Meet My Padawan Siberian Husky - "ROWDY"

Meet my new Padawan “Rowdy” a 4 year old Top Notch Siberian husky owned by a very dog loving family whom I got the opportunity and trust to handle and give their handsome canine a refresher course in obedience training. Perhaps you’re wandering, why is he taking the training again? Did the dog forget what he learned? Or it is something else?

Dogs don't really forget, they just have a short attention span. Kind of like a young child. They are doing something one minute, and then something else gets their attention and they forget what they were doing before. Dogs have a great sense of smell, and that triggers a lot of memories. Dogs recognize people and their experiences with them because of that powerful sense, you just need to consistently remind them. However, there are cases that dogs tend to forget which can be a medical problem, because dogs can get something like Alzheimer's disease when they age, just as humans do. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, as it is called in dogs, produces a cluster of symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's patients, including disorientation and confusion, memory loss and personality changes.

I know what you’re thinking, but definitely that is

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not our case. In fact, Rowdy is a fast learner and remembers the new things I just taught him. He is the kind of dog that every owner and handler would love to have and be proud of. Siberian Huskies are loving, gentle, playful, happy-go-lucky dogs who are fond of their families. Keen, docile, social, relaxed and rather casual. They are dogs with so much energy. Good with children and friendly with strangers, they bark little and love everyone, not a good quality for a watchdog though. Huskies are very intelligent and trainable, yet, they will only obey a command if they see the human is stronger minded than themselves. If the handler does not display leadership, they will not see the point in obeying. It takes patience, consistency and an understanding of the Arctic dog character to make training effective for the Siberian Huskies. If you are not this dogs 100% firm, confident, consistent pack leader, he will take advantage, becoming willful and mischievous. These dogs should not be left alone for a long period of time without a great deal of exercise beforehand. A lonely Husky or a Husky who does not get enough mental and physical exercise can be very destructive. And this is really the main reason why Rowdy has to undergo training again, to release all his stress, mental & physical energy that have been stacked for quite a long while. He needs to experience long hours of walk, giving him the liberty to explore what surrounds him, letting him play yet setting boundaries, limitations and still having full control of the situation. Obedience training is one of the best things we can do for the relationship between us and our dog. Obedience training needs to be looked at as a foundation to problem solving, and will teach you how to resolve most issues with our pet. Communication can be increased through obedience training, and enhanced communication is a necessary step towards having our dog abides by what we want. Teaching Rowdy the Basic Obedience Commands is not only a very good physical and mental exercise for him, but such activities will also redirect his natural animal behaviors to a socially more accepted manner.

Remember that the Husky is a sled dog in heart and soul. Siberian Huskies can make wonderful companions for people who are aware of what to expect from these beautiful and intelligent animals and are willing to put the time and energy into them.

Thanks to http://www.dogbreedinfo.com for the vital piece of information about Siberian Huskies

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