Does your Husky prefer to crash by the doors instead of their cozy bed?
Have you lost count on the times you’ve nearly tripped yourself because of them?
And are you tired of worrying whether you’ll step on them again by accident?
Well, say goodbye to the constant peaking, stumbling, and bumping. Because you’re in the right place.
Read on to find out:
- Why Huskies are drawn to sleeping close to doors.
- What your Husky’s sleeping locations reveal about them.
- Whether they do it for comfort or for a reason you’d never expected.
- 3 easy tips on what you can do if your dog sleeps by the door often.
- And much more…
Table of contents
Why does my Husky sleep by the door?
Your Husky sleeps by the door to block the exits, track where you are inside the house, prevent you from going outside, get your attention, or come closer to you. It can also be due to the cold breeze coming in, people or animals walking outside, their guarding instincts, or it’s comfortable there.
9 reasons why your Husky sleeps by the door
#1: To keep track of you
“Aha! I’m going to lay across here.
So that I’ll know where everybody is.”
Your Husky might always nap by a doorway because they want to know where you are every time. Since they can be so clingy and want them to always be by your side.
They’re going to act like a surveillance camera that monitors your whereabouts inside the house. And you can’t go anywhere unnoticed with these furry buddies.
When they do this, you can often find them lying in their “perfect spot.”
And what I meant by that is a doorway where you often walk in and out. Or the one where your Husky can have a view of the whole house.
It can be the front door or the one in your bedroom – whichever gives them the best area for spying.
You might also want to check out: 11 Reasons Why Your Husky Is So Clingy And Needy
#2: Your Husky is blocking the exits
Well, in this case, your Husky is also blocking the doorways.
But, they have a different reason for this one.
And that’s to prevent you from going outside the house.
It might be because your Husky has separation anxiety. And they don’t want you to leave them alone.
They know that when you step out of that door, you’ll be gone for hours. And they don’t want that to happen.
They may also do this when you’re gone. A study says that 14% of the dog population has it. And some dogs may not even eat and play with their toys until their parent comes back.
#3: To welcome you home
When you get home, do you open the door and…*thud* hit your dog by accident?
And you feel so sorry every time because you’d never expect them to be sleeping opposite the door.
If your Husky keeps on doing this, it might be because they’re anticipating for you. And they just want to see you as soon as you come in.
They might have put themselves by the entrance when they heard you walking towards the house. Or detected the sound of your car even if it’s still two blocks away.
That’s how much they’ve missed you.
#4: Your Husky is claiming the area
Now, is your dog being aggressive when you stand near the threshold?
If so, they might be declaring that the specific door is theirs. And that you need to back off.
Huskies can also be territorial and would defend their place.They might also be isolating themselves and found that part to be peaceful. So they decided to settle down there.
Sudden changes in their lives might cause that behavior. Such as moving into a new home, having a new family member, or losing a playmate.
#5: To grab your attention
“Perfect.
Now everyone’s going to notice me here.”
Oops. Your dog might be doing this to get your attention.
If they lay by the front door, they might be giving you hints that they want to go outside. And that it’s time for a walk or to go potty.
They might also doze off there while waiting for someone who’ll take them out. But if they’re near any door inside, they might be wanting to go outside of the room.
#6: Your Husky wants to be near you
Do you always wake up and see your Husky on the opposite side of your door?
They’re supposed to be sleeping outside. But your pooch wants to be close to you as much as possible. So, they go near the threshold and crash there for the whole night.
You might have noticed this already, but Huskies are very social dogs. And they always thrive for human companionship.
Their eyes might look cold, but their hearts are warm. And they can be independent sometimes. But, they would still want to be next to their humans most of the time.
#7: It’s comfortable
Well, if your Husky isn’t feeling anxious or acting fierce at all, it might be because it’s plain cozy there.
Huskies love cold weather. So they might be feeling a cool breeze swooping there in the tiny gap between the door and the floor. Or there’s a cold tile by the entry that they love.
So your dog decided to sleep there often as it’s less warm compared to the other parts of the house.
They might do this during summer when it can be too hot for them.
#8: Your Husky senses something
“Wait a second…I can hear some squirrels gossiping here.
This is fun!”
Do they also stick their snout at the bottom of the opening? Or lay with their ears facing the door?
Well, Huskies are very curious dogs. And anything might be interesting to them.
So, they might be doing this because they detect someone or something outside the house. And they can hear very well from the threshold. So they stayed there for a while then drowsed off at some point.
“What could they be hearing?” you might think.
They might have heard your neighbors talking outside. Or smelled some little critters walking in your garden. They can also be checking you and your family members’ footsteps or scents.
