Rebel is a Husky. Huskies are opinionated about things. Apparently they are highly opinionated about their food too. Unlike most dogs, Huskies won’t wolf down anything you set in front of them. Oh, no … Huskies like things the way they like them. Linda Daniels is no stranger to picky eaters, she has a couple as live-ins as well as some in her list of former foster dogs. She’s been helping me solve Rebel’s aversion to eating. A few of the things she’s turned up about Husky dining habits are:
Huskies don’t like combined foods. They’re kind of like those people who have to use segmented plates to keep their foods from touching or they can’t eat it, We found that Rebel likes shredded, boiled chicken breast. So I tried to ease him into eating the gastroenteric dog food his vet wanted him to be eating by mixing it into his chicken — a little of it each time. That didn’t fly: he insisted that there be NO “pollutants” in his chicken.
Huskies prefer a varied diet. Most dogs are perfectly happy eating the same food day after day. Not Huskies. And Rebel falls in line with this. I got my hopes up a couple of times when he accepted a little of some food or other. But the next time I offered him that food, he said, “I had that before. Want something new.” Except for the chicken, he has eaten several meals of that, but not consecutively.
Huskies can, however, be persuaded through peer pressure…
Rebel’s former mom said that he was eating normally until about three weeks ago. Since then he eats very little and has lost a lot of weight. He currently weighs 45.5 pounds and should weigh in around 70 pounds. Under his thick fur, he’s just bones.
His reaction to almost everything I’ve tried to feed him. (video)
When I was unsuccessful in his first few days here to tempt him to eat — and I tried a wide variety of kibble, canned dog food, and people foods — I took him to Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital to see if there was a physical reason for is starvation diet. They ran a G.I.Series with barium. This eliminated suspicions such as megaesophagus, and bowel blockage. They sent me home with some special dog food to soothe his gut. He ate a little, then refused any more..
Yesterday was a good day: Marie got him to eat a some Critical Nutrition dog food, and Josie helped me get him to eat about two cups of Salmon and Potato kibble over the course of the afternoon.
Today, he’s back to refusing most everything. He ate about 1/2 cup of chicken breast this morning, left the rest of it in his dish, and has refused everything else I’ve offered him. So the struggle continues …
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Pascal Robin came to visit me from Jefferson City yesterday. When she opened up the back of her SUV I saw she had brought me a crate of Moonshine:
Moonshine
Moonshine and her relatives, Whiskey and Bacardi are residents at C.A.R.E. (Companion Animal Rescue and Education) and Moonshine is Heartworm positive. C.A.R.E. raised the funds to pay for her treatment and asked if I would (please) take Moonshine in and provide a quiet place for her to undergo treatment and recovery.
Heartworm is the reason we got into fostering and has always been something of a specialty with us. Since Lucky has become a full-time indoor dog we had a kennel open, so I was happy to welcome this sweet Lab into our company.
Moonshine will be available through C.A.R.E. once she is cured of her heartworm — which will be the end of August (let’s make that) mid-November: a complication has arisen (see below). You may contact C.A.R.E. through their web site: Companion Animal Rescue and Education or their Facebook Page or by phone (865) 471-5696, 12:00 noon until 5:00 pm Mon – Sat.
Last updated: Nov 23, 2018
Moonshine’s Base Info:
Arrival date: June 20th, 2018
Breed: Black Lab Mix
Sex: Female
Age: 1-2 years
Weight: Approx 40 pounds
Spay/Neutered: NO!
General Health: Excellent
Temperament: Gentle, sweet, reserved. Almost timid.
Gets Along with Dogs: Yes. No sign of toy or food aggression. She likes to play, gets a little rowdy if you let her.
Gets Along with People: Yes. She loves to be petted, especially a belly rub. Likes to be near her human and will follow me from room to room as I’m doing things.
Housebroken/Crate Trained: Yes on both.
Departure Date: Nov. 23, 2018
Known Issues & Progress
The only issue I know of at her arrival is her heartworm condition, and treatment for that is already underway.
July 18: As we were preparing for Moonshine to have her injections, Moonshine gave birth to seven PUPPIES! C.A.R.E. placed Moonie and her pups with a puppy-savvy foster home and we’re planning to have Moonshine back once her pups are weaned – to resume her treatment.
August 17th: Moonshine returns. We need to reset her heartworm treatment schedule and we’re trying to do that locally rather than trucking her to Jefferson County each time she needs to see the vet.
