Tag: Husky

If you have ever owned a husky, you know they can be full of sass and drama and they love to talk. This breed is also known for a few unwanted personality traits, usually regarding aggression towards small dogs. People ask, “why does my husky attack small dogs,” but the answer is not always that simple.

The main reason is that huskies have a high prey drive and many behaviorists speculate this trait comes from when their ancestors used to hunt smaller critters for food and survival.

Prey drive is often the main motivator with attacks on smaller dogs but is often not the only one. There can be many reasons why your husky is showing aggression and attacking small dogs and other animals. Below is a list of possible explanations and ways to fix the problem.

Why Is My Husky Attacking Small Dogs?

There are several explanations for why your husky may be displaying aggressive behavior towards or actually attacking a small dog or other animal. Besides the excuse of their naturally strong prey drive, they may also be trying to protect you or themselves or just be lacking in the socialization department.

Huskies And Their High Prey Drive

Huskies are clearly not the only breed that displays these unwanted aggressive behaviors due to their overactive prey drive, but they are notorious for going after smaller animals, like other dogs and cats.

Having a high prey drive is something that is normal and valued with working breeds of dogs like those who herd cattle or do bird retrieving. Although, for just the average pet parent, these behaviors may become unmanageable or potentially dangerous in the wrong environment.

Other dog breeds known for having a high prey drive are Alaskan Malamutes, Australian Cattle Dogs, Jack Russel Terriers, Whippets and many more. These dog breeds also range significantly in size and temperament.

Lack Of Socialization with Small Dogs

Socialization is extremely important in desensitizing your dog to certain distractions, animals and people. Many dogs are unfortunately unsocialized and this can lead to dangerous situations when they are introduced to something new and different. Let’s be honest, situations like a pandemic don’t help!

It is important to take appropriate steps when introducing your husky to another dog. Always have them on a leash and keep their focus on you when others are around. Teaching them that the smaller dog is not food or a toy is a first start to preventing scary situations.

Be sure to have control in this environment with your husky. Again, always have them on a leash and in your field of view. Not watching or understanding Husky body language signs and not familiarizing yourself with your dog’s social cues could end in disaster if you allow yourself to become distracted.

Accidentally Teaching Them

Unfortunately, it is possible to teach your pet to do something undesirable, such as an aggressive behavior. If your method of trying to get them to stop an unwanted activity is to feed your husky a treat or coddle him, then you have only reinforced the negative trait.

Not enforcing a negative behavior with a positive one will help them understand what is acceptable and what is not. Even if they or the situation is causing you anxiety, keeping calm and regaining your control over them is necessary to help deescalate the event.

Why Does My Husky Attack Small Dogs? Need to Dominate

Huskies are a naturally bossy and domineering breed of dog. They like to argue with owners and tell them how it is. Asserting their dominance over other dogs is not unusual for this breed and if they don’t feel the smaller dog submitting to them, they may use force.

If your husky is displaying these dominating behaviors with you or other dogs, then it would be important to provide training. Breaking them of the mindset that they are always the boss is safer for everyone in the household. They should always view you as their boss, not the other way around.

Protecting Their People

Many dogs will show aggression if they feel like they need to protect their owner from someone or something. Letting them see that the little dog is not a threat and is a friend would be the first step in teaching them to curb their aggressive tendencies.

In some situations, the little dog is the initial aggressor, triggering your husky to react negatively toward him. If this is the case, then removing your dog from the situation would be best. If this is not possible, then keeping them separated until both dogs can socialize appropriately would be necessary to avoid any fighting.

Keep both dogs on a leash at all times when they are around each other!

How Can I Keep My Husky from Attacking Small Dogs?

Training is an excellent resource for many owners when unwanted behaviors are seen, especially ones with aggression towards other dogs. However, not every case is going to be a success. Age and temperament play two very large roles in how the dog will respond to training.

Leash Training Your Husky

Having your dog on a leash when in unsure environments with other dogs or animals is safest for everyone. Your dog should be able to pay attention to you when it is leash time and making sure that they will respond to your commands is crucial in having total control over a situation.

Your dog should sit on command and should not be ignoring you. If you struggle to get your dog to focus while on a leash you will need to stop this type of activity until they can control themselves.

