My kids

[Husky06]

Here are my 3 kids, Maya, the husky, buddy, the Golden Retriever, and Bullet the German shepherd mix . I bought Bullet from the humane place when he was 9 weeks old, hes almost 8 months now, and they didnt tell me what he was mixed with, can anyone tell by the pics? I recently got maya 3 weeks ago, shes about 13 weeks old, and is very smart. Feel free to leave comments

['too crazy]

Oh your babies are so beautiful! They look so happy. Thanks for sharing your pictures. Love those tongues hanging out!

[Cat&Dog mom]

Gorgeous babies!

[kathryn]

They look very happy and well taken care of.

[Husky06]

They were happy, untill last night. I got home last night at about 11, to find bullet in the middle of the road, dead. The only way I could figure how he would've gotten out is if he jumped the fence, its a tall fence to jump too. Maya just kept howling over and over. It really didn't look "accidental" though, it looks like he was shot, instead of hit by a car.

[dlaura]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this. Your babies looked so happy and well taken care of -- now this happens. I am so shocked to read your last post ........... did you call the authorities? If it looks like he was shot then I would call the police and have it investigaged. Maybe he was chasing away a prowler or something.

[Husky06]

Well, he rarely ever barked at people or anyone, because the golden retriever "owns" the yard. I don't think I'm going to get the police involved though, it's not like that'll bring him back...

[dlaura]

No, it is not going to bring him back. However if he was truly shot then I would be worrying what is to stop that from happening to my remaining two. I am one of those that always want justice! Guess that is just who I am. Again sorry for your loss.

[Husky06]

oh, ok, I wont have to worry about the husky, because that is one dog you can let loose by themselved, because they'll figure out a way to get out, theyre just smart dogs, She is usually chained in the backyard and no one comes in because they're scared of buddy. If i let her loose, we usually go running, or i bring her inside with me, but even though it just happened last night, if I do get another dog I think I will get a purebred German Sheperd because they usually wont leave the yard considering they are very territorial

[Von L]

Husky06,

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you are still very young (17 right?). I can understand that you are reluctant to call the police because you really don't want to cause trouble, but if someone is shooting animals in your area, they are likely to be dangerous to more than just animals. Many people who commit other violent crimes start with violence against animals. If you really think your dog was shot, please call the police and report it. If you really don't know, and are afraid of being wrong, you can take Bullet to a vet and ask if the cause of death was a gunshot, or being struck by a car. If the vet confirms a gunshot...report it!!!

Yvonne

[reeskujo]

I'm just curious to know how you can't distinguish a bullet wound from being hit by a car....A bullet hole is a bullet hole...Not to hard to recognize and I don't mean to be offensive and I'm sorry if you take it that way,but if you think the dog was shot why were you not worried enough about the other two to call the police..Just because their in the yard doesn't mean someone can't shoot them.You say your dogs are chained in the yard?Why rescue them from a life in a cage to chain them in the yard?I'm sorry if your offended those are just my opinions.

[Husky06]

woah now, buddy isnt chained, i never said he was, and do you have ANY experience with siberian huskies, they CANNOT ever be trusted off leash, they will follow what they smell and you can forget keeping it. They can climb fences, and dig under them. I'm sure you think its a crime to chain a dog, but i prefer to keep maya, she gets plenty of time to run around and have fun, and I had left bullet loose all the time when i was home and chained him before i would go to bed, ohh and as far as the bullet hole thing, i looked from a distance but every time i saw the blood I thought I was going to be sick, I've fainted before from seeing blood many of times. It just didnt look like it wouldve been from a car.

[dlaura]

It appears that you are very young to be dealing with such an issue entirely on your own. I can understand you being unable to look at the body of your dead dog. Can your parents help you in this situation? Bullet needs to have something done with his remains and you really need to ascertain exactly what happened to him. If someone is shooting animals the law needs to be informed in order to prevent this from ocurring again.

Your statement of "but I prefer to keep Maya" almost sounds like you are saying that you will chain her in order not to lose her but the others .......

Now I am sure you didn't mean that the way it came out. I just wanted to point how words can be miscontrued in such a sensitive subject.

Chaining a dog all day is not really a good thing either. They tend to wrap the chain around things, if not themselves (legs etc) and if another animal such as a bear for instance should wander into the yard the chain prevents your dog from being able to protect itself or to get away if the need arises. Hence the concern for chaining your dog.

