Did you know that Huskies can talk?
There are many viral videos circulating the web. They show Huskies vocalizing close to actual words. Amazing!
Then, you look at your Husky and he is practically mute.
Compared to the snow dogs you see in videos, yours is so quiet that you rarely hear a bark. He is not vocal at all that an occasional whine will surprise you.
Is this something to be worried about?
Continue reading so you will discover:
- 5 simple ways on how you can make your pooch “talk”.
- Little known facts about canine age and their vocal ability.
- What experts don’t tell you about your Husky’s quiet personality.
- Environmental factors you might not think of but influence your dog to be quiet.
- And much, much more…
Table of contents
Why is my Husky so quiet?
Your Husky is so quiet because of his own unique personality. However, his silence can also be influenced by factors such as age, background, or the environment he is in. Certain health conditions and injuries may also turn your dog quieter than usual. Or it can be because of boredom and stress.
Why isn’t my Husky vocal?
Your Husky is not vocal because he chose to be that way. Other possibilities include his youth or a sickness. It can also be because he was brought up in that way or trained not to be vocal. Or it has to do with his emotional state and is connected to boredom, stress, or depression.
7 reasons why your Husky is so quiet and not vocal
#1: Husky personality
Vocal or not, it can boil down to your Husky’s personality.
Are you a talkative person? Or maybe you are the type who likes to keep things to yourself and enjoy the silence.
If you are worried about your Husky being quiet, you can try asking the same questions. Only this time, direct it to your quiet pooch.
You might be surprised to know that your doggo is not very vocal because he chose to be that way. It is your canine’s own unique personality. And it is normal for some Huskies to be the quiet type.
In fact, if you look back at where snow dogs originated, you will know that they were bred as labor dogs. They were not developed as guard dogs.
They were busy working and pulling sleds. They don’t bark as much as guard dogs, who do so to alert people. Although, Huskies are known more to howl.
Many people today rave about their Huskies being very vocal. But others like how quiet their dogs are.
An example of the latter is a Husky community that talked about their snow dogs’ vocal traits.
The discussion revealed that 60% of Husky owners who joined have quiet doggos. The remaining 40% have very loud and vocal furballs who are sassy and like to “talk back”.
Take a look at this video to see what “talking” Huskies mean:
Note: Canines howl so they can be heard from far away. And a Husky’s howl? It can be heard from as far as 10 miles away.
#2: Age
It is not clear when Husky puppies start to howl or be vocal. The age range varies.
However, you can expect your pupper to attempt to howl at 3-4 months old. And, generally, they will start howling by the age of 6-7 months.
If you are worried that your Husky is not making any sound, it might be because he is still too young. But when they reach 8 months are still the quiet type, try to think that maybe they just don’t want to be vocal, at all.
On the contrary, your pooch may be too old. Older Huskies howl or make less sounds. This is because they don’t hear as much as they do when they are younger. Just think of your Granny.
However, if your Granny hears less, she might talk louder in order to compensate. Older snow dogs, on the other hand, make less sound so they don’t have to respond to other sounds.
#3: Background
If your Husky does not bark, howl or make other noises, try to explore the pooch’s background to know why.
Maybe your fur baby is adopted, was given as a gift or bought. In these cases, your Husky’s background can explain why he is quiet and not very vocal.
Check out these factors from a dog’s background that can lead to a quiet pooch:
- Previous experience or training.
- Previous owner who doesn’t like noise.
- Living as a homeless dog or in a shelter.
- Living alone or with other dogs who are also quiet.
If your Husky’s previous owner does not like noises or loud dogs, chances are they lived in a quiet environment. And your Husky probably grew up quiet.
It goes the same with living alone. Without the company of other canines who make sounds, your tyke could have lived a quiet life. More so if your Husky was adopted from a shelter or was found as a homeless dog.
Another reason for your doggo’s quiet demeanor can be your own actions. Have you ever given your four-legged best friend a treat or reward because he was quiet?
If you did, unconsciously or not, your Husky might believe that being quiet is good. And he can be rewarded because of it.
#4: Environment
Are you and your family loud? If so, then your furbaby may also be rowdy. But if you are introverts and like it calm and quiet, then it can affect your Husky’s preferences as well.
Moreover, if you have more than 1 dog, the noise can be quite understandable. However, having just 1 pooch can mean a peaceful and practically noiseless home.
Another thing to note is how comfortable your Husky is in his environment. If your furball is wary of his surroundings, he can stay quiet until he feels more at ease.
Warning: Huskies are known to be escape artists. Make sure your dog is secure and comfortable at home. If he is not, he will try to wander out because he feels anxious.
#5: Health conditions
Have you ever felt so sick that all you wanted to do was lie down and rest the day away? Even a simple headache will make you want to shut up and sleep.
This might be how Huskies feel when their health is not at 100%.
After all, who would want to go on yapping and wasting precious energy when your mind and body is shutting down?
Injuries and sickness often turn the loudest person still as a statue.
So, before you overthink, find out whether your precious Husky is sick or has an injury. You might be shocked to discover an underlying illness.
And this is usually true when your Husky is vocal but suddenly turned mute.
Especially if his quietness is coupled with the following signs described by Web MD:
- Coughing.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Hair loss or itchy skin.
- Stiffness or difficulty rising.
- Urinating more or less frequently.
- Lack of appetite or decreased activity.
Note: Huskies are prone to bacterial and viral infections, such as parvo and rabies. But vaccines can prevent most of these diseases.
