There is plenty to disagree with here but it's far from my mostly impulse pickup of the runt husky. I've been thinking about it since I came across the breeder in Feb. In my quest to find something that can fill my akita's place as she ages I came across a person who had brought hunting/guarding dogs down from northern canada. Similar to the more official northern inuit dogs used to portray dire wolves in Game of Thrones. There are also Canadian Inuit/eskimo dogs that I looked at which are a little more american akita type body with a touch of malamute than the longer husky and inuit dog's wolf-like body. The only breeder I could reach prefers her dogs go in the ring or on the snow and I decided against it. I was looking at siberian Laika which are similar being a siberian hunting dog but their smaller size and again the desire of all the breeders to sell to working homes that hunt at least squirrel mostly rules them out. I got a chance at one but it's in virginia. So like I said I came across this breeder in Feb with inuit dogs. There may be wolf back there, there is some malamute in them, and it's a local mix brought down to Indiana and bred for another 25years with a small group of breeders to be very bonded dogs for a variety of lifestyles. I asked the breeder about various activities with them and basically got back that these guys are lumps of clay you can mold into anything if you know how.
My current needs are slightly more psychiatric. I still have trouble doing things outside where people can see me because of constantly being yelled at and critiqued all my life. Being in this house that touches no other house, up in my bedroom, with my 80lb akita is the first time I've felt safe. I didn't even realize that I didn't feel safe and had that much anxiety. I have expanded and I think a psychiatric service dog would be helpful. Being hard to justify a service dog versus an emotional support animal (allowed in no pet housing, on planes, etc... but not any businesses that do not allow pets unlike service dogs) we will ignore that and move on to the fact I need a mobility dog soon. My back and core muscles are improving but we knew my knees would decline. Combined with my back I cannot go up and down strange stairs and some other situations. My side to side balance isn't there and I can't bring my legs tucked up under me very easily. At home I have developed certain places to touch when moving around some of the tighter corners and up and down stairs that allows me to maintain my position. I fell down stairs several times the first few months and again a couple months back. On strange stairs I have to turn somewhat sideways and edge one step at a time up or down. Putting both feet on each stair. I really can't explain why I seem normal until you put me in a few situations. I also can't get out of my kayak. I know what to do and the balance is there but the muscles just don't engage to do it. I can take falls in martial arts again but sometimes I can't find a way to stand up off the floor at home without crawling to an object. I did finally find a regular physician to help me investigate health problems instead of relying on my psychiatrist and whatever ER hasn't decided I'm a hypochondriac.
On to more questionable parts and why I'm asking here and not the dog forums.... This person and those who taught her how to work with dogs take the pups away from mom in the morning, bottle feed, and return them at night. They go to homes as early as 2 weeks. They mature faster than most dog breeds and are weaning at 3 weeks to raw (the breeder prefers) or to canned and then to kibble if the owner desires it. They are with humans every day until put back in their box with siblings (before going to homes) to sleep. That right there just threw me completely off but this breeder and her dogs intrigue me. Most importantly she didn't brush me off as annoying when I questioned her practice. I can't really lay out 6 months of conversations here but it sounds well thought out, well intentioned, and logical for what the dogs are used for. They would be closely human bonded lone hunters and individual guard dogs. I would have stopped thinking about it long ago but I know and can handle the spitz breed nature, I have a pack of varying well socialized personalities to raise the puppy, I have places to socialize it, I can do obedience classes and whatever other activities, and I already raised my akita to go anywhere I go most of the time. Even when she couldn't go in stores she waited with windows down and a water bowl except during heat extremes when my mom watched her. I already raised an early weaned husky to have good bite inhibition (there's a small amount of mouthing when excited still but she's only turning 2) and a good attitude towards humans and dogs that can be worked with even in unknown situations. I tore myself up over this "breed" type and early handling method for 6 months now while randomly asking the breeder questions at all hours. Right now I am convinced to go with it and at the top of the list.
My problems... First a setup to bottle feed and housebreak puppy. I have a friend who breeds akitas to help. Then, it's the service dog stuff. Where do I look for help in self trained service dogs? I don't want to step on any toes which is why I hope to just not deal with the ambigous ESA vs psychiatric service animal and declare one due to mobility issues. I'm told it will take 2 years of training and maturing for the dog to be fully capable to help me and I don't see my knees and back issues improving. How do I teach a dog to take my weight? What's the best way to teach right and left side movement to get in position? Knowing how much my akita identifies with her fleece blanket as her space I thought of bringing along a piece as a marker. Training the puppy to stay on/go to that space when told no matter what I do if I cannot have him right next to me. If you don't want the dog to greet everyone then how do you socialize the puppy and still remain aloof?
I don't know. This is where I don't know what I don't know to the point I can't even ask how to train a self raised service dog without potentially upsetting those that have service dogs. I know what I need but not how to start getting there and I'm not sure anyone knowledgeable will help me. Everything I find is about using one of that group's dogs chosen for you after being raised in another home and often their training classes only. One of my akita's brothers was used as a service dog so her breeder is going to try to come back up with the information they originally started with 10 years ago and the person who still has the now retired akita service dog. His need was obvious though since he's in a wheelchair with barely any vision and legally a quadraplegic. People don't question his disability needs and much of it was just having a big dog around to help move him and his chair while protecting him from things he can't see. Mine is more complicated, less serious, less common.... but still necessary. I'm lucky to not have broken anything but a toe so far. Otherwise lots of bruises, pulled muscles from trying to hold on to something as gravity disagreed, a gash on my arm where I landed in a broken vent... Puppies won't be available until Dec-Jan so needing a place to start I am rearranging the house, cementing husky housebreaking, and setting up a puppy raising area. I will have a system in place before puppies are wiggling around.
