I am curious gnasher, why do you let your dogs off the lead at all when ALL the breed clubs stress over and over again that they should NOT be let off the lead?

Why do you not run with them, do Cani X, bikejoring or run them on rigs?

O dear me, you are DEFINITELY rattled by my success. Your bitterness and jealousy shine out like a beacon.

You really should want to meet me, you might learn something! I learn every day, I have learned with these difficult dogs that I have chosen never to say never. At one time I said I would never use an e collar. But the alternative was to keep him on a lead the whole time, and that I would not do. I don't profess to be a good dog trainer, or a good dog handler, but I am a good dog owner. I know how to make my dogs happy, how to give them what they need not just to survive, but to live for as long as possible as healthily as possible. The whole time I am learning from other dog owners and other dogs. I know my dogs better than anyone else in the whole world, just as you know YOUR dogs better than anyone else in the world, and I now a well balanced, relaxed, happy, NAUGHTY dog when I see one! We took Ben on last June, he was aggressive, disobedient, under-exercised, anti-social, dominant and really not always very nice to know. We have totally turned him around, he is now slim, muscly, supremely fit, playful, loving, reasonably obedient, well-socialised, fantastic with children and other dogs and a joy to own.

Don't think we can be that bad, do you?

Oh Gnasher drop the drama will you? Nobody wants to see you fail, posters have given you good advice on training. What posters don't like is the thought of the bloody e-collar on poor Ben. Why do you think they have been banned in Wales, is it because they tickle or give a little jolt? NO because they are barbaric tools in training.

It's nonsense, that's why!! If you put the time and effort in, you do NOT need to keep Sibes and Mals on the lead the whole time.

We bike with them, in the summer months, along the canals for miles and miles and miles and take them swimming. I can't run any more because of my knees and back, and although cycling is very painful, I can do it. Rigs are out, far too expensive, we are broke!!

In the winter, we can't bike along the canals because the towpaths are too muddy and often under water, so we walk them for miles every day - at least OH does, me just at weekends. It is essential that they can be let off lead, if they couldn't OH would have to spend considerably more than the 4 hours a day walking them, and they would still not get enough exercise. They need to run, to chase each other, to chase rabbits, and squirrels in the woods. To condemn a lovely dog like mine to a life on the lead would be cruelty in the extreme. For any dog IMO. Dogs should be allowed to run free off lead, in areas where it is safe of course.

Your opinion Heather. Have you ever tried one? THEY DO NOT HURT - and I am the biggest wimp out!! They are uncomfortable agreed, and certainly cause a dog to jump - they have no idea where this jolting sensation is coming from!!

I would never use an e collar except in extremis, and I personally believe a dog running on a road or away across the fields is in extremis.

We now have a dog who doesn't run off, and is still the same loveable Ben but more so. I really cannot see a problem with this.

You clearly have NO experience of wolf crosses then! Or northern breeds in general.

They have little desire to please, they are supremely intelligent, probably more intelligent than me (which admittedly is not difficult )

Could you just drop the jealousy thing and ADMIT that we have done fantastically well with Ben is such a short period of time. Assuming you believe me of course, which I doubt

They need to run, to chase each other, to chase rabbits, and squirrels in the woods.

No rabbits and squirrels need to be chased, and if you allow your dogs to chase them then I am afraid you are being cruel by a) subjecting these animals to distress and b) keeping your dog's prey drive up!

To condemn a lovely dog like mine to a life on the lead would be cruelty in the extreme.

Ah so all the responsible husky and malamute owners who DO keep their dogs on the lead for their own safety and that of others are being extremely cruel?

Interesting views.

Why do your dogs need 4 hours exercise every day?

You really do talk the most utter ROT!! You will find probably far too many posts on here talking about how I adore him.

He is son of my beloved Hal, I could I not adore him!!

You really are scraping the barrel here.

O dearie me, jealousy is SUCH a negative emotion.

I'm off to bed now, I need my beauty sleep

But you are NOT putting the time and effort into training your dogs, you are merely using an electric shock collar to give it a jolt when it disobeys!

er since when were huskies and malamutes wolf breeds or wolf crosses????????????????