While many traditional dog breeds fall into the role of being a police officer’s companion, the breed list is getting longer over the years. Huskies are one of the most beloved dog breeds among pet owners, but can a husky work as a police dog?
Although it has happened before, a husky is not typically used as a police dog for a few reasons:
- Huskies can be too friendly
- They are challenging to train
- Huskies need more exercise than a K9 job offers
When it comes to choosing a breed for a working police dog, there are many factors to consider. Let’s talk about what traits a police dog needs and why a husky is not typically chosen as a police dog.
Disclaimer: The Can My Dog articles contain information based on the individual research and opinions of the author of the site – who just so happens to be a dog. How you utilize the information given is completely up to you. Proceed at your own risk.
Can a Husky Work as a Police Dog?
Huskies are a beloved breed, and, as we all know, very goofy. They are one of the most popular breeds due to their unique personalities, love of humans, and furry coat. Unfortunately for huskies, these traits are what typically keeps them from becoming police dogs.
Police dogs are known for being strong, loyal, well-behaved, and intimidating to everyone but the police officer they work with. Sadly, most husky temperaments actually prevent them from performing the job correctly.
Here are some of the biggest reasons why:
- The first is that they are incredibly friendly breeds
- A husky can be a challenge to train
- Huskies need more exercise than the K9 job typically offers
The truth is, almost any dog can be a police dog. There are no guidelines behind what breed can and cannot serve. It is ultimately up to the temperament of the dog and their ability to learn and be trained.
In fact, huskies are sometimes used in police work where their job is to make the general public feel more comfortable in a specific situation or around police presence in general.
Fun fact: A husky by the name of Artic acted as a community K-9 for a police department in the Miami area.
What You Should Look for in a Police Dog, and Why a Husky Doesn’t Stack Up Well
What does it take to be a police dog anyway?
While this may come as a surprise but, technically, almost any dog can become a police dog. There is a strict training routine that the dog must follow in order to become a police dog. While huskies are great pets, they do not have a tendency to train easily or quickly.
Most good police dogs are:
- Loyal
- Well-Behaved
- Quick Learners
- Very focused
- Not easily bribed or de-escalated
What makes a police dog great at their job is their ability to do the task they are trained to do without distraction. Huskies are known to be one of the most stubborn breeds. This causes them to become distracted or not seek out an individual they are training to find.
Many breeds should have the traits of becoming an excellent police dog already in their DNA. This keeps the cost of training the dog as low as possible. It also typically ensures the results from the training that you are looking for.
To know what makes a good police dog, it is essential to know how police dogs are trained.
Can a Husky Complete Police Dog Training?
Training for a police dog starts when the dog is young. This way, they can make sure that the dog is not only merely learning certain practices, but what they learn is also becoming actual practices that the dog does on a regular basis.
Police dogs are used in four primary areas:
- Suspect or Person Tracking
- Search and Rescue
- Bomb, Gun, or Drug Detection
- Patrol
Training a police dog can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000 depending on the dog’s specialty and the owner. With this amount of money on the line, many people want to ensure that their choice of the breed will succeed in the training and go on to be a top-quality police dog.
Most police dogs have some sense of a hunting spirit in them, which is excellent for many different tasks they will be performing. Unfortunately for husky lovers, this is one of the most significant issues when it comes to choosing this breed.
Huskies are not known for being hunters and tend not to have that instinct as strongly as other working breeds which are known for that specific temperament.
Husky Temperament in Comparison to a Police Dog
There is no doubt that a husky’s temperament makes them desirable to owners and general lovers of the breed. They are one of the most intelligent and friendly larger dog breeds out there. Their tendency to be friendly to both their owners and trainers can cause an issue if they are not appropriately trained.
Huskies are high energy dogs that love to be part of everything you are doing. Due to the often slow pace of being a police dog, a husky may end up becoming bored, impatient, or unfocused when they are not in action. A lack of focus could end up causing the animal to get hurt or the officer who is in charge of the animal.
Although a husky’s size and appearance may make them seem like the perfect dog to command attention, there are pros and cons of owning this breed and even considering it as a police animal.
Alternatives to Police Work for a Husky
If you are looking to get your husky into some sort of beneficial work, then there are a couple options that you can choose from. These are lines of work where their temperament and personalities can shine through.
A few of the alternatives to police work for husky are:
- Therapy Dogs
- Service Dogs
- Community Support Animals
Huskies work for any of these jobs based on their friendly personality and welcoming behavior. Since huskies are a medium breed, they are one of the least intimidating wolf-like dogs to be used. A husky’s fluffy coat also makes them cute and friendly to adults and children.
Similar to what it takes for any dog to become a working police dog, there are going to be specific trainings that a husky will need to pass in order to work in any of the professions listed above.
Conclusion
Even if your favorite dog is a husky, the truth is they are not the best option when choosing a police dog. Their appearance and size make them seem like an intimidating option, but anyone with knowledge of the breed will know they have very little to fear when it comes to a husky.
There are a few primary reasons why a husky may not work as a police dog. Most of the reasoning has to do with the temperament of the animal, as well as the ability for the dog to be trained to perform a particular task alongside an officer.
Here is the list of the main reasons why a husky is not the best option:
- The first is that they are incredibly friendly breeds
- A husky can be very difficult to train
- Huskies need more exercise than their job offers
It is worth noting that the breed options for a police dog are not limited. At the same time, there are no strict regulations about what kind of breed you should have, a general idea of their temperament, behavior, and training capabilities before investing in the dog or the training programs.
Well, that about sums it up for today, humans. But as always, continue to Live, Love, Laugh, and Scratch our bellies often.
Love you guys,
JTB
P.S. If you’re new to this world, you may want to check out my Ultimate Guide for First Time Dog Parents. It’s a great reference to get you started on this journey.
This article has been reviewed by our Editorial Board and has been approved for publication in accordance with our Editorial Policies.
