Choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle is as an important decision as bringing a dog into your life. Although every dog is individual and has a personality, each breed has particular traits. These traits can help you determine which breed will suit you and your lifestyle – ensuring a more harmonious home for you and your new pet.
The Siberian Husky and the Golden Retriever are both wonderful breeds. They are similar in size and are both friendly breeds with humans and other dogs. They both have a double coat, are energetic, and need around 2 hours of daily exercise. The Golden Retriever has a water-resistant longer coat than the Siberian Husky.
Let’s look at some breed traits to help you decide. These are general breed traits, and you should remember that breeding and life experiences will affect each dog differently.
Breed History of Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is one of 14 ancient dog breeds. The Chukchi tribe bred the Siberian Husky to pull sleds over long distances in harsh weather conditions. The Siberian Husky would work in teams to pull the sleds and sleep beside the children on cold nights to keep them warm.
Only the most social and playful Huskies would be used to breed, as cooperation and good natures were most important to the tribe. These traits are still found in today’s Siberian Husky.
Golden Retriever
The first Lord Tweedmouth of Guisachan Estate Inverness-shire in Scotland is credited with breeding the first Golden Retrievers. Lord Tweedmouth first mated a yellow-colored Flat Coated Retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel in 1864. The first Golden Retriever as we know it was bred in 1868.
They were bred to be more powerful and vigorous than other retriever dogs but to retain a friendly and biddable nature. Ensuring that they were gentle and easily trainable. The Golden Retriever is a hard-working dog often used as a service animal, a hunting/retrieving dog, and a family companion dog.
Breed Specifications for Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky has a thick fluffy double coat, with colors ranging from white, sable and white, grey and white, agouti, black and white, and black. Upright pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes can be blue, brown, mixed brown, and blue. In addition, they have a fox brush tail which is often held high in a sickle curve but can also be held low and trailing.
The Siberian Husky is a medium size breed. The adult male Siberian Husky stands at 21-23.5 inches, with an ideal weight range of 45-60lbs (20-27kgs).
The adult female Siberian Husky stands at 20-22 inches, with an ideal weight range of 35-50lbs (16-23kgs).
The life expectancy for a healthy, well-cared-for Siberian Husky is 12-14 years.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever has a dense, luxurious, water-repellent double coat, ranging from cream-colored to golden yellow. In addition, the Golden Retriever has a broad head, short ears, a straight muzzle, and a feathery tail – intelligent dark brown eyes.
The Golden Retriever is a medium to large size breed. The adult male Golden Retriever stands at 23-24 inches, with an ideal weight of 65-75 lbs (29-34kg).
The adult female Golden Retriever stands at 21.5-22.5 inches, with an ideal weight of 55-65 lbs (25-29 kg).
The life expectancy for a healthy, well-cared-for Golden Retriever is 10 – 12 years.
Common Breed Health Checks for Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky breed is generally pretty healthy; however, breeders should regularly have the dams and sires screened:
- Hip dysplasia (BVA/KC)
- Eye testing – PLA (gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)
- Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is generally pretty healthy; however, breeders should regularly have the dams and sires screened:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Cardiac examination (subvalvular aortic stenosis)
- Eye screening scheme (juvenile cataracts, pigmentary uveitis, and progressive retinal atrophy)
Energy Levels for Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a bundle of energy with outstanding endurance! This dog is at its happiest when it’s running, exploring, and playing. It can run for hours and still have the energy to play. However, to keep a Siberian Husky content, it will need at least 2 hours of daily exercise and some mental stimulation.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a high-energy dog. It will happily spend all day helping in a hunt, fetching in and out of the water, or trekking with its human. However, it requires at least 2 hours of daily exercise and is happiest if it has a job. The Golden Retriever is an intelligent dog that needs at least 2 hours of daily exercise and mental stimulation.
The Golden Retriever is an excellent choice as a service animal. They have lots of energy and enjoy learning and making their human happy. The Golden Retriever is most content when it has a job to keep it busy.
