I’m having a bit of a problem with Svenn, my 2-year-old Husky. He’s always been lovely and playful with people. He’s never shown any signs of aggression towards them, whether they're adults or children, no matter the situation.
With other dogs around his own size, let’s just say he can be a bit selective. He gets on well with all females. With males, he’s sometimes aggressive (more on the offensive in my opinion, he just growls a bit), sometimes playful, or more rarely, he’s just not interested in a greeting.
The problem, however, is small dogs.
When I come across one, whether it’s on a lead or not, Svenn becomes uncontrollable. He growls really loudly and looks like he wants to kill them. He HATES small dogs.
Last time, he spotted a small dog while my girlfriend was holding him on his lead. He ran so fast and with so much power that she couldn't hold onto him, and because of the tension, she ended up dropping the lead. My dog then attacked the small dog very violently, even though the little one hadn't even barked. It ended up with injuries and puncture wounds all over its body and had to go to the vet for observation.
I think this behaviour is partly explained by the fact that he’s had quite a lot of trouble with small dogs since he was a puppy. He’s been attacked four times by yappy little dogs.
These reactions are still very worrying though, and I wouldn’t want my dog to become ultra-aggressive and antisocial with other dogs just because of a few bad encounters.
I’m going to book an appointment with a behaviourist and I’ve already started putting a muzzle on him while we wait to address this bad behaviour.
In the meantime, does anyone have any advice or things I could look into to find a solution to my problem? Has anyone else been in this situation and how did they resolve the issue?
Thanks in advance for your replies! :)
Translated from French
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When we're out on walks my dog pulls a bit; he sort of listens to the 'heel' command, but we often have to correct him to keep him in position.
The part about 'often having to correct him so he STAYS in position'—specifically 'often' and 'stays in position'—made it sound like he was walking to heel rather than you letting him walk more at his own pace.
I’m mindful of the fact that he hasn't mentioned anything about group walks, even though they were suggested to him. He talks about his dog as if he doesn’t really have any needs, other than cuddles at home and those one-hour walks in the conditions we’re already aware of, which he reckons are plenty. Again, if he had other things in the pipeline (like organised walks or something else, but he hasn’t said?), I’d probably see it as something more than just a total lockdown on the routine. Hopefully, the trainer will offer him some fresh ideas and different perspectives.
A muzzle is a good idea (temporarily, while he's learning) if you’re letting a dog off-lead when they can be aggressive, but what if you don't let them off? [...] Maybe he’s just resigning himself to what you’re offering him; it might be worth thinking about that.
It was my girlfriend who dropped the lead. I’ve never dropped my dog’s lead or lost control of him. My girlfriend probably doesn't have as much strength as I do, and I’m certain that in her shoes, I could have handled the situation. I’ve seen my dog pull and nearly knock my girlfriend over before. Personally, that’s never happened to me. But it’s important to her that she’s able to walk him just like I do!
On average, we take him out for an hour a day, but it can be much more than that depending on our schedules. I used to do canicross with him and I’m actually planning on getting back into it soon.
So, I’m not sure that a supposed lack of walks is affecting how he gets on with other dogs. As I mentioned in my first post, he meets other dogs on his walks—both ones he knows and strangers—and it goes very well. On the other hand, and this is also the problem, I can’t risk letting him meet "dodgy" dogs (whether they’re fearful, wary, or aggressive). I’m too scared it’ll escalate and be yet another bad encounter.
I don’t feel like my dog lacks freedom entirely. He’s on a 10-metre long lead and never walks to heel (I only make him walk to heel at random moments to work on the command, or when I’m approaching a house with an aggressive dog to try and distract him).
As for the muzzle, it’s really just a "stop-gap" solution I’ve opted for to stop this happening again, at least until we meet with the behaviourist. I’ve got a lightweight muzzle which still allows him to drink, take treats, and pant. @Kainate said it was mandatory to muzzle a dog like this for the time being, and I 100% agree with them.
It would be stupid to put it on him permanently, but that’s not my goal.
I don’t want to restrict my dog in any way; I just want to keep other dogs safe and keep him safe as well.
As long as it’s fitted properly like you say, or the dog doesn’t know how to get it off (Ben managed to pull his off several times, luckily no one was around). He could pant and drink but couldn’t grab anything, so it is restrictive—it’s not exactly like he’s wearing nothing.
Freedom in his case seems to mean being kept to heel most of the time, or occasionally on a 5-metre long line, I think; very limited freedom then. I imagine he plays it safe by recalling his dog if there’s another one about, especially since he can see quite far across the fields anyway. It doesn’t send a great message to recall your dog every time another one approaches. I think a muzzle is a good idea if you can let your dog off the lead and have a certain level of control (recall, etc., which you can only really work on if the dog is free—how is he going to manage that?). But as long as he’s kept to heel, recalled the moment another dog is spotted, and only given a few metres of 'freedom', there are other ways to keep others safe, like controlling him via his harness or collar, or using a sound-based deterrent or some kind of spray.
If he told us he let him off for an hour in the morning somewhere safe so the dog could really let off steam without a care in the world, that would be different in my opinion, but as it stands...? Honestly, I don’t see how he’s going to make any progress going down this route. Everything is far too restricted. To make progress, you need to leave a door open, even just a crack. In this case, the 5-metre line is the only 'open door', but with a muzzle on as well? He’d still have to actually let him approach others or be approached since he's muzzled, but that lead is always there getting in the way of play, and never being let off nearby just doesn't help the dog release that inner tension.
As long as, once again, you choose the right one...