Redirect And Focus Their Attention on You

Redirection and focus on you as their owner are key to keeping your dog in line. Awareness and recognizing the behavior before it actually happens will help prevent any altercations.

Food is often a good motivator for keeping your dog’s attention on you. If they prefer a toy, then use them. Keeping your dog’s focus is what will truly help minimize any undesired activities.

What If My Husky Lives with A Small Dog?

Sometimes fighting will occur among canines that live together, such as your husky and a small dog. If they were introduced into this situation later in life, then some precautions may be necessary to protect everyone in the home.

Keeping your husky on a leash until he can be trusted around the small dog is crucial. This is when using treats as a way to keep their focus on you is most important. You would also want to have the small dog on a leash as well to ensure it doesn’t get into the husky’s space before he is ready.

Will My Husky Stop Attacking Small Dogs?

Unfortunately, the answer is mostly dependent on your husky and the steps you are willing to take to fix his behavioral issue. Sometimes success is seen when training, socialization and desensitization are performed. In rare cases, the husky is never broken of this unwanted behavior and is simply kept away from small dogs and other little animals.

Age – Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

The age of the husky does matter, but it doesn’t mean that an old dog can’t be trained. It is less likely that a long-time, bad habit and ingrained behavior like aggression can be broken from a much older pet that is stuck in his ways.

It is true though that a young dog will be much more impressionable and easier to train. They tend to be more amenable to direction and less stubborn about changing a bad or undesirable behavior.

This is why you should always socialize your pup with other dogs and people when they are young. Usually getting them comfortable with the idea of new places, humans and animals by the time they are only 3 or 4 months old will help significantly with fear and aggression in their future.

Huskies Aren’t Bad Dogs Naturally

The husky breed was not created to be a protector or territorial, therefore, aggression is not necessarily common. While their aggressive nature towards small dogs is known, the majority of the dogs will friendly with people and other animals.

Your job as an owner is to start your dog off on the right foot with socialization and training, in order to ensure that they don’t develop any dangerous or unwanted behaviors.

Why does my husky attack small dogs? A lack of one or both of these crucial exercises can explain why and lead to potentially scary situations!

Dogs howl from time to time as a response to their environment. We often find dogs howling at loud sounds such as sirens but no breed of dogs howls like good old huskies do. Husky owners notice that their pals howl more than other breeds. But, why do huskies howl? Are they being dramatic or is it just in their nature?

Why Do Huskies Howl? Here’s why

While it is true that your huskies can be a little dramatic, their howling has been passed down to them from their ancestors. Evolutionary biologists have shown that all domestic breeds of dogs are descendants of wolves, however; huskies are much more closely related to wolves than other breeds containing about 25% of their genetic attributes which sums up their uncanny resemblance to that of wolves. Their howling is also a result of that.

What is Your Friend Husky Trying to Tell You When He is Howling?

There is an extremely popular myth that huskies howl only as a sign of sadness or loneliness which in reality could not be further than the truth. Yes, huskies do use their howls as their prime way of communication rather than barking but it certainly does not mean that they are expressing such feeling.

Many wildlife scientists have tried to crack the code but no one has been able to align the patterns. In short, we have yet to fully understand why huskies howl.

Here, we might as well bust another old myth. It is widely thought that wolves howl at the moon. Now, wolves are very closely related to huskies. If that was true, it would suggest that maybe huskies would also howl at the moon but that is highly incorrect. None of them howl at the moon. There is an explanation for that. Wolves are predators. They hunt at night.

Whenever they spot prey, they howl to express excitement. Also on those cold nights, it was easy for them to reach their pack through loud howling. Even though their descendants have been domesticated and do not need those behaviors anymore, they still have them. Now, they use their howling mostly to grab their owner’s attention. It certainly does not mean that they are always howling out of loneliness.

To know why a husky might be howling; it is extremely important to understand their body language.

Why do huskies howl? A look at 3 main causes

Music

You may listen to music in the company of your dog and see him start to howl. You might even have thought that this reaction was due to your dog not being comfortable with this type of stimulus, but according to experts, this is usually not the case. So why is your dog playing wolf?

A dog that howls while listening to music is actually trying to accompany the melody with its howl. Obviously he does not try to reproduce the same melody, but by his howling he participates in the music and tries to interact with it.

