Its okay to be a little irritated sometimes. They can't always be happy with everything you do. If he still lets you do it, let him be vocal. My female protests everything, but shes not mad nor is she going to bite me, she's just stubborn. It's her nature.

seattlesibe wrote:

Because there is nothing harmful or terrible being done to him. He's just being obstinate and stubborn and he needs to learn that when I need him engaged and paying attention and calm, he can't have his way. He knows this lesson with many other issues, like food and toys and leashes, but this one is different and it is cause for concern for my partner and I.

We can't have a pup in Seattle growling at us whenever we need to wipe his wet feet......

Siberians are a very stubborn breed. It doesn't mean they are mad or going to bite you. He's vocalizing and you should not punish him for being uncomfortable and explaining his feelings.

I am not punishing him, I am trying to be his leader and teach him that I can help him achieve a more gratifying, peaceful state of mind.

Stubbornness is a form of tension and anxiety, and I don't buy into the idea that things need to be a certain way. I am teaching him that calmness and relaxation are possible, across the board. Growling due to stubbornness will not get us there.

He was stubborn about diving into me and screaming at meal times, and I taught that if he relaxes and is calm, then he can be fed. I control his rewards, and I can control his state of mind as well through leadership.

No punishments involved.

I think a lot of it is just due to them being very vocal breeds. PIppa HATES it when I wipe her off with a towel, she whines and protests, but she has no intention of biting me about it.

I agree that there is a point where their "stubbornness" isn't an excuse for behaviors, but if he's letting you do what you need to, I wouldn't try to break him of that.

Pippa makes a low growly noise in the morning when she doesn't want to get out of bed, but I turn the lights on.

They're just very vocal. Just like you might say, "Ugh!" when you were a little kid and your mom tried to fix your hair or your collar, he's just letting you know he doesn't like what you're doing, but he's letting you.

That's what I am trying to say Katie. I don't think there is any reason to even be concerned.

IMO, it seems you are over thinking it a bit.

I was definitely agreeing with you!

mheath0429 wrote:

That's what I am trying to say Katie. I don't think there is any reason to even be concerned.

IMO, it seems you are over thinking it a bit.

Perhaps that is true, and I respect you both on this forum very much. But now is the time with him to develop a precedent for what I expect from him in his life with me.

So if wiping him with a towel is simply a matter of annoyance and protesting and disagreement from him, then all the better and easier to show him there is another way to do this that doesn't get you or me all riled up and tense. If it is not aggression, and I am very pleased it isn't if not, then that just makes my job simpler.

Several towel wipes a day will be our life for 9 months/year in Seattle. I can not have him protesting and wiggling and "growling" and trying to run from me every time, that is unacceptable. That would be very poor leadership on my part.

Maybe it would be poor leadership, but my male still disagrees with me and he is quite well trained. He loves to test the limits, because he's a dog and is goofy. He is not a human, he does not reason like one.

He's not disobeying you, he's just being a dog.

Noted

I accept a lot of testing and contrariness and just warmly say "oh, my little Husky." And I love him for it.

However, practically speaking, this is just not going to be one of those allowances.