Are Huskies Protective? (or just too dog-gone friendly)

Why do people get dogs? Most people would answer that they want a pet, some would answer that they need a pet for the kids. And many people will answer that they want it for protection or guarding. The Siberian Husky temperament makes the breed terrible guard dogs (they are so friendly and inquisitive that they will welcome strangers into your yard). But…are Huskies protective of you and your family?

So, are Huskies protective? No. Huskies are not overly protective but will react in defense, depending on the threat. The individual temperament of each dog is the best indicator of what to expect.

The Siberian Husky Temperament

The healthy, well-cared for, properly exercised, and well-loved Siberian Husky has an amazing temperament.

It will be cheerful, friendly, affectionate, highly energetic, and playful.

This, unfortunately, does not apply to anything small and fast like cats, ferrets, squirrels, or birds. These creatures ignite their prey drive instantly, so beware.

They are not aggressive, possessive, or suspicious, which are the traits that are associated with good guard dogs.

Remember: Huskies to not make good guard dogs and Huskies are not very good watch dogs, either.

They are very interested in everything that is going on around them, including human activities. Someone walking down the street is of immediate interest and if they enter the yard, well, that just dill’s his pickle!

They get very excited and will jump up at people because they are saying hello! not because they want to dominate.

Usually.

These traits make Huskies excellent dogs with family and friends:

• They tolerate and indulge children who treat them carefully (up to a point, naturally).
• They thrive being part of the family and contribute more than their share in companionship.
• They want to be inside with everybody else, sharing family activities, not outside, staring at nothing.

They are truly peoples’ persons.

I mean dogs.

Peoples’ dogs.

Are Huskies the World’s Cinderella Dogs?

No, well, they can and do growl and bite.

Huskies “talk” an awful lot. No sane person can call it barking. In fact, they often growl when playing or having fun.

They can be very willful, manipulative, and downright stubborn. They argue with you about the necessity to obey a command.

“You want me to do what? You mean, again? Forget it.”

Then your Siberian might proceed to throw a Husky temper tantrum. Click the link if you don’t believe me…it’s a real Husky thing. 😉

If you leave them alone and they have nothing to occupy their time, Huskies will howl.

HOOOOWWWWLLLL, and dig.

DDDIIIIIGGGG!!!

They are very clever dogs and Siberian Huskies will find a way out of a yard if they want to.

And they can find all kinds of things to amuse themselves with, like chewing your sofa, testing the thickness of your drywalls, loosening the carpets and rearranging them.

And so on. Not adorable.

This is not a dog for the first-time dog owner and certainly not for the one who thinks you can just shout loud enough or punish severely to receive obedience. You have to work hard at being the owner and providing it with sufficient physical and mental exercise.

If you do get a puppy from a reputable breeder the chances are good that it will have a positive temperament, but beware of the backyard variety – trouble will come your way.

Are Siberian Huskies Protective of their “Pack”?

It is sometimes difficult to decide whether a dog is protecting you from a possible threat or whether it is just jealous or possessive.

There are reasons why you do not see Huskies as police dogs or guard dogs – they are just not that interested in attacking strangers on command.

Surely they are aggressive, being so wolflike?

No, although they look like wolves they are not. They do not have the temperament of a wild animal like a wolf, although there are many similarities in Huskie pack behavior and wolf pack behavior. The alpha male will, for instance, stop fights from breaking out between sub-dominant dogs.

On the other hand, it needs to be said that a dog, any dog, is still an animal, not a little fur kid. Their minds work like an animal’s not a human’s. In any situation, they will obey their instincts, not think about what should or should not be done. As such, they will protect their young, and also each other, from preceived threat.

Huskies are pack dogs par excellence. That’s one of the reasons why they can all work together in a team to pull a dog sled for hours and days. Your puppy will perceive your family as its pack and will behave accordingly.

When it is grown, will it protect you, part of its pack?

Experience from Husky owners seems to indicate that it very much depends on the individual dog.

Some dogs show all the signs of being ready to fight and defend, while others are very keen on avoiding the situation.

What About the Ones That Kill?

A trawl around the internet will come up with several news reports and other items concerning Huskies that either killed other animals or even humans.

It is very hard to know whether all of these stories are true or whether there is some fake news in there (fake news seem to be on the increase, especially in electronic media).

One can not comment without facts but in some instances, the dogs are crossbred with other breeds known to be aggressive, like pit bulls or German Shepherds, and sometimes it appears that the dogs were being kept inside.

Huskies are not for amateurs. They are nor “direwolves”. Think before you acquire one.

Define “Protective”

We seem to automatically assume that being “protective” is a good and desirable thing, especially in a dog.

But is it?

What does it mean to be a “protective” dog?

Does it mean that nobody can come near you or your family? That you always have to first lock away your dog before friends can come to visit? That you always have to have it on a leash otherwise all hell breaks loose?

Protectiveness may not necessarily express a desire to ward off harm from you or your family. Instead, it may be stem from fear, anxiety, uncertainty, or insecurity.

Possessive behavior, in particular,  can be due to some nasty causes – when a dog growls, snaps, whines or attacks another pet or person, he’s telling you he feels insecure, is confused, and has a lack of confidence.

The result?

He is always stressed out. In his mind, his owner isn’t protecting him, so he has to protect himself.

He’s afraid some person or another dog will take something he cherishes like his dog food, food dish, bed, or toys.

This type of behavior is also called resource guarding, especially where it concerns the protection of food. It is a natural behavior pattern but it becomes a problem when you or your family is the resource that the dog is guarding.

You are not the boss any more, you have become a possession. It is not defending you to protect you, it is guarding you from being removed from its pool of possessions, or resources.

Puts an entirely different spin on the desirability of “protectiveness” doesn’t it?

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