Huskies are popular dogs for good reasons: they are beautiful, intelligent, and playful. However, one of the biggest legends about huskies is that they aren’t loyal to their owners and run away often. Is this true, or can Siberian huskies get attached to their owners and stay faithful?
Siberian Huskies do get attached to their owners. Huskies are pack animals, which makes them very loyal dogs. However, they are also independent and have strong wills. While huskies are attached to their owners, they are not “one-person dogs.”
In this article, I’m going to discuss Siberian Huskies and their attachment styles. Because they are both loyal and independent, their attachment can depend on the situation. I’ll talk about how to tell how attached your husky is and train your dog to be more loyal and connected to you.
Owner Attachment Depends On Several Factors
Although Siberian huskies are incredibly independent dogs, they are also loyal to their owners.
They are reliable because they are pack animals and follow the pack leader. When huskies are pets, the pack leader is their owner, otherwise known as the person who takes care of them and spends time with them the most.
The attachment level of a husky depends on several factors.
A Happy and Healthy Home
One of the main factors is how and where the dog was raised, as a happy and healthy home leads to a better attachment style. If the owners spend time with the puppy, training, and playing, this will increase the dog’s attachment.
Dogs without as much one-on-one time might not be as attached.
Traumatic Pasts Affect Attachment
Rescue dogs with traumatic pasts or previous absentee owners might have a more challenging time connecting and might be more prone to run away. However, huskies are very trusting dogs and can be retrained to love an owner that treats them well.
Of course, every dog has a different personality, no matter how they were raised.
Some Huskies Are More Independent
Some dogs are just more independent than others, and while huskies are strong-willed in general, you could end up with a dog that is dependent on you and highly attached. The attachment of your dog does come down to individual personality.
Huskies, by and large, are very independent dogs.
They won’t always follow their owners around the house or be sad when they leave, but they do enjoy the company of people. Your husky might enjoy its own space but will still be attached to you.
Huskies are also incredibly social animals, as they love seeing other people and dogs and will be very friendly on the street.
Because of this, many husky owners are worried that their dogs would run away and not miss them. It’s not entirely true, however. Huskies are resilient when they change owners but value the person they’re with.
Huskies Are Pack Animals
The independence, strong wills, and high social instincts of huskies all come from the same source. Siberian huskies are pack animals and were trained to pull sleds as teams. They interact with each other and with humans in this manner.
As long as you are the alpha or pack leader, your husky will follow and obey you.
How Will I Know If My Husky Is Attached to Me?
Because Siberian Huskies are so self-led and independent, it can be hard to tell if they’re actually attached to you or just living their lives with you.
Here are some signs that your husky is attached to you:
- He gives you lots of physical contact and cuddles.
- He licks you, especially on your face.
- He responds to the sound of your voice.
- You and your buddy exchange regular eye contact.
- Playtime is fun and enjoyable for you both.
- His behavior changes positively when you’re near.
- His favorite toy suddenly ends up in your lap.
These are all signs of a healthy and individual attachment.
Many huskies manifest healthy devotion with multiple humans but only show special affection to one person. They show their loyalty to the person they believe is the head of their pack, which is usually the person who plays with, feeds, and takes care of them.
If your dog shows none of these signs, ignores you or growls at you when you enter the room, it might be a sign of under attachment. Huskies who aren’t attached to their owners are more likely to lean into their personalities’ independent side and eventually run away.
However, your husky could also be overly attached to you and develop an anxious attachment.
This might be more than being loyal, as being overly attached means that your dog could have separation anxiety. If your dog follows you around, can’t be alone, or doesn’t let other animals or humans interact with you, they are likely too attached.
Can I Make My Siberian Husky More Attached to Me?
Your husky might be unattached, so the first thing you need to do is to figure out why. If it is a rescue or spends long hours by themselves while you’re at work, they might become more independent and not need your presence as much.
Your buddy might also form a closer attachment to your partner or children if they spend more time with the dog than you do.
You can train your dog to have a better attachment to you by rewarding them for positive behavioral traits. For example, if your dog brings you their toy or lays down next to you, you can reward them with a treat or positive reinforcement.
My dogs love Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats when rewarding them for good behavior while showing positive reinforcement.
You can also use this to help a dog with an anxious attachment by training it not to be worried when you leave.
However, the best way to breed attachment with your dogs is to spend good quality time with them. The more you play and train a dog, the more it will form a bond with you. Either way, it’s vital to keep huskies on leads when they’re not in enclosed areas.
Their natural independence and curiosity make them want to explore.
Final Thoughts
Siberian huskies are independent and social dogs but remain loyal to their owner, whom they perceive as their pack leader. They will follow the person who trains them, takes care of them, and shows them physical affection and loyalty.
Huskies are affectionate and get very attached to their owners.