How to Train a Husky to be Loyal

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How to Train a Husky to be Loyal

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1-3 Months

General

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Introduction

Your Husky is your favorite four-legged friend. They’re playful, affectionate and full of energy. In fact, it doesn’t matter how long you spend walking them, they always seem to be eager for more. However, one of the things that drew you to Huskies in the beginning, was their tendency to be loyal. Yours, unfortunately, isn’t so loyal. In fact, you’d go as far as to say they’d go with anyone. It doesn’t seem to matter that you’re the one that feeds them, gives them four walls and a roof to sleep under.

Training your dog to be loyal comes with several benefits. Firstly, your Husky will be keen to protect you in any number of situations. This means you can relax when you’re walking at night or in a new environment. Huskies are also used to being loyal to a pack, so helping them to get back into the habit will cement your position as pack leader.

Defining Tasks

Training your Husky to be loyal isn’t without challenges. Often dogs that have come from homes where they have suffered abuse can struggle to find that trust again. So training will consist mainly of using positive reinforcements. You will also need to make sure you meet all their needs, from food to exercise and attention.

If your Husky is a puppy then they should be trusting and it could take just a few weeks before they are loyal to a fault. However, if they are older and you have years of problems to tackle then you will need to be patient. In fact, it could be a few months before your Husky is fully loyal. If you can get training right, you will be able to repair any damage done by previous owners. You will also be the pack leader in their eyes, affording you control and the ability to teach them a range of different commands.

Getting Started

Before you get to work, you need to make sure you have a few bits. You will need tasty treats or small pieces of the dog's favorite food. Cheese is often an effective motivator.

You will also need a leash, toys and a clicker for one the of the methods below. Set aside a few minutes each day for training. The more consistently you train, the sooner you will see results.

Apart from all that, you just need patience and a pro-active attitude, then work can begin!

The Meeting Needs Method

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Food routine

Part of building loyalty is showing the dog that they can rely on you. That means feeding their meals at the same times each day. They will respect you if they know they can rely on you for food.

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Regular toilet visits

Your Husky will need to go to the toilet regularly, especially if they are a puppy. Take them out in the morning, throughout the day and before bed. They will be loyal to you if they know you will meet their toilet needs.

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Play time

Spend a few minutes a couple of times a day playing with and stroking the dog. Huskies need attention from their owners. This will strengthen your bond and increase their loyalty.

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Toys

While you can’t buy their love with toys, it certainly won’t do any harm. If the dog associates you with positive consequences, they will feel a stronger allegiance to you. So give them the odd toy and food puzzle just for fun.

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Avoid punishment

Do not use punishment with your Husky. If you want them to respect you and be loyal to you, focus on positive reinforcements instead. Treats, toys and praise will all be more effective in creating a strong bond.

The Environment Method

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Patience

Loyalty takes a while to build. So give your dog time to get used to their new home to begin with. Give them some space for their confidence and loyalty to grow.

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Introductions

If your house has other pets and people in them, introduce them to your Husky one at a time. This will help them remain calm and build confidence.

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Make it safe

This is especially important if your Husky is a puppy. If they are going to be loyal to you, they need to feel safe and comfortable in your home. So avoid or cover up any sharp or dangerous objects.

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Privacy

Just like humans, Huskies need privacy too. So make sure they have a bed with walls around it or a crate they can escape to. This is particularly important if they are coming from a home where they have suffered abuse.

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Walks

You need to stimulate your Husky physically as well as mentally. So take them out for regular walks on a leash. This will get them associating you with positive experiences. Not to mention it makes for quality bonding time.

The Obedience Method

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Basic commands

Teach your Husky ‘sit’, ‘roll over’ and any other basic and fun commands you think they may need. Not only will this increase your control, but it will get them to respect you and feel loyal to you.

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Rewards

Whenever the dog performs a trick correctly, hand over a tasty treat and some verbal praise. You want to use positive reinforcements to train your Husky. This will build confidence, cement your bond and increase loyalty.

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Clicker

A clicker is a fantastic way to train your Husky. Simply click whenever they perform a trick or behave correctly. This will speed up the learning process while ensuring you have a way you can communicate with each other.

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Stick to rules

If you create rules like not going on the sofa, make sure you stick to them. If you don’t, the dog will lose respect for you. Creating and enforcing boundaries, therefore, is essential.

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Respect them

Loyalty and respect is a two way street. So if you have other pets in the house, make sure your Husky gets a fair amount of attention. If they see you don’t respect or care for them as much, they won’t return the favor.

How to Train a Husky to be Loyal

Introduction

Defining Tasks

Getting Started

Success Stories and Training Questions