My current needs are slightly more psychiatric. I still have trouble doing things outside where people can see me because of constantly being yelled at and critiqued all my life. Being in this house that touches no other house, up in my bedroom, with my 80lb akita is the first time I've felt safe. I didn't even realize that I didn't feel safe and had that much anxiety. I have expanded and I think a psychiatric service dog would be helpful. Being hard to justify a service dog versus an emotional support animal (allowed in no pet housing, on planes, etc... but not any businesses that do not allow pets unlike service dogs) we will ignore that and move on to the fact I need a mobility dog soon. My back and core muscles are improving but we knew my knees would decline. Combined with my back I cannot go up and down strange stairs and some other situations. My side to side balance isn't there and I can't bring my legs tucked up under me very easily. At home I have developed certain places to touch when moving around some of the tighter corners and up and down stairs that allows me to maintain my position. I fell down stairs several times the first few months and again a couple months back. On strange stairs I have to turn somewhat sideways and edge one step at a time up or down. Putting both feet on each stair. I really can't explain why I seem normal until you put me in a few situations. I also can't get out of my kayak. I know what to do and the balance is there but the muscles just don't engage to do it. I can take falls in martial arts again but sometimes I can't find a way to stand up off the floor at home without crawling to an object. I did finally find a regular physician to help me investigate health problems instead of relying on my psychiatrist and whatever ER hasn't decided I'm a hypochondriac.
On to more questionable parts and why I'm asking here and not the dog forums.... This person and those who taught her how to work with dogs take the pups away from mom in the morning, bottle feed, and return them at night. They go to homes as early as 2 weeks. They mature faster than most dog breeds and are weaning at 3 weeks to raw (the breeder prefers) or to canned and then to kibble if the owner desires it. They are with humans every day until put back in their box with siblings (before going to homes) to sleep. That right there just threw me completely off but this breeder and her dogs intrigue me. Most importantly she didn't brush me off as annoying when I questioned her practice. I can't really lay out 6 months of conversations here but it sounds well thought out, well intentioned, and logical for what the dogs are used for. They would be closely human bonded lone hunters and individual guard dogs. I would have stopped thinking about it long ago but I know and can handle the spitz breed nature, I have a pack of varying well socialized personalities to raise the puppy, I have places to socialize it, I can do obedience classes and whatever other activities, and I already raised my akita to go anywhere I go most of the time. Even when she couldn't go in stores she waited with windows down and a water bowl except during heat extremes when my mom watched her. I already raised an early weaned husky to have good bite inhibition (there's a small amount of mouthing when excited still but she's only turning 2) and a good attitude towards humans and dogs that can be worked with even in unknown situations. I tore myself up over this "breed" type and early handling method for 6 months now while randomly asking the breeder questions at all hours. Right now I am convinced to go with it and at the top of the list.
My problems... First a setup to bottle feed and housebreak puppy. I have a friend who breeds akitas to help. Then, it's the service dog stuff. Where do I look for help in self trained service dogs? I don't want to step on any toes which is why I hope to just not deal with the ambigous ESA vs psychiatric service animal and declare one due to mobility issues. I'm told it will take 2 years of training and maturing for the dog to be fully capable to help me and I don't see my knees and back issues improving. How do I teach a dog to take my weight? What's the best way to teach right and left side movement to get in position? Knowing how much my akita identifies with her fleece blanket as her space I thought of bringing along a piece as a marker. Training the puppy to stay on/go to that space when told no matter what I do if I cannot have him right next to me. If you don't want the dog to greet everyone then how do you socialize the puppy and still remain aloof?
I don't know. This is where I don't know what I don't know to the point I can't even ask how to train a self raised service dog without potentially upsetting those that have service dogs. I know what I need but not how to start getting there and I'm not sure anyone knowledgeable will help me. Everything I find is about using one of that group's dogs chosen for you after being raised in another home and often their training classes only. One of my akita's brothers was used as a service dog so her breeder is going to try to come back up with the information they originally started with 10 years ago and the person who still has the now retired akita service dog. His need was obvious though since he's in a wheelchair with barely any vision and legally a quadraplegic. People don't question his disability needs and much of it was just having a big dog around to help move him and his chair while protecting him from things he can't see. Mine is more complicated, less serious, less common.... but still necessary. I'm lucky to not have broken anything but a toe so far. Otherwise lots of bruises, pulled muscles from trying to hold on to something as gravity disagreed, a gash on my arm where I landed in a broken vent... Puppies won't be available until Dec-Jan so needing a place to start I am rearranging the house, cementing husky housebreaking, and setting up a puppy raising area. I will have a system in place before puppies are wiggling around.
. I know, even after all these years, my husband still doesn't quite understand. I feel so guilty that every day when he gets up for work I stay in bed for a couple hours longer, but it's what my body needs. Still, I feel so lazy 
