If you didn’t know, huskies are probably the most natural athletes on earth: (http://outsideonline.com/bodywork/201003/sled-dogs-human-athletic-performance-research-1.html)
Cane hasn’t been training for the Iditarod, but his feats of strength are amazing. He can clear a 4-foot fence without a running start. He can jump a 6-foot fence by hooking his front paws on the top and launching over. This seems to only happen with chain-link fences where he can see something that catches his interest on the other side.
He has been known to jump one fence, explore the neighborhood, and jump a second fence when he finds another dog to play with. He escaped once and found another dog a couple blocks away behind a fence. Before he could jump it, the owner let him in and began checking his collar for info. Meanwhile I was driving down the road in the truck calling for him. Before the Good Samaritan could see the number on Cane’s ID collar, he was amazed that Cane turned and jumped the fence to see who was calling him. Cane got away with that one since you can’t really punish a dog from coming when called.
Cane has managed to do this a few other times while visiting family but Daddy’s cell number is on his collar and he’s micro-chipped so he’s always found his way back. At home we have a 6-foot privacy fence and he can’t see what awesome things await him on the other side.
Recently, it seems there is a sad increase in escapes in the husky community. It’s hard to tell the circumstances, but a lot of huskies are showing up in shelters as well. I think sometimes the true owners just don’t want them back which is an injustice to the dog. But the rest may be due to the fact that a husky can travel a long distance in a short amount of time and end up far away from where the owners are looking. It’s important to ensure that your pet (especially a husky) has every possible means of identification on them at all times.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Husky Diet
No, I don’t mean a special diet for chubby puppies. I mean the things that a Husky likes to eat. Huskies are pretty much omnivores. They will eat dirt, rocks, sticks, plants, lizards, frogs and maybe the occasional cat (just kidding on the last one).
Everyone knows that dogs love human food. Maybe it’s because they just want to be like us or maybe they know that what we eat is just so tasty. But, most of what we eat is not good for our dogs. A lot of what we love is actually poisonous to them. Now preventing them from eating human food is partly not giving it to them and partly giving them tasty alternatives.
I don’t know why I worry about Cane’s palate but he’s part of the family now and there’s no reason to leave him out of the goodness (even though he eats dirt).
When we adopted Cane we had been mixing Pokey & Lacey’s favorite dog food (Kibbles & Bits) with the veterinarian recommended Science Diet. So we figured why not try it with Cane. He seems to like it so that’s what we’re sticking with. We use about a 50/50 mix.
We also use Milk Bones for regular treats and a variety of soft chews for training and special occasions. And since there is a debate on how healthy rawhide is, we usually limit him to one very small rawhide a week.
Now on to the point of this story; Cane frikken loves ice cream. Cane’s Gramdma bought a product called Frosty Paws for him. It’s basically ice cream for dogs in little individual serving cups. Now I’m not sure what they’re made of but they are formulated to give dogs the wonderful feeling of dessert without the stuff that’s bad for them. Plus they feel like they’re getting the same stuff the humans have.
A couple of disclaimers:
1. As with all treats, use in moderation.
2. If you are a human, don’t taste them. Trust me on this one.
Everyone knows that dogs love human food. Maybe it’s because they just want to be like us or maybe they know that what we eat is just so tasty. But, most of what we eat is not good for our dogs. A lot of what we love is actually poisonous to them. Now preventing them from eating human food is partly not giving it to them and partly giving them tasty alternatives.
I don’t know why I worry about Cane’s palate but he’s part of the family now and there’s no reason to leave him out of the goodness (even though he eats dirt).
When we adopted Cane we had been mixing Pokey & Lacey’s favorite dog food (Kibbles & Bits) with the veterinarian recommended Science Diet. So we figured why not try it with Cane. He seems to like it so that’s what we’re sticking with. We use about a 50/50 mix.
We also use Milk Bones for regular treats and a variety of soft chews for training and special occasions. And since there is a debate on how healthy rawhide is, we usually limit him to one very small rawhide a week.
Now on to the point of this story; Cane frikken loves ice cream. Cane’s Gramdma bought a product called Frosty Paws for him. It’s basically ice cream for dogs in little individual serving cups. Now I’m not sure what they’re made of but they are formulated to give dogs the wonderful feeling of dessert without the stuff that’s bad for them. Plus they feel like they’re getting the same stuff the humans have.
A couple of disclaimers:
1. As with all treats, use in moderation.
2. If you are a human, don’t taste them. Trust me on this one.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Cold weather = Husky Energy
Cane has come up with a new game at the end of our walks. Since this is a recent development that coincides with freezing temperatures, I’m blaming the cold weather on this.
It starts at about the last block before we return home. Cane will slow down and start staring at me. He’s usually never that attentive. He prefers to pay attention to cats, shrubs and cable boxes or anything else that may need chased or peed on.
While he’s staring and waiting for a response from me, he’ll get a dumb but happy look on his face; tongue hanging out to the side.
Then he grabs the leash in his mouth and starts pulling. When I tell him to “drop it”, he starts springing around and begins running in circles at full speed. I have to hold on tightly to the leash and spin around with him as if I’m the Sun and he’s in orbit.
By the time I get dizzy and slow down, he comes bouncing up to me and we play the rough ‘rasslin game like we do in the house occasionally.
It the midst of all our fun, I usually notice cars slowing down or stopping. I’m not sure if they think I’m getting attacked, or if they’re worried he'll dart out into the road. Either way, it’s a spectacle.
I wasn’t sure what to call this game when it began, but the Berserker song from Jay & Silent Bob had been stuck in my head for a few days. Now when Cane starts giving me the look, I sing: “ DO YOU WANT TO PLAY YOUR GAMES, BERSERKER!”
It starts at about the last block before we return home. Cane will slow down and start staring at me. He’s usually never that attentive. He prefers to pay attention to cats, shrubs and cable boxes or anything else that may need chased or peed on.
