If your husky keeps barking, you might want to know why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of reasons why it might be doing it and what you can do to stop it.
So, why does my husky always bark? Possible reasons are that it is excited, frightened, hungry, injured, hungry, looking for attention or you might have inadvertently rewarded the behavior.
There are actually a number of reasons why your husky might do it and there are many things that you can consider in order to help figure out the cause. Once you have a good idea of why it does it, you will have an easier time getting it to stop.
Why your husky always barks
Each of the different reasons that your husky always barks will likely come with a number of clues. Below, I will show you a number of reasons why it might be doing it and what would make them more likely.
Excitement
Sometimes, dogs will bark due to being excited and this could be the reason that it does it. This would be more likely if it does it in situations such as when you are about to take it out for a walk or when you come home. By barking it will be letting you know that it is excited and it might be doing it to get you to give it what it is excited about such as a walk.
Fear
The reason that it barks could be that it does it due to fear. This would be more likely if it does it in situations where it might be fearful such as when there are fireworks or construction works.
In this case, it would help to get rid of the thing that it is fearful of if possible. You could also try giving it desensitization training.
Protection
The reason that your husky barks could be that it is being protective. This would be more likely if it does it in situations where it might feel like you are being threatened such as when people are approaching you or when someone is at the door.
In this case, it would help to train it to be better behaved around other people. I have written more about how you can do that here.
It has been reinforced
The reason that it has been doing it could be that you have inadvertently trained it to bark. This would be more likely if you tend to give it things when it barks such as toys, attention or treats.
Instead of rewarding it when it barks, try to reward it when it is being well behaved and to ignore it when it barks unless there is another reason that it is doing it.
Related: Why is my husky always crying?
Boredom
Huskies are a breed that need a lot of exercise to be properly stimulated. When they do not get much exercise it can cause them to develop behavioral issues. The reason that your husky has been barking a lot could be that it has not been getting enough exercise.
Generally, it is recommended for them to get at least an hour of exercise per day. If your husky has not been getting much exercise then it would help to make sure that it does.
Hunger
The reason that it barks could be that it is trying to let you know that it wants something such as food. This would be more likely if it tends to bark at around the same time that you tend to feed it.
In this case, it would help to avoid feeding it until it stops barking.
Pain
The reason that it has been barking could be that it is injured. This would be more likely if it has started barking suddenly, it has been acting differently and if it has been showing signs of being ill or injured. If it does seem like injury might be the cause then the best option would be to take it to the vet.
Related: Why is my husky always thirsty?
It wants attention
The reason that it barks might be that it is looking for attention. This would be more likely if it does it in situations where you have not been giving it much attention and if you tend to give it more attention when it barks.
How to stop your husky from always barking
The best way to get your husky to stop barking will depend on the cause of it doing it. Below, are a number of options that you have. You will likely find that a combination of them will work well.
Positive reinforcement training
Positive reinforcement training is where you train it to behave the way that you want by giving it things that it wants when it barks.
You can do this by rewarding it when it does not bark when it normally would and by not rewarding it when it starts barking.
Avoid reinforcing the bad behavior
As mentioned above it could be the case that you have been reinforcing the barking by rewarding it.
Instead of giving it what it wants when it barks, try using positive reinforcement training and redirecting its behavior when it is about to bark. You could redirect its behavior by training it to come to you or to do something such as to lay down.
Give it attention
Since it might bark due to seeking attention, it would help to give it attention throughout the day in the form of exercise, training and by playing with it.
Give it distractions
In addition to the above, you could also give it things to be distracted with such as toys, bones, puzzles or chews.
Take it to the vet
If you can’t figure out why your husky barks a lot or it seems to be doing it due to injury then the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to ensure that it is not injured and you’ll be able to get expert advice tailored towards your specific husky.
Give it exercise
If your husky is not currently getting a lot of exercise and it is not ill or injured then it would help to make sure that it gets it. You can give your husky exercise by walking it, playing fetch with it or you could get a dog walker to do it for you.
Things to consider
When it started barking
It would help to consider when your husky first started barking a lot since it could be the case that something occurred that triggered it to start doing it.
If it started doing it suddenly then it would be more likely to be due to things such as a change in its schedule, getting injured or being fearful. It would help to consider what else changed when it started barking a lot.
Whereas, if it has always barked a lot then it would be more likely that it does it to get things that it wants especially if you tend to give it things when it barks it could also be that it does it due to being protective.
When and where it tends to bark
The timing and location of when and where it tends to bark would also be something to consider.
For example, if it tends to bark when you would normally feed it then it might be trying to get you to feed it. Whereas if it does it at random times then it could be that you inadvertently reinforced the behavior, it’s injured or it does it due to boredom.