[Husky06]

I don't think u grasp how smart a husky is, she actually never gets her chain wrapped around herself, or the tree that its around, its a 20 ft chain too, and bears? I live in middle tennesse, I've never seen a bear here, but you guys make it sound liek I never let her loose, I do, but I run with her, untill im just completely worn out, and she still likes to run after that, so ill take her inside and play fetch with her in our big basement, or other different things. For the remains, my parents were asleep last night when I got home, and they both saw it before they left, but my mom is the same way I am with blood. My dad is going to burry it when he gets home from work today. And about the "others" like you were saying as if I didnt care about them, Buddy knows not to leave the yard, He's about 11 years old.

[reeskujo]

Husky06.....I have raised and bred Akita's all my adult life and they are highly intelligent dogs,will run away every chance they get,and are very similar to Husky's in temperment.I have never had one tied in the back yard...I either had a six food privacy fence they couldn't climb and had it put into concrete so they can't dig under the fence or I had them like I do now in the house and they went out to play and use the bathroom and were supervised while they were outside...I can totaly understand you not liking the site of blood,but if you couldn't get that close then what led you to think the dog was shot?Did one of your parents get a close enough look?.....One last point...Regardless of what breed of dog you have it should not have to be tied in a yard...If you have dogs like Husky's or Akita's that are escape artists you need to make appropriate accommadations to keep them in the yard and if you can't you shouldn't have them.....Akita's and Husky's both are pack animals and their family is their pack and they need to be inside the home with them...Maybe you can talk to your parents about that!I live in a two bedroom apartment and my Akita is well over 100LB.s..Half the time I'm tripping over him,but I'd rather have that then have him tied up outside and so would he...

[Husky06]

cool dogs, as for the fence thing, its 5 feet in the front, but only about 4 and a half on the sides and back of the yard. We use to have a collie, even when a tornado hit went down our road and knocked over the fence, they only had poles up at the time, and she wouldnt even go past them, Our yard is just 1 acre. My parents aren't going to pay the money for a whole new fence, with concrete, and they deffinately don't want a dog living in the house. When I get my own place it will be on the land beside my parents house, they have a few more acres, on each side of the house, and I will be able to do so then, but as for now, don't say that I shouldn't have one. I still think I am going to get another dog though. Me and my dad have been wanting a German Shepherd.

[reeskujo]

I just don't understand why you want to keep getting dogs just to keep them tied in the yard...Why are your parent's so against a dog being in the house?Dogs should be treated as family members not property....You also didn't answer my question as to what made you think your poor dog was shot and if your parents thought he was why didn't they want to call the police?I have to wonder how long you or your parents could put up with being in this heat or in freezing temps when it's cold!

[Husky06]

well, i don't think my mom thought he was shot, but the only thing we could figure, was if he jumped the fence and got hooked on something, barbwire, sp?, or thorns or something, which would explain the cut, and then possibly have been hit by a car running across the road, there just would've had to have been something that really was bothering him though, he has never tried to get out even with the gate open, and my grandfather said that german shepherds are very territorial and won't leave the yard, he use to train them, but he passed away a couple of years ago, and so did one of my friends at church, this guy is my dads age, so don't think i mean some kid, he owns a couple of them right now, and when I am here, i let all of the dogs inside, but from what i've read, huskies are very destructive when left in the house alone, and I also saw of one on the animal planet, it figured out how to open the garage door, escaped, and got out over the fence apparently, it was hit by a car, and almost lost its leg, kind of scary, and freezing temps? I thought huskies could take temps well below zero with no problem?

[reeskujo]

They can take the cold pretty well but dogs that have coats like theirs have a much harder time in the heat...As far as them being destructive...You can crate them in the house when your gone and then there's a thing called training....As far as German Shepards running away...No generally they don't my mom used to breed them to,but any dog regardless of the breed can be tempted to leave the yard...I'd still like to know why you want to keep getting dogs just to keep them tied outside?

[Husky06]

Okay, if I got a german shepherd he would probably be chained untill he was trained well enough, to be loose all the time, we did our golden retriever that way, we got him when he was 3, but he has always been left loose after that. I'm not getting them with the intention to keep them outside, I've had maya in the house most of the day today, and usually have her with me when I'm doing stuff int he basement, We always run from one side of the basement, stop, and she waits for me to say go, and then we run back to the other side, shes gotten to the point now where u let her in and she just does that even if you arent with her, but anyhow, they just won't let her upstairs, or sleeping in the house, If it was up to me they would be, but I can't go against what they say... and oh yeah, shes 3 and a half months old, how would i train a dog like that not to tear up stuff, especially when pups that young, any kind of dog, will chew on anything they can get their teeth on. I've had to pay for various things that were torn up by the other dog that I had, we gave him chew toys and bones and whatnot, I dono though

