Know how to train a husky to not run away
Huskies tend to run away for various reasons. While it doesn’t make sense why a dog would leave the home that provides them shelter, food, and comfort, one must note that Huskies are quite weird. There could be several reasons behind your Husky running away from home. It is essential that you know how to stop them
How To Train A Husky To Not Run Away-Step By Step Guide
As a Husky owner, you must be prepared to tackle random bouts of high energy and sudden wraths of excitement. Your Husky is supremely powerful and very energetic. It is entirely possible for them to run away in excitement or for whatever reason they deem fair. You can take several steps to ensure that this tiring ordeal does not occur again.
Always use a long leash
You must have learned by now that you don’t get to walk your Husky. Your Husky walks you. They are too headstrong and independent by nature to submit easily. The only way you can stay connected to your Husky on a walk is through a leash.
It is very important for Huskies to spend their unbound energy. So it is only fair to let them run and feel the air. You must accompany your Husky on their run and never let go of the leash. To stay connected with your Husky on their runs, you need a long leash, the longer the better.
Make sure that your leash is sufficiently durable and isn’t liable to twisting. The longer the leash, the more it will be comfortable for both of you. Your Husky would get enough freedom to feel that they are running independently. And you would feel secure because you wouldn’t lose your dog.
Make your house escape-proof
Huskies are too intelligent to be trapped. If there is any way to get out of a place, a Husky would get out. By any means, you cannot stop the escape of a Husky who so wants to leave. This is why it is important that you play smarter.
Huskies can jump over high walls
You should be aware of how high your Husky is capable of jumping. Most Huskies are able to easily jump up to a six-foot height. To stay safe, your fence should be as high as eight-foot. This should prevent them from jumping across walls.
Huskies can dig under the ground
Another common way for Huskies to escape is through the ground. Huskies are excellent diggers. Their paws are built for this purpose and they are so wonderfully powerful. Huskies can easily dig their way outside from under your fence.
To prevent such an escape, you must place a chicken wire under your fence. However, do not utilize an electric fence for this purpose. A Husky can easily cut through an electric fence. Furthermore, they might also sustain injuries during their escape. Make sure that the chicken wire is sufficiently deep to save your archaeologist from escaping.
Train your Husky to adjust in a crate
Both young and old Huskies can be crate trained when required. But this is certainly more beneficial when started at a younger age. When Huskies start young, they get more time to get adjusted and assume the crate to be their safe spot.
Know how to crate train your Husky
It is never easy to train a Husky. But it is definitely possible to train your Husky for a crate if you have enough patience and consistency.
- Make sure that your crate is located in a cool and safe corner. This area must be free from any disturbing noises that would excite your Husky
- Employ an easy command to train your Husky for the crate. Use words like ‘good night’ to let them know that it is time to sleep
- Before they go to sleep, Huskies should be taken for potty one last time. It would also be beneficial to play with them for a while so that they get tired
- Your Husky will be encouraged to go inside a crate if they have to follow a treat
- Wait for them to follow the treat and settle down inside the crate
- Don’t leave immediately after they settle down inside the crate
- Stay with them for some time to make sure that they aren’t feeling anxious
- Talk to them lovingly and yet assertively
- Be prepared for the whining. Huskies whine a lot when they have to do something they don’t want to do
- Let them whine themselves to sleep but don’t leave them alone as they are whining
- If you remain patient, your Husky will slowly learn to adjust inside the crate
Make sure that your Husky is getting sufficient exercise
Huskies are supremely energetic and they require a lot of exercises to remain happy. Ideally, a Husky requires up to two hours of exercise per day. Although physical activity is necessary, they also require mental stimulation lest they get bored. Know that Huskies are the happiest when they are tired after spending their energy.
You can conveniently divide their exercise routine into morning and evening batches. Unlike other dogs, a simple walk wouldn’t be enough for a Husky.
Provide them interactive toys
A happy and satisfied Husky wouldn’t run away. They need a lot of physical activity and abundant mental stimulation. Employ interactive toys to keep them engaged. You’ll find many such interactive toys in the market that’ll bind your Husky’s attention.
Assure that your Husky is getting enough attention
All beautiful things deserve attention. Huskies are quite aware of this fact. Such that they demand lots of attention from their owners. Huskies love company. They want you to spend time with them. To play with them, train them, talk to them, or even watch them make a mess.
Make sure that you play interesting games with your Husky like hide and seek and the cup and treat game that would keep them entertained.
Never let your Husky off the leash
It is not wise to walk your Husky without a leash. Know that this is an excitable dog and they could run away on facing a trigger. While some Huskies can be made sufficiently obedient through adequate training, most Huskies like to follow their own heart.
Furthermore, Huskies are instinctively encouraged to hunt. Initially bred and raised by the Chukchi people of Siberia, Huskies were utilized for pulling sleds and hunting. They still embody the hunting nature and tend to religiously follow their prey.
You cannot take such a chance with your Husky when you are out on a run. If they find something worth following, they might agree to follow their wild heart. You can only wish to match their speed.
Neuter your Husky
Many Huskies tend to run away owing to their sexual drive. You must get them spayed as soon as possible. This would solve the problem of running away in case your Husky was only ever escaping to find a partner.
Give them front door training
Front door training is meant to increase the qualities of self-control and obedience in your Husky. Your much alert and curious Husky is liable to get easily distracted. This training serves to enhance their obedience and delay their drives to act wild. Through sufficient positive reinforcement, you can get your Husky to stay.
Know how to provide front door training to your Husky
- Stand by the door of your house with your Husky facing you
- Keep a treat on the floor before they reach and call their name. Ideally, your Husky should respond to their name
- If your Husky pays attention to their name being called, let them have this treat
- Use the command ‘stay’
- Open the front door a little and then quickly close it
- At the same time, tell them to stay.
- If they try to escape from the door, repeat this step
- If they stay, reward them with a treat again
- Next time, open the door even wider and ask them to stay
- Repeat the ‘stay’ command with assertiveness
- If your Husky heads for the door, close the door and repeat the step again
- If they stay, reward them with a treat
- To further advance this training, you must throw the treat outside the door and ask them to stay
- If they follow your command, close the door and reward them with a treat
Note that this exercise needs repetition so that your Husky understands completely and you can rely on their behavior.
Conclusion
You can absolutely train your little wildling to not run away. However, if they happen to leave you running on one of your runs, make sure that they don’t see you running after them. Your playful Husky would then think this is a game. Wait for them to see you standing still and then run in the opposite direction. Your furry kiddo will recognize the new game and follow you home.