There Once Was A Husky In There

The final dog Lori groomed last week was our blind Husky Mitch. That's what was left on the laundry room floor when we got done. In years past, we always took Mitch to our veterinary clinic for his summer haircut, so he could be sedated during it. That's because, as I wrote in a post back in 2009, Mitch had "dominance" issues and didn't like people to mess with him, i.e., do something to him that he didn't want them to do. In his mind he was always the alpha and 'pack leader,' a notion that didn't go over very well with us when he arrived. As I wrote back then, he was a sweet, delightful dog 99% of the time -- but it was the 1% that was a problem.

We have come a long way with him since then, though early on things got really ugly a few times between the two of us. I had to teach him that if I was going to mess with him, he was going to accept it. I'd win, he'd lose, and over time he came to accept this new pack hierarchy -- one in which he was not, and never would be, No. 1. 

Yet he didn't necessarily regard any person as an alpha, and that meant taking him to a groomer in Missoula wasn't an option. Hence the annual trip to the vet clinic for what our vets called his "lion cut" while sedated.

But I had sensed that the passage of time and consistently enforcing the rules with him had changed our boy dramatically for the better. I figured that with me holding him, Lori could give him a summer haircut and he would do just fine. 

Which is exactly what happened. He certainly didn't like having his mass of thick Husky fur shaved off, but he sat there quietly while I held him and Lori clipped away. No muzzle, no restraints, just me with my hands on him. I was so proud of him. To be honest, I wouldn't have had Alayne or Kate hold him -- Mitch still isn't sure that women can be alphas, though he is much more respectful than he once was. But considering where we started with him, it's a night and day difference.

Here is a photo I took yesterday afternoon of our sleeker Husky, sitting and extending his paw out (irresistible, and he knows it):

He's also gotten a lot better about being with other dogs, though again we have to choose his yard mates carefully. A couple of years ago he couldn't even be in a yard with others, and now he shares one with several dogs. 

Having said all of this, though, I need to point out that we have never considered Mitch an "aggressive" dog. For example, if he rolls another dog and pins it to the ground, as a normal pack leader would do, he never hurts the other dog. There's a lot of sound and fury, but having taught the lesson, Mitch promptly releases the other dog. No blood was drawn, no harm was done. If a dog foolishly fights back, though, Mitch will go all out -- and that's when you can see some blood drawn. 

He would never attack a person -- good grief, if we had ever worried about that, we would have euthanized him long ago. But he had to learn where he fit in the larger pack, and how to respect people as his pack leaders. I know this sounds a bit nuanced, but that's how behavior issues often are. And ultimately, for Mitch that meant learning to accept people "messing" with him. A snap or a growl to tell people to "back off" is, he discovered, not something he's going to get away with here.

Here's another look of Mr. Handsome with his summer look:

All that bare dirt is mostly from Mitch scratching at the ground; a couple of his yard mates are also "earthworks specialists," so we try to confine most of the damage to one yard. 

Now if only we could find someone who'd like to buy 14 pounds of sheared Husky fur and turn it into a unique sweater for that special someone.

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Comments

[T]

Mitch is such a gorgeous boy, he's so lucky you gave him a chance!

However it's to my knowledge that double coated breeds like Husky's don't need to be shaved, as there coat is like insulation for the cold and the heat. So I was wondering why he was shaved, lol!

Best of luck with what you do, it's so sweet that these otherwise underdogs are given a chance here.

[Lisa]

YAY Mitch and Steve. We had a husky with dominance issues too - stubborn as the day is long and she took some work but she was the best dog in the world. Thank you for being patient with him and taking the time to turn him into the dog he could be.

[Lynne Parker]

I had to laugh at your post too because it reminds me of our black lab/chow mix Bear. Before I married Bobby, he and Bear would go round and round over haircuts. One groomer told Bobby not to bring Bear back! So Bobby would give Bear a mild sedative to shave him. When I came along—with my bias against pharmaceuticals—I began to just gently run the clippers over him a bit at a time. It took a week to get him done the first time and he looked ridiculous until I got through. Now, he just lays there while I groom him. I think he has finally figured out that he is much cooler without all that hair!
Love and patience conquers all. :)

[Lynne Parker]

Thank you so much for not giving up on Mitch. I wish everyone understood dogs the way you do. I read recently of a family who dropped their senior dog off at a shelter (one with a kill rate of over 70%) because the dog "just wasn't fun any more". People like that make my head and heart hurt.
So grateful to you!