[PatchO'Pits]

Beautiful dogs

So sorry for your loss! :(

[reeskujo]

Well a 3month old puppy has no buisness being tied up outside,you don't train a dog to stay in the yard by chaining them up in it,and yes puppy's chew stuff up and that's why they make dog crates...So you can put them in there when noone's home and then they can't chew stuff up.You can also get a baby gate and keep them sectioned off to a certain part of the house.A 3mth.old puppy tied up outside?I think you need some classes in animal care.You can go online to the A.S.P.C.A and they have a special section for kids on canine care.

[marg]

Well a 3month old puppy has no buisness being tied up outside,you don't train a dog to stay in the yard by chaining them up in it,and yes puppy's chew stuff up and that's why they make dog crates...So you can put them in there when noone's home and then they can't chew stuff up.You can also get a baby gate and keep them sectioned off to a certain part of the house.A 3mth.old puppy tied up outside?I think you need some classes in animal care.You can go online to the A.S.P.C.A and they have a special section for kids on canine care.
Reeskujo, way to go. I couldn't agree more.

[Husky06]

people have been raising dogs like this for years, especially in the south, and a baby gate? i have a picture of a little husky puppy, climbing a fence, its at least 6 feet, and its at the top of it, what good is a dinky little gate going to do. Animals were here before houses, and no they are not equal to us, i think someone said that in a previous comment, when they die, its the end of them. Don't take that comment like I don't care for them, because I really do. Did you ever obey your parents?, because they said not to let the dogs stay in the house, you act like its all my fault and I'm just a horrible person, as of right now I'm trying to do what they say.

[dlaura]

Hi all,
You are right to obey your parents and if they will not allow the dogs in the house then that is their right. We here on petlovers are very passionate about our pets and a lot of us go the extra mile to make them as comfortable and their life here on earth as wonderful as possible. In return they give us unconditional love, loyalty and would in fact die to protect us. So it is sometimes difficult for us to understand why everyone doesn't love and care for their animals to the same extent.

Thank you everyone for your input -- but I think enough said on this thread.

[Husky06]

i just want to leave one more comment, i see what you mean, and when i have my own place, I will do all of these things for them, and would do so now if they would let me, my mom has always been one to want a dog and not do much of anything with it, she just wants to pet it every once in a while, but doesnt do anything to take care of it, me and my dad always took care of the dogs we had. The golden retriever is the family dog, i guess you could say, my mom got him, when he was 3, and he was also kicked out of 3 homes, I don't remember why, I was only around 8 years old or so ,and she never pays attention to him, just for those who think im so horrible, she wants another one when he dies, and I know she will not do anything for it or with it

[dlaura]

No one thinks you are horrible. Some were just concerned about the chaining of a dog and the pros / cons of this type of dog care. Everyone does what they feel is right. We can only offer advice and hints here with people free to use that advice or not. I am happy to hear that in the future once you have your own home that you may take some of the things suggested here into consideration and implement them. People here truly only want to help you and your animals. Thanks for continuing to post and read the replies. I hope you will feel comfortable contributing to other areas of this board.

[reeskujo]

As dlaura said,you are right to obey your parents and noone thinks your horrible...I am also glad to know that when you have your own home you wiil keep your dogs inside....Alot of us here get upset when dogs are tied outside..There are alot of dangers for a dog in that situation depending on where you live...Weather temps,wild animals,being poisoned,even strangulation...They can't defend themselves are take themselves out of bad weather....That is why people get upset especially when it's a puppy....Maybe you can go online to the A.S.P.C.A and show your parents or at least your mom some info on proper dog care...It's a very hot summer this year and even with a dog house the dogs can't stay cool...Many dogs especially puppies die in this heat...Maybe you can share some of these points with your mom....Again noone thinks your horrible and I hope you stick around so you can get educated on proper dog care for when you have your own place.

