Into the woods....

People are so funny. It cracks me up when people walk by Maverick at the park. Some shield their children like they are walking past an African lion. "Wolf" or "Snow Dog" are the most common phrases children call out. Others pour in front of him asking if they can pet him and get free kisses. Needless to say I can't walk a quarter of a mile without getting some sort of comment. That's why you will find us in the middle of the woods most times!


I started walking Maverick as soon as I got him. I started off in the woods, a more private setting before attempting the crowded park. Maverick has always done well on a leash until he spots a lizard, a squirrel(his favorite), a bumblebee or butterfly, or a leaf blowing in the wind. A couple outbursts of pulling and taking off on the leash like wildfire had me watching out and locating animals on the trail before he did!


My daughter Kouri loves to go exploring in the woods. She found her best bud on the trail....Maverick. Whatever Kouri picks up, Maverick must investigate. When she throws pebbles into the creek, Maverick lays right down beside her to watch.

Hello squirrels....where are you?

Early basic training (a work in progress)...

I am not an expert. I do a lot of research via Internet and Animal Planet. I have also volunteered a few years at a no kill shelter in Beacon NY. I pick out what I think will work and stick with what Maverick responds to best. I prefer to train him myself rather than drag him to obedience classes which I'm not entirely sure will work anyway.

Find the motivator! (I find food and toys to be the most common)

Maverick will do just about anything for a piece of food. I use puppy biscuits and ham. I have his full attention when he knows I have food for him. Well, unless a squirrel happens to wave through the window.

I train him by saying his name first, then the command. Hes rewarded when he figures it out and responds positively. There is no need to shout at a dog if he doesn't do as told. Trust me, he will be more receptive to a calm/firm voice.

Most huskies like Maverick are very intelligent and pick up training quite easily. That doesn't mean he will always do as he is asked even if he knows how to do it. Maverick sometimes will sass me or talk back. His basic commands he learned in a day...Sit, lay down, and give paw.

"Stay" took a couple of days to learn. I practice this command with the help of my daughter. She would place a bowl of food about 6 feet from him and we would tell him to stay for 10 secs and then give him a command of"OK" signaling its time to eat.

I have always had Kouri feed Maverick, I encouraged her to put her hands in and near the food, take it away from him and give it back. I do this with his toys and bones as well. He was a little growly at first with the bones, but soon learned that any negative behavior resulted in his stuff being taken away. I encourage this if you have small children! I am at the point where I can leave a piece of ham or biscuit sitting on Maverick's paw and he won't eat it until I say its okay!

Bringing Maverick Home....

I did quite the extensive research on the Siberian Husky before deciding on bringing one home so you can say I knew what I was getting myself into.

"OMG how cute, " was my initial reaction as well as a few other passengers as they wheeled him in with three other dogs on the luggage cart. Kouri, my four year old daughter was dancing around the pet crates trying to kiss all the dogs oblivious to the people around her.

I expected some whining upon looking into the crate, but there he stood...a big ball of fluff with wide eyes and erect ears not making a sound. He pressed his brown nose up against the kennel door trying to lick our fingers.

I had to say the ride home I was in disbelief. It was late, around 11pm. Maverick was in complete silence the entire ride home. Not a whimper, bark, or howl. He wasn't sleeping, we could see his eyes dart around the car from peering out at us to the flashing lights outside the car window.

As we pulled into the driveway I got his leash and collar ready so he could immediately go potty in the yard. He did his business and then plopped down on the sidewalk to chew on an apparently tasty pine cone.

I carried him through the garage into the kitchen and he nearly flew out of my hands as I placed him on the floor. With his tongue hanging out and tail wagging he was bounding around the kitchen smelling and licking us. My 10 year old grouch of a cat Oscar (fitting name) was hovering above him on the kitchen table, trying to make sense of what came through the door. After Maverick crunched on some kibble, Oscar exited over the safety gate not too impressed with the whole ordeal.

I was planning on keeping Maverick in the kitchen for his first night. The only room without carpet. I left a bowl of water, some new puppy toys and a cozy bed. Well, Maverick had other ideas about his sleeping arrangements. I certainly underestimated him. As we walked out of the room we watched him climb up the gate as graceful as a cat, heaving himself over the other side. Freedom into the living room! He was most undoubtedly taking notes from when Oscar did it!

So plan B.
He slept contently in his kennel next to my bed the entire night. Quiet as a door mouse.