Accepted by Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital
started on Doxycycline (200 mg, 2x daily) Aug 20
Appt for 1st treatment Sept 20th
Final HW treatments were done Oct. 18th and 19th. She did exceptionally well. She is now on activity restriction for 30 days.
She’ll be ready to return to C.A.R.E. on November 19th.
All my dogs have accepted her back and they get along famously. She gets the run of the house except for when I leave.
Nov. 2nd – Where we’re at: Moonie eats her meals in a crate because she will raid the other dog’s dishes (and they’ll let her). She also sleeps in a crate at night because she likes to pace, and having her go tickety-tack,tickety-tack in the hallway is disturbing to all who want to sleep. Put her in her crate and she goes right to sleep and sleeps through the night. In the morning she will nose-whistle at me to let me know she needs to go outside. Once that is done I leave her free to roam the house unless she and another dog (usually Josephine) decide to get rowdy before my wife gets up. I’m generally up a couple of hours before she is, and it’s my job to see that things remain calm and quiet until 5:30 when she gets up. UPDATE: The last couple of nights she was here we let her sleep on a dog bed in the bedroom (no crate). She did very well at staying in bed and being good.
Any time I crate her (I use “in your room”) she gets a small treat. She expects that now. She also gets a treat when she comes back in from her first potty run of the morning. UPDATE: Recently she has started “sassing” me about going into her crate. She stands by the crate, looks at me defiantly and yaps, “No, I don’t want to go in there!” until I give her “the look”, then she ducks into the crate and gets her treat. She’s so funny!
She’s been eating 4health Salmon & Potato kibble from Tractor Supply. I give her 1¼ cups of kibble per feeding and feed her twice a day (breakfast and dinner).
Moonshine is gentle on her bedding, so I make sure she has plenty of “cush” to snuggle into. She is generally quiet, not a barker. She tells me when she needs to go out by either scratching on the door or coming and talking to me. She’ll do the same to get back inside.
She is quite affectionate and loves to be loved on. But she’s not pesky about it. I have not been able to break her of “peeking” over the counters when she smells food. She won’t do it if I’m looking, but if I turn my back or leave the room, things tend to go missing. I’ve gotten spoiled, I can leave my dinner on a tray table in the living room, leave the room, and my dogs will not bother it. They’ll stare at it, they may sniff, but not take anything. Moonbug is not that trustworthy!
Gallery
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales about Moonshine, click those to open the related story.
Moonshine is a beautiful, graceful girl.
Lucky (left) takes her new friend on a tour of the yard.
She’s a snuggle bug with plush fur!
It’s HOT! Moonshine comes inside. (vid)
Came home to find PUPPIES! Four so far.
Happy momma of SEVEN babies.
At CARE, awaiting her Puppy Foster
Settled in at puppy foster’s home.
Away on puppy hiatus
for one month
Moonshine RETURNS!
Frantically searching for her babies!
Moonie tunneled out to search my truck for pups
Starting to accept things, enjoys hanging with me.
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Rebel has not been eating since he arrived here almost a week ago. He was too skinny then, and worse now. I’ve tried several varieties of dry kibble, canned dog food, and various combinations of rice, premium canned dog food, chicken soup, and milk. Nothing tempted him … except one. A small tub of chicken in gravy cat food that I had on hand. That he he licked clean and wanted to eat the lid. But it came back up an hour later. And the vomit was bright yellow: that’s bile and indicates a stomach problem.
I’m taking Rebel to the vet in a few minutes so, of course, he decides to eat this morning. I tried him on one baby food hot dog (they’re labeled as “meat sticks”) and he scarfed it. I gave him the rest of the jar (minus the oil they were packed in) and he scarfed those. To make a proper meal would take 6 or 8 jars – which I didn’t have and wouldn’t do anyway. Better to stay with a small meal that stays down (and it did) than to stuff him and have it all come back up.
So, what changed? I’m afraid I did not hold to the scientific method at all here because I changed several things all at once.
I brought him inside the house yesterday afternoon and let him over-night in a crate. My thinking was that he may be feeling lonely outside by himself since I take his two outside companions in the shop and crate them at night. They don’t do well in the cold. It wasn’t cold last night, but they’re accustomed to going to bed at night. Rebel did well in his crate, waking me only once at 3:00 because he needed to go out and pee.
