When deciding to get a dog, you might wonder about each breed’s ability to defend you and your family from intruders or attackers. While you might not believe Siberian huskies are fearless protectors, they actually are one of the best guard dogs out there. These playful, intelligent pups make great additions to any family.
Thankfully, Siberian huskies typically lack aggression toward humans, meaning they’re usually safe to have around children as well. However, while they’re loving and friendly creatures, here are a few reasons Siberian huskies make great guard dogs.
1. They Are Highly Alert
Despite their playful nature, Siberian huskies are extremely smart dogs.
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Siberian huskies are intelligent, alert dogs. The slightest sound or change of environment keeps them on their toes, meaning they’ll be ready to jump into action if need be. This also makes them adaptable creatures, which is a necessary attribute of a good guard dog. While these pups likely won’t attack a human, they will certainly alert their owners of potential threats.
Additionally, because of their hyper yet gentle natures, many Siberian huskies can create a distraction that deters or de-escalates a possible attack. Even if they don’t physically chase away or strike an invader, they will still create enough of a ruckus that will likely cause an aggressor to flee the scene.
2. They Can Be Intimidating
Huskies are known for their beautiful, striking blue eyes.
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Siberian huskies are large, intense-looking dogs. Male Siberian huskies typically reach a size of 21-23.5 inches and a weight of about 45-60 lbs, while females are 20-22 inches and 35-50 lbs. With piercing blue eyes and white, gray, tan, or black fur, these pups give off a fierce appearance that would scare even the bravest attacker away. In fact, many even mistake them for wolves.
Though they have a gentle nature, they still have high energy, which can be intimidating given their large stature. Even unintentionally, Siberian huskies might still inflict pain on an aggressor who gets too close to them or their loved ones.
3. They Are Naturally Protective
Huskies come in a variety of coat colors, from white to tan.
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Siberian huskies can be highly protective of their families, especially when it comes to kids. They develop a sense of watchfulness that often goes unmatched. While they aren’t known to be aggressive toward humans, they will — at the very least — stand in the way of threats against their loved ones. Not only that, but they’ll act quickly to create noise and make you aware of potential threats.
These loyal dogs might not bite an intruder in your defense, but they will likely prioritize your safety should it ever be compromised.
4. They Won’t Immediately Attack
Siberian huskies are friendly creatures, but even they can be pushed to aggression if necessary.
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Many people assume a good guard dog is one that immediately attacks when it perceives a threat, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many “false alarms” that might set off aggression in other guard dogs, but Siberian huskies aren’t quick to fight. For example, if a loved one were to walk into your home unannounced, you likely wouldn’t have to worry about your pup mistaking them for an intruder and attacking. Rather, your dog would probably just alert you of the person’s presence. This means there’s a lower risk of unnecessary violence or a violent dog attack.
Still, Siberian huskies did make our list of the most dangerous dog breeds. In fact, this breed is typically motivated by catching prey, and since they’re on the larger side, they tend to mistake other animals and even small humans as prey. Additionally, Siberian huskies tend to have a higher attack rate than other breeds. According to the study we referenced, huskies were responsible for 3% of all fatal attacks.
More often than not, a Siberian husky won’t attack unprovoked. However, if someone were to get aggressive toward them or a loved one, they might bite back as a form of defense. If trained properly, this breed can make great guard dogs and gentle family pups.
Training Your Siberian Husky to Be a Guard Dog
Training your Siberian husky requires a ton of positive reinforcement. When training them specifically to become guard dogs, you’ll want to prioritize patience, loyalty, and ability to follow commands. You can start with obedience training (the simple “sit,” “stay,” and “come” commands) and progress to more complex commands down the road.
Keep in mind that huskies are energetic pups that need almost constant stimulation to focus. Providing them with an outlet to run freely will help them get their energy out and discourage destructive behaviors.
