I came across a gorgeous 3 year old Siberian Husky the other day while looking for a dog to adopt. I immediately thought: energetic, mischievous, clever, needs a fence, loud. These are all well-known traits to this hearty and rugged Siberian breed, but I then found myself wondering: are Huskies good watch dogs? Fortunately a good buddy of mine is a vet and quite fond of Huskies so I picked her brain a bit, and this was what she told me.
Are Huskies good watch dogs? No. Huskies are not the dog breed you want for guarding your house. As an intrinsically friendly and pack-oriented breed, Huskies’ well-meaning and sociable demeanor tends to overshadow any inquisition of misgivings.
Selecting your companion animal entails more than a quick search and a single answer, however, so before diving in head first make sure to check out a few more things to make sure whatever you decide will be the best fit for you.
Suspicion
The main reason the Siberian Husky is not a preferred watchdog breed is their low level of suspicion.
Huskies were bred to work together in a pack to achieve their common goal, and this trait has led to overt friendliness to virtually any foreigner.
This doesn’t mean a Husky won’t attack if provoked, but it might take quite a bit to ruffle their feathers enough, and this is simply not a desirable trait in an animal meant to act as perimeter sentry.
To be an effective watchdog, a high level of suspicion must be upheld in order to actively alert its owner in case of any tom-foolery, and Huskies simply don’t have it.
Friendliness
Huskies are happiest when surrounded by others of their species as they are sociable animals who thrive in a pack setting.
This desire for closeness results an excellent family companion who poses absolutely no threat to little ones, but can leave a bit to be desired when it comes to matters of security.
If you had a few huskies they may end up cornering an intruder in the living room, but it’s more likely it would be a by-product of inquisitive sniffs and snuggles than executing an attack.
Trainability
Though ranking 14th in breed popularity, Siberian Huskies are not easily trainable for the entry-level owner as they tend to have a mind of their own.
A seasoned dog owner is the preferred stock for owning one of this breed as Huskies apparently view themselves as alphas.
A person must be firm and assertive without being harsh or abusive in order to gain the animal’s trust, and secure their position on the totem.
Beginning training as early as possible is the best way to get your Husky acclimated to your commands by ingraining the knowledge from the start.
A good level of socialization and a committed training routine will do wonders for your pup.
Energy Level
Huskies are the descendants of pack dogs originally bred by the Chukchi people in Siberia, for covering huge rifts of land while efficiently conserving energy.
This means these dogs have huge stores of energy that will almost never burn out no matter how much they’re exercised, so if you’re embarking on this adventure buy yourself some new running shoes.
The curious, ever-ready and can-do attitude of the Husky coupled with its bottomless vitality can make it quite a handful to deal with as well as provide a formidable test to its owner’s building skills.
You will inevitably find yourself consistently mending fences and filling holes at some point, and there will of course be the occasional fiasco where you’ll have to hunt your little buddy down and carry them home.
These are trying moments but worth it because as with everything, time passes and they will grow out of their shenanigans with age.
Escape Artists
Huskies are escape artists when it comes to household pets.
Most Siberian Huskies should be named Houdini, but I think that most Husky owners only find out about their escape skills after they bring one home.
You might even find that when you attempt to adopt your new friend you’ll have to go to great lengths in proving your property is secure enough to house the little rascal before they release it into your care.
In reality, Huskies try to break out more often when they’re bored.
If they haven’t exercised, or if the yard they occupy is not large or stimulating enough to satisfy their needs they will try to find something else to do, hence the escapism.
Huskies will go over a fence or under it if they choose, so it may be a good idea to dig and pour a concrete trench around the fence’s inside perimeter to prevent digging and install coyote rollers on top to discourage climbing.
Be sure to install a wooden planking fence rather than chain link.
Any void or hold the dog can grab onto will be used as leverage, and in the case of a chain link fence can actually cause damage to your animal by breaking its leg.
This said, Huskies are generally better suited to an owner experienced with such creative dogs as these.
If you choose to carry on as an entry-level Husky parent, expect some difficulties for a while until you and the dog gain a secure level of trust, and you discover its habits.
Husky Watchdog or Guard Dog?
There is a common misconception when it comes to the matter of watchdogs, versus guard dogs, versus guardian dogs.
Though their names are somewhat similar in their implication, all three terms in fact mean different things.
Watch Dog
Watchdogs don’t have to be large, they just have to be loud.
The watchdog’s job is to sound an alert whenever suspicious activity has been detected.
They are not there to physically defend the premises, but rather to make whoever is within earshot aware of the threat.
Having a watchdog as well as a guard dog is usually a great working combination when defending a home. A good watchdog would be something like a Spitz, or a hound dog.
Guard Dog
A guard dog is a dog specifically trained to dominate and secure a given area, up to and including inflicting harm on any intruder.
Big and burly dogs are best suited to this job due to size, usually sound, and sheer intimidation.
In the case of the guard dog though the chosen animal’s breed may not have been designed to do so, was later found to be effective for protection. When trained properly these dogs fill the position and do the job in top form.
This includes breeds like the Rottweiler, and the Bouvier de Flandres.
Guardian Dog
Guardian dogs hail from blood lines where their one and only job is to protect and defend, usually in a livestock situation.
Make no mistake, there are herding dogs, and then there are flock guardians.
There is a very different set of rules and mannerisms between the two, so be sure to arm yourself with knowledge.
Though guardian dogs can be trained as faithful and loyal companion animals, they thrive when working.
They will guard their flock -many times their human family- to their death, and anything perceived as a threat is swiftly detected and cut down.
This group includes breeds such as the Tibetan Mastiff, Kangal, and the Caucasian Shepherd.
Huskies descend from the working class as many of the much more punishing guardian dog breeds- they’re simply cut from a different fabric.
Size
Siberian Huskies are commonly mistaken for their cousins the Alaskan Malamute.
When considering a Husky’s size for a watch dog you may think to yourself, “well even if they don’t make the best watchdogs, at least they get huge and scary”.
Not true!
Huskies are long-haul, powerhouse working dogs and carrying excessive size and weight isn’t the most efficient way to go about it.
While Siberian Huskies tend to max out in weight right around 60 pounds, the Malamute can get up near 100.
If you end up with a husky, not only will it likely be an apathetic watchdog, but it won’t be very intimidating either.
Related Questions
Huskies can be trained to live in apartments but they must be exercised regularly to get their energy out. One more thing to think about is that many of them get bored when alone, so if you leave them on their own often, your furniture may not hold up for too long.
The Siberian husky is a hunter by nature, instinctively going after small prey for a tasty little snack. As a pack animal many huskies do very well living with other dogs, but cat-sized pets the or smaller may draw the husky’s attention in a negative way.