The Trainability of Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a highly intelligent dog. It was bred to decide whether to follow instructions or not for the musher and team’s safety. This intelligence is still present in the Siberian Husky. Once you know what motivates your Siberian Husky, training and cooperation are easier. Most Siberian Huskies are not food motivated, and you must get creative.
The Siberian Husky learns quickly and easily; motivating them to follow instructions consistently can be tricky. Furthermore, the Siberian Husky is not a biddable animal; they are not interested in pleasing their human. High prey drive also means that recall isn’t 100% for most Siberian Huskies.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is an intelligent dog, much like the Siberian Husky. However, unlike the Siberian Husky, the Golden Retriever is very human-focused and biddable. In addition, the Golden Retriever is a naturally loyal, people-pleasing dog, and these qualities can make them very easy to train.
Being relatively easy to train with good natures, the Golden Retriever is used widely as a service dog, search and rescue, and drug and bomb disposal. They love learning and pleasing their humans – the Golden Retriever excels at having a job.
Friendliness of Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is friendly and cooperative with people and other dogs. They have never met strangers or dogs they didn’t want to play with. These were the main traits that the Chukchi looked for in their sled dogs.
The Siberian Husky loves children and being around children – they are pretty gentle. However, the Husky can get boisterous and accidentally knock down little children.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is friendly with people and gets along well with other dogs with early socialization. A loyal and loving companion, the Golden Retriever fits in well with almost everyone. They are gentle and energetic dogs, well suited to families who enjoy going outside.
The Golden Retriever has a loyal nature and will be focused on its human if it is working. This focus can make the Golden Retriever seem stand-offish; however, it is just doing its job – and you should never distract a service dog from its work. However, if the Golden Retriever isn’t working, it is an energetic play pal for other dogs and people.
Grooming and Shedding of Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky has a fluffy, luxurious double coat to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The fur has a protective layer that repels dirt and protects the skin, reducing the doggy odor that most other breeds have. In addition, the Siberian Husky is cat-like in its grooming, keeping its coat clean. As a result, they only need to be bathed a few times a year.
The Siberian Husky needs brushing regularly to keep the coat healthy. In addition, twice a year, the undercoat blows and requires daily brushing – there will be fur everywhere!
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever has a thick, luxurious, water-repellent double coat. It will require regular brushing to keep the shedding hair under control. In addition, the Golden Retriever will need baths throughout the year to keep them clean.
The Golden Retriever sheds a lot and will blow the undercoat twice a year. During this blowout, the Golden Retriever will require brushing daily – hair will be everywhere!
Barking for Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky doesn’t bark, as such. It does, however, huff, chuff, chatter, and howl – also known as singing. In addition, the Siberian Husky is known to chat and sing to their humans. Sometimes for no apparent reason, and other times to communicate their point in the conversation.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a quiet dog breed. They are not known for excessive barking. Instead, they tend to bark to alert their human.
Overall Thoughts on Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky suits active outdoor people with lots of time for training and exercise. They enjoy running, hiking, and biking – independent dogs who like to think and work things out for themselves. However, the Siberian Husky isn’t for everyone, as the extensive training and lifestyle can be intense.
However, once you have earned the Husky’s trust and loyalty, they are a fantastic companion and will give you hours of fun and laughter. So, if you are up for a challenge, and looking for a dog with a big personality, then the Siberian Husky might be for you.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a great all-round dog. It is naturally gentle, loyal, playful and wants to please its human. This makes training easy, ideal for inexperienced people or families with young children.
All dog breeds require time for training and exercise. However, the Golden Retriever’s natural biddability makes training easier for more inexperienced people. In addition, their loyal and loving natures allow them to fit into almost any family dynamic. The Golden Retriever is a great dog that can adapt to many different environments.
For further breed-specific information, the Kennel Club UK and the American Kennel Club are excellent sources of information.
I hope you have found this article helpful.
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