I’m repeating myself here, but absolutely no muzzles that keep the dog’s mouth shut (like those nylon ones).
Be careful with soft plastic muzzles that still let the dog nip (I’ve been there with a Staffie), and those hard plastic ones that can literally shatter if the dog has a powerful jaw.
The thing is, if you’re going to use a muzzle and deal with all the drawbacks (potential discomfort for the dog, the looks you get from people), it might as well offer proper security; otherwise, there’s really no point.
It also needs to be fastened securely with several straps so the dog can’t just pull it off themselves—otherwise, you may as well not bother!
Of course, we’ve got to find a way to make sure this Husky can burn off some energy and really thrive.
But I don’t think a muzzle is a barrier to that; quite the opposite, actually. It provides a safety net that can allow you to give the dog more freedom, which is absolutely vital for any rehabilitation.
When I suggest a muzzle, I’m thinking about being able to walk the dog on a long line more often, for example. If you’re using a long line and a small dog approaches, things can get tricky if the Husky is triggered and isn’t muzzled.
On the dog walks I go on, we sometimes have dogs that are off-lead but muzzled. In those cases, the muzzle provides that extra security (provided it’s a good fit and properly secured, of course) which allows us to try and re-socialise them.
I actually considered putting one on Léon myself for a while, just so I could have a bit more peace of mind and give him more freedom. In the end, I took a different route, but I certainly don’t think it’s a bad idea at all.
There’s nothing stopping you from carrying something to scare off other dogs before they get too close, especially if they’re the type that trigger him. You’ll also need to consider the location and your routine—whether they run into other dogs frequently or if it’s a quiet spot, and if there’s a clear line of sight (it sounds like they walk in fields, if I’ve understood correctly).
I was pointing out the lead + muzzle + never being off-lead + frequent heel-work apparently + no play because he's tied up + short walks... that's a lot of restrictions, even for a dog that bites. Surely he needs some breathing room, doesn't he? My dog wore one once and he couldn't pick anything up with it (sticks, etc.). I don't know about the one he's using. I know a small dog could easily run up, you're quite right @Kainate, but nothing's stopping him from using a collar (on top of a harness if he uses one) to control him that way if a dog approaches (whilst he hasn't got any self-control yet, and use it as a chance to train him too). Nothing's stopping him from having the muzzle on hand to use at specific times, and taking it off when possible. If he can't control him with a collar either, then this dog is either totally wild or super-strong and I wouldn't know what to say; he'd probably manage to get the muzzle off anyway with that much strength and determination. We could go on like this for ages, and I know that's not what you're getting at, but personally, I'm really struggling with all these 'no-nos' he's facing, which is why I'm trying to think outside the box. But he'll do as he pleases at the end of the day.
I have to disagree with you there, Hben.
Not only is there the risk of dropping the lead when you have a powerful dog, but there’s also the risk of a small off-lead dog coming right up to them.
Keeping your dog on a lead doesn't mean you're completely off the hook for responsibility. Ordinary people aren't allowed to walk down the street with a loaded gun pointed at everyone, so they shouldn't be able to walk around with an unmuzzled dog that bites either, while saying "well, he's on a lead so it's fine, it’s other people’s fault if they get too close."
In my view, if a dog has already bitten another one like that, a muzzle isn't really up for debate.
Besides, it’s honestly not the end of the world to muzzle your dog. If you choose the right one (a basket muzzle that lets the dog drink, eat, pant, bark, etc.), it takes a bit of time to get them used to it, but generally, the dog ends up tolerating it just fine. And I don't see why a Husky would be any less able to handle it than any other breed. No breed is specifically "made" to wear a muzzle; in every case, it’s just a matter of conditioning.
Regarding the discussion earlier about hunting, I have to say that every Husky or crossbreed I know is a formidable hunter... of small prey like field mice. I’m not sure what would have been favoured in their breeding to cause that, but it’s definitely something I’ve noticed. When we're out on walks, the Huskies are always tens of metres away hunting mice in the long grass, while my dogs—who actually come from an (old) line of hunting breeds—are just strolling along the path and haven't even noticed there's anything to hunt! (That said, it’s true that as soon as there are ducks—the prey they were actually bred for—they’re the first ones in the water).
A muzzle is a good idea (as a temporary measure during training) if you’re letting a dog with aggressive tendencies off-lead, but what if you aren't letting him off? Is it because you’re worried about dropping the lead? The best thing would be to learn how to keep a firm grip (unless you’ve both taken on a dog that is simply too powerful for you) and give him what he needs (proper training, varied walks, socialising with other dogs...) so he stops pulling like mad and making you lose your hold. It seems really important that you invest in some secure and comfortable gear (a good lead and harness) rather than just relying on your arm strength—which is clearly failing you—or just resorting to a muzzle. I also think it’s vital to focus on a different approach to his training and your relationship. You say the muzzle won't be a punishment, but a lead and a muzzle combined is quite a lot for a dog. I hope it’s a proper one that lets him pant or pick things up; otherwise, he’s not allowed to do much at all, just walk, or even worse, walk at heel. Why do you keep correcting him to keep him at heel? To my mind, that only makes sense if a dog is really rowdy but gets some off-lead time as a trade-off; your dog isn't getting that. He’s facing a lot of restrictions and doesn't get out much (just an hour a day split in two), always on-lead so he can’t play with other dogs, and now he’s muzzled too... don't you think all of this might explain his increasing aggression towards garden gates, other males, and small dogs? He might just be becoming resigned to his situation; it’s definitely something worth thinking about.
