Siberian Huskies For Dummies Page 10

  After you’ve gotten your Husky taken care of, you can follow these tips for cleaning up blood stains:

  1.Apply cold water to the stain.

  2.Apply ammonia to the stain.

  3.Add more cold water to the stain, and rinse fast.

  Make sure you use cold water so as not to set the stain. And if your dog has a house-training problem or if you have wool carpeting, don’t use ammonia.

  Chapter 6

  Understanding What Your Husky Is Trying to Tell You

  In This Chapter

  Listening to what your Husky has to say

  Noticing your dog’s body language

  Making sense of your Husky’s “strange” behavior

  Reading your dog’s confidence level by observing the way he sleeps

  All over the world, dogs speak the same language, and although that language isn’t classical Greek, there’s a lot more to dogtalk than a few grunts and sniffs. After all, dogs are not Neanderthals. Canine communication takes the form of auditory signals, facial expression, and body language. In this chapter, you’ll figure out how to make sense of all of these.

  Picking Up on What Your Dog Is Saying

  Dogs partly communicate through auditory signals (signals that can be heard, like barks and growls). They use auditory signals to communicate over long distances among themselves. In their ancestral days, running wild in a pack, they needed to be able to communicate messages like, “Wait! It’s this way!” or “You’d better leave Enid alone; she’s promised to me!” Dogs haven’t forgotten their roots; they still use auditory signals today.

  Barking and howling are apparently no harder on a dog’s vocal cords than talking is on ours. That’s why they can howl or bark for so long, much to the irritation of some of us humans.

  Barking

  A bark is a juvenile noise, located acoustically somewhere between a snarl and a yelp.

  Siberian Huskies, true to their heritage, bark less than many other breeds. When they do vocalize, they tend to woo, howl, sing, chirp, and chatter softly. The reason for the Husky’s infrequent barking may be that barking is largely a territorial call, and Huskies, like wild dogs, are almost uniquely non-territorial. Huskies do occasionally bark to stake a claim on their territory, but not as often as other dogs.

  Some Husky barking is an invitation to play, a juvenile trait.

  Howling

  Howling is a primitive trait in dogs, which means that breeds of ancient lineage are much more likely to howl than more modern breeds like the Irish Setter or Toy dogs, such as the Shih Tzu. Siberians, Malamutes, and hounds are howlers of high order.

  The meaning of the howl is still mysterious. We do know that dogs sometimes howl when they’re bored, but they are equally likely to howl amidst the company of other Siberians, in which case it may be a bonding strategy. The howl has another purpose, too: long-distance communication. The howl is a low-pitched sound with a long duration — the two qualities needed to carry it for miles. Each howl is individual, and wolves are known to recognize packmates by the unique sound of each member’s howl. There is no reason to suspect it is otherwise in dogs.

  The dog with the deepest howl or bark is usually the alpha dog.

  Dogs belonging to breeds that don’t howl often look curiously at dogs engaging in this peculiar behavior. They probably can’t imagine what the fuss is all about. A non-howling Siberian can be taught to howl by his howling packmates or even by a human who is willing to crawl around on the floor like a dog and bay. (I have seen it done.)

  There is no evidence to show that animals howl at the moon. There is a theory, however, that they howl more during a full moon, when they can see better and are consequently more active.

  If you own more than one Siberian, you may find that they get up a community howl now and again, which is very pleasant indeed. Their eerie, wolf-like cry is haunting and evocative, sending a thrill down the back of the sensitive listener. Because the animals howl at different pitches and use different, modulating tones, which echo and bounce off walls, a pair of Siberians can easily sound like a dozen. Wolves use this trick too, and often fool their opponents into believing that the pack is much larger than it really is.

  It usually takes more than one Siberian to get up a howl. You will find that one dog will nearly always initiate the howling; the others will follow. This is called a chorus howl.

  Siberians also tend to howl along with fire engines or police sirens, as well as when the phone rings.

  Wooing

  The plaintive “wooing” sound is a Siberian trademark. It could mean anything, but it often says, “No, I don’t want to,” or “Please don’t leave quite yet.”

  Whining

  A whine is a care-soliciting noise. It’s also a sign of submission. If your Husky is whining, you can bet he wants to come in, go out, or eat dinner. He may want to be petted as well.

  Growling

  Growling is best interpreted as a warning. It’s commonly seen when Huskies are trying to protect their food from other dogs.

  Yelping

  When a Husky yelps, it’s an unmistakable sign that he is in pain. He could yelp for something as minor as accidentally getting his toes stepped on. Or yelping could be a sign of greater pain. If your Husky is yelping, and you can’t determine the cause, call your vet.

  Soundless chattering

  Sometimes an unneutered male Siberian snaps his teeth together very quickly, usually in the presence of a female. This behavior is a mark of sexual excitement and may be accompanied by trembling. Teeth chattering may also mean the dog wants to go for a ride or eat dinner. Of course, he may just be cold.

