In the previous article, we explored how to identify behaviors that indicate your Husky may be exhibiting jealousy, over-protectiveness, or possessiveness. This article delves into the root causes of these behaviors, provides actionable steps for modification, and outlines strategies for prevention. Understanding why your dog acts this way is the crucial first step towards fostering a healthier relationship.
Why Is My Dog Exhibiting These Behaviors?
Jealousy, over-protectiveness, possessiveness, and resource guarding, particularly of people, are often learned and reinforced behaviors. Owners can inadvertently foster, reward, or allow these actions for several reasons:
Misinterpretation of Behaviors
Many owners fail to recognize the early signs of problematic behavior, thus neglecting to correct or stop it. This inaction allows the behaviors to persist, worsen, and spread to other areas of the dog’s interactions.
Acceptance of “Protective” Behavior
Some individuals may view their dog’s excessive protectiveness as acceptable or even desirable, enjoying the perceived “special attention.” This perspective is dangerous, as it grooms the dog for potentially aggressive actions, creating a “biting hazard” and an unpredictable situation. Allowing a dog to control humans, unlike in structured training, leads to a loss of control over when, how, and whom the dog dictates.
Lack of Supervision and Guidance
Inconsistent supervision, leadership, and guidance from owners can lead dogs to assume their problematic behaviors are acceptable. Without clear boundaries and corrections, dogs establish their own limits. Furthermore, a lack of critical socialization skills can impede a dog’s understanding of polite human interaction. The human-dog relationship is not purely instinctual; it’s a learned and taught dynamic that requires clear rules.
Unwitting Reinforcement of Bad Behavior
Owners may unknowingly reward negative behaviors, failing to realize that a dog’s persistence in a behavior indicates it’s being reinforced. Dogs are reward-driven, and if a behavior yields a positive outcome – whether it’s affecting their environment, gaining attention (even negative), or simply being allowed to perform the action – they will continue it. Removing the reinforcement is paramount to changing the behavior.
Overindulgence: The “Princess/Prince Syndrome”
An overindulged dog, allowed to do as it pleases without rules, limits, or consequences, may come to view the household, its contents, and its people as its own possessions. While well-intentioned, showering a dog with excessive affection and attention often backfires, leading to a dog that believes everything belongs to it. Applying human social rules, failing to set limits, inconsistent corrections, and a lack of firm leadership do not equate to love for a dog. Instead, it signals an inability or unwillingness to provide leadership, often prompting the dog to assume the role. Dogs naturally prefer clear leadership for safety and survival; if this is absent, they may feel compelled to step in. This assumed leadership role can lead to nervousness, anxiety, and unhappiness in the dog.
Dominant Temperaments
Temperament is shaped by both nature (50%) and nurture (50%). Some puppies are naturally more laid-back and submissive, while others exhibit a naturally dominant temperament. A dominant puppy in the hands of an inexperienced owner, especially during adolescence when boundaries are tested, can quickly become a behavioral nightmare. Without adequate guidance, rules, and structure from the owner, the stage is set for a behavioral crisis. Owning a dominant dog becomes problematic only when the owner lacks the skills or motivation to manage this temperament effectively. Early obedience training and firm rules are essential for dominant dogs to prevent them from taking over the household.
Modifying Established Behaviors: Rebalancing the Power Dynamic
The core of stopping these behaviors lies in addressing the power imbalance in the human-dog relationship. If a dog perceives itself as having a higher social rank due to the owner’s actions, its dominant behaviors are seen as natural. The owner must reorder and restructure their own behaviors to change this dynamic.
The Umbilical Technique
The Umbilical technique, as described in “Establish Leadership With Your Husky Using The Umbilical,” is effective in shifting the dog from self-centered thinking to a “we” mentality. This method forces the dog to follow the owner’s lead, making it aware of its subordinate position and encouraging it to look to the owner for cues. Dominant dogs may initially resist losing their perceived status, but re-establishing leadership is a gradual process that takes time. Just as the behaviors developed over time, so will their modification.
Obedience Classes
Mandatory obedience training reinforces the clear hierarchy of leader and follower. A skilled trainer can assist owners in developing better handling abilities and establishing necessary rules, boundaries, and behavioral limits. Crucially, teaching cues like “LEAVE IT,” “DROP IT,” and “PLACE” helps redirect controlling behaviors and reassert owner control.
Consistent Corrective Training
Inconsistency in corrections teaches the dog to be more persistent with its negative behaviors. A dog’s world is black and white; rules are either always or never. If corrections are not consistent, the dog learns that rules don’t always apply.
