How to Get a Husky to Calm Down


A wide-eyed husky with his chin on a table

You’re kidding, right? Have you actually ever met a husky before? Or are you currently living with one and that’s the reason you’re asking me how to get your husky to calm down?

In that case I send you a giant basket of good lucks.

Nevertheless, I’m feeling generous today – so here’s your answer on how to get a husky to calm down:

The most efficient way to get a husky to calm down is through conscious and consistent exercise, mental stimulation, human and dog interaction, and a properly managed diet.

Your husky is most likely still bat cat bananas because she’s a baby. These crazy wolf-dogs will naturally calm down over time and as they begin to age.

I totally understand if you can’t wait 3-5 years to regain your sanity, so keep reading.

Before I dive too deep into the cognitive receptivity and underlying psychological phenomenon of the husky breed, I force you to endure yet another important sub-set: I’m not a husky whisperer, nor am I pretending to be. I do own a husky baby sister though which inadvertently qualifies me on some level somewhere.

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.

Quick Tips for the Article Skimmers

Are you a skimmer? One of those extremely impatient people who couldn’t sit down and read an entire article if their life literally depended on it?

Luckily for you, I’m sympathetic to your laziness. I’m not condoning such behavior, just attempting to satisfy my entire reader-base.

Quick Tips for Getting Your Husky to Calm Down:

  • Routine – You had to know this was coming. It’s the catalyst to not only husky obedience and well being but for ALL dogs, ever. Trust me on this. Set a routine – and be consistent with it. You’ll thank me later.
  • Provide your husky with long-lasting treats – pro tip: freeze sweet potatoes or bananas and give them to your husky puppy. It takes them a bit longer to consume, occupies their fine motor movements and entertains their mind. Trust and believe that no matter how long you think it will take them to inhale the treat, it will take half of that time. I didn’t say this was a cure-all. I said this would help.
  • Remain calm – Listen up, humans. No matter how bonker-tiddly-wonkers your husky is, screaming at them like a rabid cockatoo is the last thing that will help. Quite frankly this just makes everything worse. And you’ll end up crying.
  • Play the long game – You must understand that this will not be your husky’s behavior forever. They’re young and dumb, just like you use to be. Patience is a virtue and all that… (More on husky behavior and what it’s like living with one)
  • Don’t over do any of it – There’s a fine line between play time and adequate amounts of exercise and rigorous counter productive abuse. Don’t wobble along those lines. Depending on the age of your husky, 30-45 minutes of moderately intense physical activity every day is plenty.

But Why Are Huskies So Crazy?

I mean…why is clean water clear, the ocean salty, and abs hard to get?

I don’t know why huskies have a tendency to bounce off the backs of couches, attempt to put entire heads in their mouths, and pounce from around the corner like it’s mating season in the Rainforest of Borneo.

Let’s be honest with each other for a second though. Ask yourself what huskies were originally bred for.

Go on, I’ll wait here while you think.

Answer: PULLING people around on a sled. They’re sled dogs. Bred and used for their high levels of energy.

You can’t fault them for their literal evolutionary traits and genetic behaviors. They want to run, they need to run, and they love to pull. How about letting them do that a little each day under specific instruction and mental awareness.

You’ll be amazed at how happy this makes your husky.

Okay, But What Does Diet Have to Do with It?

Stop licking the icing off your fingers long enough to read this. Clearly your diet doesn’t mean much to you (although it should) but don’t pass those horrific habits of inconsistent and unhealthy eating to your sweet husky.

A husky’s diet is very important. As a matter of fact, ALL dog’s diets are vital to their individual longevity and quality of life.

Stop making healthy food an afterthought.

  1. Are you feeding your husky enough?
  2. Could you be feeding your husky too much?
  3. Are you feeding your husky too much sugar?
  4. Does the dog food you feed your husky have heightened levels of carbohydrates?
  5. Does the dog food you feed your husky have unnatural ingredients and excessive amounts of yucky fillers and byproducts?

Here’s what all this boils down to, yet again.

Stop being lazy.

Genuinely research and read your husky’s dog food labels. Want to know what else the back of your pup’s dog food bag tells you? The exact amount you should be feeding your pup based on weight, age, and overall size.

Be a good husky mom or dad – READ the back of the bag.

I’ll make it even easier for you and link the article I wrote on why you should cook your dog’s food right here.

What Do You Mean by Mental Stimulation?

Are you serious? Is this a serious question? If I could get my paws around the neck of the corn muffin that said “there’s no such thing as a dumb question…”

I digress.

I’m here for the people. Shall we continue?

Okay, so what do I mean by mental stimulation?

Train them. That’s it. Work with them for 10 minutes every day. No more, no less. 10 minutes. Huskies love to interact with their humans and there’s truly no better mutually beneficial activity to participate in on a daily basis.

They’ll get smarter and you’ll most likely not get smarter, but that’s not your fault.

Spend Time with Your Husky

Well, will you look at that?

What a novel idea.

Spending time with your husky will allow them to get use to being around you in a calm state and environment. If you’re never around your pup they’ll continue to be exceptionally excited and uncontrollable when you come home.

Personally, I don’t get it. You’re not all that amazing to me, but be glad your dog doesn’t agree. Don’t neglect the one soul on this earth that loves you more than she loves herself.

The more time you spend with your husky, the better she’ll be in all types of social situations – because it won’t be a new experience for her.

Treats, Treats, and More Treats

What I mean here is that you should reward good behavior. Huskies are intelligent dogs – especially when there’s a treat involved.

When you get home from work and she’s bouncing off the walls, ignore her until she calms down. As soon as she chills, give her lots of loves and pets (loves and petting are also viable forms of treats).

You guys know what I’m going to say here: REPETITION.

If you pet your husky and give her treats when she’s acting wild and crazy, then she’s going to assume that acting wild and crazy gets her loves and treats.

But if you make it clear that you won’t reward her when she’s turning flips, she’ll realize very quickly she needs to relax before she gets a human kiss and a peanut butter treat.

Howl (ha) Long Will My Husky Be Hyper?

I’m going to jump on the allusive bandwagon and say, it all depends on a multitude of variables.

It depends on individualize temperament, training, living situations, human parents, and a ridiculous amount of other specified issues that could affect your husky’s levels of energy.

I’ll be comprehensive for you here to give a general overview or timeline.

You should see the first naturally calming phase begin to set in around 2 years old. There’s a caveat though (isn’t there always?). The fine print of this whole shebang is that your husky won’t truly reach their innately calm stages until they’re closer to 5 years old.

This is why training, responsiveness, attention, and socialization are so important because I don’t know one single cocker spaniel dog brother who has the patience to put up with his husky sister pouncing on his head every single day for 5 years.

Help a brother out, will you?

Conclusion

Be patient with your husky baby.

While I agree that they may have a bit more nuanced craziness in comparison to other puppies, it just means that they need a little more love and a lot more understanding.

If you take the time to really work with them and you listen to all of my aged wisdom throughout this article, then you and your husky will be just fine.

Trust me.

And 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.

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