Please help with my Husky crazy?

Question

I have a 10 month old Husky I did trained her and she won a trophy in second place. she is a good dog but I have rabbits and she has been kill and eat them. they are in a big cage and she found a way to catch them and eat them. when I am with the dog she doesn't do anything bad but if I go inside the house she will be crazy tring to catch them. I am sad because I can let her go free until I get a solution. I have another dog and she is very nice with the rabbits.but the Husky is becoming bad Please tell me what I need to do.

Answer 1

That sounds like her natural instinct to hunt. Husky are the closest breed of dogs to wolves, if I remember correctly. You could try contacting a vet to see if she needs some pills that have valerian (sp?) root. It sounds like she understands that when she's alone with the rabbits, that's her chance. Has she always acted this way or just recently?

Answer 2

Hi there,
This is not a question of your dog being a 'bad dog'.
Your husky is only doing what comes naturally to her as a breed of dog with a VERY high prey drive. This is not something that has to do with how well you may or may not have trained her.
Its a behavioral TRAIT, not issue.
Unfortunately, if you had done research on the husky breed BEFORE you got her, then you would have found out about this and perhaps made a different decision.
Now you are faced with the decision on whether you want to keep the rabbits or keep the husky. You will not be able to keep both of them outside without her doing what her instincts tell her to do. IF you want to continue to keep the rabbits, then I suggest you keep them INDOORS in an room that you can keep the door closed. Even then you are taking a risk because all it takes is one person forgetting to close the door and leaving the husky unattended in the house...

best of luck,

Answer 3

The thing is, Huskies have a very high prey drive. Meaning, most of them see little furry animals as nothing but food.

You have a long road ahead of you, and he will never be trustworthy around rabbits. Especially now when he knows how yummy they are.

Set up an "Invisible Fence" (hot wire) around your rabbits. It will make it a "no Husky zone", by shocking him when he approaches.
BEWARE!!!
Some dogs will ignore the shock for the pleasure of fresh killed rabbit. Make sure he respects the boundary before you let him out unsupervised.

Get a chain link dog kennel and put the rabbit cages in it. It will create an extra barrier against the Huskies, and is more humane that putting the Husky in the kennel. Consider a cement floor, it will prevent the dog from digging under the fence. Also, a secure roof is essential. Huskies are known for their intellegence and agility, they will figure out how to get in there!

Answer 4

We have a Siberian Husky and he doesn't like any kind of animal that is smaller than he is -- it's just the way he is. He doesn't like other dogs, either. We have three cats and let me tell you the first few days that they were all together were tough!!! I was always thinking that he was going to kill them! However, that was two years ago and the cats have pretty much put the dog in his place!!! While the fur still flies occassionally, they all seem to have an understanding between them now. My suggestion is that you move one or the other (either the dog or the rabbits) to a place where the dog can't get to them.

Answer 5

Your husky isn't "bad". She's a carnivore with a strong hunting instinct. Just like most huskies. They are closer genetically to wolves than most other dogs.

Huskies and rabbits don't mix!! Same with chickens and other tasty small animals. Get rid of the dog or the rabbits - but don't keep both. The taste of live blood will just make her hungrier for more blood. You can't train her out of it.

Answer 6

Dogs that kill rabbits will also try to kill cats and can be a very big danger to other pet owners animals. It'll get you a lawsuit too if someone's pet is killed.

Huskies are dominant types of dogs. This dog needs a lot more training to be safe around other animals, not just livestock like rabbits. You need to lay down the law to her as pack leader that she is not to hurt something. For that you'll need to contact your vet and ask if they know of an animal behaviorist who can tell you how to do this the right way. Your local humane society may know of an animal behaviorist too, there should be several in each city.

Letting the dog continue to kill things is the start of the end for your pet. It's definately not an OK behavior and will get your animal destroyed if he does it to someone else's pet.

Answer 7

I had a german shepherd when we were a kid and it got into the chickens and we had to have it put down. Once a dog gets the taste of blood it's very hard to get it to stop. I agree with others about the invisible fence and more training. I wish you the best of luck. The only other solution is to get rid of the rabbits.

Answer 8

It's prey drive and I'm not sure you're going to be able to trust this dog to never go after them. Have you considered putting a smal fence or enclosing the rabbits cage so the dog no longer has access?

Answer 9

Maybe put a Fencing arounf the rabbits cage or an electric hot wire that the dog wont cross ?? once they taste blood it is hard to get them to stop. maybe talk to your vet and see what they suggest . you might have to get rid of your bunnies for safety sake..

Answer 10

since youre gone, your husky doesnt have a bad behavior! so when youre gone, pay your neighbor to watch your rabbits! or give them to a friend so they can take care of it when youre gone, or a family member! good luck, it must be scary for a dog to eat rabbits, it`s creepy!