![Do Huskies Bark A Lot_ [How Often Does This Breed Bark_]](https://peteducate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Do-Huskies-Bark-A-Lot_-How-Often-Does-This-Breed-Bark_.png)
If you are considering the husky breed, you may have some questions regarding their barking behaviors and traits. Does the average husky bark a lot, what are the main causes, what does it mean and how often can you expect them to do so. With these questions in mind, I decided to do some research. I’ll be documenting what I was able to find on the subject here today.
So, do huskies bark a lot? Huskies are not known for their barking. In fact, it’s rare for a husky to bark regularly. The only time they are likely to do so is to initiate play. Barking is often a behavioral trait found in territorial breeds of dogs; something that huskies are not. Instead, huskies are known for making other sounds, such as howling, baying, and ‘wooing’ as a means to express their feelings and to communicate with their owners and others around them.
Huskies are not known as guard dogs for this very reason. While they are quite a vocal breed, they are unlikely to bark at the sight or sound of an unexpected visitor. Its just not in their nature.
So much so, that some owners even consider them as relatively quiet dogs. Instead, they mainly communicate via howling and ‘talking’.
Let us now take a closer look at this breeds behavioral traits and reasons in why they do not commonly partake in barking.
Why Are Huskies Not Barkers
One of the main reasons in why any dog may bark, is as a method of communication.
Its a dogs way of letting their owners know that something is up, or to get attention on them or to something that is happening around them in the environment.
When you think about it, its actually one of the few ways in which they can actually express themselves- and get attention quickly onto whatever they believe warrants it.
Now, some breeds of dogs rely on barking more than others. To some dogs, its in their nature and genetic makeup. To others, its a trained and learned behavior, a pattern in which they recognize works.
Barking can occur for many reasons; it differs by dog and by context.
The main reasons in why a dog may bark are as follows:
- Territorial,
- To Show Affection/Greet People
- Excitement,
- Distress
- Fear,
- Separation Anxiety,
- Stress,
- For Attention.
The Husky breed actually descends from a working dog; whom supported hunting activities and the transportation of loads across long distances in the arctic. They developed a close bond with their owners, but never required a need to bark often. They never needed to protect but instead, to work.
As such, they are not instinctively a territorial breed; where barking is one of the main behaviors a dog will use as a means to defend and protect.
Huskies do not feel the need to bark to alert you to visitors, or people they are not familiar with. This is the primary reason in why a husky is usually never recommended as a guard dog. They’re just not very good at it!
Alternatively, other dogs will bark as a way to show affection. While some huskies will do this, albeit infrequently, again its not in the nature to do so. Instead, you’ll most likely find them becoming more active and jumping up.
Then there are other reasons a dog may bark like showing distress. For a husky, they rely primarily on whining as a way to express this emotion. This is also true for hunger.
Barking just does not come naturally to a husky; they’d much rather whine, howl or ‘speak’ to get their point across!
What Does It Mean When A Husky Barks?
While barking is not common in huskies, this does not mean that they do not do it or something is necessarily wrong if they do. As mentioned up above, barking is of course a method of communication.
If your husky is barking, it is most likely to be due to one or more of the following reasons:
- To Initiate Play – whether with you or another dog.
- To Get Something – This could be to get attention, to be let outside, or if they want some food they can see and smell. Barking here is simply to let you know they want something. These are generally quiet barks.
- Separation Anxiety – If you leave your husky alone for an extended period of time, they are likely to become lonely and experience what is known as separation anxiety. In other words, missing their owners. For this reason you should never leave the home for too long, or schedule arrangements like a trusted neighbor, friend or family member who can come over and play with your dog/let them outside etc. This is most common in younger dogs.
- Insufficient Exercise: Huskies are an active dog that need a lot of time to run around, play and expend some energy. If you do not provide them with enough exercise, barking can be an indicator that they are looking for more.