While he’s staring and waiting for a response from me, he’ll get a dumb but happy look on his face; tongue hanging out to the side.
Then he grabs the leash in his mouth and starts pulling. When I tell him to “drop it”, he starts springing around and begins running in circles at full speed. I have to hold on tightly to the leash and spin around with him as if I’m the Sun and he’s in orbit.
By the time I get dizzy and slow down, he comes bouncing up to me and we play the rough ‘rasslin game like we do in the house occasionally.
It the midst of all our fun, I usually notice cars slowing down or stopping. I’m not sure if they think I’m getting attacked, or if they’re worried he'll dart out into the road. Either way, it’s a spectacle.
I wasn’t sure what to call this game when it began, but the Berserker song from Jay & Silent Bob had been stuck in my head for a few days. Now when Cane starts giving me the look, I sing: “ DO YOU WANT TO PLAY YOUR GAMES, BERSERKER!”
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Ghosts in the kitchen
Occasionally there are strange sounds coming from the kitchen. Many people would believe there are ghosts in their house. Not if you have a Husky. Apparently, a favorite pastime of Husky dogs is “counter-surfing”.
Now this is not some new form of an extreme sport. Counter-surfing is the habit of exploring the food options above floor level. Huskies know that can reach anything they want. All that matters is how much effort they want to put in to it and if they make enough noise so that a human catches them in that act.
Every now and then, there are little clinking noises coming from the sink area. These usually just mean Cane is trying to pre-wash the dishes before they get loaded into the dishwasher.
Other times it may be a noise of claws-on-countertop followed by a little chomping. Sometimes however, there is no noise at all; there will just be an empty pie crust that was full a few minutes ago. Or perhaps an empty butter dish that you swear had a stick of butter on it the last time you looked.
Fortunately for Cane, there is a carpet shampooer in the house. Just because it is delicious or humans eat it, does not mean that it is meant to be digested by a dog. The result is an upset tummy and a little puking. By “a little”, I mean a pool the size of a dinner plate. Hence, the carpet shampooer.
Now Cane does get credit for attempting to head to the backdoor if he feels vomit coming. Sadly, he usually unloads before the humans can open the door. He also has managed to keep it on the linoleum a few times (thanks buddy).
Sometimes the food does make it all they way thru Cane and he gets a different kind of excitement. I will tell you now that a whole pumpkin pie will give a dog diarrhea. Poor Cane.
This is one more instance where I don’t know if you can break a Husky of a bad habit. The best method is a little prevention. Put things back in the refrigerator as soon as possible; put bread on top of the fridge so it’s a little harder to reach and keep your ears open for ghostly sounds in the kitchen.
Now this is not some new form of an extreme sport. Counter-surfing is the habit of exploring the food options above floor level. Huskies know that can reach anything they want. All that matters is how much effort they want to put in to it and if they make enough noise so that a human catches them in that act.
Every now and then, there are little clinking noises coming from the sink area. These usually just mean Cane is trying to pre-wash the dishes before they get loaded into the dishwasher.
Other times it may be a noise of claws-on-countertop followed by a little chomping. Sometimes however, there is no noise at all; there will just be an empty pie crust that was full a few minutes ago. Or perhaps an empty butter dish that you swear had a stick of butter on it the last time you looked.
Fortunately for Cane, there is a carpet shampooer in the house. Just because it is delicious or humans eat it, does not mean that it is meant to be digested by a dog. The result is an upset tummy and a little puking. By “a little”, I mean a pool the size of a dinner plate. Hence, the carpet shampooer.
Now Cane does get credit for attempting to head to the backdoor if he feels vomit coming. Sadly, he usually unloads before the humans can open the door. He also has managed to keep it on the linoleum a few times (thanks buddy).
Sometimes the food does make it all they way thru Cane and he gets a different kind of excitement. I will tell you now that a whole pumpkin pie will give a dog diarrhea. Poor Cane.
This is one more instance where I don’t know if you can break a Husky of a bad habit. The best method is a little prevention. Put things back in the refrigerator as soon as possible; put bread on top of the fridge so it’s a little harder to reach and keep your ears open for ghostly sounds in the kitchen.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Brother Cane
It's been a little over a year since we adopted Cane. I was worried for a while that he was going to be and eternal pain in the rear but he gets better all the time. He's become a favorite of the neighborhood kids and never gets a walk without free belly scratches when the kids are playing. He also has a few regular dogs that he gets to play with on our walks.
Cane has also embraced baby Sidney into our pack and has been doing great with her. He gives her occasional licks and loves laying around her bassinet or swing while shes sleeping. He has not bothered her "stuff" execpt for one teddy bear which he mistook as one of his toys.
It looks like he's going to turn out to be a good big brother.
Cane has also embraced baby Sidney into our pack and has been doing great with her. He gives her occasional licks and loves laying around her bassinet or swing while shes sleeping. He has not bothered her "stuff" execpt for one teddy bear which he mistook as one of his toys.
It looks like he's going to turn out to be a good big brother.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
New addition
It's been a while since I've posted. Mostly due to the last part of my wife's pregnancy and the birth of our baby daughter, Sidney. She was born Sep 14th and Cane was satying with Auntie Silke until the following Friday.
Once Cane got home, he was excited to meet his new little sister and he has been doing great so far with her. He likes to lay near her when she's sleeping and he loves walking next to the stroller. He does so good in fact, that I wish I would have had a random stroller earlier :)
He gets mildly concerned when she cries loudly but mostly goes about his business as usual; meaning lying around and occasionally annoying me. We're trying to get him to naturally lay down when she cries and he's getting used to that program.
As soon as we get the sleeping patterns down for the new baby, we'll get Cane out and about so he can have new adventures.
