I can’t deny I understand exactly where he’s coming from. Blind obedience is not in my personality either. It seems almost insulting to expect such a thing. “You mean sit? For no reason other than you want to command me to perform a trick? No way human!”
Who can blame them, really? They’re intelligent with an ample amount of husky pride. They do what they want, when they want. So there better be a really compelling reason to do what I’m asking, and if I can’t produce said reason, forget it. So naturally here is where we need to work with their nature and not against it. Because you won’t win.
Luckily dogs are easy to please, and we can get them to follow just about any stationary command with the promise of something worthwhile. Unfortunately the higher the expectation, the better the payout needs to be. And if your husky is running free through the woods, we need to have one mighty tantalizing bribe to get it to “come”. Which for one of my boys means a crinkly bag and a handful of potato chips. And no, potato chips are not part of a staple husky diet, but desperate times…
Even if your husky balks at the idea of following a command just ‘because [you] said so’ doesn’t mean they can’t be taught to think it’s a great idea to follow your command. It’s all about out thinking the trickster.
I am putting together some of my best tips based on years of matching wits with the Houdinis of the canine world, starting with the elusive ‘Come’ Command.
If others have successful tips they have used I would love to hear from you too!