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If your husky growls a lot, it can be a matter of concern for you and something you would want to stop altogether. Huskies are not known to be aggressive by nature. However, there are several reasons they can be seen growling and snarling a lot, at times. Once you can identify the underlying cause, it is easy to stop this behavior.
In this post, let us try to understand why huskies growl and get aggressive and all you can do about it.
Husky Growling & Snarling? Here’s What To Do
One of the most common concerns and questions among husky owners is associated with excessive growling and snarling of their pet. There are several reasons why your husky might be growling and snarling at strangers and family members. The best way to stop your pooch from growling depends on the reason for its behavior.
There are a number of reasons why your husky might be growling. Some of these are:
It wants attention
The most common cause of growling in huskies is to catch attention. If you see your pet doing this when you don’t pay much attention to it, this should be the reason.
To protect food or possessions
Another common cause of growling in huskies is to protect food or possessions. If you find that your pup growls when you go near its food or when it is playing with toys, this is the cause.
Pain
Sometimes, if you see your pet starting to growl suddenly, it can be out of pain. If the cause is pain, you may notice other signs like a behavioral change or limping.
Fear
Your pup can growl when it is fearful of something. This could be an obvious reason if you see it growling in fearful situations like around fireworks or construction work.
Enjoyment
Huskies can growl when they are having fun with other dogs. They can growl at each other for fun and even do so when playing tug of war.
Dominance
It might be your dog’s nature to be dominant and like to control other animals and people around. These dogs are difficult to train because they don’t obey commands.
Aggression
Your pup may be getting aggressive and wants to warn you to stay away from it. This is the case when it shows its teeth while growling and has its ears erect while moving from side to side.
Here are some options you can try when dealing with growling and snarling in your husky.
Fix any pain
If you noticed that your husky is growling out of some kind of pain, take it to the vet to rule out any such conditions. Growling should go away once it receives the treatment and the pain goes away.
Positive reinforcement training
To train the pup not to growl, you can give it some treats and toys when it behaves correctly. Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding when it does what you want and taking away the reward when it does not behave as expected.
Train at an early age
Pups who are young should be trained not to growl. This will ensure that growling is not encouraged as a habit which later becomes problematic.
Seek help from a behaviorist
If you are unable to find out why your husky is growling or it does it aggressively, you can consider getting help from a professional animal behaviorist. A qualified trainer should be able to resolve the issue effectively and stop this behavior.
Husky Dominance & Aggression
Though huskies are not intended to be dominant and aggressive, your pup might have been living in an environment that incorporated such qualities in it. Your husky may see himself superior and try to establish dominance by growling, snarling, and aggression. Early signs of dominant aggression are often apparent when your dog is still a pup. See that you don’t ignore aggressive behavior at your pup’s early age.
Don’t excuse if your husky snarls or growls at you when you get near its food bowl or toy. It is important to correct the behavior at a young age to prevent it from getting worse as the dog ages. Some signs of aggression in huskies include rigid posture, erect tail, fixed stare, growling, and mounting on other animals.
To correct this type of aggression, make sure you establish dominance and authority right from the beginning. Don’t give your husky any chance to exert control over you or other family members. Consider talking in a firm tone without being aggressive. If your pup shows signs of disobedience, it may need professional help to correct the behavior.
Dealing with Aggression In Huskies
Huskies are not meant to be aggressive but they can sometimes show behaviors that depict aggression. Some of the most common causes of aggression in huskies are lack of proper training, socialization, past mistreatment, and inadequate exercise. Husky aggression is quite simple to deal with and comes down to positive training.
The aggression in huskies can range from mild to severe depending on the underlying reason. You can try to correct the behavior through positive reinforcement training involving love, praise, and reward. If it is severe, you might need professional help from an animal behaviorist.
Another reason for aggression in huskies is aggressive behavior. Though you should be strong and confident when dealing with your pup, being aggressive can cause feelings of resentment, triggering behavioral problems over time. Be calm, patient, and firm while talking to your dog and use positive training methods to correct its behavior. Make sure your pet gets enough exercise during the day and some fun playtime to prevent aggression.
Final Thoughts
Huskies are not naturally aggressive; some circumstances can lead them to aggressive and dominant behavior. However, growling and snarling in huskies is not something you can’t get over. Try to understand the reason for aggression in your pup and work on fixing it. Some pups may respond well to behavioral training while others may need professional help to get rid of such a problem.