Once Cane got home, he was excited to meet his new little sister and he has been doing great so far with her. He likes to lay near her when she's sleeping and he loves walking next to the stroller. He does so good in fact, that I wish I would have had a random stroller earlier :)
He gets mildly concerned when she cries loudly but mostly goes about his business as usual; meaning lying around and occasionally annoying me. We're trying to get him to naturally lay down when she cries and he's getting used to that program.
As soon as we get the sleeping patterns down for the new baby, we'll get Cane out and about so he can have new adventures.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Walking Club
Found a new group today to help Cane work on being mellow around other dogs. Not all interaction can be fun like the dog park. Sometimes he needs to be calm in a pack. So we went to a dog walking club event this evening and Cane did very well. Only six other dogs showed up and they were all smaller than Cane but he had a good time and acted like a true gentleman (which was a relief).
http://www.beapackleaderdogwalkingclub.com/
http://www.beapackleaderdogwalkingclub.com/
Monday, August 9, 2010
Same Ol' Cane
Cane has come along way since we adopted him. He still has the separation anxiety and occasionally escapes. There have been a couple of recent unauthorized excursions.
1. He was at pet camp and cleared their fence, went down the road and found a couple other dogs behind a fence. So he cleared that fence too and played with his new friends. I rec'd a call thanks to his personaliazed collar with my number on it (dogIDcollar.com). That thing is worth it's weight in gold. Unfortunately I was in Mass. at the time, so his new buddies' Dad put him in the truck and took him back to pet camp. Typical Cane adventure.
2. The lawn people came and accidentally left the gate unlatched. It swung open and was unnoticed when I let hin out into the back yard. I just took a seat on the back porch and figured he was doing his business when Momma came home and asked where he was. I said he probably ran away (joking). So Momma looks around the side of the house and my joke came true. I said we could sit tight and he'd be back soon but Momma grabbed her keys and told me she'd take the car while I take the bike to look for him. By the time we got out the door, our neighbor was ringing the bell with cane in hand. Cane had pushed the neighbor dog (Bear) out of the way and went into their house to check things out. Nothing surprises me with this dog :)
1. He was at pet camp and cleared their fence, went down the road and found a couple other dogs behind a fence. So he cleared that fence too and played with his new friends. I rec'd a call thanks to his personaliazed collar with my number on it (dogIDcollar.com). That thing is worth it's weight in gold. Unfortunately I was in Mass. at the time, so his new buddies' Dad put him in the truck and took him back to pet camp. Typical Cane adventure.
2. The lawn people came and accidentally left the gate unlatched. It swung open and was unnoticed when I let hin out into the back yard. I just took a seat on the back porch and figured he was doing his business when Momma came home and asked where he was. I said he probably ran away (joking). So Momma looks around the side of the house and my joke came true. I said we could sit tight and he'd be back soon but Momma grabbed her keys and told me she'd take the car while I take the bike to look for him. By the time we got out the door, our neighbor was ringing the bell with cane in hand. Cane had pushed the neighbor dog (Bear) out of the way and went into their house to check things out. Nothing surprises me with this dog :)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Making progress
Working on separation anxiety issues is a test of patience. When Cane failed obedience class, he couldn't stand to be by himself for 30 seconds. Little by little and thru individual classes, Cane has been working on his "stay" and his ability to be alone for a given time without going completely crazy.
Several months ago, a 20 minute trip to the store resulted in a wrecked house. A month ago, Cane howled so loudly at the vet that he had to be picked up early.
In the beginning the only thing that could bring sanity to the house was the crate. The crate was a life saver. Quite bluntly, it kept Cane from going back to the pound. But the goal is to have a good balanced dog that can be trusted alone. Over the course of the past few weeks Cane has had the run of the house. It began with 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there. Soon the elusive 20 minute trip to the store was possible.
Eventually Cane was able to be all by himself for a few hours. In fact, his new record is 4 hours with no destruction. He almost hit 5 hours but an accessible leftover Easter basket ended the new streak.
More practice and “Cane-proofing” to come.
Several months ago, a 20 minute trip to the store resulted in a wrecked house. A month ago, Cane howled so loudly at the vet that he had to be picked up early.
In the beginning the only thing that could bring sanity to the house was the crate. The crate was a life saver. Quite bluntly, it kept Cane from going back to the pound. But the goal is to have a good balanced dog that can be trusted alone. Over the course of the past few weeks Cane has had the run of the house. It began with 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there. Soon the elusive 20 minute trip to the store was possible.
Eventually Cane was able to be all by himself for a few hours. In fact, his new record is 4 hours with no destruction. He almost hit 5 hours but an accessible leftover Easter basket ended the new streak.
More practice and “Cane-proofing” to come.
Seatbelts taste good
I need a new seatbelt in my truck. What seemed like a quick and painless trip into Lowe’s will probably end up costing a couple hundred bucks.
I went in for a few small items and was in and out in less than 15 minutes. As I walked back out to the truck, I could see Cane was in the front driver’s seat. As I opened the door, he opened his mouth and my seatbelt fell out. It was only connected by a thread.
Needless to say, it was probably the closest Cane came to going back to jail since we had him. It happened back in December and Cane has since learned to keep his butt in the back where he has a bone to chew on and water if needed.
I did what I believe is a pretty dang good job of sewing the belt back together, but for safety sake I really need to get a new one. Maybe soon…
I went in for a few small items and was in and out in less than 15 minutes. As I walked back out to the truck, I could see Cane was in the front driver’s seat. As I opened the door, he opened his mouth and my seatbelt fell out. It was only connected by a thread.
Needless to say, it was probably the closest Cane came to going back to jail since we had him. It happened back in December and Cane has since learned to keep his butt in the back where he has a bone to chew on and water if needed.
I did what I believe is a pretty dang good job of sewing the belt back together, but for safety sake I really need to get a new one. Maybe soon…
Have a seat.
Cane knows he’s not allowed on the couch. Just laying down would be too much to ask, so to rest his legs he just backs his butt up to the couch and sits like the humans do.
