Lose Stool

Question
QUESTION: I have a 9 week old female sibe and I cant for the life of me get her stool solid on a regular basis. In the Morning when hse does her business her stool is perfect but all day when she goes its runny. I have her on a very good diet consisting of Blue Buffalo puppy kibble and homemade elk stew with potatoes, carrots, and rice. her stool has been checked and came up clean from a vet and she seems perfectly healthy. Any ideas?

ANSWER: First, don't worry about it too much.  Inconsistent stools are just something a lot of puppies deal with.  If you notice that they are never firm, then you should worry and start working on things.  Inconsistent is actually quite normal, and if you've had the vet look at everything else, you should be fine.  One thing that may help though is to separate her feedings into smaller portions.  Loose stools is often a sign of over feeding, and while you may or may not be feeding too much overall, too much at one time can cause the same condition.

Hope that helps some and feel free to let me know if you need anything else.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the help I'll be able to sleep a bit better at night now. I do however have 1 more question. I know this is a quite diverse issue among sibe owners but what is your take on the "no leash" policy for huskies? Im applying this to lake trips and camping etc. NOT casual running around the neighborhood and such. But I would really enjoying letting her run around off leash at the lake and when were camping. I have trained her extremely well and for the most part she listens as well as a puppy could i suppose. Whats your take with this issue?

Answer
This is a tough one, but here's what I've seen.  First, my dogs are never left off-lead if they are not in an enclosed area.  I've trained both of my dogs for recall, and even know a few tricks in case they ever get off lead, but I don't test it.  I've run into and heard from many owners who have had varying degrees of success with off-lead Sibes.  Some have lived their whole lives with little to no problem, but here are two stories that I've had related to me that sell me on the idea of "not worth the risk."

First, both these stories had Sibes that were well trained, well loved, and well behaved.  Both Sibes had been trusted off lead for years - one for over four, and the other for over 9.  No problems.  Sure, there was the occasional willful disobedience of a dog that wouldn't come when called, and still wanted to explore, or the "No, seriously - leave the squirrel alone!!".  Nothing serious, and nothing that you would be surprised to find a Sibe doing.

The first story told to me was of the five year old dog, let off lead since about a year of age.  The couple often took their dog hiking in the woods, and he would run around, but always be within ear shot, and if he got too far, a quick call and he would at least come back in the area.  One day, he ran to the top of a hill and stood looking around waiting for his owners to catch up.  Just a few feet off, they didn't think anything when he continued on the trail just out of sight over the little hill.  When they got to the top of the hill, their Sibe was running through the brush after seemingly some small animal.  A normal chase game - they yelled to call him off.  The Sibe ignored them and they started out after him.  Within minutes he was out of sight, and while they looked, they could never find him.  The Sibe's recall was broken by the thrill of the hunt.

These story has a slightly painful but happy ending.  The dog was indeed picked up and thanks to a microchip was returned to his family, severely starved and weak, but overall in good spirits.  The Sibe was lost for nearly 6 months before that day though.

The second story is an older husky, trusted off lead in much the same way (after about a year or so of training).  Everything was fine, until a walk turned into a chase (after a small animal) and the chase turned into a car accident that killed the dog (as the Sibe crossed a relatively isolated road with little traffic).

To me, it only takes one mistake, and I'd rather not have that risk.  The Siberian prey drive is too strong, and the fact they were bread for focus, running, high prey drive, willful disobedience, and as nomadic dogs who lack a homing instinct . . . to me it's too risky.  Perhaps if they had just one of these traits removed, it would be easier to justify, but each of those traits are bred into the husky for a reason, and all of them work against the Siberian ever being trusted off lead.

On the flip side, of my current two Sibes, one, the male, I think I could trust off lead most of the time.  The female I know I never could, regardless of the amount of training I could give her.  She's too stubborn and adventurous.  So if you decide to do it (which I recommend against), don't decide to do it until you've worked with the dog for several months (preferably a year ).  And don't force it, see how your dog responds and realize that you may have one of the exceptions, or you may have the rule.  And in any case, realize that the dog can NEVER be trusted off lead, but if the risks are outweighed by the benefits . . .  then that is indeed your call.  It is nice to see a dog free and running, but a small fenced in backyard can be good for that.  It's also great to see a dog performing a job it loves, which for a Sibe is pulling and leading.  I hope that helps some, and I think you can understand my point in not recommending it, but I have seen some owners who have had success with it, but I always look at it as tempting fate.