[Hailey]

I have had siberian huskies now for 25 yrs, and I have never had issues with any of my dogs, we have a 1 acre area fenced in for the dogs, the fence is a split rail with a 4 ft high mesh, my dogs never jump up on the fence or try to climb it, or dig under it for that matter. As far as destroying your house, only a bored untrained sibe will do that, I leave my dogs home in the warmer months when running errands, and they have free run of the house, they do just fine, while I'm gone all they do is sleep. My dogs are house dogs, the fenced in area is off the dining room, so they can come in and out as they please, all they have to do is bark at the door once, and I let them in. I do training sessions once a day with each dog for at least 10 - 15 min just so they get some mental stimulation, when it's cool enough I use a chuck it ball launcher to play fetch with them, we also have springer bike attachments to run the dogs safely beside our mountain bikes {again only in cooler months} We take them hiking frequently as there is a great trail near us with a beautiful clear lake, for them to swim in afterwards. As long as you are keeping up with all your sibes physical, and mental needs it will be a very calm, and wonderful companion

Here are my sibes:

http://www.dogster.com/?308711 {Mariya}

http://www.dogster.com/?308753 {Jonah}

http://www.dogster.com/?309455 {Luna}

http://www.dogster.com/?323955 {Hailey}

http://www.dogster.com/?324927 {Olympia}

[dlaura]

Hailey, your sibes are all beautiful. I enjoyed seeing their pictures and felt very bad to read that some of them are no longer with you. We have a 15 yr old kitty cat that has always treated my son as one of her kittens. They have such a special bond that I dread the day we lose her. It is going to be so hard for all of us. Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories with us.

[Husky06]

my mom wouldnt care, to her, if its an animal, it belongs outside, it's deffinately hot out there, even with her being under a big shade tree, and buddy goes under the deck and lays in a hole he dug. Maya already tells me when she has to go to the bathroom when shes inside, shell paw at the door, walk in a circle and do it over and over untill i take her out, but I think its also like my mom doesnt want her waking us up during the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, since shes smaller now and would have to go more. The first 2 nights I had her, she slept in the basement and ended up waking me up both times at 3 in the morning, and she used the bathroom on the carpet. I know they deffinately won't let her stay upstairs either. How did you, hailey, train yours for that when they were little

[Hailey]

I was very lucky with Mariya, she was an easy pup to potty train, she wet the carpet just once, and as she did I scooped her up, and immediately took her out to where I wanted her to go potty, she never pooped in our house at all, after that she just went to the door when she had to go, she did wake up once every night while she was very little, but I had her completely trained during the late night hours in only 2 weeks, then she started sleeping through the night. She definately was not the typical puppy. Luna was semi potty trained as I got her when she was a year old, she was a sled dog in a kennel with alot of other dogs, so she had never been in a house, she wet the carpet 4 times, but then she got the hang of it. You really just have to be very consistant, when you see them start to squat, scoop them up, and out the door you go, I have a designated potty area when they are puppies, so they know that when we're in that area it's time to go potty, when they do go poop or pee outside, you must praise them. I also train them to go on command, that way when we travel, and have to take them out either at the rest areas or when we are staying with relatives etc. They will do their business, and get back in the house asap. The command is Hurry up, works everytime. Jonah was a little more difficult, he only pooped in the house twice, but was not completely potty trained with the urinating til he was exactly 6 months old, I remember cuz we were going to see relatives, and I didn't want him to pee in their house, and he didn't. So you see all dogs are different, I really do think girls are easier to potty train IMO. Hope this helps!

[Husky06]

ohh, thanks, see, she hasnt used the bathroom in the house, anymore that shes been in there, or when shes been left alone in the basement, while im upstairs eating and whatnot, she only did that the first 2 nights, but now she will always howl, or paw at the door or whine, to let me know, which is good, and when i take her outside she always runs to the hill on the side of the house and uses the bathroom, and i says lets go and shell run with me back into the house. If she was where she would sleep through the night without using the bathroom then I might be able to convence my mom to let her stay inside, but before that I would have to keep her from chewing on things, untill my brother goes back to college i couldn't even try to keep her in, he stays up till about 1 in the morning, and would sleep untill about 1, or untill he had to go to work, and he got so mad when she woke him up those 2 nights she was in the house, just curious though, how did you get your huskies to stop chewing on everything, she kept jumping up on the couch and taking pillows, and then shed get on the chair and drag clothes off that my brother had lol, she chews on a lot of things though

[dlaura]

Hailey I just wanted to say thanks for jumping in here and helping Husky06 out with their husky pup. Since you have so much experience it is so helpful and I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us. This is what PL is all about - members helping members!