If you tell him “off”, he just looks around to figure out who you’re talking to. “It can’t be me” he says. “My front feet are on the ground."
If you tell him “off”, he just looks around to figure out who you’re talking to. “It can’t be me” he says. “My front feet are on the ground."
Springer
You can walk a husky for miles and miles. They will use just enough energy to calm them down for a little while. If you don’t have the time for a usual walk or you want a thoroughly exercised husky you may have to resort to exploiting the most common breed trait – pulling!
Anyone who has ever walked a husky knows they WANT to pull. Why not give them what they want? We put a pretty good amount of research into what would be the safest and most durable set-up for Cane to pull a bicycle.
What we found was http://www.springeramerica.com/
Cane loves going for bike rides now. He will pull the bike almost as fast as traffic. He Springer works great and he took to it like a natural.
So now for those times when Cane needs a little extra exercise or we’re pressed for time, we have an alternative to the usual walk.
Anyone who has ever walked a husky knows they WANT to pull. Why not give them what they want? We put a pretty good amount of research into what would be the safest and most durable set-up for Cane to pull a bicycle.
What we found was http://www.springeramerica.com/
Cane loves going for bike rides now. He will pull the bike almost as fast as traffic. He Springer works great and he took to it like a natural.
So now for those times when Cane needs a little extra exercise or we’re pressed for time, we have an alternative to the usual walk.
Friday, April 9, 2010
"What a pretty dog!"
If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I could afford a lot more obedience classes! Fortunately Cane loves people and attention. He especially loves kids. During walks, we’re constantly stopped and someone says “what a pretty dog”. Most kids these days seem to have watched enough TV shows about dogs that they know to ask permission before petting a dog. When they do, Cane is happy to oblige. He generally falls over and expects a belly rub.
Once kids get their fill of petting Cane, they usually tell their parents that they want a dog “just like this one”. I laugh inside and just shake my head to let the parents know that this might not be an easy dog to care for. Don’t get me wrong. Cane can be sweet as honey and although he growing on me, he’s still a HUGE time commitment and patience tester.
Cane attracts so much attention that cars have actually pulled over during walks to ask about him. Some ask if he’s a white shepherd but a few recognize him as a husky. Occasionally when people comment on how awesome he is, I joking ask if they want him. That’s usually met with puzzled looks so I say” just kidding” even though in the early days I probably wasn’t.
We’ve had a couple people say that he’s so pretty that they want to steal him. I’ll show them where I live and tell them that one day with him and they’ll be bringing him back tomorrow. Since we’ve had him just over six months now, and he’s made tremendous progress, I guess I should knock off that joke.
As I sit here typing this, he just ran past the back door with a clump of grass in his mouth. So much for contemplating his endearing qualities. I’ll be back after I check for new holes dug and the obligatory evening walk.
Once kids get their fill of petting Cane, they usually tell their parents that they want a dog “just like this one”. I laugh inside and just shake my head to let the parents know that this might not be an easy dog to care for. Don’t get me wrong. Cane can be sweet as honey and although he growing on me, he’s still a HUGE time commitment and patience tester.
Cane attracts so much attention that cars have actually pulled over during walks to ask about him. Some ask if he’s a white shepherd but a few recognize him as a husky. Occasionally when people comment on how awesome he is, I joking ask if they want him. That’s usually met with puzzled looks so I say” just kidding” even though in the early days I probably wasn’t.
We’ve had a couple people say that he’s so pretty that they want to steal him. I’ll show them where I live and tell them that one day with him and they’ll be bringing him back tomorrow. Since we’ve had him just over six months now, and he’s made tremendous progress, I guess I should knock off that joke.
As I sit here typing this, he just ran past the back door with a clump of grass in his mouth. So much for contemplating his endearing qualities. I’ll be back after I check for new holes dug and the obligatory evening walk.
Vampiro
Cane gets an evil look when he plays. We call it “Vampiro”. He’s finally learned a little bite inhibition but when you have this looking at you, it’s still freaky…
Boat rides and Cactus
Cane’s family loves boating. So he has to adapt and grow his sea legs. His first boat trip in St. Aug was a little shaky. He couldn’t really balance and was enamored by the splashing water at the back of the boat. Not an ideal vantage point but he was almost hypnotized by the boat’s wake.
We finally find what is believed to be a small island near some condos. Still skeptical of letting Cane off-leash at this point, we head around to see if it connects to the mainland or not. Too bad this doesn’t matter. Cane slips the leash and off he goes. He heads thru the marsh and up to the condos. He is found on a back patio biting at his underside. Closer inspection reveals that he ran through a cactus patch and is covered in prickly pears.
Daddy tries to assist him in removing them but it’s incredibly difficult when Cane is biting you and the thorns are sticking in you as well. With the situation finally under control, the leash is tightened and the return trip begins. Althought short-lived, it was another fun and exciting day with Cane.
As mentioned before, Cane has come to love the boat. He even attempts to climb on it while trailered in the backyard. Can’t wait for summer so Cane can really get the chance to become a “boat dog”. Just have to remember to recon the area for cacti.
We finally find what is believed to be a small island near some condos. Still skeptical of letting Cane off-leash at this point, we head around to see if it connects to the mainland or not. Too bad this doesn’t matter. Cane slips the leash and off he goes. He heads thru the marsh and up to the condos. He is found on a back patio biting at his underside. Closer inspection reveals that he ran through a cactus patch and is covered in prickly pears.
Daddy tries to assist him in removing them but it’s incredibly difficult when Cane is biting you and the thorns are sticking in you as well. With the situation finally under control, the leash is tightened and the return trip begins. Althought short-lived, it was another fun and exciting day with Cane.
As mentioned before, Cane has come to love the boat. He even attempts to climb on it while trailered in the backyard. Can’t wait for summer so Cane can really get the chance to become a “boat dog”. Just have to remember to recon the area for cacti.
