My husky is destroying my apartment?

Question

I have a 10 month Siberian Husky and he is the best dog ever; however, since daylight savings time has taken effect there is not enough sunlight to take him to the park by the time I get home. He used to be able to be left uncrated in the apartment and not destroy the apartment like he does and just play with his toys. We give him new toys almost every month. Anyhow, he has pulled my Xmas tree down three time chewing all the ornaments, chewing up anything he can get his paws on. I was wondering if getting another puppy would help curb this misbehavior when I am gone at work? I have been thinking about getting him a playmate as everyone I know says it would help, but will it really? Before anyone decides to be smart about obedience he is AKC good canine citizen. He does not act up when I am home, but when he is home alone. So, I'm wondering if he would be less bored and happier if he had a friend or if it would just be double the trouble?

I walk him at 5:00 in the morning until about 5:30 and the he goes out when I get home for over an hour walking around my apartment and letting him play in the pool area running free. where he chases me around. My point being is that he is lacking another dog's energy. To the first girl about not being able to handle my dog, that is a very inaccurate statement if you actually see what I am asking.

sassy sh*.t Fck. First off, my dog is crate trained I CHOOSE not to leave him in his crate as I think it's crappy to be left in a crate for 8 hours while I am at work. And before anyone says i shouldn't have a dog bc I am gone too long for work, how else is he going to get his food paid for and vet bills? Second, I can handle my dog. My dog is actually allowed IN restaurants because he is so well behaved. The underlying problem that I initially came on here for you incompetent individual is to find out if GETTING another dog will help curb his boredom which causes his destructive. So I don't appreciate someone with a rat of a dog coming on here speaking as if they know how it is to have one of the most hyper, intelligent dogs, out there. My husky group of friends and the rescue here is claiming that it will curb this behavior, but I wanted to ask others opinions. REad the question properly instead of assuming you think it's that I can't handle my AKC certified good canine citizen.

Answer 1

Dogs are pack animals. When he's home alone - he is lonely b/c his pack is gone and he could act out. Getting another dog can help. He may also be going through puppy puberty which can add to the bad behavior.

I have two large dogs. I got them as puppies together (3 days apart from each other.) The biggest problem with that is if something gets eaten you don't know which one did it!

But because they have grown up together they are very close - ever since they were little they would crawl into the same crate. When they are outside - they get into the same dog house. They get upset if I separate them. I really like that they have each other and they are best friends. They are now 4. Last year, I added big dog number 3 (a 2 year old) to the family and all 3 are like peas in pods. But the bond between the first two is extra close. I think your dog would really enjoy having a playmate and it's a little more work having two babies but - for me it has been well worth it.

Just make sure that you want another dog and the responsibility that goes with it.

But since you are in an apartment -make sure your lease will allow it. Or you may need to see if you can rent a house with a fenced in yard.

Two big dogs is 2x the food, poop and energy and two puppies is a handful. There may be a husky rescue group in your area that has an adult dog that would get along with your puppy (if you want a companion but not the destruction of a puppy).

Answer 2

It sounds like some type of separation anxiety. It is possible another dog would help but before you run out and get a second one there are several other options you could try. Research on the web, they have suggestions like ignoring your dog when you come home or changing up your routine so they don't know when you are leaving in the morning. You could talk to a trainer or a vet about medication (they mostly lower the energy of the dog and it can help sometimes). There are phermone sprays and plug ins that have been shown to help some dogs. Crate training is often the best solution. It's not cruel or hurtful for them. It actually keeps them safe because getting into things like ornaments can cause severe stomach problems and even death.
If you want to go the second dog route see if you can borrow a well trained dog from a neighbor or friend to see if it helps. A husky needs a job and a lot of exercise. He may just have too much energy and be bored, the vet or trainer can help with ideas for games as well. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I would suggest trying to take him for a run or park in the morning before work. Believe me I hate getting up in the morning, but that will help get rid of some of his energy before you leave him.
Also, start a toy and bone rotation. Say if you own 13 toys, give him 3 one day, few days later 3 different, continue that. That way he doesn't get bored with them after a week.
Do you have a Kong toy? Or other hard rubber toy that you can fill with something? These are great to keep aggressive chewers busy. If you don't have one and get one, the black ones are much stronger for aggressive chewers. Nylabones are also good. The regular hard ones (not the flexible Gumabones) can be boiled in beef or chicken broth then they LOVE them.
Sounds like you might want to go back to crating :-(
I agree with the others that a Husky in an apartment isn't always a great idea. But that doesn't help you much saying that. You just need to do the best you can for him and try to keep him busy and occupied. Not every pet home is ideal, we just do the best we can for them.
I have a 2 1/2 year old Australian Cattle Dog, very hyper herding dog, in a small house in the city, with 4 and 5 year old kids. Every one told me not to get him. He was 4 months old when I got him, and he was in a situation where he was going to end up in a shelter, and maybe euthenized. I figured I had to be able to provide for him better then that. I can't say it has always been easy, but with obedience training, agility classes, lots of walks, toys, crate training, he is a very loved, enjoyed, and behaved member of the family now!
Hoped I helped a bit!

Answer 4

I think there are a couple of challenges here, and I don't think the space or size of the apartment is one of them.

You wrote that "since daylight savings time....". I interpret that to mean that:
--when there was more daylight and you could spend more time outside with him, you didn't have these problems
--you used to be able to leave him out of his crate in your apartment with no problem.

