Know all about your favorite dog breed
In this article, We’ll talk about are huskies protective? Huskies may look like the most fierce and magnificent dogs out there. Their wolf-like appearance and the various fairy-tale wolf sagas lead people to believe that Huskies may be amongst the most protective dog breeds. Actually, the opposite is true.
Are Huskies Protective-A Detailed Guide
Huskies definitely love and adore you but they have a very calm demeanor. It is rare for a Husky to get aggressive when its owner is threatened.
On the other hand, Huskies show possessiveness more often. This may also be accompanied by feelings of jealousy. Owners sometimes confuse this behavior with protectiveness. But in reality, Huskies are not protective of their owners.
Huskies are not suspicious by nature
Despite their fierce appearance, Huskies are quite contrary in temperament. They are extremely loving and affectionate. They were bred for a long time by the nomadic Chukchi people of Siberia who utilized them for pulling sleds and hunting for prey. They are the perfect family dogs and have learned to trust people easily to form friendships.
Because of their over-friendly nature, Huskies are not suspicious of strangers or new dogs. Like most other dogs, they don’t doubt the intentions of new people and make checks on them. It is not in the nature of a Husky to be suspicious.
The unsuspecting nature of Huskies makes them terrible guard dogs
This is also why Huskies are terrible as guard dogs. They would probably make friends with an intruder and invent games to play with them rather than suspect them. Your Husky could easily become the butt of jokes amongst burglars. The dog could lead their way into the house rather than driving them away!
Your Husky will probably not step forward to save you
If you are thinking whether your Husky would risk their own lives to save you from danger like in the movies, know that they wouldn’t. Although, all dogs are different and no two Huskies may be the same. It is possible for a particular Husky who has grown up with other dogs to develop protective feelings towards their owner. But it isn’t their general nature.
So if you are being attacked, you cannot depend on your Husky to step forward. They would probably prefer to save their own life. If your Husky feels threatened, they’ll probably defend themselves.
All the more, protectiveness may not always be a good quality. If you want your dog to be especially protective of you, you must go for breeds that are better known for this quality. Huskies are not the right choice for security and protection.
It is possible for your Husky to become somewhat protective with time
While protectiveness is not generally seen as a trait in Huskies, they can definitely develop this quality with time. If you’ve developed a close bonding with your Husky over some years, they are likely to become somewhat protective of you. However, this may be better-called possessiveness rather than protectiveness.
Huskies are less likely to become aggressive while defending you. However, if something threatens you, they may display some defensive traits like barking and growling.
Huskies have a pack mentality about your family
Huskies definitely love your family and visualize them as a pack of their own. The feelings of loyalty towards the pack might drive them in protecting their owners.
All Huskies are not the same
No two animals are entirely the same. While the members of a particular breed are expected to show some specific characteristics and traits, it is possible for some members to display different qualities than others. It is possible for some Huskies to develop feelings of protectiveness towards their owners.
Some Huskies are known to be inherently aggressive and they display such behavior when threatened. It is possible that they learned this behavior from other Huskies or dogs they grew up with. Know that there are exceptional dogs in every breed.
The possessiveness of your Husky is not the same as protectiveness
Possessiveness arises out of jealousy
Possessiveness is a different feeling than protectiveness. This is essential because possessiveness arises out of jealousy. Huskies are bound to develop a close bond with their owners and they are also very fond of their attention. In fact, Huskies are known to be amongst the most attention-seeking dogs.
If their owner’s attention is directed towards someone else, they start getting jealous. You will see this behavior in your Husky when you play with some other dog or pay special attention to some other person in their presence. This will not be driven by their possibility of harm to you. It is rather driven by the possibility of someone else becoming the apple of your eye.
Huskies don’t want someone else to be more important to you than themselves. Possessiveness will generally not accompany aggression.
You can train your Husky to be more protective
It is definitely possible to train your Husky to be more protective. Huskies are not naturally protective by nature. But they can be trained to behave the way you want. However, it may not always be right to train your Husky to behave contrary to their nature.
Your Husky will have to become aggressive to become protective
It is in the nature of a protective dog to display aggression. Huskies are not naturally aggressive by nature. In fact, they have a very calm demeanor. They are known to be especially friendly, affectionate, and playful.
If you train your Husky to behave opposite to what naturally comes to them, they might end up becoming dangerous to you as well. It is not always a good idea to turn a protective dog into an aggressive one.
You must not train a Husky contrary to its nature
It is not a good idea to train your Husky contrary to their nature. You must only strive to build upon the natural feelings of possessiveness and protectiveness that exist in them. It is best to accept your Husky the way they are. Turning them into something they are not isn’t fair.
Get yourself a naturally protective breed of dog
Rather than wanting a Husky to be aggressive and protective, you must get yourself a dog more suited to your main purpose. If your main intention of getting a dog is your personal protection, there are several other breeds of dogs more suitable for this duty.
There are several dogs who are excellent at guarding abilities and offering reliable protection to their owners. Such breeds include Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, Malamute, Akita, Giant Schnauzer, and Belgian Malinois.
Huskies are more suitable to be friendly family dogs
Huskies may not be the best guard dogs out there, but they are very well meant to be the perfect fun-loving and playful family dogs. You ought to understand the temperament of Huskies better before getting them home so that you are not disappointed later.
Huskies are very energetic and active
Huskies are full of energy. This is quite evident in the fact that they were used to pull sleds by the nomadic Chukchi people who first reared them. Huskies would be suitable for you if you have a very active lifestyle.
They require up to two hours of intense daily exercise. Huskies can easily run-up to a hundred miles at one time. If you have an active family, a Husky would be the perfect family member for you.
Huskies love to play
Huskies are very fun-loving and intelligent. They require a good amount of mental stimulation to be happy. They want to play all through the day and keep initiating games with their owners. They would be fun partners for your children and would keep the family entertained.
Huskies are wonderfully weird
Huskies are most wonderfully weird. They are known to whine when their needs aren’t met and they often throw funny tantrums to state their point. It is quite hilarious to see your Husky expressing themselves and reacting to every situation like a cartoon character. These weird creatures are bound to bring joy to your house.
Huskies are very loving
Huskies can be the perfect best friend to you. They can provide you emotional support and bring you certain joy in times you are low. Huskies are known to be extremely curious. They know how to make the best out of every situation and will adore you to the end of the world with their positive attitude towards life.
Conclusion
Huskies are not naturally protective by nature. Unlike typical guard dogs, Huskies are extremely friendly by nature and are always ready to form friends with strangers. Huskies are not suspicious by nature and make terrible guard dogs. They are very outgoing and affectionate.
If you want a protective dog, it would be better if you bring home a typically protective breed like a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler. Huskies are more joyful family dogs that will make you look at the bright side.