Predator Mode
Midnight. Cane wants out. But instead of the usual trip outback, he finds Daddy awake and gets a special walk. Cane’s typical jaunt to the east side of the neighborhood is distracted but a smell on the ground that drags across the road. Cane is incessant on finding out the source of the smell. He has his nose pressed to the ground as he pulls along at the leash almost begging for satisfaction.
As soon as he turns the corner of the wooded buffer zone, there it is; a doe and her fawn. Cane is baffled by what to do so he just sits and stares. He is rigid and almost shaking from anticipation of what’s coming next. The doe sees him and freezes too. There is a stand-off that lasts seconds but seems like forever.
Then the doe summons her fawn and bounds into the bushes. Cane goes berserk for a while and has to be dragged off, then the normal walk follows. What excitement! Cane was on high alert for the remainder of the trip.
This would actually be the first of many wildlife encounters. So is the benefit of living in a neighborhood with a nature buffer zone. Every few weeks we are greeted by deer, armadillos or the occasional possum.
There were a few incidents where he had to be dragged away and one destruction of the mechanism in a retractable leash. But lately Cane has learned that he cannot chase them so now he just sits and watches for a while then trots off with constant “rear-view mirror” checks until a new smell or sound distracts him.
I wonder what he would do if he caught one? [Oh yeah (remembers “monster encounter”)!]
As soon as he turns the corner of the wooded buffer zone, there it is; a doe and her fawn. Cane is baffled by what to do so he just sits and stares. He is rigid and almost shaking from anticipation of what’s coming next. The doe sees him and freezes too. There is a stand-off that lasts seconds but seems like forever.
Then the doe summons her fawn and bounds into the bushes. Cane goes berserk for a while and has to be dragged off, then the normal walk follows. What excitement! Cane was on high alert for the remainder of the trip.
This would actually be the first of many wildlife encounters. So is the benefit of living in a neighborhood with a nature buffer zone. Every few weeks we are greeted by deer, armadillos or the occasional possum.
There were a few incidents where he had to be dragged away and one destruction of the mechanism in a retractable leash. But lately Cane has learned that he cannot chase them so now he just sits and watches for a while then trots off with constant “rear-view mirror” checks until a new smell or sound distracts him.
I wonder what he would do if he caught one? [Oh yeah (remembers “monster encounter”)!]
Monday, March 8, 2010
Barking at Baby Jesus
Christmas time was fun for Cane during his walks. There were all kinds of new sights and sounds coming from neighbors’ yards. Inflatable penguins were jumping out of igloos, Santa was on a chopper and LED Christmas trees played Silent Night. All was well and peace befell the land.
However, one neighbor had to put out an illuminated nativity scene. For some reason Cane was very upset. Huskies don’t bark but Cane made a low gruff growling pseudo-bark that has never been heard before. He couldn’t pass that yard without being drug by. Daddy thought that maybe Cane was living up to his name but Momma assured us Cane just didn’t approve of Mary and Joseph having little baby Jesus out in the cold like that.
However, one neighbor had to put out an illuminated nativity scene. For some reason Cane was very upset. Huskies don’t bark but Cane made a low gruff growling pseudo-bark that has never been heard before. He couldn’t pass that yard without being drug by. Daddy thought that maybe Cane was living up to his name but Momma assured us Cane just didn’t approve of Mary and Joseph having little baby Jesus out in the cold like that.
Playing on Ellie Island
By now, anyone that owns a Husky or has done any research on Huskies should know that they ARE NOT to be trusted off leash. So other than a dog park, what’s a dog got to do to get some good runnin’ time in?
If you’re near the intra-coastal waterway and the tide is right, you could find an exposed sand bar where dogs could run footloose and fancy-free. There happens to be such a sandbar in NC and Cane’s cousin, Ellie is the top dog.
This is probably the most fun place for dogs and relaxing for humans.
If you’re near the intra-coastal waterway and the tide is right, you could find an exposed sand bar where dogs could run footloose and fancy-free. There happens to be such a sandbar in NC and Cane’s cousin, Ellie is the top dog.
This is probably the most fun place for dogs and relaxing for humans.
Whoooo let the dogs out !?!?!?
Cane got to go on his first road trip at Christmas time. It’s an 8 hour trip to see G-Ma, G-Pa and Auntie Brina in NC. The trip up was great, miles of sleeping with frequent rest stops “just to be sure”.
Once we arrived Cane met his cousin Ellie the yellow lab. They had a great time playing rough together and Cane was temporarily trusted off leash as we were on an island of about 30 homes. He couldn’t go too far…
But as soon as the humans let their guard down, Cane was at the bridge. He was tracked down quickly with the use of bicycles and returned to play time but on a long leash instead.
It was lots of fun hanging out by the fire and playing with Ellie during the day but Cane didn’t like the crate time in the evening. He has no problem with the crate at home, but howled like bloody murder in his own crate at a new location. Still can’t figure that one out but the real fun for Cane was soon to come.
Momma and Daddy were getting ready for a dinner out and Cane was lying by the back door. Auntie Brina came to see if everyone was ready and Cane saw his opportunity to escape. Out the door he went. Auntie Brina and Momma went running after him. By the time they found him he had jumped the bulkhead and was in the marsh.
By the time Daddy got his shoes on and made it to the other side of the island, Cane had a small toothy monster* cornered under a dock. Daddy had to jump in the marsh as well wearing Polo slacks and what used to be nice shoes. After a few runs back and forth under the docks chasing Cane, one of Daddy’s shoes had come off. All this in 30 degree weather.
Now running with one shoe it was impossible to catch Cane and he made his way back to the cornered monster under the dock. It was feared that Cane would bet bitten and need a trip to the vet. By this time a neighbor had heard the commotion and came out to investigate. He suggested killing the monster so Daddy picked up a 2x4 and wacked the monster upside the head. The monster fell over, out cold.
