The striking blue eyes and wolf-like coats of the husky make them an intimidating breed to look at, leading to many people believing that the breed also shares the aggressive nature of their wolf relatives; but are huskies protective?
The truth is that – despite their appearance – huskies are not protective at all. This is due to their lack of aggression and sociable and trusting nature.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what makes a husky lack protective instincts and whether they can be trained as protection dogs.
Contents
Protectiveness Vs Possessiveness In Huskies
Before we ask if huskies are protective, let’s define what protectiveness is and how it differs from possessiveness. It’s important to distinguish between protective and possessive behaviour, as they can look very similar.
For a dog to be considered protective, they should show some level of aggression when they feel that their owner is in danger. This could be as simple as growling if they think a stranger is getting too close, or it could mean attacking if their owner is being injured.
Protectiveness is a trait that can be seen as either good or bad, depending on your reason for adopting a dog. For example, guard dogs need to be protective to fulfil their job of deterring intruders away from a property or a person.
On the other hand, you wouldn’t want a protective dog if you regularly welcome strangers into your home as they may be perceived as a threat by the dog.
Possessiveness is different from protectiveness as it stems from insecurity. A dog can become possessive of a person or an object that they form a strong attachment to, and will act negatively if they feel that bond is in danger.
For example, huskies can become jealous very easily due to their possessive nature. If they see that their owner is giving too much attention to another dog or person, they might feel like they are being replaced and ignored causing them to throw a tantrum or act aggressively.
Huskies often have the mindset that they don’t want to share their owners. This could lead to them showing aggression (barking and growling) at a stranger who gets too close.
Whilst this may look like they are being protective, it actually stems from possessiveness and the husky is very unlikely to act on their aggression.
Why Huskies Aren’t Protective
So, we now know that the breed can be very possessive but are huskies protective too?
The simple answer is no, huskies are not a naturally protective breed. Huskies have been bred to be sociable dogs that easily trust and befriend new people that they meet. They will very rarely show aggression towards a person and when they do, it is even rarer that will physically act on it.
This is the reason that huskies make such great family dogs. Despite their intimidating appearances, they are a natural friend to all and will welcome new people visiting their homes.
As a result, huskies make terrible guard dogs. They are not naturally suspicious of new people entering their territory and are much more likely to try and befriend an intruder than chase them away.
Using a husky for personal protection, whilst out on a walk for example, is one of the few times you might be able to convince a husky to be protective.
Your husky will naturally form a strong bond with you, simply because you are their owner. This means that your Husky will care about you and won’t want to see you hurt.
If your husky sees that you are in danger, they might show some protectiveness by barking and growling to warn the threat away. However, it is very unlikely that they will provide physical protection by attacking, as it is simply not in their nature to be aggressive.
For some people, the menacing appearance of an angry husky will be enough to scare them away. If you are looking for more substantial protection, then a husky is not the right breed for you.
Can A Husky Be Trained To Be Protective?
At this point, you might be wondering if a husky can be trained to be protective.
Protectiveness is a natural trait meaning that protective dogs are simply that way because they act on their instincts. Despite this, there are several guides online detailing how huskies can be trained to be protective.
The reality is that training a husky to be protective is extremely difficult and often dangerous. Huskies do not have the natural aggression required to be protective. In fact, huskies will typically only act on their aggression in extreme circumstances where they feel like there is no other option if they want to stay alive.
Huskies usually only become aggressive by nature if they have been subject to a life of abuse, causing them to see humans as the enemy. This is an extreme and rare circumstance that we do not encourage for obvious reasons.
We do not recommend trying to train a husky to become protective. If you are looking for a protective dog, you should consider other breeds that are naturally more suited.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve answered some of the internet’s most frequently asked questions on Huskies being protective. Check out our quick answers below!
Will A Husky Protect Its Owner?
If a Husky senses that its owner is in danger, it might bark and growl to warn the threat away. It is unlikely that they will offer further protection such as attacking the threat.
Huskies are not a good choice of breed if you are looking for a dog that offers personal protection.
Are Huskies Good Guard Dogs?
No, Huskies do not make good guard dogs. They are too trusting of strangers and tend to befriend people as soon as they meet them.
Huskies can, however, be good watchdogs meaning they will alert you to people being near your property but won’t show aggression towards them.
In Summary
So, Huskies are not a naturally protective breed. This doesn’t mean that they don’t care for you, they simply show it in other ways!
Huskies should be appreciated for being the excellent family dogs that they are, rather than be forced to act against their nature and become aggressive.