This was his first time on the baby food meat sticks. These were recommended to me by another rescue person, so I picked up a jar as part of an assortment of foods to try.
I have been using a stainless steel bowl for his food. I feed all of the foster dogs in stainless steel and wash each dish after every meal. I don’t remember whether Rebel’s bowl at “home” was ceramic or plastic, but it wasn’t stainless. So I got out a hard plastic bowl and tried that this morning.
Which of these –or maybe some combination — broke through his resolve I cannot say. But he ate a little bit this morning and I’m glad of that. We’ll see what Doc Sandra says and go from there.
Rebel is a gorgeous Husky and a sweet, attentive boy with a playful personality.
Last updated: March 6, 2019
Base Info:
Arrival date: Nov 14, 2018
Breed: Husky
Sex: Male
Age: Young, Adult, Mature, Senior
Weight: Arrived at 45 pounds (should be closer to 70) we are over-feeding on a prescription diet to build his weight quickly. 52 pounds Dec. 7. 65.2 pounds Jan 28. Time to start tapering off.
About two years ago Rebel was purchased as a puppy for a young man in high school. That young man is now preparing to graduate and go off to college and he realizes that he’s not providing the care that Rebel needs. He and his mom decided to surrender Rebel to Steele Away Home so that he can find a family that can care for him properly.
Known Issues & Progress
Rebel is extremely thin from not eating.
Appetite is vastly improved and he is gaining weight. See notes for Dec. 8th for details.
The only issue remaining is a tendency to diarrhea, but that is controllable by giving him 2 heaping tablespoons of yogurt with his breakfast. The probiotics keep his gut healthy. I’ve tried him on peach flavored and vanilla flavored, he likes both equally well. He does NOT like plain yogurt, he says it’s “nasty”. I serve it in a separate dish, and if I forget to give him this, he sits and looks at his kibble, “Hey! Where is my appetizer?” Although, he is fine with just a bowl of kibble at dinner time.
Personality Issues
All the issues I’m dealing with in Rebel are perfectly natural for a Husky. They have a personality all their own and can be a handful for people not accustomed to Huskies. But if you know what you’re doing (or are willing to learn) Huskies make wonderful, entertaining companions.
Rebel gets along well with all of my house dogs, was enamored of Sable (fawn colored fem GSD), is now quite fond of Selma, and likes to play with Blondie Bear. Rebel seems to prefer blondes!
Medical
DA2PP: 12/08/2018 (S.A.H.)
Bordatella: 12/08/2018 (S.A.H.)
Wormed: Nov 15, 16, 17, Fendbendazole: 12 ml (PMFC)
Wormed: Nov 23, 24, 25, Panacur: 10.3 ml (PMFC per Cedarwood)
Rabies: Jan. 4th, 2019 by Paws & Claws
Neuter: Jan. 4th, 2019 by Paws & Claws
Flea/Tick preventative: Nov 26th, 2018 Advantage (PMFC)
. Jan 5th, 2019 Advantage (PMFC)
Heartworm preventative: Jan. 5th, 2019 NuHeart (PMFC)
. Feb 1st, 2019 Ivermectin (PMFC)
. Feb 9th, 2019 NuHeart (PMFC)
Heartworm Test – Jan. 4, 2019 NEGATIVE (Paws & Claws)
Progress Notes
Updates on foster dogs are posted regularly. For a listing of updates that include Rebel [click here]
Gallery
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales and videos about Rebel, click those to open the related story or video.
Rebel transported well.
Rebel is a handsome boy!
Silly too!
His reaction to EVERYTHING I’ve tried to feed him. (video)
Rebel peacefully coexisting in a room with Callie and Blondie
Rebel likes yogurt. Used as gut repair.
Staying put and being calm after I leave the room.
I’ll guard this oven full of dog cookies for you.
Sleeping in the bedroom!
Husky on the Beagle Bench – Watching Dog
Willing cookie testers!
Is it bed time yet? SO sleepy!
Rebel & Selma’s 1st play time together (story/vid)
Dino is Rebel’s FAVORITE toy
It’s fine, I’ll just sit here and watch you eat.
The daily hairball
He wants to be included in petathon
Callie tries to negotiate a deal with Rebel (video)
Rebel has arrived safely in New Jersey. He says, “These folks talk funny.”