Cane realized this was his chance and chomped on his enemy. The monster came back to life and went crazy but Cane was preoccupied enough for Daddy to grab him. He dropped his prey and was put back on the bulkhead where a leash was waiting.
After a good drag back to the house there was a lot of cleaning necessary for both human and Cane. The evening out was cancelled and Cane sat silently in his crate the rest of the night. There were no major injuries, just a scratched nose and a small oyster cut on his paw.
Daddy’s missing shoe was fished out of the marsh during low tide the next morning and actually cleaned up to almost new as did the pants.
*the monster was believed to be a raccoon but due to the low light he did not receive first aid for a possible concussion.
Once we arrived Cane met his cousin Ellie the yellow lab. They had a great time playing rough together and Cane was temporarily trusted off leash as we were on an island of about 30 homes. He couldn’t go too far…
But as soon as the humans let their guard down, Cane was at the bridge. He was tracked down quickly with the use of bicycles and returned to play time but on a long leash instead.
It was lots of fun hanging out by the fire and playing with Ellie during the day but Cane didn’t like the crate time in the evening. He has no problem with the crate at home, but howled like bloody murder in his own crate at a new location. Still can’t figure that one out but the real fun for Cane was soon to come.
Momma and Daddy were getting ready for a dinner out and Cane was lying by the back door. Auntie Brina came to see if everyone was ready and Cane saw his opportunity to escape. Out the door he went. Auntie Brina and Momma went running after him. By the time they found him he had jumped the bulkhead and was in the marsh.
By the time Daddy got his shoes on and made it to the other side of the island, Cane had a small toothy monster* cornered under a dock. Daddy had to jump in the marsh as well wearing Polo slacks and what used to be nice shoes. After a few runs back and forth under the docks chasing Cane, one of Daddy’s shoes had come off. All this in 30 degree weather.
Now running with one shoe it was impossible to catch Cane and he made his way back to the cornered monster under the dock. It was feared that Cane would bet bitten and need a trip to the vet. By this time a neighbor had heard the commotion and came out to investigate. He suggested killing the monster so Daddy picked up a 2x4 and wacked the monster upside the head. The monster fell over, out cold.
Cane realized this was his chance and chomped on his enemy. The monster came back to life and went crazy but Cane was preoccupied enough for Daddy to grab him. He dropped his prey and was put back on the bulkhead where a leash was waiting.
After a good drag back to the house there was a lot of cleaning necessary for both human and Cane. The evening out was cancelled and Cane sat silently in his crate the rest of the night. There were no major injuries, just a scratched nose and a small oyster cut on his paw.
Daddy’s missing shoe was fished out of the marsh during low tide the next morning and actually cleaned up to almost new as did the pants.
*the monster was believed to be a raccoon but due to the low light he did not receive first aid for a possible concussion.
Digging/Huge paws
Husky dogs are adapted to be able to dig a den or cave to get out of the cold if need be. This means they have huge paws for their size that can be likened to snow shovels. Well, they work excellent in dirt too.
Cane’s heightened senses can detect minute sounds underground. This could be a little movement from a mole or possibly the fluid/air mixture in a sprinkler line. If Cane hears something below the grass, he will dig with a furious pace and can be elbow deep in about 10 seconds.
This is obviously not good for the backyard lawn, but worse for the sprinkler system. In an “unobserved” moment, Cane grabbed a freshly dug sprinkler line and ran with it. Since newer homes have flexible sprinkler line, he had about 4 feet of it unearthed in the time it took to cross the backyard and get him to release it.
Fortunately the local home center carries 10 foot sections of garden fencing at a decent price. They can be divided into smaller sections that are perfect for placing around sprinkler heads or commonly dug areas.
ALSO: If you read online that putting dog poop in the holes will discourage them from re-digging, be prepared for some paw washing before going back in the house.
Cane’s heightened senses can detect minute sounds underground. This could be a little movement from a mole or possibly the fluid/air mixture in a sprinkler line. If Cane hears something below the grass, he will dig with a furious pace and can be elbow deep in about 10 seconds.
This is obviously not good for the backyard lawn, but worse for the sprinkler system. In an “unobserved” moment, Cane grabbed a freshly dug sprinkler line and ran with it. Since newer homes have flexible sprinkler line, he had about 4 feet of it unearthed in the time it took to cross the backyard and get him to release it.
Fortunately the local home center carries 10 foot sections of garden fencing at a decent price. They can be divided into smaller sections that are perfect for placing around sprinkler heads or commonly dug areas.
ALSO: If you read online that putting dog poop in the holes will discourage them from re-digging, be prepared for some paw washing before going back in the house.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Failing Obedience School
Since Cane was a rescue with a sketchy history, it seemed best to enroll him in an obedience class. A local trainer experienced in Huskies was recommended by Cane’s new vet. So he was immediately enrolled. The class was six weeks in duration; one evening a week.
It started off good. Cane was progressing as expected and had no problems with other dogs. Cane could perform sit and down using just hand signals. He could heel with moderate corrections. He could walk in and out of the presence of other dogs without freaking out and would usually sit like a gentleman before meeting another dog.
Cane did not really like to come, but the nature of a Husky is to work and if he was in the working mindset, he would come.
Then came the stay. Or maybe not. Cane cannot sit still for more than a few seconds and if he knows humans are near he will he will go apes#!t until he gets attention. He can make the most blood-curdling noises when he wants to. Since Huskies don’t bark, they make up for it by talking, howling, screaming and basically sounding like they are being tortured.
Test day finally came and Cane passed 9 out of 10. He cannot yet be considered a Canine Good Citizen.
It started off good. Cane was progressing as expected and had no problems with other dogs. Cane could perform sit and down using just hand signals. He could heel with moderate corrections. He could walk in and out of the presence of other dogs without freaking out and would usually sit like a gentleman before meeting another dog.
Cane did not really like to come, but the nature of a Husky is to work and if he was in the working mindset, he would come.
