Siberian Huskies are actually wonderful family dogs, and their affable natures tend to make them good dogs to pair with small children. They also have a wonderfully level temperament, so you will not have to worry about them suddenly becoming aggressive towards your children. Yet like all other animals, they are, well…animals. You must always watch them when around your children. The younger the child, the more you will need to watch them and the dog when they interact. Please read over the following safety tips regarding huskies (or any dogs) and children.
- Never leave a child to play unsupervised with your Husky or any other dog.
- Do not allow your child to go up to a strange Husky (i.e. a stranger’s dog or one they have never seen before) without first asking the owner if it is:
- alright for your child to pet the dog, and…
- does the dog bite.
- Remember that Huskies tend to do a lot with their mouths, and they may unintentionally harm your or your child if allowed to roughhouse. When we say they do a lot with their mouths, we mean that they nip when playing, and use their mouths to explore their world. So that this does not become a problem, rough-housing behavior that involves biting (which is a way for pups and adult dogs alike to play together) should be stopped during puppy-hood.
- Do not allow your child to tug, pinch, poke, pull on, or otherwise play roughly/act aggressively towards your Husky, as even the best tempered, most loving dog can snap when feeling pain. Humans do the exact same thing, though we do ours verbally. Your dog can not speak to you, so snapping is their way of letting you know they are hurt or uncomfortable.
- Infants should never be left on the ground in an area where your dog is. Restrict tummy time to when your dog is either outside or crated, because although Huskies are very friendly, they may unintentionally hurt the infant by trying to play with it.
Although you should always be cautious when your children are around Huskies or any other breed of dogs, there are a few reasons why Huskies actually make fantastic pets for families with small children. Those reasons are listed below so that you can best understand the risks and rewards of having a Husky in a home with small children.
- Huskies have even temperaments so you don’t need to worry about them switching moods in the blink of an eye like more volatile breeds.
- This breed tends not to be aggressive. Since they were raised to be pack dogs, every person a Husky meets is a friend.
- They have a high energy level paired with an innate desire to have fun, making them perfect for hyper children of all ages.
- They are not territorial, which means they will not be aggressive towards guests, including your children’s friends.
- Since Huskies are extremely intelligent, they are easy to train, adjusting well to obedience, crate, and house training.
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