[Hailey]

Dlaura, no problem, and thanks for the compliments on my pups, I have 2 cats as well, a snowshoe named Simone, and a Chartreux, named Gracie. I had a 3rd cat that I got from a shelter when she was 6 months old, she was a DSH named Desiree, she was my sons cat growing up, she passed at the age of 10 yrs due to Liver disease, he was crushed as he was away at college. Gracie is getting up there as well, I will be devistated, when it's her time, she was a mothers day present from my son, we had decided to get a playmate for Desiree, when she was 9 months old, cuz she seemed a little lonely, so Gracie is a little less than a year younger than Desi was. All you can do is enjoy every moment you have with them, even though the older cats don't seem so playful, you would be surprised, when we brought Simone home, Gracie perked right back up, and started acting like a kitten again.

[Hailey]

Husky06, My dogs all have alot of toys, I have 2 toy boxes in the living room, and one outside. They are taught when very young to play with their toys only, so if your dog were to take something of yours you trade one of their toys, with what they took of yours, if your pup makes the exchange praise her. Mine all got a talking plush when they came home, Mariya's is a monkey, Jonah's is a Boobah doll, and Luna has a snoring teddy bear. Those are the toys they sleep with, they are indoor only toys. Outdoor toys for chewing: Raw marrow bones from the meat dept,I buy a big package of these, they are my dogs favorite thing in the whole world. I buy them about 4 inches long, so they can get the marrow out, the dogs each get one right from the package when I get home from the store, and then I freeze the rest, then they will get them straight from the freezer. Marrow bones are great for many reasons, they satify the dogs urge to chew, they last along time, and they keep the dogs teeth very clean, after the marrow is gone you can wash the bone, with a baby bottle brush, or old tooth brush, then fill it with peanutbutter, put it in a zip lock baggie, and freeze { never boil the bones as they will splinter, when the dog chews on them, then you will have some problems } So basically make sure you have a variety of toys that interest your dog, because I have so many, I can rotate them so the dogs don't have the same toys out everyday. My dogs favorites are airkong Squeeky tennis balls, Ball ropes, squeeky plush toys, and don't forget the kongs, they will do anything for a kong. Hope this helps!

[Husky06]

well first off, thank you for your help in all of this, I did have big tough chew bones at first, it only came with 2 of them, they were really big, all the dogs loved them, and maya took the middle stuff out of one of them, but they both took it like a wolf would killing a deer, if one of the other dogs got near them they would growl at each other, except bullet, he wouldnt hurt anything, he was so nice, buddy even growled and snapped at me, i smacked his nose, but he still would do it after that, i don't want to be harsh on him because of his age, as for toys, i have a "squish" toy that looks like a little hand weight with 2 basketballs on the ends,and another little one, i dono what its suppose to be, I had been letting her chew on an old tennis shoe, even though I knew she would take advantage of other things when I wasn't looking, just because I didn't have anything at the time, I'll have some other things that I can let her play with too, I'll try what you said though, and oh yeah, about how many months old are they when they stop growing, shes getting near 4 months, and really starting to grow, just curious though, I really like big dogs, thanks for the help

[Husky06]

I figured I would also tell you guys about bullet again, when it was light outside, whatever day that was after it happened, my brother looked at his chest and it looked like he had been slashed with a knife or something in a few places on his chest, and that night he did have blood coming from his mouth, doesnt that happen when you are stabbed? i think, I had told my dad he should call the police or someone, but he didnt do it, he just burried him because the smell was just HORRIBLE, bad enough to almost make me throw up, but today he was voting and there were 2 policemen there and he told them about what happened, and they said that people dress in black and go up and down are road at night sometimes doing stuff, apprently the neighbors that lived accross the street had a 700 dollar dog stolen from them, they moved a few weeks ago though, but the police said all we have to do is call them and they'll come out here and watch at night, because like its been said before, they start with animals, and then they mess with people

[Hailey]

Husky06, I am so sorry for the loss of Bullet, it must have been so frightening to find your dog like that. As far as your other question, about growth of the puppy, my females were full grown in just over a year, Jonah my only male is 16 months old now, and still has some growing to do, all dogs are different, out of the 4 females Olympia, and Luna are on the smaller side of the weight scale for female sibes, they both weighed in at 35 lbs. Hailey, and Mariya are at the higher end of that, weighing in at 50 lbs each, Jonah is still growing, and he's at 50 lbs now.

[Husky06]

ohh ok, i read somewhere that female huskies are suppose to weigh on average about 60 lbs, Maya weighed only 16 at the time we took her to the vet, when she was sick with hookworms, a couple of weeks ago, shes over that though and looks a lot healthier so I don't really know what she is up to now


edit: that was males, the husky females average 35-50, that doesnt seem very big, but thats about the size that bullet was, which is good