Check out also: Why won’t my Husky sleep at night?
#9: To protect you
Did your Husky start to lay by the main entrance recently?
It’s not common for Huskies to be protective of their humans. In a study, they’re the least aggressive to strangers among 30 common dog breeds in the US.
Yes, they love you and will stick with you every minute. But when a stranger comes by, they may not act the way you want them to be. Because they’re friendly and warm even to other people or dogs.
But every dog is different. So you can’t drop this reason on the list as some may have guarding instincts.
So, your pooch might be guarding your house. Especially if they sleep by the front door every night when everyone is asleep.
Your dog might have always heard strangers walking outside. Or something that’s unfamiliar to them. So they decided to always rest there to protect you from intruders.
3 tips on what to do if your Husky sleeps by the door
You can allow your dog to do this if there’s no harm in the behavior. Like when they do it to guard at night or when they feel hot.
But if they might pose a danger to both of you and everyone in the house, there must be some adjustments to make.
#1: Teach them how to “move”
This command will be helpful if you don’t want your Husky to get stepped on. So that they would be away from you – preventing any possible accidents.
You also don’t want to take the long route and go around them every time this happens, do you?
For example, you may do this when you’re busy serving food from the kitchen. Or carrying groceries from the store. Or such situations that you wouldn’t be able to see clearly.
To do this, you won’t be needing to shout at them to move. Please, don’t ever resort to this as it will only cause fear to them.
You just need to walk lightly towards your dog. Do it in a way that’s not intimidating or scary at all. Go to them with gentle steps while asking them to “move” in a sweet voice.
Eventually, they would get up because it puts them in an awkward position. And they’ll find a better place to settle down.
Then, give them treats and praises as soon as they stand up. So they’ll learn that if they obey you next time, they’ll be getting some goodies.
Note: Don’t use this all the time, okay? Because if it’s too often, they might feel unwanted. And you don’t want it to happen.
#2: Train them to stay on their bed/crate
If it’s not alright for them to lay by any doors in the house, make them sleep elsewhere. And what places should be the best for these? Their own beds or crates.
You might have tried many times before. So how can you properly do this?
Get them used to their beds
- First, make sure that it’s comfy for them to sleep in.
- Place it in a location where they can still see you.
They follow you around so they can keep track of you. So, don’t put it in an isolated place.
- Put treats or toys on their bed to entice them to try it.
- When they do, praise them in a high-pitched voice – be excited!
Also, to help with their anxiety, you may put your scent there by placing your clothes. This might help them calm down especially when you need to go out.
Make their crate a fun place to be
Putting a dog in a crate might seem like you’re caging them. But no, you’re not locking them up there.
It’s not going to be a place for isolation for your dog. You’re only doing this to give them a space to be alone – not for your sake, but for their own.
Because by doing this, you’re keeping them away from anything that causes them stress. Like another dog, group of people, or strange objects.
- Make sure your crate is of the right size – not too big but not too small for your furry buddy.
- Same with the bed, place it in a location where you’re still visible. If you’re always in the living room, put it nearby so they can still watch you.
- When they’re fully trained in it, you should leave the door open.
Give them options to go out when they feel safe again. Or when you allow them to do so. And this is what I mean by not locking them down. You’re just providing them their own space, similar to us having our own bedroom.
- You must also put toys and treats inside to lure them in. And make them comfortable.
They’ll surely whine and cry a lot while training them, but don’t give up.
It’ll need consistency, patience, and a lot of time like any other training. But, always remember not to use force.
You can check out this video for more tips on how to crate train them:
Note: Don’t close the crate doors as soon as they step in. It’ll make them scared and would want to come out instantly.
#3: Reduce their anxiety
It’s not good for you and your dog if they’re anxious every time you go out of the house.
They would always feel uncomfortable and may only depend on you. You also don’t want to come home with some of your things destroyed.
Exercise
Same with humans, they also need to release their stress. And the best way to do it is by exercising.
Mind you. You shouldn’t only tire them out physically but also mentally. This will make your dog cope up with anxiety. Give them puzzle toys that they’ll solve or make them learn basic tricks.
Leave them toys
To make sure they’ll play with the toys you left, they must be fond of them first.
How?
Pick only some that’ll get their attention. Play with your dog and make them interested as much as you can.
If they seem to be liking the toys already, slowly exit in the picture. While making sure their eyes are fixed on them and not on you.
Note: You may also search for some soothing music for dogs and play those while you’re away to help calm their nerves.
Control your emotions
Before and after you go out, just be neutral to your dog.
Don’t show you’re surprised even if it’s a mess inside. Never act so excited either, as your dog will misunderstand you and do that to get that kind of reaction.