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Ugg was pulled from Newport Animal Control because they deemed him most unlikely to be adopted, therefore most likely to be put down. He’s an affectionate boy, he just needs to learn some manners.
Last updated: Nov 9, 2018
Base Info:
Arrival date: Aug. 27, 2018
Breed: Great Dane mix
Sex: Male
Age: Young, Adult, Mature, Senior
Weight: @80 pounds
Spay/Neutered: Yes
General Health: Excellent
Temperament: Generally submissive. Calm when in kennel or crate. Gets playful when released, but is doing much better at controlling his exuberance.
Gets Along with Dogs: Yes: as long as the other dog does not get scared of his size and become defensive. Ugg is not at all aggressive, but his play can intimidate smaller dogs who can get defensively aggressive toward him.
Gets Along with People: Yes, he loves being with people, especially getting a belly rub. Likes to play fetch and tug.
Picked up as a stray by Newport Animal Control. Adopted out, brought right back because he ate their house. He needs to learn self control. Basically he’s a BIG puppy.
Known Issues & Progress
I was told he was unwalkable because he pulls like a John Deere. A front-clip harness brought that to an end and I had him walking laps in the yard with me the evening of his first day. Since then he just gets better at it.
He likes to “mouth”: We have that under control now. When excited he may forget and start to mouth, but a simple, stern “no!” stops it.
He liked to jump up and paw me: That is now under control. Instead he rolls over on my feet for a belly rub or sits at me feet and leans back against my legs so I can scratch his chest while he licks my arm (see video below).
He likes to chew things, like his brand new Kuranda bed. He’s a puppy. Puppies do that. I’m trying to teach him to chew appropriate things like toys and pigs feet (preferably those that are no longer attached to a pig).
With funds donated by a kind supporter, we bought Ugg an aluminum Kuranda. That has stood up well and he likes laying on that. He never did actually lay on the PVC framed bed. (See Progress Notes 9/19)
Medical
DA2PP: August 20, 2018 (N.A.C.)
Bordatella: August 20, 2018 (N.A.C)
Wormed: Aug. 28, 29, 30 2018 – Fendbendazole, 12 ml (P.M.F.C.)
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales or videos about Ugg, click those to open the related story or video.
Ugg REALLY wants to play!
Looking dapper in his red harness
Insurance until I can get a second kennel latch. He’s a strong boy!
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This is Calla Lily. Her Mom called her Lily, or Li-Li (lee lee). She’s a yellow Lab mix, and an affectionate, playful girl.
Last updated: Nov 9, 2018
Base Info:
Arrival date: Oct. 20, 2018
Breed: Yellow Lab mix
Sex: Female
Age: Young, Adult, Mature, Senior
Weight: 35 Pounds (as of 10/12/18)
Spay/Neutered: Yes
General Health: Good
Temperament: Rowdy but friendly.
Gets Along with Dogs: Yes
Gets Along with People: Yes
Housebroken/Crate Trained: Yes
Departure date: Nov. 9th, 2018
History
Lily’s mom adopted her from a shelter at 4 months of age in January of 2018. Lily had some health problems, but came through them. As she grew, Lily became too strong and rowdy for Mom to handle and she made the hard decision to surrender her to Steele Away Home so Lily could get the training she needs and go to a permanent home. It was a tearful parting.
Known Issues & Progress
She’s rowdy. Needs self-control and obedience training.
She knows, “Come”, “Sit”, and “In your room”.
Lily has proven to be quite bright and has learned all her basic commands. She also knows that when she’s done pottying and playing in the yard, she gets a treat to go back in her kennel. So when she’s decided she’s done, she runs into her kennel and sits on her bed to signal me that it’s time to bring her a treat. Who’s training who here? 🙂
She has calmed down quite a bit.
She walks well on a leash for me, but gives Marie a hard time.
As long as she it let out regularly, she is good to her bedding. If she gets frustrated, her bedding suffers!
Medical
DHPP: 01/12/2018, 02/03/2018, by White Pine Veterinary (WPV)
DHLPP:02/24/2018 by WPV
Bordatella: 02/24/2018, 10/13/2018 by WPV
Wormed: 01/12/2018 by WPV (tested since: NEGATIVE)
Rabies: 02/24/2018 (1 year booster) by WPV
Spay/Neuter: 04/24/2018 by WPV (also repaired umbilical hernia)
Flea/Tick preventative: ???