Constructive Love and Affection
Showing love constructively, rather than through overindulgence, is key. Overindulged dogs are often neurotic, anxious, and pose a biting risk. While affection is important, actions should benefit the dog. Often, actions perceived as loving by owners (like not correcting behavior) are done to make the owner feel better, not to benefit the dog’s well-being. Dogs thrive on structure, order, and predictability; without them, they experience anxiety and fear. True love for a dog means supporting its needs, not imposing human social values that don’t translate well to canine social hierarchies.
Institute a “Work For It” Program
Dogs exhibiting behavioral issues often believe they are entitled to everything, having had food, toys, and privileges freely given. Especially for naturally dominant dogs, nothing should be free. They should “work” for meals, treats, and toys. This teaches self-control, reinforces that there are no “free rides,” and cultivates patience. The owner, not the dog, should own everything in the household – food, toys, beds, and furniture. The dog receives these items only with the owner’s permission. While this may sound harsh by human standards, dogs view ownership differently. Humans share to show affection, but dogs either own, desire, protect, or accept that something belongs to another. By eliminating possessions, a dog has less to worry about losing or fighting to keep, reducing jealousy and resource guarding issues. In multi-dog households, this is critical for maintaining peace. Toys should be dispensed sparingly, treats given only during training, and dogs should not be allowed on furniture or beds during the re-establishment of social rank. All dogs must adhere to the same rules and consistent behavioral expectations, reinforcing the owner’s top-dog status.
Increase Physical Exercise
A physically tired dog is less likely to engage in bullying or dictatorial behavior. Combining exercise with umbilical training by using a waist leash during walks or runs addresses both leadership and energy levels simultaneously.
Consider Spaying and Neutering
While not all intact dogs develop behavioral problems, a naturally dominant dog with excessive hormonal behavior can be a recipe for disaster, especially when paired with an owner who fails to train or set limits. This situation can tragically lead to the dog being surrendered to a shelter and euthanized due to unadoptability—an avoidable outcome.
Addressing New Household Members
The introduction of a new person or pet can significantly disrupt a dog’s established dynamics, often triggering jealousy and problematic behaviors like destruction, house-soiling, resource guarding, growling, or general misbehavior.
Managing Introductions
When a new person enters a relationship, the dynamic shifts from a dyad to a triad. The dog may perceive the newcomer as an interloper or rival. Instead of giving the dog extra attention when the new person is absent (which reinforces that the person’s presence causes neglect), provide treats and positive attention when the new person is present. This helps the dog associate the newcomer with pleasant experiences. For infants, toss treats to the dog while feeding or changing diapers, or have the new person give the treats to foster positive associations.
Handling Aggression
Never respond to aggressive behavior with physical aggression or aversive methods, as this will only escalate the situation. Muzzle the dog for short-term safety if necessary, while implementing long-term desensitization and counterconditioning plans. Rewarding aggression with attention, even negative attention, reinforces the behavior. Instead, calmly remove the dog from the situation without drama. This is a temporary management strategy, not a long-term solution, and it prevents reinforcing the unwanted behavior.
Exercise and Group Activities
Increasing the dog’s exercise is vital; a tired dog is less prone to rebellion. If guests are expected, ensure the dog is exercised beforehand. For new live-in members or infants, group walks help reinforce the “we” mentality and group cohesion. During this adjustment period, avoid high-arousal games like tug-of-war. Opt for calm, quiet games to prevent the dog from becoming more volatile.
Preventing Future Issues
If these behaviors have already occurred, utilize the provided tools to eliminate them and apply the lessons learned to prevent recurrence:
- Avoid overindulgence.
- Establish clear limits and rules.
- Be a strong leader from your dog’s perspective, ensuring you maintain a higher social rank.
- Attend obedience classes as a household to foster a unified approach to training and reinforce that all humans hold equal authority.
- Provide adequate breed-specific exercise and mental stimulation daily to prevent boredom and unhappiness.
- Desensitize the dog to new people before their arrival.
- Ensure compatibility before introducing a new dog.
- Be honest about your dog’s behavior. If old habits resurface, acknowledge that the owner’s approach may have slipped. Commit to addressing the problem immediately without making excuses.
If your dog does not exhibit these behaviors, congratulations on your successful approach. If you’ve made mistakes, take comfort in knowing that increased knowledge empowers you to do better. We welcome your questions, comments, and stories, as sharing experiences can help others navigating similar challenges with their Huskies.
Helping all Huskies… one owner at a time.