- Fear – This is more unlikely but does and can occur. When a husky has an underlying fear, they may bark in response to the threat. Its a defensive mechanism. This generally occurs in dogs that are mistreated or who have not been raised properly and therefore is most common on dogs adopted from previous owners.
One things for sure, every dog (regardless of breed) has their own unique personality and behavioral traits. While some huskies will howl regularly, others others not so much. Some will howl instead, others will talk. The same is true for barking.
Ultimately, some huskies will bark to express themselves and to communicate. It may not be anything serious or mean anything in particular.
With this being said, there could be a problem and there may be some further investigation required.
First and foremost, if you see a sudden change in their barking behaviors this could be a red flag. Equally, if they have other accompanying behavioral changes, or are showing signs of injury it could suggest they are in pain.
In this context, you may need to consult a vet for an examination. They may be hurt and require treatment to resolve the issue and to alleviate the barking.
Essentially, you need to monitor when, how and the type of barking your husky is doing. See if you can discover any events or causes for the barking; try to discover what the barking could mean.
A lot of it is context specific.
So, if you have recently arrived home it could be all okay. This could just be their excitement coming out.
However, if you noticed regular barking at a specific time or location, there could be a problem in the environment or in the lifestyle of your dog.
In the beginning it is a challenge to identify what the issues could be. This is why you need to remain vigilant and monitor when your dog barks, the context, how your dog responds etc. Keep notes in a journal or diary which you can relate back to later.
In doing so, in time you will be able to foresee issues and become aware of your dogs own unique issues and triggers.
Other Noises Huskies Make And Why
Ironically, although huskies are not known to bark often, they are actually quite a communicative dog. They’re not actually that ‘quiet’. Interestingly, they are actually quite a noisy dog breed.
These are the other noises huskies are known for, what they mean and why they do it:
Whining/Crying
Whining and crying often occurs when huskies want something from you or in their environment. Its usually high pitched and they only usually cry/whine for a short amount of time.
Howling
Huskies are notorious for their howling. This is an instinctual behavior, in which they have been doing for thousands of years. Its actually their main and preferred form of communication.
Howling is usually quiet loud, done so for an extended period of time and easily identifiable.
Howling is most common in bored huskies, but they also do so if they hear other dogs howling too. Its like a call out to other dogs and as way to communicate and greet them. They are in many ways selling hello and telling other dogs where they are.
Howling tends to cascade for miles, so you can imagine what this may sound like if your dog does this from your backyard!
Related Questions
Huskies are not known for their barking and the average husky will do so infrequently. Instead, this breed of dog is much more likely to howl and talk to communicate. However, some huskies bark more than others and they most commonly will do so to initiate play, get something they want, or if they are suffering from fear, separation anxiety, or require more exercise.
Huskies are not likely to bark at strangers. Instead, they are much more likely to be excited, friendly, and willing to meet them. This makes them ideal for when friends, neighbors, and family members come to visit, or you meet somebody out at the park, but not so ideal if you have an intruder set foot on your property.
To reduce barking in a husky, you first need to identify the causes. From there, you can look to prevent the situations or circumstances from arising that set your husky off. Obedience training may be required – which is preferable to do while your dog is still young and as a puppy. However, some barking is to be expected with any breed of dog and you cannot nor should not try to eliminate it entirely.
Related Husky guides you may want to read:
- Do Huskies Like To Cuddle?
- Do Huskies Drool?
- Why Do Huskies Pant So Much?
- Are Huskies Aggressive?
- What Size Crate For A Husky?
- Best Heavy Duty Dog Crate For Husky
I am an experienced pet owner with decades of experience owning a number of different pets, from traditional pets like dogs and cats, to the more exotic like reptiles and rodents. I currently own a Cockapoo (pictured) called Bailey. I am also the main writer and chief editor here at Pet Educate; a site dedicated to sharing evidence-based insights and guidance, based on my vast pet ownership knowledge, experience, and extensive research.