Heartworm preventative: ???
Heartworm Test: 05/11/2018 – NEGATIVE by WPV
Gallery
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales and videos about Lily, click those to open the related story or video.
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Hudson is a big, laid-back, Tennessee good-ol-boy hound who just wants to be loved.
Last updated: Jan 28, 2019
Base Info:
Arrival date: Nov. 10, 2018
Breed: Lab/Hound mix
Sex: Male
Age: Young, Adult, Mature, Senior
Weight: @ 70 Pounds
Spay/Neutered: Yes
General Health: Excellent,Good, Fair, Poor
Temperament: Calm and laid back.
Gets Along with Dogs: Yes
Gets Along with People: Yes
Housebroken/Crate Trained: House: Sort of / Crate: Yes
Departure date: January 18, 2019 –> 11th Hour
History
Hudson was found dragging a length of chain and wandering the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart. Animal Control was called and they took him in. No one claimed him. No one adopted him, so he became a Steele dog.
Known Issues & Progress
No issues seen. Hudson can be bouncy and playful with other dogs but is generally respectful and affectionate with people. Even when I first let him out of his kennel he walks out and STANDS next to me, looking up asking, “Please pet me”. Such a good boy!
He’s a little “pully” on a leash with a collar, but not bad at all, and a slight tug on the leash gets him to stop pulling for a while.
He knows and responds to “come”, “sit” and “in your room”. Rewarding him with a small treat insures compliance. Hudson is all about treats!
He prefers not to poop in his kennel and as long as I let him out regularly will hold it until he can go to the yard. Actual house breaking should be easy with this foundation laid. Tendency to “mark” will go away now that he’s been neutered.
Medical
DA2PP: 11-10-2018 (N.A.C.)
Bordatella: 11-10-2018 (N.A.C.)
Wormed: Nov 10, 11, 12, Fendbendazole: 12 ml (PMFC)
Rabies: Nov 30, 2018 by Claws and Paws
Spay/Neuter: Nov 30, 2018 by Claws and Paws
Flea/Tick preventative: Dec 1, 2018, Advantage
. Jan 4, 2019, Advantage
Heartworm preventative: Dec 1, 2018 NuHeart
. Jan 4, 2019 NuHeart
Heartworm Test: Nov 30, 2018 by Claws and Paws – result NEGATIVE
Progress Notes:
Updates on foster dogs are posted regularly. To check out those that refer to Hudson [click here]
Gallery
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales or videos about Hudson, click those to open the related story or video.
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Last night Sable started in on a monotone, metered barking that went on, and on, and on. Around 9:30 we decided she was not going to settle down and I went over to the bunkhouse and set up the BIG crate for her.
When I let her out of her kennel, she raced out the door before I could put a leash on her. But she went only so far as the nearest good patch of grass, squatted, and peed about a gallon. When done she came back to me, started bouncing playfully and rubbed on my legs, obviously appreciative of my concession to her needs. She is housebroken and did NOT want to pee in her “house”.
I felt so bad for leaving her so long!
Since I already had a crate set up I decided to go ahead and take her inside. She was a bit confused as we went out the gate (toward the truck), up the steps, and along the porch. When we got to the door she perked up. She peeked inside, ‘’Oh, it’s a house! It has weird furniture, but it’s a house!”
I took her to her crate and she scooted right inside. I gave her a cookie and bade her good night.
This morning, when I went to bring her back outside, she was still in her crate, the bedding was intact and dry, and she calmly let me clip on a leash and walked back to the play yard to relieve herself again.
She’s not giving me any trouble at all! I just don’t see the aggression she displayed at N.A.C. I suspect she will settle down quickly now that she’s here at Piney Mountain. That is often the case.
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Sable was dealt a tough hand in life and it’s not surprising she was mistrusting of people. Sable is here to learn that not all people are creeps.
Last updated: Jan. 28, 2019
Base Info:
Arrival date: Nov. 3, 2018
Breed: German Shepherd mix
Sex: Female
Age: Young, Adult, Mature, Senior
Weight: @ 65 Pounds
Spay/Neutered: Yes
General Health: Excellent
Temperament: She’s come a long way. Reserved around strangers but no longer fearful or defensive. Affectionate with those she knows.
Gets Along with Dogs: Yes (larger dogs)
Gets Along with People: Yes
Housebroken: Yes
Crate Trained: Yes
Departure date: January 18, 2019 –> S.A.V.E.
