If your husky doesn’t like other dogs you might want to know why and if there is anything you can do about it.
This post will show you a number of reasons why your husky might not like other dogs and what you can do about it.
So, why does my husky not like other dogs? Possible reasons are that it did not socialize much with them as a puppy, another dog was aggressive towards it, it’s naturally submissive or that you have inadvertently rewarded the behavior.
There are actually many reasons why your husky might be doing it and it could be a combination of multiple different reasons. Luckily, there are also a number of things that you can consider that will help you in figuring out the exact reason. Once you have a good idea of the cause, it will become easier for you to deal with it.
Why your husky doesn’t like other dogs
Each of the different reasons why your husky does not like other dogs will likely come with a number of clues.
Below I will show you a number of reasons why your Siberian husky might be doing it and what would make them more likely.
Huskies will, naturally, explore their environment a lot as puppies and it is when they will learn a lot about the world. Not getting a lot of exposure to other dogs at a young age could be why your husky does not like other dogs. This is because it might not have learned what dogs it can trust so it sees them as a threat or it is unsure what to make of them.
In this case, desensitization training would likely work best which is discussed a few sections below.
Another dog snapped at it
If your husky has stopped liking other dogs suddenly it might be because another dog snapped at it this would be especially likely if you saw another dog do it. If another dog was aggressive towards it your husky might have decided not to trust other dogs so much.
It’s being submissive
The reason could be that it is naturally submissive around other dogs. This is something that would be less common in Siberian huskies but it can happen.
This would be more likely if it likes dogs that are not so aggressive or that are smaller than it but it becomes submissive when it is around dogs of a similar size as it or larger.
Signs of submissive behavior can include lowering itself to the ground, laying on its back or hiding itself behind you.
It’s overly protective
The reason that it does it might be that it is being protective. This would be more likely if it becomes aggressive around other dogs and people that it does not know. It would also be more likely if it growls more at dogs that it is unfamiliar with especially when at home or around your property.
It has been reinforced
It might be the case that you have inadvertently trained it not to like other dogs by rewarding the behavior. If you tend to give it things such as treats or more attention when it does it your husky might have learned to do it more in order to get rewards.
Instead of rewarding it try to redirect its focus before it has a chance to become apprehensive around other dogs and to reward it more when it is being well behaved.
Nature
It could also be the case that it is naturally not very trusting of other dogs.
This would be more likely if it was able to socialize with other dogs as a puppy but it didn’t like them either and if it is also afraid of other people, that it does not know, as well. It would also be more likely if it has always acted that way around other dogs and it wasn’t just a sudden change.
Things to consider
Below are some things that you can consider that will help you in figuring out why your Siberian husky does not like other dogs.
When it does not like other dogs
It would help to consider the timing of it since it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it.
If it only seems to not like other dogs when you are in a certain location, with it, then it would suggest that it is something in the environment that is causing it to act unusually. One possible reason could be that it was mistreated by another dog, in that location, in the past.
If your husky seems to not like other dogs in all locations then it could be that it was not able to socialize as a puppy or it does it naturally. However, it could still be that it was mistreated by another dog especially if your husky was not always like it.
When it started doing it
The timing of when it became afraid of other dogs would also be something to consider. It could be the case that there was an event that caused it to start being afraid of them.
If it stopped liking other dogs suddenly it would be more likely to be due to things such as another dog mistreating it or possibly that you rewarded it.
Whereas, if it has always not liked other dogs it would make it more likely to be due to it naturally not liking them, being submissive or not socializing much when younger.
How old it is
It would also help to consider the age of your husky.
If it is still young it could be the case that it is going through a more fearful stage that it is not uncommon for them to go through. In this case, it would help to continue to let it be around other friendly dogs and to positively reinforce it when it is well behaved around them.
If it is older then it would be more likely that it was either mistreated or it did not socialize enough when it was younger. Even if it is older, you will still be able to do the things mentioned below.
How to get your husky to like other dogs
Below are a number of options you have in getting your Siberian husky to like other dogs, you might find that the best option will be a combination of them.
The first option to try to do is to allow your husky to be around other friendly dogs as often as possible in a controlled environment.
If it does not get the opportunity to be around other dogs very often then it will be more difficult for it to learn not to be afraid of them.
Positive reinforcement
Another option would be to let it be around other dogs in a controlled environment. When doing so you would reward it when it is behaving the way you want and stop rewarding it when it starts act like it does not like the other dogs. If it starts being well behaved again then you would reward it. This will teach it that being well-behaved results in it getting rewards.
Avoid negative reinforcement training
As mentioned above, it could be the case that you have inadvertently trained it not to like other dogs. Instead of giving it rewards when it does it, try to redirect its focus before it stops acting the way you want and to reward it when it behaves the way you want.
Get help from a dog behaviorist or trainer
If you cannot figure out why your husky does not like other dogs or you cannot get it to stop, consider getting the help of a certified dog behaviorist or trainer. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular husky.