Then came the stay. Or maybe not. Cane cannot sit still for more than a few seconds and if he knows humans are near he will he will go apes#!t until he gets attention. He can make the most blood-curdling noises when he wants to. Since Huskies don’t bark, they make up for it by talking, howling, screaming and basically sounding like they are being tortured.
Test day finally came and Cane passed 9 out of 10. He cannot yet be considered a Canine Good Citizen.
Eating weird stuff
Cane has an indiscriminate palate. His propensity to eat random objects may be tied to his time as a stray when he had to fend for himself. He eats wood like most dogs eat bones. He is quite skilled at catching yard lizards and will swallow them whole if he thinks a human is coming to take them away. Eating these types of items doesn’t seem that strange for a dog that lived in the great wide open at least three times before being picked up by “The Man”.
However, it’s the items not found in nature that are puzzling. Cane eats the stuffing out of his toys. He loves napkins and toilet paper so much that the TP rolls had to be relocated to high shelves in the bathroom. He has swallowed an entire woman’s style dress sock and munches on rubber hair ties.
Aside from the obvious possibility of choking, there is the problem of digestion. So far there have been no obstructions. Everything other then the sock has passed straight thru Cane to be deposited in the back yard. It makes for colorful and sometimes fluffy poo. And if you’re wondering what happened to the sock; vomited at 4am.
However, it’s the items not found in nature that are puzzling. Cane eats the stuffing out of his toys. He loves napkins and toilet paper so much that the TP rolls had to be relocated to high shelves in the bathroom. He has swallowed an entire woman’s style dress sock and munches on rubber hair ties.
Aside from the obvious possibility of choking, there is the problem of digestion. So far there have been no obstructions. Everything other then the sock has passed straight thru Cane to be deposited in the back yard. It makes for colorful and sometimes fluffy poo. And if you’re wondering what happened to the sock; vomited at 4am.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Getting a schedule going
So the project of Cane-proofing the gates has been completed. New hinges so they swing inward should minimize the ability to push them open. Plus, extra latches have been added to the exterior side for double-sided protection from accidental freedom. He hasn’t been able to open them but the feeling is that nothing can be completely Cane-proofed.
The first attempt at a walk around the neighborhood was almost an epic adventure. It’s hard to tell how tight the collar should be because of all that fluffy hair so it was initially put on too loose. Once around the corner from the house, Cane saw two Schnauzers that he just had to go see. So he immediately turned away from the pull of the leash and began to back out of the collar. As the collar was coming over Cane’s ears and he was almost free, New Daddy had to jump on him to gain control. It must have looked quite comical to the Schnauzer owners, but they still grabbed the little pups and hustled inside.
Now it’s known that Huskies are bred to pull, but walking Cane for the first time is like trying to guide a flopping fish down the sidewalk. He needs a lot of exercise and this is not the way to do it.
Cane had to get his follow-up vaccines and the vet recommended a trainer who is experienced with Huskies. We will definitely check them out. It was noted that he was a little underweight at 52 pounds and the vet said 60 should be a good weight for him. Cane also had a hot spot on one of his front legs from unknown origin. A little ointment for the leg, a recommended diet and the number of a trainer were made the vet visit very worthwhile.
We called the trainer and an adult dog obedience class was starting in a few weeks. We immediately signed up. The trainer also runs a day camp and boarding facilities. Cane should benefit from a little socialization prior to the class, so he was dropped off for day camp experience. They reported that he plays well with other dogs and had a ton of energy (like we hadn’t noticed). In fact he played so well that he became the “play dog” for the day while other dogs would be rotated in and out of the play area. Normally the dogs tire after an hour or so of play and need a nap, but not Cane.
It actually seemed that he didn’t need any sleep for the first two weeks at the new home. There was so much to investigate and destroy. The humans wouldn’t be allowed to get any sleep either. If Cane’s not sleeping, no one is. Cane continues with the same program of wanting to go outside and lay down, only to come back in and pee in the house. Fortunately, someone from New Mommy’s work has a large dog crate we can borrow.
People can think whatever they want about crates but this one kept Cane from going back to the pound for a fourth time. Once he was lured in there with a little snack, he would sleep thru the night. No more having to deal with hourly wake-ups to clean up pee. This was also the only way he could be left alone without destroying the house. New Daddy only works 15 minutes from the house so Cane can get a lunch break for a short walk and potty time.
Now knowing that he wouldn’t try to start fights on every corner, it was a lot easier to have a waking plan. So Cane’s walking schedule goes like:
5:30am – 1.5 miles
11:30am - .25 mile
4:30-5pm – 1.25 – 1.75 miles
8:30-9pm – 1.5 miles
This seems to be just enough to get him to sleep at night. He can even be trusted out of the crate and loves to keep the human feet warm on the end of the bed. This came in especially handy during the record two week freezing period here in Florida.
The first attempt at a walk around the neighborhood was almost an epic adventure. It’s hard to tell how tight the collar should be because of all that fluffy hair so it was initially put on too loose. Once around the corner from the house, Cane saw two Schnauzers that he just had to go see. So he immediately turned away from the pull of the leash and began to back out of the collar. As the collar was coming over Cane’s ears and he was almost free, New Daddy had to jump on him to gain control. It must have looked quite comical to the Schnauzer owners, but they still grabbed the little pups and hustled inside.
Now it’s known that Huskies are bred to pull, but walking Cane for the first time is like trying to guide a flopping fish down the sidewalk. He needs a lot of exercise and this is not the way to do it.
Cane had to get his follow-up vaccines and the vet recommended a trainer who is experienced with Huskies. We will definitely check them out. It was noted that he was a little underweight at 52 pounds and the vet said 60 should be a good weight for him. Cane also had a hot spot on one of his front legs from unknown origin. A little ointment for the leg, a recommended diet and the number of a trainer were made the vet visit very worthwhile.
