a normal state your husky will realise the lack of relation and hopefully follow suit, if your husky still remains hyper at least you will be in a calm state of mind to try and work out the best solution moving forwards.
Play lots of fun games with your dog
This is the obvious method of calming your dog down and quite simply its about energy in energy out. Your dogs food and diet will input a set amount of energy inside them so to compete the equation you need to allow your dog to expel that energy.
There are many games you can play with your dog but remember that a husky shouldn’t be exercised off the lead unless they are an enclosed area and thus this can limit some games such as fetch. Don’t let this put you off though there is plenty you can do still.
For us we have found that having an extendable lead to be a life saver as our husky will run around in circles and chase objects that we spin around. Just make sure if your buying a lead that you get one to suit your huskies body weight and strength, they also come in various lengths.
There is also plenty of games you can play including romping around, chasing objects around the house through to external activities such as walking, running, pulled a sled, scooter or bike etc.
It doesn’t matter what activity you chose, what is important is that you allow your husky the chance to burn off a lot of that pent up energy that they have, otherwise the energy will be stored and come out in the form of unwanted hyper activity, naughty behaviour or fat.
Training can help curb or control excessive behaviour
A well trained husky will be more capable of controlling the way they act and behave so a good option is to enrol with a local school or training class, or obtain a solid book on obedience training. Where possible these classes or books really need to be suited for sled dogs or huskies as due to their intelligence, pack instincts and curiosity they are slightly different to train vs other dogs.
A well trained husky will have an established pack order, thus meaning the dog will understand their alpha, have a strong bond and more likely to follow suit rather than attempt to go rogue.
Walking is more than exercise
Whilst taking your husky out for walks counts as allowing them to burn off some energy and exercise themselves, it also has so many extra benefits for you and your dog.
Your husky will have a natural instinct to want to be curious, go on adventures and enjoy nature so by going on regular daily walks you will be encourage your dog to be adventurous, experience new and strange surroundings and vent some energy.
On top of this your dog is likely to interact and socialise with so many elements from other people, children, other dogs and different surroundings, smells and sights. This not only provides a great social experience for your dog, its mentally stimulating and allows some fantastic training and obedience opportunities.
When walking your dog you have so many options, from going on a urban walk around your local town, amongst people, buildings etc through to nature trails, seaside walks, riversides etc. What’s more a short car journey for most people will open up so many more possibilities for places to visit and explore.
One thing we do see a lot is people who try to make their dog heel all the time whilst going out for a walk. Personally we don’t believe in this unless its for the safety of the dog or others around you, you’ve taken your husky to some amazing scenery with new smells and sights so please let your dog explore and have some fun. How boring must it be if your stuck at your owners heel for the duration of the walk!
Going for a walk can greatly benefit you as a person too, allowing you time away from the hustle and bustle of home life, being able to destress and relax and take your mind off the world. However we appreciate this isn’t for everyone so if your in this situation have you considered hiring a dog walker? even if its a friends child, relative or professional dog walker, your husky will love you for it as they always love new people!
Please remember that some places dog are banned, always obey with the local laws and remember to take your poop bags to clear up after your dog!
Doggy play dates and doggy socialising
A really great way of letting your dog burn some energy would be to organise some play time with either a fellow husky or another dog or two or three. We have found that allowing our husky to interact with dogs on a regular basis keeps her calm and allows her to get used to socialising with other dogs whilst getting rid of excess energy, a win win for all.
A good way to socialise if you don’t know anyone is to attend training classes, join some husky groups online or locally or even visit a professional such as a dog walker, kennels etc and ask them for contacts.
If your play date dogs are of the same breed it is also a great way to exchange ideas, experiences and get help & advice. There are in some locations special places for looking after dogs for short periods of time, known as doggy day cares they offer large open spaces filled with dog toys and fellow dogs to play with, think of a preschool for your husky!
Lastly you have enclosed dog exercise yards and play parks, at these places dogs will be roaming free and capable of playing with each other in the safety of a specially designed enclosed area. It can be difficult to find a ‘good’ enclosed area as unfortunately there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners around which can ruin it for everyone. These dog parks can be ‘fun’ but the dogs which have short tempers, over aggressive behaviours or badly trained can all have an effect on your dog and the training you have attempted so far.
Please don’t punish your husky for being energetic
Your bundle of fur doesn’t really understand what is going on and thus punishing your husky for being hyper or having too much energy is counter productive. Instead study their behaviour, look for trends and how they live their lifestyle to see if there’s any links or common areas which may be causing this behaviour.
We have found that in most cases the issue is down to something external such as being fed too much, boredom, not enough exercise or even a genuine medical reason such as an obsessive disorder or separation anxiety.
Spend time to bond with your husky and fully understand their requirements, whilst it may take more effect and be longer to achieve the desired end result you will find that your bond with your husky will be so much stronger as a result.
