How to Train a Husky to be Protective

Hello Ali, I suggest starting with a good foundation of obedience if that is not already in place. Obedience can help build respect and trust between you and him so that he is more likely to want to protect you and to pay attention to what's going on with you. It's also incredibly important for any dog who you will be encouraging any form of guarding or protection work in. Second, if you want pup to alert to strangers, teach a "Speak" command and "Quiet" command. Point out strangers who in locations (within a certain distance to you or on your property for example) and command "Speak" when he notices those people. Reward with a toy or treat for him barking, then command "Quiet" and reward that response. You may need to recruit friends your dog doesn't know to pretend to be strangers entering your property for this. Watch pup and whenever he displays behavior that can help with protection - such as watching people pass by, noticing unusual things, paying attention to your whereabouts, ect...Reward those things with a treat to encourage the focus to increase. I do NOT suggest rewarding any true form of aggression. If you with to go past pup learning to be more alert, to warn you, be more responsive to you, and appear intimidating to others, and teach pup true defensive behavior, the next step is to join a club or seek professional training where those activities are taught by experienced trainers with the use of things like bite bags, sleeves, protective padding, ect, and include a high level of obedience for control and safety reasons. True protection work is primarily taught through forms of positive reinforcement - via drive training, and encouraging certain breed's natural defense drive. You absolutely do not want to encourage true aggression or fear in a dog or the dog becomes a danger to you and friends and not a protection. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Adorable pup! It is never to early to start training! As soon as you have the okay from the vet that Kim's vaccines are up to date, enroll him in puppy classes. This will give him confidence, socialize him well with other dogs, and help the two of you develop a wonderful bond. In the meantime, start training Kim with obedience skills like Sit: https://wagwalking.com/training/sit/ Down: https://wagwalking.com/training/perform-the-down-position/, etc. As well: https://wagwalking.com/training/obedience-train-a-husky-puppy/. Good luck and happy training!

Hello Ianna, First, I suggest teaching pup to bark on command. Check out the Speak article linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-speak Once pup knows that command, recruit friends pup doesn't know to practice coming up the driveway. Each time someone goes onto your driveway command pup to Speak and reward pup for doing so. Practice often with lots of repetitions and different people. When pup is good at doing this and even barks before you give a command sometimes, practice more, but now wait seven seconds before commanding speak, to see if pup will bark on their own. Reward extra and give extra enthusiastic praise the times pup barks before being told speak. Practice until pup will consistently bark before you say speak, when they simply see someone walk onto the driveway from outside or in your home from a window. Now, keep treats handy by the window or door where pup watches for people. When pup barks when a stranger walks toward your home, like a delivery person dropping a package onto the porch, then reward pup with one of those treats to help pup apply the training to everyday scenarios and learn to keep an eye out for people approaching. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden