Siberian huskies, also commonly known as huskies, are independent, active, and sassy dogs. This large-breed dog is known for their vocal nature, in addition to their distinctive look and their tendency to live by their own rules.
If you need a service dog, you might be wondering if a husky service dog is the right choice for you. Our guide is here to tell you more about service dogs and the pros and cons of trying to make your husky a service dog, so you know what to expect.
What Is a Service Dog?
A service dog is any dog that is trained to help you deal with the symptoms of a disability. The disability can be physical, medical, or psychiatric, and there are dogs trained to deal with all of these types of disabilities, but it must impact your life enough to require assistance from a service dog.
Your service dog must have good manners, and they must be trained to perform specific disability-related tasks for you. For example, if you have a medical condition, your service dog might be trained to perform low blood sugar alerts or alerts for oncoming seizures.
Mobility service dogs may provide you with support and guide you to safe spaces, and all service dogs can be trained to retrieve items, fetch help from others, and perform distractions or assistance that help you go about your daily life with more ease.
Can Any Dog Be a Service Dog?
While any dog can technically be a service dog, service dogs typically have a certain temperament and attitude that enables them to complete their tasks with greater ease and enjoy the work they do. In general, a service dog will be gentle, patient, and friendly; they will be eager to learn new things and please their owner by completing tasks, and they will usually be quite obedient and calm.
Dogs that have aggressive streaks, those with anxiety or behavioral issues, and those that are too independent to listen to commands or pay attention to their owner’s needs do not make the best service dogs. This is solely because the dog is not focused on their owner while they are in working mode, leading to potential issues when the owner needs help, and the dog prefers to pursue other interests.
Does My Service Dog Have Special Rights?
A trained service dog does have special rights when it comes to accessing public and private places. Any service dog that is trained to perform disability-related tasks is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Under this federal regulation, individuals with service dogs have the right to accompany their owner into any private or public space in order to perform tasks and assist their owner; this is an accepted accommodation, and a service dog cannot be denied by a business owner or anyone else.
The only spaces where service dogs may not be allowed under the ADA include certain religious organizations that do not permit dogs or animals to accompany individuals, or spaces like operating rooms, where the presence of a service dog presents a clear safety and health hazard.
Husky Service Dog: What to Know
If you already own a husky and want to train them to be a service dog, or if you are interested in adding a service dog to your life, you might be wondering whether or not a husky can be a good service dog. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no, huskies do not make good service dogs.
While the Siberian husky has the right size and strength to act as a mobility service dog or another type of service dog, these dogs do not have the right temperament and nature to enjoy service dog work.
Huskies are highly independent, and even trained huskies will pick and choose when they want to listen to their owners. This can cause issues, as an owner needs their service dog to be focused on them while they are in work mode; a husky may miss alerts or simply do their own thing, leaving their owner in trouble and needing assistance.
Additionally, huskies are quite active, and these dogs need ample exercise and walks to stay happy. An individual who cannot keep up with this breed’s high-energy needs may find themselves with an overactive, bored, or anxious dog, something that can cause issues as the husky acts out instead of focusing on their service dog tasks.
It’s important to note that while this is the general sentiment about huskies as service dogs, it is not a strict rule. If you know a gentle, obedient husky that is receptive to both training and listening to their owner when out and about in public, they might be able to act as a service dog.
There are no breed restrictions when it comes to service animals as long as the dog is trained and capable of performing disability-related tasks for their owner.
Can My Husky Be an Emotional Support Animal?
If your husky isn’t able to be a service dog, they might be able to act as your emotional support animal. Emotional support animals (ESA) are not trained to perform disability-related tasks, but they do provide comfort, companionship, and relief from certain mental health symptoms by simply existing in their owners’ lives.
You will need to speak with a therapist or a licensed mental health professional in your state if you are considering making your husky an emotional support animal, and you should be aware that these animals have less wide-reaching public access rights. Your husky ESA will be allowed to live with you in any area of housing, but they usually cannot accompany you to public spaces that are not pet-friendly.
How Do I Start Training a Husky Service Dog?
If you think that your husky has the right temperament for acting as a service dog and you are set on adopting a husky service dog, you will likely need to train your own husky service dog. These pups are not typically a breed that is trained by service dog organizations, and you will need to put lots of consistent time and effort into training your dog.
Huskies are generally not the most trainable breed, but if you have a dog that would be a good service dog, they might be more receptive to listening to commands and learning new skills at your side.
Make a list of the skills you need your dog to have, and take your time teaching your husky service dog skills, building on simpler tasks until your husky is well-behaved and able to provide you with assistance both inside and outside of the home.
Can I Get a Service Dog for Free?
It might be possible to get a service dog for free if you are working with a legitimate and reputable organization that places service dogs into the homes of those in need. However, you will likely not get a free husky service dog, as most of these organizations train Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds, and standard poodles to become service dogs.
If you want to get a husky service dog for free or low cost, you will need to adopt a husky or purchase one of these dogs and train them, preferably from a young age, to perform service dog tasks. Whether or not your husky becomes a great service dog simply depends on their temperament and how strong their independent streak is.
Considering a Husky Service Dog
Huskies are wonderful dogs, perfect for those who love adventure and enjoy the distinctive way that these dogs look. However, if you are considering adding a husky service dog to your life, you might not have the best luck with training your husky and ensuring they can perform service dog tasks.
Husky service dogs are not typically seen due to the active and independent nature of this dog, but it might not be impossible to get a husky service dog. Speak to your medical provider or therapist if you have any questions or concerns about adding a service dog of any breed to your treatment plan.