In this article, we’re going to examine the characteristics of the Alaskan Malamute and see whether they display protective characteristics.

Are Malamutes protective?

Alaskan Malamutes are the surviving descendants of the oldest sled dog breeds. Thought to be bred by the ancient indigenous tribe called the Mahlemut, these dogs were made to pull working sleds in their location of origin: the harsh, snowy lands of Siberia.

Primarily working dogs that lived with their tribe’s family, Malamutes are a calm and very even-tempered dog breed. Although their wolf-like appearance is thought of as ferocious, they are actually very playful and docile. As such, most Alaskan Malamutes are not protective of their owners and actually enjoy being around different people.

Are Alaskan Malamutes possessive?

Malamutes can exhibit significant possessive behaviors, such as with food during feeding time. However, this isn’t common for all Malamutes. Rather, this behavior is more likely to appear in Malamutes who are in the middle of determining their pecking order.

This breed of dog has strong pack-forming tendencies, so they are very likely to establish their position in the pack through challenging actions. If they sense that you are not a strong owner and leader, they will likely be more stubborn and possessive about various things.

Due to this, Malamutes, as well as other Husky breeds, are not recommended for first-time dog owners who don’t know how to remain firm with their pets.

Are Malamutes aggressive?

This dog breed was developed to love work and be loyal to their family. Because of that, their aggressiveness is generally toned down.

However, aggressiveness doesn’t just depend on a dog’s breed. It can also be a matter of upbringing and socialization.

If your Malamute suffered from some kind of trauma in the past, they are more likely to be aggressive when they feel threatened. Even perfectly healthy Malamutes might become aggressive to other animals and people if they’re not socialized properly as they grow up.

Characteristics of a good guard dog

Because of their large and furry wolf-like appearance, people often think of Alaskan Malamutes as guard dogs. But what makes a good guard dog in the first place, and do Malamutes have those characteristics?

In this section, let’s discuss the important characteristics needed in guard dogs.

Size

If you want your guard dog to be intimidating and effective, they need to have the right size for it. 

Your Chihuahua might be trained to attack, but no burglar or harasser would be intimidated by a dog that you can carry around in a small bag. Also, when push comes to shove, bigger dogs have the highest chances of subduing the bad guy.

In this respect, Alaskan Malamutes fit the category well. They are huge dogs, weighing anywhere from 50 to 85 pounds and with a height of 20 to 27 inches, depending on sex. Regardless if they’re harmless or not, most people will probably feel intimidated by their size alone.

Trainability

It’s important for guard dogs to learn how to keep their aggression in check and follow commands. After all, they are likely to be big dogs with a high potential for damage, so it’s important to ensure that they completely obey your commands.

In this respect, Malamutes fit the bill. They’re smart dogs who enjoy doing work, so chances are high that they will follow what you say.

Temperament

The last and perhaps most important factor in finding the perfect guard dog is temperament.

Guard dogs need to have the right balance of aggressiveness and docility. Some dogs are too docile and friendly to everyone — even to strangers. Obviously, you don’t want your guard dog to happily greet burglars as they enter your home.

However, you also don’t want your guard dog to be overly aggressive. Some people make the mistake of assuming that the meaner their dogs are, the better they are as guard dogs. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Remember, excessively aggressive dogs are also more likely to attack you. This defeats the purpose of getting a guard dog in the first place — which is to keep you and your family safe.

In terms of temperament, the Alaskan Malamute falls into the docile category. They are friendly and affectionate, and they’re practically never aggressive. Although they look may look intimidating, they don’t usually attack first and are more likely to act friendly towards strangers.

Do Alaskan Malamutes make good guard dogs?

All told, Alaskan Malamutes won’t make good guard dogs protect against other people. Developed to be pack animals that live together with their human families, they are friendly and affectionate and will rarely bark. In most cases, you can’t rely on an Alaskan Malamute to fight burglars or attackers for you. 

However, because of their size and appearance, burglars may be more likely to hesitate to enter a house with a Malamute, especially if they’re not familiar with this dog breed.

That said, Alaskan Malamutes make good guard dogs against wild animals. Unlike with humans, they can be aggressive towards other dogs of the same sex, especially if they feel threatened.