We called the trainer and an adult dog obedience class was starting in a few weeks. We immediately signed up. The trainer also runs a day camp and boarding facilities. Cane should benefit from a little socialization prior to the class, so he was dropped off for day camp experience. They reported that he plays well with other dogs and had a ton of energy (like we hadn’t noticed). In fact he played so well that he became the “play dog” for the day while other dogs would be rotated in and out of the play area. Normally the dogs tire after an hour or so of play and need a nap, but not Cane.
It actually seemed that he didn’t need any sleep for the first two weeks at the new home. There was so much to investigate and destroy. The humans wouldn’t be allowed to get any sleep either. If Cane’s not sleeping, no one is. Cane continues with the same program of wanting to go outside and lay down, only to come back in and pee in the house. Fortunately, someone from New Mommy’s work has a large dog crate we can borrow.
People can think whatever they want about crates but this one kept Cane from going back to the pound for a fourth time. Once he was lured in there with a little snack, he would sleep thru the night. No more having to deal with hourly wake-ups to clean up pee. This was also the only way he could be left alone without destroying the house. New Daddy only works 15 minutes from the house so Cane can get a lunch break for a short walk and potty time.
Now knowing that he wouldn’t try to start fights on every corner, it was a lot easier to have a waking plan. So Cane’s walking schedule goes like:
5:30am – 1.5 miles
11:30am - .25 mile
4:30-5pm – 1.25 – 1.75 miles
8:30-9pm – 1.5 miles
This seems to be just enough to get him to sleep at night. He can even be trusted out of the crate and loves to keep the human feet warm on the end of the bed. This came in especially handy during the record two week freezing period here in Florida.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
First Impressions
Cane was adopted Oct 6th, 2009. He got noticed by leaning against the kennel gate wanting to be touched. He looked up with striking blue eyes and a friendly face. His pale white fur was damp and slightly stained. His quiet demeanor earned a walk to the play pen. There were balls and toys to investigate but it wasn’t clear at the time why he spent so much time studying the fence‘s design.
The shelter staff said it was his third visit and the previous owners would not come to claim him. He was originally picked up as a stray and adopted, but he was an escape artist and couldn’t be contained by his second family, or third. So there he was, performing the same act that was sure to get him adopted again. And it worked.
The first order of business was a good bath. That white fur cleaned up nice and he smelled like a new dog. Cane’s exact age is unknown but the vet and the shelter estimate that he is between 1.5 to two years old. Not exactly a puppy, but not a mellow adult dog like his new parents’ previous “kids”.
He has a hard act to follow. His new family were proud parents of a shar-pei mix for 14+ years and her “little” sister, a Shepherd mix for 12 years. They both succumbed to health issues in the past year. Although very experienced with dogs, it was soon to be seen why so many Husky websites say “do your research first”.
Pokey, the shar-pei was not exactly an active dog. She could be compared to the Yellow Dog from the movie Funny Farm. If a door or gate was left open, she would lay there and wait for someone to come step over her, that is if she even noticed it was open. She knew where the food came from and wasn’t going far from it.
Lacey, the Shepherd was more like Lassie. She was the active one, but knew exactly what “come” meant and would appear in a few seconds if called. She exemplified the word trust and would sit in the garage with her dad for hours and watch the world go by.
They complimented each other perfectly and will be in the hearts of everyone they met forever. Oh yes, Cane has big shoes to fill.
He began his first night by jumping on the bed every hour or so to see if anyone else was awake. Time to go outside and take care of business? No, he just likes to lie in the grass and smell all the new smells. Drag back inside and repeat hourly until alarm sounds.
After a night of minimal sleep, the patience level is pushed even farther down when he comes back inside after the morning walk and leaves a “gift” on the office floor. What were they feeding this dog? Good thing for carpet shampooers. Fortunately, Auntie B is visiting for a week and can watch him during the day.
Too bad she had to go to the store. Cane decided to explore everything in the house. Chairs were overturned, most items on tables were now on the floor and every door in the place was open. Round doorknobs were to be added to the “to-do” list to replace the lever style knobs.
It was assumed that a six foot fence would be sufficient for Cane’s back yard realm. It didn’t really matter once he saw one human operate the gate latch. He immediately went to work on the latches and figured out how to flip them up, and since the gates swing outward, he found freedom. All the humans followed him through the bushes and tried to block his path between the houses, but Huskies are fast and Cane is no exception. Fortunately, there was a young girl a few houses away playing with a soccer ball that looked very interesting. As he stopped to investigate how tasty a soccer ball could be, the girl grabbed his collar and the chasse was over. “Never chase a husky” was one of the many lessons to be learned by these new humans.
Introduction
My wife and I never imagined how much work and fun owning a Husky would be. We have always been "dog people" and had to face the inevitable with both of our previous dogs in the past year. Our 14 year old Shar-pei mix, Pokey succumbed to cancer in may of 2009 and was followed to the Rainbow Bridge by our 12 year old Shepherd mix, Lacey in July 2009. Both were rescues.
I may tell their stories at some point but this will cronicle the experiences of how Cane takes up pretty much every waking minute we have. There will be both good and bad, and hopefully some of humor will come across thru text.
If you are thinking of adopting a Husky, PLEASE DO YOU RESEARCH FIRST! These are not the dogs for first time owners and until recently I only thought they were suited for the certifiably insane. I'm still not sure if this is going to be a great dog or I fall more farther into the latter category then I previously thought.
I may tell their stories at some point but this will cronicle the experiences of how Cane takes up pretty much every waking minute we have. There will be both good and bad, and hopefully some of humor will come across thru text.
If you are thinking of adopting a Husky, PLEASE DO YOU RESEARCH FIRST! These are not the dogs for first time owners and until recently I only thought they were suited for the certifiably insane. I'm still not sure if this is going to be a great dog or I fall more farther into the latter category then I previously thought.
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