Dog Barks Wildly When on Zip-Line

MyJuneau

Hi, I have had an issue with my husky forever. During the summer, we go to places where my usually quiet husky has to be tied between two trees. I think it might be an anxiety issue, because when she can see other people and dogs running around she starts barking and lunging 'til she gags herself. I try to have her with us as much as possible, but sometimes she just has to stay over there by herself. As anyone with a husky knows, this breed cannot be trusted off-lead (except for the extremely rare few), so I can't just let her run around. I don't know how to get her to make a positive association with being tied up by herself. She just gets so frustrated...

Things I've tried:

Ignoring: works after a very long time, but if you go over there then leave again it starts all over

Spraying with water bottle: I know it's stupid, but she would bark once and I would stalk over and squirt her face. It was ineffective, because once i started walking over she would stop barking, so I probably just confused her more.

Yelling No: Also ineffective, because it still counts as attention.



I've avoided a bark collar because I would rather not use one, and I fear that it would make the situation more scary for her. My goal is for her to be comfortable when tied up alone.

Thanks for reading, open to any suggestions!

harleyboysmom

Hi. I hope I can help a little having raised, raced and showed this mysterious breed for many years.
1. Spraying with the water bottle does little to nothing to calm them down.
2. Huskies are a very vocal breed, and they seem to need to talk, scream, etc.
3. Yelling at them does nothing but frustrate you, in one ear out the other with the breed.
4. Exercise, exercise and more exercise.
They are a breed that needs a crazy amount of exercise to help them cool their jets so to speak.
When you go on these excursions, what kind of exercise does your dog get? My suggestion to you would be to get a racing harness and let your dog pull you on a bike for several miles. Build it up gradually.
This is what they are bred to do and take to it naturally.
Even when we took ours to the races and they were tethered to the truck, they would make all sorts of noises, they are just plain vocal, stubborn, and well, just being a Husky.
Try the exercise route, a tired dog is a good dog, even a Husky.
Good luck.

Nylanat

I agree with harleyboysmom. Nyla is half husky and even so, the husky in her comes out. She needs a lot of excercise, mental excercises, etc. She also loves to be with us, literally, velcro dog to the max. If yours is anywhere like mine, she's mad that she can't be right there and part of the action. I'd try working her out. Also, get a long lead so she can get a little freedom and play a bit on her own. They sell 20ft, 50 ft, etc. It will give her the idea that she's not "stuck" in the one spot. Also, get an antler or give her a filled kong for her to work on while tied down.

If you work her out before she's gota be tied down, tie her on a long lead so she feels like she's part of the action, and give her something to work on like a filled kong, she won't be acting up.

Also, get a good fitting quality harness and use that instead of the collar so when she pulls she's not gagging herself.

Good luck. Ps. Would love to see pics of her!
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MyJuneau

Thanks for the help guys. Sounds like exercise is the ticket. I'll try to be more consistent, she's my running partner, I just need to run more

Do you know of any good harnesses? I have a front clip one and clip on the back one, but she can slip out of both.

I haven't quite mastered how to attach photos in a post yet, but there are a bunch of pictures of her in the list of Siberian Huskies, her name is Juneau.

Thanks again

Nylanat

The harness I'd recommed is this one:
I have it and it's awesome. It's comfy, well build and secure. It has a clip in the front and back and whay you can do is attach the zip line to the back one but also clip a small attachment from the collar to the front clip of the harness to secure it. Hard to explain but hopefully you understand what I'm saying. She won't be able to slip this one though. It's adjustable on all sides and fits really well.
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MyJuneau

Ok thanks, I'll keep my eye out for it.

harleyboysmom

I wish I could do more with where to buy the harness, I use to make my own for each dog, when you have 30+ you learn how to make things.
How is your dog around the horses, I use to run mine with my horse once in a while, that would tire them out. Any snow there? Cross country skiing with you pup pulling you would be ideal.
Any questions, feel free to ask.

harleyboysmom

Nylanat, I think she needs the ones made for a pulling dog, if she is to exercise that way. It sits more on the chest deeper that the no pull.

Nylanat

I wasn't recommending it for pulling. Only to wear so she can tie her to the harness instead of the collar.
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harleyboysmom

Gotcha, good point, just not sure about zip lines, I have never used one.