  Interpreting Your Husky’s Body Language

  Even the vocal Siberian does not always speak in dog words; so interpreting his body language is very useful. Visual communication is more important in Siberians than it is among some breeds. Lop-eared dogs, curiously enough, are at a visual handicap, because they cannot lay back their ears to show aggression. Dogs with docked tails can’t wag their tails completely. A Siberian, on the other hand, has full use of his ears and tail, so he can communicate very well. He may be saying something more than, or other than, you think. Pay attention — it’s up to you to be the interpreter. A missed cue can be dangerous for both of you. Your dog may be trying to tell you that he is ill, or that he has delusions of grandeur, or that he really doesn’t like your Maltese all that much.

  Circling and sniffing

  Circling and sniffing are the universal greeting among dogs. Greetings between dogs start nose-to-nose. If all goes well, the sniffing proceeds to the other end. (It seems rude, but it really isn’t — at least when it’s among dogs.) Your Husky will try to greet human guests in the same time-honored manner. Obviously, he needs to be discouraged from doing this, however.

  Mounting behavior

  Mounting another dog or attempting to mount a person is not usually an expression of sexuality. Females do it as well as males. It is, however, an indication of dominance. Your Husky is trying to tell you or his fellow dogs that he’s the boss. If he mounts other dogs in his household, you’ll have to let them sort it out among themselves. When the correct dominance order is established, the annoying behavior should stop. But if your Husky persists in mounting human beings, it’s a signal that he is thinking of becoming leader of the pack. Disabuse him of this notion immediately.

  Pawing

  A dog who places his paw on the shoulder of another dog is trying to demonstrate his dominance over that dog. He may try the same thing with a person.

  Bowing

  A Siberian who crouches down in front, wagging his tail quickly, is performing play-soliciting behavior. He looks as though he were taking a bow. He may jump backwards and forwards, making weird little noises. He may put his head low to one side, and stare cockeyed at you. Have a good romp with him when you see him bowing. You’ll both have a great time.

  Nudging or punching

  A Husky who nudges o
r punches with his nose is also designed to get you to play or pet him. It is a more dominant signal than bowing; in effect the dog is demanding, rather than asking, that you pay attention to him.

  Hand-holding

  Your Husky may gently take your hand in his mouth. This is a gesture of love and affection. He is also requesting your trust in him not to bite you. Allowing him to do so shows him that you have faith in him. This is a bonding strategy.

  Mouth-licking

  In puppies, mouth-licking is a care-soliciting behavior, in which the youngsters seek food from their mothers. This behavior often persists into adulthood. Sometimes a dog just licks the mouth of the other dog; sometimes he actually pokes around in there, lifting the corners of the mouth and sniffing away. The dog may be looking to see what his friend has been dining on. Most of the time, it is the submissive dog who licks the mouth of the more dominant dog.

  Constant licking or tail-chewing

  In younger dogs, paw licking or chewing could be a simple nervous habit, indicating the need to eliminate. Chewing the base of the tail can mean fleas.

  A dog who spends a few minutes or an hour licking everything in sight may be nauseated; he is about to throw up. Get him outside as soon as possible.

  If licking behavior continues for weeks with no apparent organic cause, especially if carried to the point of raw or bleeding paws, suspect an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Like obsessive-compulsive disorder in human beings, this is not a psychological problem. It is not caused by loneliness, neurosis, or boredom. It is very seldom cured by getting another dog, or by giving your dog something else to do. So-called behavior modification doesn’t work very well either. The only treatment that cures genuine obsessive-compulsive behavior is certain antidepressants. Only antidepressants that help control obsessive-compulsive disorder in human beings work with dogs; Anafranil and Prozac produce good results. Substantial improvement is seen in two out of three cases. (The National Institute of Mental Health performed the study.) Like obsessive-compulsive disorder in human beings, the precipitating cause may have been a raging infection, possibly not even diagnosed, that left an identifiable protein marker on the surface of certain cells. The protein marker responds to the antidepressant.

  Figuring Out Your Dog’s Facial Gestures

  Although lacking the almost infinite variety of expression employed by humans beings, dogs can still say a lot with their faces:

  Tongue flicking: This serpent-like gesture may be a sign that your Siberian needs to eliminate. It’s the canine equivalent of a child crossing her legs.

  Head tilting: When your dog tilts his head to one side, with a quizzical look, it means he is puzzled or curious about something.

  Rubbing his face in the carpet: Usually this behavior just means the dog has an itchy face, but constant face-rubbing may indicate an inhalant allergy.

  Watching Your Husky’s Tail

  Siberians generally relax (and pull sleds) with their tails down. Excitement causes their tails to curl up. A dragging tail, on the other hand, means a tired dog.

  When a dog wags his tail, he’s giving the same message he does when he smiles. In other words, usually it’s because he is happy, but sometimes because he is nervous. It all depends upon exactly how the tail is wagged.

