Are Huskies Good Guard Dogs? (Protective or Pathetic?)

Huskies look like they could be good protectors, but are they?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions we get here from those looking to own a husky. We’ll discuss whether huskies will protect their own, and whether or not they make good guard dogs.

In general, huskies are not good guard dogs because they are not overly suspicious of strangers, nor are they aggressive.

In most cases, a husky would not provide much protection for their owner. But this doesn’t mean to say they wouldn’t try to intervene should someone/something attack their owner.

How helpful a husky would be when trying to help their owner is hard to say. Remember, this breed is not naturally aggressive or protective…

Are Huskies Naturally Protective?

Simply put, not really! Being protective or acting as some kind of guard dog just isn’t what comes naturally to huskies.

This is likely down to the way they were bred with the Chukchi Tribe for thousands of years. Huskies were treated extremely well with the tribe and therefore have become a loving, affectionate, family-orientated breed.

In addition to being very friendly, Huskies are not overly suspicious of dogs or strangers they do not know. Without being suspicious, huskies generally do not feel the need to be protective.

Contrary to what many people think, Huskies make terrible guard dogs as they are more likely to lick and befriend an intruder, than stop or deter them. With Huskies, their arms are open wide!

Would a Husky Protect Their Owner?

A common question, mostly from current Husky owners, is whether or not their Husky would protect them from an attack, either from another dog or person.

Most huskies will not provide substantial protection for their owner. Huskies generally back down when confronted whether it be from another dog or stranger.

Of course, this won’t be the case for every husky out there, but for most, it will be.

Protectiveness is an important trait and can be seen as good or bad. Whether you consider being protective good or bad will depend on why you’re getting a dog in the first place. If you are interested in personal protection or a guard dog, then the Siberian Husky will not be a good choice.

Times When Huskies Will Be Protective

There may be some times when your not-so-protective Husky will actually be a little protective.

After you develop your relationship with your Husky and you’ve had them for some time, they very well may show a little protectiveness over you and especially the household.

This protectiveness is likely never backed up by real aggression, but there may be some initial warning barks or growls if your Husky is spooked by something.

This likely comes from Huskies being extremely loving and loyal to their owners and their “pack” in this case the pack is you and your family.

On top of this, there will be exceptions and every Husky is different, you may come across other Huskies or owners who claim their Husky to be extremely protective and aggressive. This behavior could have been passed down from their parents or the way they were raised. There will always be exceptions.

Protectiveness vs Possessiveness In Huskies

Are Huskies possessive? Siberian Huskies are known for getting particularly jealous. After Huskies develop a close relationship with their owner, they can be seen to be very possessive over them if anyone else gets near them.

A possessive Husky will get rather upset when either another dog or person gets close to their owner, and they can show some aggression.

Many people mistake this as being protective over their owner, but in fact, this behavior is triggered through being possessive, As they don’t want to “share” their owner with anyone else.

Other than getting jealous, Huskies rarely ever show any aggression and this will be one of few times they may be seen to be “protective” over someone. (although this is actually being possessive)

Can You Train a Husky to be Protective?

Now that we know Huskies are not naturally protective, you may be wondering if it’s possible to train a husky to be protective. Honestly, a better question to ask is SHOULD you train a Husky to be protective.

First of all, it’s important to ask why and if it’s necessary to be teaching your Husky protective skills and behavior.

As I mentioned above, if you’re looking for a protection/guard dog then it’s best you get a different breed that has these skills naturally.

Protectiveness comes with aggressiveness. In order for any dog to be protective over their owner, family or property they need to have the ability to be aggressive.

Huskies are not naturally aggressive and are on the opposite end of the spectrum. The type of training and methods that you would need to use would be very risky and almost unfair. It’s not a good idea to try to make a friendly dog, become one with aggressive tendencies and at some point, it’s extremely likely this backfires on you.

If your Husky has a little possessiveness or protectiveness in them, you should accept and manage their natural levels of this behavior. I strongly recommend you do not encourage or teach it.

Other Breeds More Suitable for Protection

If you already have a Husky and are still looking for protection. It may be time to make an addition to your family.

Allow your Husky to be the friendly fluff ball they’re supposed to be. You may want to consider getting one of these breeds. They are great protection/guard dogs and they also get on well with Huskies.

• German Shepherd
• Belgian Malinois
• Doberman
• Akita
• Giant schnauzer
• Rottweiler
• Malamute

If getting another dog is a possibility for you, make sure to do further research. If your Husky is a male, it’s best not to get another male, especially of a different breed, as this will likely be conflicting and the natural desire to fight and claim territory could cause serious issues

This is a great video from Milper The Husky on Youtube. This demonstrates perfectly how Huskies can show a small amount of protectiveness but in the end, doesn’t amount to anything too substantial. This may have had a very different outcome if this test was with a German Shepherd.

Summary

Hopefully, now you better understand the temperament of Huskies and their protectiveness.

Despite there being methods and ways to make your Husky become protective. This is not advised and will likely lead to behavioral issues that could be hard to fix.

Enjoy the friendly nature of Huskies, just like how it’s supposed to be!

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