According to current knowledge on canine behavior, a dog who is howling is not disturbed but rather he expresses pleasure in the melody being played. So there is nothing to worry about when faced with a dog who plays wolf to the sound of music.

 

Is a dog always comfortable with music? Of course not, but in this case your Husky will not howl and try to move away from the sound source. When listening to music, try to ensure that your dog has a quiet place to go if he does not want to be exposed to the sound stimulus.

The high sensitivity and highly developed hearing that dogs enjoy in general are still the subject of many studies today, so we have a much better comprehension of a dog’s senses.

High-pitched sounds

A dog’s hearing is much more developed than ours. Indeed, the dog is able to perceive sounds up to 60,000 Hz, while a human can only hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz. This is why dogs are able to perceive sounds that are imperceptible by us.

But why do Huskies howl when they hear high-pitched sounds? They usually responds at frequencies that we don’t notice, he responds to a stimulus that may be uncomfortable for him. This is why some dogs howl when they hear guns, while others howl when they hear a flute.

Besides the fact that this is a high pitched sound that can sometimes be annoying for some dogs, there are other reasons dogs howl when an ambulance passes.

Sometimes dogs howl when they hear sirens because it reminds them of the howls of their fellows.

Social response

It’s important to point out that howling itself has several social response meanings, the most relevant being sadness, social isolation or fear of being alone.

Remember that dogs communicate their emotions in different ways, for example through vocalization and body posture which allow them to express themselves properly. This helps us assess their needs and understand certain behaviors they may adopt.

Even if no animal is in distress, the dog can sense a call for help, so he responds to it. In addition, dogs also communicate their presence in this way.

When Do the Howls Begin?

Although puppy huskies do not fully howl, they try to make some grunting noises that resemble tiny howls especially when they get to the age of 3-4 months. A husky typically starts howling when he is around 6-7 months old but it does not always have to be the case. It can vary from dog to dog. That number is just a general rule. Also, did you know that not every husky howl? If your husky is not howling check out the next section!

Why Your Pup is Not Howling Yet?

There may be a lot of reasons behind that but one thing is for sure that there is nothing to be worried about when a husky does not howl. Huskies have this trait embedded in their behavior. They naturally howl sometimes to communicate but just like humans, not all huskies are the same. Some pups just do not want to howl and that is completely all right.

Maybe they have not picked up that behavior. Huskies are more likely to howl readily when they are surrounded by others like them. If your friend is not around other huskies, he may just never learn to howl.

However, if your dog has suddenly stopped howling after doing so for a long time something might be up:

They can stop howling because of age. Indeed, as they grow older, they tend to lose their hearing abilities which can stop them from hearing noises that usually trigger their howling. They can also stop howling when they are not feeling well or have been injured. So, pay attention to their behavior and take good care of them!

How to Stop Excessive Howling?

Good training. Good training. Good training!

That is all your pup needs to reduce his howling. It is necessary to keep in mind that this behavior is deeply embedded in their genes so you can never stop them from doing it when they are exposed to signs triggering their howl. They might also howl to get your attention or when they are excited to see you.

So, training might never completely stop them from howling but it will help in specific situations, such your husky howling at night and constantly waking you up … and the neighbors!

Husky body language signs can sometimes be difficult to understand. It’s quite normal as dogs and humans don’t speak the same language.

We are all very aware that language differences are a major barrier to communication. A unilingual Francophone will have a lot of difficulty discussing with a unilingual Anglophone, for example. Of course, non-verbal language can help them, but the message lacks precision, and we can never be sure that we have correctly decoded what the other wants to tell us. This often results in frustration, and even anguish if this message is important, as much for the sender as for the receiver of this message.

Language differences

This is also true between a human and his dog. The difference in language is obvious. Of course, we teach part of our language to our husky (sit, lie down, stay, give a paw, etc.) and we learn from his (wag his tail: he is happy, growls: he is angry, etc.). Nevertheless, the message can often times be blurry and can be a challenge to decode, leading to important miscommunication.

In addition, we demand, as a human and a master, that our husky understands what we ask him, that he learns our language. However, we often neglect to hear his, except for a few of his more common “expressions”. However, understanding what our dog tells us allows us to partly know his moods, what he wants, what he feels. A relationship is always much more enjoyable and less frustrating when both sides can effectively communicate with each other.

