Huskies and the Hound Managing Stubborn Siberian Huskies and a Hound with a Little Dog Training

Huskies Hiking in North Carolina Mountains The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog that was developed by the Chukchi people to help them travel long distances in cold, harsh climates. The modern husky still has certain characteristics which are prominent in the breed today.

Exercise is probably the most important part of caring for your Siberian Husky. Without exercise, your dog will destroy your property. They have been known to eat through walls, dig holes in your yard, and pretty much chew to pieces anything you own.

Our huskies have eaten dollar bills $$$ off of the coffee table, dug holes in our backyard, along with chewing up coasters, screwdrivers, dressers, tv stand legs... you name it!

Huskies were bred to run for miles across land and modern day huskies are just as energetic and full of endurance to run as they were many years ago. When a husky cannot release all of that pent up energy, they will resort to other ways of releasing it, and that usually doesn't end up being a good thing for us owners. It would be beneficial if you live an active lifestyle when owning a husky, however it is not necessary. There are many ways to get exercise for your dog to help them release the energy and destroy less of your things.

Walking/Running

Hands Free Dog Leash Bungee Leash with Reflective Stitching

Hands free dog bungee leash for decreased tension on your waist while running

Walkers may have some trouble getting enough exercise for your dog if you plan on doing short walks around the neighborhood. Even with older huskies, as ours, a walk around the neighborhood is sometimes just not enough. A few miles walking with your husky still does not allow your dog to release the energy in large bursts such as running. While you can still walk your dog, do not expect this to be enough exercise for your husky. Your husky may still end up digging holes in your yard or getting lose and running around the neighborhood later on.

Runners should find great enjoyment in running along with their husky companion. With a little leash training, you could be up and running with your dog in no time! Make sure to use the proper collar and a reasonable length leash to run with your dog. You can also use a hands free dog leash with LED light, a hands free dog leash with reflective stitching when running at night, or my recommendation would be the hands free dog leash with bungee and reflective stitching to remove some of that constant tension with the bungee cord.

Dog Park

Dog Waste Poop Bags Includes DispenserBringing your husky to the dog park is also another great way to allow him to run free within a leash-free, enclosed, fenced dog park. Your husky can learn to socialize as well as get some well needed exercise at the dog park. The one thing to be careful with huskies is aggression. Since huskies have a high predatory drive, they tend to be more aggressive with smaller animals or dogs that look like prey. We had this issue with one of our huskies, Spaz. We had to train him not to chase the little white fluffy dogs which to him looked like toys.

Make sure to always keep an eye on your dog and break up any fights that might occur. If your dog is too aggressive at the dog park, then this option might not be a good one for you. You could always look into getting some dog training to solve some of these problem. Also, your dog should always be on a leash until you enter the fenced-in area of the dog park. Just don't forget to bring your poop dispenser with bags! It's the responsibility of every dog owner to clean up after their pooch.

Hiking

Ruffwear Approach Dog BackpackDogs love hiking, especially huskies! Huskies love the outdoors when they are hiking, they are in their element. If your huskies have never hiked before, you should at least take them to the local park for a hike. Our huskies had a blast the first time they went hiking and I'm sure your husky would love it too. They will burn a lot of calories and use up quite a bit of energy on a hike. If you have a dog backpack like the Outward Hound Kyjen DayPak Saddlebag Style Dog Backpack, Lifeunion Saddle Bag Dog Backpack for Hiking Camping, or Ruffwear Approach Dog Backpack you can make your husky do the heavy lifting and carry his own gear. This is good for wearing out your husky!

Musher's SecretOn our vacation to North Carolina, we took our huskies hiking in the mountains. We had to leave the hound behind because he just couldn't keep up with that type of strenuous activity. Our hound loves to go on hikes as well, but he has the stamina of a glorified porch dog... haha. Plan for your hike with the proper equipment, such as a good leash, collar or harness, and even dog boots or a dog wax cream, like Musher's Secret, to help protect your dog's paws from the elements while hiking. We used Musher's Secret which is a bit messy to get on, but once it's on, it works great at keeping your dog's pads protected against those harsh rocks and it worked well in snow too.

Biking

Walky Dog PlusFor bicycle riders, you can buy an attachment that will allow your dog to run along side your bike. Look for a bicycle exercise leash that is strong, well-made, and easy to install such as the Walky Dog Plus, Petego Cycleash, or Bike Balance Dog Jogger Kit.

Once attached, you can safely ride your bike with your husky next to you without worrying about the dog getting in the way. The exercise leash secures the dog in place with a short leash so the dog will not get in front of you.

Another method of exercising your husky with a bicycle is bikejoring! See below for more on the joys of Joring.

Joring: Skijoring, Scooterjoring, Bikejoring, Rollerjoring

Dually ScooterYou're probably asking right now - What is Joring? Joring is allowing your dog to pull you with ... something. There are many examples of joring, such as skijoring (dog pulls you on skis), scooterjoring (dog pulls your scooter), bikejoring (dog pulls you on your bike), and rollerjoring (dog pulls you on rollerblades). Yes, people still rollerblade, don't laugh :P

As exciting as this sounds, please use extreme caution with this method of exercise.

I attempted rollerjoring and while exhilarating for both me and my huskies, it can also be super scary! My dogs nearly landed me in front of a tree one time. Proper training and safety equipment are recommended when trying any of these joring methods, or it might get you seriously hurt like I almost did.

For the best way to get into joring, there are many books that will get your started. Here are some that I have found to be pretty good:

Skijor with Your Dog: Second Edition Skijor with Your Dog: Second Edition
Dog Scooter - The Sport for Dogs Who Love to Run Dog Scooter - The Sport for Dogs Who Love to Run
Ski Spot Run: The Enchanting World of Skijoring and Related Dog-Powered Sports Ski Spot Run: The Enchanting World of Skijoring and Related Dog-Powered Sports

As for equipment, you will need the following items to start your joring adventure with your husky. Since they love to run, they will LOVE this sport. It's what they were bred to do - RUN, and fortunately for people who do not live in extreme cold weather, such as us, you do not need snow for skis or a sled to run your dogs for miles.

Recommended Equipment:

There are also some kits that include everything you need to get started in skijoring:

Ruffwear - Omnijore System for Dog Joring Ruffwear - Omnijore System for Dog Joring, Running, and Hiking with Harness, Hipbelt, Towline, and Water Bottle, Orange Poppy (Medium)
Bikejor & Scooterjor Starter Kit Bikejor & Scooterjor Starter Kit: Bike Antenna, 9.2 foot/2.8 metere Bungee Line and Freemotion Harness by Non-stop dogwear (5 - Medium/Small)