Siberian Huskies have earned a reputation for their striking beauty in the past several years. Many prospective owners get huskies because of their icy blue eyes and stunning coat. But once they get them, many find their character and temperament hard to control. Huskies are great pets and have many desirable qualities for owners. But you have to understand the breed before you get them.
So, do huskies make good family dogs? Absolutely! They are naturally friendly and sociable and love people and animals around them. Huskies will probably go and wag their tail and ask for belly rubs when a stranger comes to the home, intruder or not. They are also amazing with children, making them perfect family pets.
The only downside is that they are not for casual dog owners. Huskies need a lot of time, attention, focus, training, and effort to grow into perfect dogs.
Remember, huskies are not a Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, or a Golden Retriever. They have their own personality, often stubborn.
Famous as free-spirited dogs, they exhibit good nature and behavior with everyone. Playful, energetic, athletic, agile, and light on the feet, the husky loves outdoor activities. But training is something owners have to pay attention to.
Today, we will take a look at different aspects of huskies and their temperament. We try to answer the question are huskies good family dogs. Can huskies be good family pets? Absolutely!
History of the Breed
The Siberian Husky is a medium sized dog breed that originated in northeastern Siberia. The breed has a long history of serving as a sled dog, and its origins can be traced back to the Chukchi people of northeastern Asia.
The Chukchi people, who lived in the region now known as Siberia, relied heavily on their sled dogs for transportation, hunting, and other tasks. The Siberian Husky was specifically bred by the Chukchi to meet their needs as a working dog in the harsh Arctic conditions. These dogs were highly valued by the Chukchi, and they were often treated as members of the family.
In the early 1900s, the Siberian Husky was brought to Alaska, where it gained popularity as a sled dog. The breed’s endurance, speed, and ability to work in cold temperatures made it an excellent choice for dog sled racing and other similar activities. This is how the Alaskan Husky was born.
During World War II, the Siberian Husky played a crucial role in the war effort as part of the Army’s Arctic Search and Rescue Unit. The breed was used to transport supplies and equipment across the frozen tundra of Alaska and Canada, as well as to assist in the search and rescue of downed pilots.
Today, the Siberian Husky is a popular family pet and remains a common choice for dog sled racing and other similar activities. The breed is known for its friendly and outgoing nature, as well as its ability to adapt to a variety of environments and living situations.
Personality and temperament
Let’s go over and look at different personality traits of huskies. The American Kennel Club puts the Siberian Husky in the working dog group.
Friendliness
Naturally friendly, the Siberian Husky dog loves human and animal companionship. Go to any dog park, and you will surely see a husky playing with other dogs. Yes, they do look like wolves, but that doesn’t make them any scary or aggressive. They can befriend strangers they haven’t seen before.
Protectiveness
While they are friendly to strangers, they do show signs of protectiveness over their owners and close family. They can get a bit jealous if you pet other animals. They want you for themselves. They also get jealous when people come close to you.
Stubbornness
If there is one personality trait you should pay attention to, it is their stubbornness. Your Husky puppy is among the most stubborn dogs in the world. It is hard to deal with a husky that has put her mind into something. This behavior comes naturally to them. And it is why it is hard to train them. Beginner owners have trouble dealing with huskies.
Prey drive
For thousands of years, huskies lived in Eastern Siberia where they helped tribes with nomadic and hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This has helped them evolve a prey drive. Huskies caught food for themselves by hunting, so pay attention to their drive when training a husky.
Aggressiveness
We should have put lack of aggressiveness better. Huskies show no signs of aggression. They do not have that gene in them. They are not suspicious. A Siberian Husky puppy is among the worst guard dogs. This sled dog is more likely to wag their tail to strangers than alert their owner.
Escape artists
Siberian huskies look for an adventure in anything and anytime. They are great escape artists. Your husky can go over or under the fence in search of adventure. Make sure you have a solid fence that can survive digging.
But more importantly, provide plenty of play and exercise for your husky. This way, she will not look for adventure elsewhere.
Vocal dogs
Unless you live in a quiet neighborhood with little to no neighbors, do not leave huskies outside unsupervised. They are vocal dogs, and their howling will upset your neighbors for sure.
Why Should You Consider a Husky?
Here are a couple of reasons you should want to get a husky.
- They have medium size and furry appearance
- Free-spirited and playful dog
- Athletic and agile, thrive in outdoor activities
- Good-natured with strangers and other animals
- Sociable with people and animals
Why Avoid a Husky?
On the other hand, here are some reasons you might want to stay away from huskies. If you cannot satisfy their needs, try another breed.
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Massive destructiveness and howling when bored
- You cannot leave them alone for a long time
- Strong instinct to grab anything that runs
- Strong-willed mind
- Stubborn
- Heavy shedding
Should You Leave a Husky Alone?
This is one of the major issues with owners. Siberian Huskies do not do well when left alone repeatedly. They are great family dogs, but they do not like to stay alone. If you have to constantly leave your husky alone, maybe you should consider a different pet. Leaving your husky alone will result in behavioral issues and destructive habits.
While many breeds can function when left alone, huskies do not. They can develop separation anxiety and it will get harder to manage their behavior.
Can You Train Your Husky to be a Good Family Pet?
Are huskies really that hard to train? Well, depends on many factors. Huskies are great family pets, but under certain conditions. Solid training is among the most important factors in making your husky a good family dog.
Huskies are a stubborn breed. Training can have challenges and ups and downs. We do not recommend huskies for first-time dog owners.
When it comes to huskies, you need to start training the first day you get them home. There are different training methods you can use, but huskies react best to positive reinforcement. That is lure-reward training.
If you do not have a lot of experience with training, we recommend consulting with a professional. Do not expect husky issues to go away on their own.
Should you get a husky?
We talked about how huskies make good family dogs. They are highly affectionate and loving towards people, children, and other animals. While they are stubborn, huskies are primarily pack-oriented dogs. They have an independent character, but they crave company.
And now comes the “but part”. You need to provide solid training for your dog and lots of attention to solve all the challenges since puppyhood. This dog desires a lot of attention. And without it, they will misbehave and look for adventures elsewhere.
The most important thing you need to remember with this canine is they are stubborn, yet smart. They need plenty of mental stimulation to turn into a a great companion dog that will love young children and play with them.
Huskies excel with an active family that spends a lot of time outdoors. They do not like indoor life, so consider that before getting a husky.