History
Sable’s mom left Sable with an adult daughter — then disappeared. Sable had 4 puppies at the time and would not let anyone near them or her. That put the daughter in a difficult spot, so she called Newport Animal Control to come pick up the lot of them.
Sable has been in residence at N.A.C. since March of 2018. She has survived this long because the Manager, Lisa, took a particular liking to Sable and they bonded. Lisa would have adopted Sable, except that the dog she already had did NOT like Sable.
Sable does get along with the staff at N.A.C. and they take her for walks several times a day, but she is (was) hostile to strangers. That has gotten worse the longer she’s been incarcerated at N.A.C. Her chances of adoption are slim to none, and now they HAVE to do something with her … so Piney Mountain Foster took her in and will work at calming her down and socializing her. Once that was done, Steele Away Home accepted her for rescue.
Known Issues
The aggression toward strangers is gone now. When she was spayed she was fine – if not openly friendly then at least not fearful – with the volunteers helping to manage the dogs at the event. Recently several rescue friends (new to Sable) have come to dog-sit for a while and reported Sable to be calm and friendly. She is ready to graduate the behavior mod class!
** NOT good with cats or small dogs. **
She and Rebel ( a Husky foster dog) are sweet on one another. They love to pay in the yard and he comes to lie next to her kennel and “chat” with her every chance he gets. She also likes to play with Hudson, and gets along fine with Blondie Bear. Sable is not fond of Callie, but Callie antagonizes her.
Sable is gentle on her bedding, in fact shows no destructive tendencies at all. She appreciates her comforts.
Sable walks well on a leash.
Medical
DA2PP: 11/2/2018 by N.A.C.
Bordatella: 11/2/2108 by N.A.C.
Wormed: 5/23/2018 Pyrantel Pamoate 6 ml by N.A.C.
Wormed 12/3, 12/4, 12/5 Pyrantel Pamoate, 10 ml by PMFC
Heartworm preventative: Dec 1, 2018 – NuHeart (PMFC)
. Jan 4, 2019: NuHeart (PMFC)
Heartworm Test: Nov 30, 2018 by Claws and Paws – NEGATIVE
Progress Notes
Updates are regularly posted on the foster dogs. For a listing of those that include Sable [click here]
Gallery
In roughly chronological order, newest at the bottom. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. Some pictures are linked to Doggy Tales and videos about Sable, click those to open the related story or video.
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When training a dog, I find that giving SMALL treats as a reward for proper responses speeds the learning process and makes the session far more enjoyable for the dog and for myself. But what do you do when you have a dog that is so eager to get that treat that she’ll take your thumb and finger with the treat if you hold it between them? Here’s my Trick for Treats:
When a dog is gentle about taking treats, this is not an issue — like Ugg:
When giving larger treats (not training treats) presenting them sideways to the dog helps prevent the dog from taking your hand along with the treat:
When NOT to use treats in training
When I first start training a dog that has been living on the streets for a while, I don’t use treats at all. These dogs are often so food-centric that as soon as they discover I’m carrying food they will do anything — including knocking me over and tearing open the pocket or pouch — to get it. They have no idea about doing what I want them to do to get the food doled out to them a morsel at a time. They want the food, they want all of it, they want it NOW. That can be dangerous.
So instead I reward these dogs’ good behavior with head scratches and neck rubs. And that may take some work too. Dogs that have been abused or neglected for a long time are not accustomed to being touched except in violence and will be skittish about it. Be patient. Take it slow. Earn his trust. Use a soft voice, and stay as low as possible so you are not towering over the dog. That’s intimidating to them. Also avoid staring at her eyes: her instincts tell her this is a challenge and hostility.
Once he’s adjusted to the idea that touching is pleasant, petting will serve as reward enough until you’ve gained enough respect that he will trust you to give out the food treats as they are earned.
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Rebel is a Husky. Huskies are opinionated about things. Apparently they are highly opinionated about their food too. Unlike most dogs, Huskies won’t wolf down anything you set in front of them. Oh, no … Huskies like things the way they like them. Linda Daniels is no stranger to picky eaters, she has a couple as live-ins as well as some in her list of former foster dogs. She’s been helping me solve Rebel’s aversion to eating. A few of the things she’s turned up about Husky dining habits are:
Arrival date: Nov. 3, 2018