Well, he didn't suddenly get lonely. So getting a second dog is probably not going to help.

My take on this situation is that it's a combination of restless energy and some boredom (which is made worse by the restless energy). Good sled dogs like a Malamute or Siberian Husky will run 100 miles a day in the snow pulling a sled. So a workout that would phase another breed just makes a husky yawn and ask for more.

I think you hit the nail on the head yourself: with less daylight he's getting less work outside and therefore you've got problems. When you had more daylight you didn't have these problems.

I think there are a couple of reasonable options you could take:

1. Crate him during the day. But hire a dog walker to come over at noon and walk him for 30 minutes.

2. Find a neighbor who has a dog (a big dog rather than a Pom or Doxie). Make the following offer: if the neighbor will allow you to leave your dog at her house, you'll walk both dogs in the evening and talk both dogs out to a dog park or a hike on Saturday. This is superior to you getting another puppy because this way you've got human supervision in-case the dogs start to egg each other on with destructive activities (ie: what do you think a second dog would do if the first dog pulled down the Christmas tree? Admonish him? Or prove he could drag it around the apartment?).

3. Go with a doggie daycare situation (where dogs get outdoor time and they also get some communal interaction--they aren't just crated with supervision).

4. Of if you must crate all day, than do the same stuff you're doing in the evening during the daylight you have left. AND then take him to a dog class at least once and preferrably twice a week. Agility or Fly-ball would be good. Sled dogs can also be good at weight pulling activities and competitions--look at that. But those not only provide more exercise for your dog but they also provide some mental stimulation. After a few weeks he'll start to get the timing down and the combination of the challenge plus anticipating the class or competition will mellow him out. I see exactly that same behavior with my dog (a terrier). AND on the nights you don't do a class or competition, devote some serious time to tricks. I don't mean the basic stuff like sit, roll-over, shake, play-dead (although that's fine to start with). How about: teaching him to weave between your legs as you walk...respond to directional commands "left" or "right"...crawl backwards...nod "yes" or "no" on command...distinguish between specific toys so you can hide the toy and then say "Rover, where is your loop?". All of these tricks provide the mental stimulation that becomes an issue when he doesn't get enough physical workout.

5. See if you can take him to work. Crate him there. Take him out during lunch (good way for you to lose weight by eating less and working out even more) or any breaks or down time you get.

Answer 5

Don't get another dog, that would definitely double the trouble! lol

You've got yourself a smart breed of dog, that means he has the sense to be bored and know how to deal with boredom. If he's not being able to run at the park like he's used to, then he's got a lot of pent up energy too. Take him for a walk no matter how dark it is outside, you've got a husky, not many people would try to mess with you ;-)

If it's any consolation at all, the days will start getting longer again very soon.

Answer 6

you live in a apartment with a fairly good size dog that is suppose to be a working breed. It is driving him nuts to be cooped up in there. Even if it's dark, you can still walk him around the neighborhood - I usually eat dinner before i take my dogs out for their evening walk - healthy for me and the dogs. You also need to walk him in the morning too. He needs to get out - if you want get him a doggy back pack while at it so he is actually working - just put some water in there or something. I usually just have my dogs do this when we go hiking - they carry their own water.

Getting another puppy right now would not actually help - he is only 10 months, he himself is still a puppy - so twice the destruction in the house when you're gone. Get the behavior corrected before introducing a second dog.

Answer 7

Believe me, Huskies and Xmas trees do not mix! Period.

Could be boredom, but it really sounds like separation anxiety to me. And although I believe if you have a Husky you really need two, another Husky won't necessarily cure that. And you could wind up with twice the trouble.

There are various things available on the market to treat this condition. Speak to your vet and see what he recommends. One of our girls (the one that we rescued last January) had it bad (VERY destructive) and we did try to treat it with meds and pheromones to no avail. She stayed in an area with 3 - 4 of our other kids while we were gone, so she wasn't really alone, just without us. She has since calmed down since her eye surgery and though she still fusses she is not destructive at all now. Also a piece of old clothing (dirty) left where she stays may help.

Though I don't like them (I had a very bad experience with one of my Huskies in one. She badly injured herself) a crate may be your best option. Place him in it with several favorite toys and a supply of water. He may carry on for a while but will settle down eventually. He may get to the point that he will go straight to the crate when he sees that you are getting ready to leave.

Good luck!

Answer 8

It could be trouble. Huskies were bred to be working dogs, and if not given enough excercise and stimulation they will be bored and cause trouble. Another older dog may help, but a puppy would just learn bad tricks from the husky.

Answer 9

Well, Huskies aren't exactly very good apartment dogs. They are hyper active and need lots of exercise and lots of space to exercise ( know cause I used to own one). I think you should try to make the effort to walk him even though it gets dark early. Even if it means walking it up and down the street in front of your home many times. I don't think it would be a good idea to get a second husky, espcially if you can't handle the first one.


Added:

I beg to differ. You are asking to get another dog because you can't figure out how to handle your current dog's behavoir? You do not correct behavoir by getting another dog, you must discipline him. You are trying to depend on another dog to teach a dog good behavoir. Good behavoir comes from good owners. Your new dog could turn out just like your current dog and therefore have double trouble. Instead of investing your money in another dog, invest in a crate.

Answer 10

Because Huskies are not meant to be in an apartment, they like to roam, and they love to chew........