[Janet]

You might check if there are any wool spinners in your area. One spring when my part-Akita "blew" his winter coat, I hand-spun one small spool of his hair. Dog hair, esp. that nice soft husky-type hair, can easily be incorporated into sheep's wool.

[Shirley McFall (& Gracie, Sunnie & Dieter)]

Dog hair can be scattered as a preventative in areas where groundhogs like to go and people don't want them, such as under a house or shed. Sell that dog hair to people with a groundhog problem!!!!

[Rhonda]

He looks adorable. My last (and best ever) dog had a lot of behavioral issues. I just learned her triggers inside and out and never once had a problem with her. But you sure are right, it is nuanced and very specific stuff.

[Evelyn]

It looks like he is thriving with your consistent and loving behavior modification techniques. He is a lucky dog to have ended up in such a loving home.

[Tonya Allen]

You could save up a few shearings' worth and stuff a pillow... for a dog bed, of course! That's a lot of fur.

Mitch looks like a great dog. Kudos to you for being so patient and putting in so much work with him. It's challenging enough dealing with all the physical problems without having tricky behavioral issues to deal with as well. It sounds as if he has made great progress, and likely he will grow mellower as he grows older.

What a handsome boy indeed!

[Mauro Salles]

14 pounds ?!?!?!?!? LOL.

[Lynn (in Louisiana)]

I'm so proud of Mitch.

[Lisa K. - San Diego]

Love the story about Mitch and all his improvements. God bless you for your patience and persistence with him - it's bearing fruit!

[ginger young]

What a wonderful change in Mitch's behavior! You've done a fantastic job, Steve! Kudos! Thanks for making a behavior challenge into a success. He does look handsome with his summer "do" and I'll be he feels cooler as well. Great job on the grooming Lori! I'm sure all the dogs love you.
Big hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

[Kathleen Rivard]

That upraised paw pose is just too delicious!! :) :) He "knows" he looks good!!!!

[Ann]

You're right...Mitch certainly is Mr. Handsome with his summer cut. I like the sleek look on him. He truly is a very nice looking dog!

Reading everything you wrote about Mitch sounds like you would make a wonderful teacher on a "Dog Whisperer" episode, which just goes to show that common sense, a lot of patience and an abundance of love goes a long way in making any dog a treasured part of the pack, both human and canine.

I'm so glad Mitch has gotten to fit in so well at RDF and we all knew you would never give up on him!

[Moon Rani]

I never would have recognized Mitch with his summer haircut - - he looks like a cuddly toy. I've wondered how he was doing with his dominance problems, and it's good to know he has come so far. Well done, Steve, and well done, Mitch! Lori did a great job on turning him into "Mr. Handsome," as you so aptly call him. You give me hope for the alpha dog I took in and who is still challenging me.

[Anne]

Thank you for posting this. Our St. Bernard (who is mostly deaf and has some vision loss as well) also has dominance issues. Not with people, ever, but definitely with other dogs. A lot of people misunderstand and say she is dog aggressive, but she can be around other dogs as long as they don't try to challenge her.

Once they do, she's all uppity, but again, not to hurt, just to show her dominance. It's just really nice to read another tale that both "gets" the nuances, and shows that there is hope for our girl. We've been working with her for a year and a half (we got her from a rescue, she's now 7) and she's come a long way, but there's still quite some ways to go. :)

[Shirley * James/Portland, OR]

So strange.....do you realize he doesn't even look like the same dog!!! Hard to tell his breed now. So cute---you know I LOVE Mitchell!

[Glenda]

Ah...relief! So glad he learned so well. He knew he would be so much more comfortable without all that hair in the summer heat.

Handsome little man.

[Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty]

Wow, he really is a handsome boy! Just another example of the wonderful work you do - patiently and consistently showing him "who's boss" so to speak - making him an even more wonderful dog than before. Thank you for not giving up on him, and recognizing that his behavior issues were correctable! So many other would have written him off, but as you said, you knew the difference. What a lucky boy he is!

[Amber Lipari]

I know huskies can be difficult, but gosh, he's beautiful!