Can Huskies be service dogs? Siberian Huskies are famous sled-pullers, but can they serve humanity in non-mushing ways? I wanted to put my Husky to work (without moving to Alaska and buying a sled), so I decided to find out.
So, can Huskies be service dogs? Yes. The Service Dog Certification Organization accepts any dog breeds, including Huskies. Most countries have laws that do not specify certain breeds only. There are many Husky service dogs that can be found through dedicated trainers.
A 1983 survey of owners, breeders, trainers, and judges of service dogs came up with a list of unsuitable breeds.
It was based on behavioral traits. It listed the Husky under:
“Low trainability, high aggressiveness.”
Unfortunately, this became a standard prejudice. Of course, some Huskies do have those traits. But there are many individual dogs who do not. Any Husky has the potential to be trained as a service dog. Keep reading to find out what kind of service dogs Huskies can become (and step-by-step instructions for your Husky to be a service dog).
What are Service Dogs?
Assistance Dogs International is the international authority on different kinds of assistance dogs.
They recognize three types of service dogs:
- Guide Dogs – for the blind and the visually impaired.
- Hearing Dogs – for the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Service Dogs – for people with disabilities other than those related to vision or hearing.
Perhaps it is helpful to give the official definition of a service dog in the USA. It is an official definition because it comes out of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (Title II and Title III for those who want details, like me!):
“A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.”
Now, this definition covers guide dogs and hearing dogs as well. And to come back to Huskies, this Act also states clearly that any breed of animal can be a service dog. So there.
Dog trainers have their own terms for different kinds of service dogs. They are:
- Assistance Dogs
- Rescue Dogs
- Personal Protection Dogs (gee, I’m sure we call them Guard Dogs!)
- Estate Guard Dogs (oh. What?)
- Sled Dogs (yay!!!! Huskies!!!!)
You also encounter “therapy dogs”.
They are not in any of the above categories. The main difference is that therapy dogs are trained to interact with people who are not their handlers or owners.
Then there are “emotional support dogs”.
They do not receive formal training. They support people with an emotional or psychological disability.
Not anybody can call their dog or pet an emotional support animal. People who need such a dog or pet, need a letter from a mental health professional.
Even More Kinds of Service Dogs
The American Kennel Club recognizes additional kinds of service dogs:
- Mobility Dog
- Medical Alert Dog
- Autism Service Dog
- Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD)
The last one is a much more serious sort than an emotional support dog.
They are trained to do very specific tasks like helping a person back home after they have wandered off.
These dogs for example, also help veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
A person qualifies to have a PSD with a specific mental health diagnosis. That the person is psychiatrically disabled to the degree that he/she is unable to perform at least one major life task without assistance on a day to day basis.
Read about a Husky that became a PSD – it is possible to train Huskies to do these things!
How Your Husky Can be a Service Dog
Training to be a service dog obviously differs according to what kind of service the dog is to perform.
Usually, the Husky will be bred from the outset to become a specific service dog. The organization will also train and certify the dog.
That said, your Husky can become a service dog. Before you start, these are the requirements:
- The dog must be neutered or spayed.
- Not younger than six months.
- Have the right temperament.
- Have no existing or potential health problems.
- You need to have lots of money for professional training. Training the dog yourself is an option, but you need to consider the pros and cons carefully.
- It takes at least two years to complete training.
- Registration: most countries do not have a legal requirement for service dogs to be registered, but there are benefits. Registration with most bodies will include a statement that your dog has passed the Public Access Test.
If you would like your Husky to become one of the types of emotional support dogs, try this advice from the ESA Doctors site.
To train as a Search and Rescue dog, read this.
Personal protection, security, and guard dogs need very specialized training.
You will train together with your dog.
Are Service Dogs and Working Dogs the Same Thing?
No, not according to the official definition of service dogs.
There are dogs who work without human disability being a prerequisite. They include Police dogs, also called Law Enforcement Dogs. Their handlers need to be very fit and active, not disabled at all!
Similar to Police Dogs are U.S. Customs & Border Protection Dogs, Search & Rescue Dogs, Fire Dogs (oh yes there is such a thing!), Military Dogs, and Farm Dogs.
Farm Dogs?
Yes, they are working dogs who specialize in different jobs!
- Guarding livestock.
- Herding farm animals
- Ratters / pest control
- Multipurpose dogs
Livestock guardians are big, strong dogs like Mastiffs.
Herders are not only “sheepdogs”.
As we know from “sheepdog” competitions on TV, there are different breeds that herd.
Best known are the Border Collies. Australian Cattle Dogs are also becoming more generally known.
And those cute, frisky little Jack Russell dogs?
They are so busy because they are trained ratters! Most of the terrier dogs are excellent at tracking and catching rodents.
Multipurpose dogs are exactly that – they do everything!
So are there any working Huskies?
Man, ask any sled dog operation and they will tell you Huskies Work! They enjoy it immensely of course if you treat them right. Ethical training and sledding are non-negotiable.
What about hunting dogs?
Very controversial.
Although Huskies probably would make good hunters – seeing as they have this very strong predatory instinct.
A Few Huskies That are Service Dogs
There are living, breathing, Huskies that are successful and loved service dogs. Here are three, living proof that Huskies can be service dogs.
One named Keisha was initially trained but developed epilepsy. Her owner was so thrilled with Keisha’s response that she got another Husky named Duke to be fully trained.
The owner was born blind and then suffered a severe spinal injury. And she chose Huskies to replace her retired yellow Labrador.
Now that’s what I call a vote of confidence!
Read more about Keisha, Duke, and their owner here.
Then there is Rainier – a delightful FaceBook dog with a great sense of humor!
Banner, a Husky service dog in Menlo, Georgia, made the news in July 2018 as a rescuer of abandoned kittens!
Very unusual, as Huskies are known to hunt cats…
Related Questions
Husky temperament is described as gentle, reliable, friendly, extremely energetic, highly social, very intelligent, and trainable. Service dogs need all those traits except the high energy. This requirement can be met by a determined owner. You do need to have a lot of patience and understanding and be the undisputed pack leader to successfully train a Husky. Perhaps the right question would be whether the human has the right temperament for the Husky.
There is some evidence that it is not a good idea to do the selection on puppies. Then there are dozens of considerations when you do your selection on adult dogs. There are even formal tests such as the Weiss and Greenberg Temperament test. It is better known as the SAFER (Safety Assessment for Evaluating Rehoming) test. Even if a dog makes it through the selection process, it may still fail. It is generally accepted that only one in one thousand dogs can be successfully trained as a service dog. The selection process all starts with the particular needs of the person. This includes physical needs as well as other needs.