Husky body language signs represent his main way of communicating his message and feelings. By carefully watching our husky, we can learn a lot about our relationship, and how he perceives his environment. We can sometimes predict his behavior and intentions. In fact, these signs allow us to understand our dog much better.

24 Husky Body Language Signs

Below, you will find 25 Husky body language signs you should learn to recognize and interpret. The language can vary somewhat (e.g. positions of the ears and the tail). This list is far from being exhaustive but covers all the basics. If you learn these signs to perfection, you will be on your way to a much better understanding of your dog and an enhanced relationship.

Please note, that in my opinion, the position of a dog in relation to another dog is not, on its own, a reliable indicator of the real relationship between these dogs (dominant versus submissive). When a dog appears submissive, I prefer to view his behavior as an intent to avoid confrontation.

1) Yawning: appeasement signal

As for humans, the dog can yawn to oxygenate the brain (upon waking up for example) but it is also and above all a signal of appeasement, which means that for one reason or another, if the dog is uncomfortable or worried, yawning will allow him to calm down.

2) Jerking off the tail: sign of excitement

Can a conclusion be drawn from this Husky body language sign? None, except the dog is excited. It is therefore wrong to believe that if you approach a dog wagging its tail, he can get overexcited and bite you.

3) Upper fangs apparent but relatively smooth face

The Husky senses a threat but does not want to be seen as threatening others.

3) Apparent fangs, wrinkled face and closed mouth

The dog senses a significant threat, he is ready to defend himself but does not currently intend to bite.

4) Exposed fangs, wrinkled face and open mouth

Your Husky friend senses a significant threat, he is ready to defend himself and intends to bite.

5) Looks away: Appeasement signal

The Husky who looks away in front of another dog or a human sends a sign of appeasement, he does not want a confrontation.

6) Turns his head away: signal of appeasement

The dog is uncomfortable and tries to calm down and/or calm the other party (dog or human)

7) Front of the body lowered and behind raised: call to play

The dog wants to play, he invites the other (human or dog) to come and play with him.

8) Gives the paw / puts the paw on you

The interpretation of this Husky body language sign depends on the situation and may indicate appeasement when his head is down, to the side, and looks away (often seeking attention), or is a sign of dominance when his head is held high and he’s staring at you.

9) Licks another dog’s mouth

Depending on the situation it can either be a sign of submission (most often), when a dog will spontaneously lick the other’s mouth, often with his head down or a sign of dominance. After a confrontation or a fight, the dog who won will lick the mouth of the loser, and if he tolerates it it means he accepts the dominance of the other dog.

10) Walks slowly, have slow movements (normal position): Appeasement signal

The dog is uncomfortable and tries to calm down.

11) Walks slowly, have slow movements (low position): hunting

The dog is stalking prey.

12) Puts his head on another dog’s back: a sign of dominance

If the other dog accepts, he agrees to submit (unless it happens while playing).

13) Puts one or 2 legs on the back of another dog: sign of dominance

If the other dog accepts, he agrees to submit (unless it happens while playing).

14) Ears straight and forward

This Husky body language sign indicates confidence and assurance.

15) Ears low and backwards

This sign depends on the situation and most of the time needs to be interpreted with the signals. Either your Husky is uncomfortable, fearful, or showing signs of submission.

16) High tail: the dog is sure of himself and at ease in his current environment

17) Low tail: the dog is hesitant and unsure of himself

18) Tail between the legs: your dog is afraid!

19) Pulls the lips backwards: a calming signal

This signal is often times observed at the same time as the Husky is looking away and shows discomfort and anxiety.

20) Sits down: Signal of appeasement or submission

Your dog is either sitting when he gets closer to a human or another dog or human or turning while turning. The dog is uncomfortable and tries to calm down and/or calm the other party (dog or human) or is being submissive.

21) Goes to bed: Signal of appeasement and/or submission

The dog is uncomfortable and/or wants to avoid confrontation.

22) Lies on your back: submission

The dog wants to avoid confrontation (except if he behaves that way while playing).

23) Licks the muzzle: Appeasement signal

The dog is uncomfortable and tries to calm down.

24) Supports the gaze of a human or another dog.

This is a Husky body language sign indicating a position of dominance, with the exception of situations where something or someone is attracting his attention.

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