Are Huskies Protective? (Assault & Burglaries)

Facebook Messenger Twitter Pinterest Copy

Given their strikingly blue eyes and wolf-like ears, people believe huskies have the same dominant mentality as their wolf relatives.

This may be true, but are huskies protective?

It depends…

Table Of Contents show

👉 Husky Essentials

Siberian Husky Essentials

We understand that huskies are unique and require special care, so we’ve created this one-stop shop to help you find the must-have items for your furry friend.

Supplies:

Grooming Tools
Dog Food, Treats & Supplements
Toys & Enrichment
Training Aids
Comfort & Safety

Husky Supplies

Are Huskies Protective of Their Owners?

They can be. However, their response relies on the circumstances at hand.

Often, huskies aren’t skeptical or intimidating towards humans. Instead, they’re more like an all-fluff-and-no-bite dog breed.

Huskies have impressive wolf-like looks, resulting in people assuming huskies are violent and mean. However, huskies aren’t wolves, nor do they behave like untamed or undomesticated animals.

Rather, they’re just snuggly, charming, and innocent creatures who love to spend time with their pack.

Above all, they don’t have the right temperament for the role of assaulting and executing orders. Hence, this should explain why huskies aren’t one of the K-9 dogs.

But, if you were in serious trouble, e.g. someone started verbally assaulting and threatening you while you were walking your husky, I believe your husky would try to protect you. More on this below.

Are Huskies Protective if You Are in Trouble?

Huskies are very good at picking up on human emotions. So if you were scared, you can be certain they’ll sense it. I believe that this awareness of how you are feeling is what might trigger them to protect you.

For example, if the person threatening you actually turned violent and hit you, I believe this is the point at which your husky would certainly be growling, snarling, and barking at them, and maybe even trying to bite them.

But generally, huskies don’t bark, so your husky would only protect you if they sensed you were really scared.

Are Huskies Protective if Your Home is Being Burgled?

However, huskies are naturally friendly and have a gentle personality. So they aren’t likely to protect your home if someone broke in while you weren’t there. They are more likely to show the burglars affection than trying to protect your home.

But again, huskies are good at picking up on emotions. So if the burglars were scared or perhaps yelling at your husky, this might trigger your husky to go into guard dog mode.

Or maybe you were home and were scared, they would likely come to the rescue.

So, they can show protective behaviors towards their humans, given the right circumstances. And with proper training, huskies could become guard dogs, just probably not very good ones. 😂

Are Huskies Protective If My House Gets Burgled? — *On the lookout for burglars or squirrels? 🤔 Image from @florida_floofs*

Further reading: Are huskies friendly with strangers?

Is it Easy to Train Huskies to Be Protective?

No, it’s not easy to train huskies to be protective, let alone train them at all. Huskies can be temperamental and challenging to train, making them less suitable for inexperienced or first-time dog owners. As a high-maintenance breed, they require lots of attention, patience, and consistent grooming.

However, even though it’s not easy, it’s still possible! During training, your husky will test your determination and patience. It’s crucial to establish authority and show them you’re the alpha.

To train your husky more effectively, consider the following tips:

Use positive reinforcements: Reward your dog for good behavior with praise, treats, or toys.
Develop simple, memorable commands: Use clear, concise commands for better communication.
Maintain consistent training routines: Regular training sessions will help reinforce good behavior.
Discipline gently: Correct unwanted husky behavior traits using a gentle approach, without resorting to harsh methods.
Set rules and follow them: Establish boundaries and be consistent with enforcing them.
Define their territory limits: Clearly indicate the areas where your dog is allowed or not allowed.
Provide daily exercise: Ensure your husky gets at least one hour of physical activity each day.
Offer mental stimulation: Engage your husky with puzzle toys or training exercises that challenge their mind.

Consistent training and patience are key!

How to Train Huskies to be Protective

Training huskies can be challenging at times. Nonetheless, it remains beneficial to you as the owner.

Below are a few ways to train your huskies to be protective.

1. Teach Them Young

How To Train A Husky To Protect You — *Protecting toy ✅ Image from @husky_lover.igg_2*

According to a study, training puppies as young as four months old can significantly influence their behavior when they mature.

Furthermore, pups are a lot easier to train because they’re ready to learn.

At this age, positive reinforcement and simple commands like “bark” are the most effective teaching techniques you can start with.

This is also when you should expose your pup to humans and other dogs, helping them discover and enjoy new experiences.

2. Manage Their Stubbornness

A husky’s disobedience can get more intense than usual during training.

Typically, they behave this way because they’re not in sync with the training commands or gestures, which leads to more stubbornness.

Therefore, you should establish yourself as the house alpha or the pack’s leader. Huskies will show a lot of respect when they’re interacting with the pack’s leader.

Sooner or later, they’ll start following your commands.

3. Monitor and Show Interest

Before teaching your husky basic commands, observe their behavior to gauge their responsiveness. If you think your dog might struggle to follow the rules, consider hiring a professional dog trainer. Although expert help is not always necessary, having a trainer on board can make the process more manageable.

In addition, it’s important to teach your husky to react appropriately to new people approaching. When someone unfamiliar approaches, try to capture your husky’s attention and pique their curiosity about the unfamiliar sounds or presence. It may take some time, but eventually, your dog will learn to understand your cues and investigate the situation appropriately.

4. Give Huskies Their Favorite Treat as a Reward

Huskies enjoy receiving treats – well, who doesn’t?

After a tiring training session, your husky could take a break while munching on their favorite treats. So be sure to always bring some treats with you.

Give them treats when they successfully exhibit commands, like “stay”, “bark”, or “sniff”. This will speed up their learning through positive reinforcement.

Use Treats When Training Your Husky Puppy — *Treats are key to learning! 🤤 Image from glacier_huskypup*

5. Put Your Husky’s Skills to the Test

Test your husky’s skill with a friend to see how far your pet has come. You may ask your friend to act like they’re shouting or trying to escape. See how your husky acts over it.

Before attempting this, you should train your dog to bark only after the stranger gets away.

Repeat this scenario until your husky recognizes who’s an intruder and who’s a friend.

6. Positive Reinforcement All the Way

Your dog may make mistakes from time to time. If that happens, don’t be too hard on them as huskies are emotionally sensitive.

For instance, your dog heads in the wrong direction. Refrain from yelling, “No!” or “Bad boy/girl!”

Instead, show them how to do it correctly and praise them when they do the action right.

Often, when you’re mean to your husky, they’ll likely shove you away and ignore you, even if you’re in trouble.

Positive reinforcement is one of the best types of dog training methods.

Huskies Can Be Protective, But Don’t Count On It

So, are huskies protective? Yes, huskies can be protective, but don’t rely on them to protect you, unless you’ve specifically trained them to do so. Although they aren’t the best guard dogs.

Have you ever been in a situation where your husky protected you?

Share your experience in the comments below.

Further reading:

FAQ