  Wagging a tail horizontally and fast means the dog is happy. Usually the whole rear end wags with the dog. Nervous dogs also wag their tails sometimes. It’s not necessarily that they’re happy to see the vet; they may just be nervous to be there.

  A slower, incomplete wag from an erect tail may indicate dominant aggression, just like the smiling villain in those old westerns.

  A tail held between the legs is a sign of complete submission or fear. Some low-status dogs eat with their tails between their legs, in the hopes that the dominant dog will take pity upon them and not steal their food.

  Knowing the Difference between Dominant and Submissive Behavior

  Being cognizant of the body language of dominance and submission in canines is very important, mostly because it can have a direct and negative impact on people. All dogs show dominance and submission, depending on the situation. Being able to read this behavior correctly can prevent a serious problem.

  Dominance

  Signs of aggression include rising of the hackles (shoulder hair) and rump hair. The dog’s lips curl back, and sometimes his ears flatten. He may stand on tiptoe. In dominant aggression, the pupils will be contracted, and the dog will stare unblinkingly at his opponent. An aggressive dog may growl, of course, and his teeth may be bared.

  Just because a dog bares his teeth doesn’t mean he’s mad. Some dogs grin. The difference isn’t always easy for us to discern, although dogs don’t seem to have any trouble with it. The snarl usually bares more teeth than the grin, usually going back to the incisors. If you’re unsure, look at the context. (Like wagging, grinning bears a strong relation to the human smile. Usually, we smile when we’re happy, but we also sometimes smile at the dentist, because we’re afraid, or at our opponents, in order to intimidate them.)

  A dominant Siberian has a curled tail and his ears are held upright. He stares pointedly at whatever or whomever he is trying to intimidate. A dominant dog may stand at right angles to a more submissive dog.

  A dominant dog may also urinate frequently, defecate, or scratch the ground in the vicinity of the other dog. Dogs have scent glands in their feet; they want to spread their scent around as much as possible. This, combined with vigorously kicking up the dirt means, “I am king around this joint, and don’t you forget it, mister.”

  If you are ever threatened by a strange dog, do not attempt to stare down the dog. Averting your eyes from the dog’s may defuse the situation. Never try to outstare a strange dog. Do not run away, either; that elicits a chase response, and a dog is faster than you are. Look in another direction, and calmly move away.

  To find out more about dominance, or aggression, and how to handle it, see Chapter 9.

  Submission

  If a less dominant dog wants to fight back, he pulls the corners of his mouth back until all the teeth are bared, but he often doesn’t snarl. His ears go flat.

  A more submissive dog stands very still, because running away elicits a chase response from the dominant dog. The submissive dog turns his head completely to one side. There is a myth that the dog is doing this to expose his jugular vein submissively to the dominant dog, but in reality he’s just trying to avoid provoking a fight by standing still and avoiding eye contact.

  Submissive dogs also assume a generally lower stance than the dominant dog. The submissive dog may crouch or cower; he will certainly try to look away. His pupils are enlarged. His ears may be lowered and his tail rigid.

  If the submissive dog’s fear is coupled with potential aggression, the dog assumes a classic approach-avoidance stance, alternately going close to and then backing away from the object of fear.

  Just because a dog is submissive and afraid does not mean he won’t bite. Fear-biting is a common response in a dog who feels he can’t get away. Never corner a fearful dog or put a hand or head too close to him.

  Frightened and submissive dogs put their ears back and carry their tails between their legs. They may turn sidewise to the dominant dog. In a final surrender, they may roll over to their side and urinate.

  A frightened dog will lean away from the object of fear. If he raises his hackles or snarls at the same time, be careful. This is a potential fear-biting situation. Most fear-biting dogs have a space outside of which they will not bite. This personal space is usually about a foot or two.

  If your dog has done something wrong, like tearing apart the trash can, he may look guilty when you catch him at it. As far as we know, guilt is purely a human emotion. What you’re really seeing is submissive behavior; he is nervous about your anger and anticipates punishment. Even before you open your mouth, he knows you’re mad. In dogdom, a very submissive stance often allows the miscreant to escape the wrath
of the dominant dog; he’s hoping it will work with you, too.

  Making Sense of Weird Behavior

  Sometimes dogs just don’t act like people. They don’t even live up to our idealized version of how dogs should behave. Still we should assume that dogs have reasons, however bizarre, for their behavior, even though we are not yet sure what those reasons may be.

  Rolling in nasty stuff

  Rolling in foul treasures like deer carcasses and cow manure may be a scent enhancement technique for dogs. Unlike cats, who depend on stealth to catch prey, dogs are uninterested in how they smell to their potential victims. In the wild, dogs rely primarily upon running their dinner down. Consequently, the smells they collect serve purpose within the pack, perhaps to help establish dominance.