seperation issues

Question
I have a 1yr old male husky who seems to learn quick "i.e. sit stay leave itthe only prob with him is the need to be under our feet on our laps at all times.We have tried everything from ignoring him to pushing him off and rewarding him but it lasts for 5 min then right back to it....Anything we can do? Thanks Greg Denver

Answer
This is perhaps the most difficult problem to deal with in dogs, and especially with dogs who are bred as Siberian Huskies were - to be pack animals.  One thing that can help is to understand the cause of your dog's behavior.

Since Siberians were bred to be pack animals, they thrive on social interaction.  This interaction can be canine or human, but they need something.  They are very intelligent dogs, but they need mental as well as physical stimulation to be happy and content animals.  There won't be any one miracle cure to this condition, but here are some things to consider:

1) Another dog.  Siberians, especially younger ones, often love the addition of another canine to the family.  It can be another Sibe, or another breed usually without trouble.  Just make sure the other breed is an active and friendly breed as well.  I generally recommend a dog of roughly similar adult size, but I've known plenty of Sibes who have done great with smaller canine friends such as miniature schnauzers.

2) Exercise!  A tired husky is a good husky, and the more exhausted he is, the more chance he is going to be content to be exactly where he is at.  Remember, you have a dog that was bred to run 100+ miles per day, pulling a sled in sub-freezing temperatures with 15 friends.  Wearing this type of dog out can be difficult, but it can be done.

3) Exercise!  Did I already mention that?  Well, not only is it important, there's another type of exercise out there that is extremely effective in wearing Siberian Huskies out - mental exercise.  While I would love to toss down the Sunday edition of the newspaper and have my Sibes figure out checkmate in four, or the latest Sudoku puzzle, mental stimulation for dogs is a little different.  Hard training is great mental work for dog.  Spend an hour TRAINING your dog.  Work on the basic obedience commands - sit, stay, down, heel, come, etc.  But then start working some new stuff in.  Maybe a down stay with a treat just a few feet from the dog's nose.  A sit on a new surface, heeling around obstacles, commands at a distance, etc.  The more you can vary the training, the more robust the training becomes, but also the more mentally exhausted your dog gets.  You'll notice that if you spend 60 minutes challenging your dogs mind, you will have a dog that will be all too happy to collapse somewhere.  Also, exciting social interaction is mentally challenging as well.  Take the dog out places and let him meet and see new things - that's a great help as well.

4) Playtime.  Some dogs thrive on this, others do not.  But playing with your dog - roughhousing, wrestling, chasing, tackling, etc. can be great fun and helps increase the bond with you and your dog, and develops more trust.

One thing that I would suggest if the dog is just consistently wanting to be a "lap dog" is to try working on a down-stay in a rewarding place.  Get a comfortable dog bed or something close to where you like to relax, and put him in a down-stay on the bed.  Reward him every few minutes, and slowly extend that time.  It should help some, but make it a positive experience and that should help.

Hope those ideas at least give you a starting point - but feel free to let me know if you need additional help.