#6: Boredom
“Boredom is simply the absence of an interesting perspective.” – Brandon A. Trean
Yes, when you fail to find interest in the things around you, you get bored easily.
This may be the same case for your bored Husky.
You might have seen your Husky being destructive when he gets bored. However, boredom can also lead to a quiet snow dog.
Since Huskies are a breed built for pulling sleds, especially in the harsh winter, they are used to getting much exercise. If they don’t get active, they will start feeling empty.
When this happens, boredom sets in. Then, your Husky might feel apathetic and won’t make a sound as much as he won’t move.
Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates explains in the Reader’s Digest that “dogs resort to sleeping when there is nothing else to do.”
Note: Huskies need more than 2 hours of exercise a day. They love running and can go as fast as 28 mph.
#7: Stress or depression
Stress and depression are serious conditions that need attention.
When people experience these negative cases, they can find many pleasant ways to cope with them. Taking a vacation or eating comfort food, for example.
However, stress and depression can be challenging when your Husky is the one in the middle of it.
If only your pooch can talk so he can tell you what he is feeling right away, then it would be a lot easier.
Unfortunately, instead of telling you, your Husky clams up. No barking, howling, or even whining can be heard. This should alert you that your pooch is struggling with something.
If your Husky exhibits these additional signs, take him to the vet.
- Inactivity.
- Withdrawal.
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
- Don’t participate in things once enjoyed.
5 tips on what to do if your Husky is so quiet and not vocal
#1: Find out the reason behind your Husky’s quietness
As you have learned, there are different reasons why Huskies are quiet and not vocal.
And finding out why your pooch is quiet or doesn’t howl and bark as much as other dogs is important. When you know the reason behind the behavior, it becomes easier to address it.
Try asking yourself these questions:
- Has there been any changes in the environment or daily routine?
- Has anything happened that might have affected your Husky?
- What else has changed in your furball’s attitude or personality?
#2: Allow some time for adjustment
If you just got your Husky, he will need some time adjusting. And during this time, don’t expect him to be yipping and yapping.
After all, adjustment time is usually a quiet time. Your pooch will be making himself comfortable first before you hear him barking or howling.
Try these methods to make your Husky more comfortable in the environment and with you:
- Give your fur buddy enough attention.
- Tour them around the house and outside.
- Let them play and exercise in the yard or surrounding area.
- Provide toys and a comfortable sleeping space for your Husky.
Note: For some doggos, it will only take days to become comfortable in a new environment or new people. For others, it can take months.
#3: See if your Husky is suffering from any illness
Sickness is one of the most common and serious reasons why dogs shut up. Thus, identifying and treating the disease or injury is crucial.
When you notice your Husky suddenly becoming less vocal than usual, take time to check for any obvious health problems. Isyour Husky lethargic? Do they have appetite?
To find out the exact reason, head to the vet. From there on you can start treatment if necessary.
#4: Identify stressors and eliminate them
What can be stressing your Husky that he went mute?
Identifying the cause of your pet’s quietness is the best thing you can do. Once you know what it is that stopped your pooch from “talking”, you should eliminate the stressor as soon as possible.
But if it can’t be helped, try to minimize it as much as you can.
Here are some possible causes as to why Huskies get stressed:
- A new home.
- Separation anxiety.
- A stressed dog parent.
- Unfamiliar sounds or noises.
- New owner or unknown people .
A stressed owner? The other reasons are understandable since they can strike fear in your Husky.
But what about your own stress levels?
What does that have to do with a stressed pooch?
A study suggested that dogs, to a great extent, mirror the stress level of their owners.
The results revealed that hair cortisol concentrations (cortisol being a stress hormone) were synchronized in both the research participants. With an increase in human hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), there was also an increase in dog HCC.
It goes to show that when humans are stressed, their dogs are stressed, as well.
#5: Give your Husky enough attention and exercise
It is important for Huskies to be mentally and physically stimulated.
Without the right attention and exercise, they can eventually dive into boredom or depression. And these negative conditions manifest in quietness, among others.
Thankfully, it is quite easy to give your pooch what he needs. Take note of the following tasks:
- Playing fetch.
- Digging in the yard.
- Doing training exercises.
- Spending a couple of hours in a dog park.
- Running around the block a number times.
- Taking a walk from your home to the park and back.
Make sure to spare at least 2 hours of exercise for your Husky. This way, excess energy is spent and your dog will be far from being bored.
Note: When your Husky has too much energy, he will start running in circles like crazy. This is a case of the “zoomies.”
Bonus Tip: Train your Husky to be vocal using positive reinforcement
If your fur buddy is naturally quiet, you can choose to leave him that way. Or you can coax your doggo to be a little bit more vocal.
Train your Husky to bark and howl and show him that it is okay to do so. Applying positive reinforcement is effective in this aspect.
You beam with happiness when someone praises you, right? And when you get a reward for doing something, you would want to do it again. This is what positive reinforcement means.
According to research on “Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effectiveness, and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare”, positive reinforcement is the suggested method for training dogs.
The results of the study revealed:
- Dogs trained using punishment are no more obedient than those trained by other means.
- Dogs who are punished exhibit increased numbers of potentially problematic behavior.
- Reward-based methods are associated with higher levels of obedience and fewer problematic behaviors.
- Rewards are a more effective and welfare-compatible alternative to punishment.
So, give your Husky a treat or a toy each time he makes a noise, be it a grumble or a whine. Understand that he won’t start barking or howling right away.
However, you need to be very careful in giving rewards. Or you might start covering your ears when you end up with an overly vocal Husky.