Final thoughts

As great as Alaskan Malamutes are, they’re not typically protective of their owners. They also don’t make good guard dogs against burglars or robbers, as their default temperament leans more towards the gentle and playful side.

In this article, we learned that:

• Because of how they are developed, Malamutes are often not protective, possessive, or aggressive.
• Malamutes can be possessive when they’re testing the pecking order.
• They can also be aggressive when they’re traumatized or unsocialized.
• Dogs need to have the right size, temperament, and trainability to be effective guard dogs.
• Although Malamutes are huge and trainable, their temperament is largely unsuited for guarding against other people.

Did we answer your question? Feel free to check our other posts at Husky Habits!

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If this is what you’re going through right now, don’t fret! In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about Husky aggression, particularly towards smaller dogs.

Why does my Husky attack small dogs?

We know it hurts your heart just thinking about your Husky attacking small dogs, but it turns out that there’s actually a variety of reasons why it could be happening.

Huskies are naturally dominant

Dogs, in general, are hierarchical animals, more so with larger breeds like Huskies. This means that, in the wild, Huskies naturally form rankings with their packs to assess the strongest individual, also known as the “top dog” or “alpha male.”

If you haven’t given your Husky a clear structure at home, him attacking your smaller dogs may signify that he’s trying to position himself at the top of the hierarchy. He’s basically asserting his dominance over his smaller counterparts.

Huskies have strong predatory instincts

In addition to being naturally dominant, Huskies have strong predatory instincts as well. Like most common working and hunting dogs, they were trained for centuries to go hard on their prey. 

Huskies, in particular, have ancestors that regularly foraged the surroundings for small animals to hunt during long trips. 

This could be why your beloved pet has a habit of attacking smaller living things. Like their ancestors, their predatory instincts are triggered when they see smaller, presumably weaker animals, allowing them to see those other dogs as prey.

Huskies can be overly protective

More than just dominance, your Husky’s aggression towards smaller dogs could be an expression of its protective instincts. Aside from hunting and working, Husky ancestors were also bred to protect their owners and their pack.

This means that your dog is likely to be on heightened alert most of the time. It could be lead your pooch to view other dogs, especially smaller and typically more energetic dogs, as potential danger.

Your Husky may not be socialized enough

Lack of socialization with other dogs might also be making your Husky more aggressive. Huskies are territorial animals by nature, and they’re used to fending off attacks by other dogs in the wild.

If your Husky isn’t used to other dogs, chances are they could view them as dangerous. This, combined with a high prey drive, could be why your Husky attacks small dogs.

You reinforced the wrong behavior

You might also be unwittingly encouraging your Husky’s aggressive behavior towards smaller dogs, even without meaning to. For instance, do you give your dog toys or treats to stop them from being hostile? While it may give you momentary peace, it’s also teaching your Husky that being aggressive will lead to rewards.

Instead of positively reinforcing that behavior, redirect your Husky’s attention with neutral commands, such as sitting still or lying down.

How to stop your Husky from attacking other dogs

Here are two tips to help your Husky become friendlier towards other dogs.

Proper socialization

If your Huskies are still puppies, it’s important to get them acquainted with dogs of all breeds and sizes as early as possible. Doing so can drastically minimize their aggression towards other dogs in the future.

This is obviously more difficult if your Husky is already an adult, but it’s still possible. Make sure to keep them on a leash as you slowly introduce them to other dogs.

Behavioral training

If there’s one thing that can override Huskies’ aggressive and dominant attitude, it’s strict behavioral training. Always reinforce positive behavior instead of negative behavior, like giving your dog yummy fish or sweetcorn treats when he’s behaving well.

If your dog is particularly stubborn, you can always hire a qualified trainer. A trainer would know more about how your pet’s mind works and can help bring out the lovable Husky that we all know is there.

Final thoughts

We’ve discussed possible answers to the question “Why does my Husky attack small dogs?”

In this article, we learned that:

• Huskies are naturally dominant and have strong predatory instincts, leading them to see small dogs as prey
• Poorly socialized Huskies may view other dogs as danger
• Huskies can be overly protective against new dogs
• You might be accidentally encouraging aggressive behavior
• It’s best to train and socialize your Husky to prevent him from attacking small dogs

Want to learn more about Husky behavior? Be sure to check out our blog at Husky Habits!

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