Hi, my name’s Irena and I’ve got four dogs.
Three are getting on a bit now, but they still have plenty of energy and get up and go.
The other’s just four and he’s a little bundle of both love and naughtiness.
All he wants to do is play, run, and jump and he certainly stops me from sitting around watching TV and eating crisps.
However, this article isn’t about them. It’s about comparing two of the loveliest dog breeds there are, Huskies and Golden Retrievers.
Huskies and Golden Retrievers have plenty of similarities, but also lots of differences as well.
The Golden Retriever is a gun dog and originated in the United Kingdom, while the Husky is a working dog which came from the cold depths of Russia.
Both are about the same height, but Golden Retrievers are much heavier.
Overview of Husky
I love the appearance of Huskies. Blue eyes are a winner with me and their curly tails are so cute.
Back in the old days, Huskies were used to pull heavy loads and they are still used now in Scandinavia for the same purpose.
If you are a new dog owner, beware. They make great pets if they are trained well, but they need a master with strength of character.
However, if you are up for the challenge, go for it.
Huskies aren’t fierce. They would rather lick an intruder to death than do anything else.
Overview of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are great hunting dogs and love exercise such as walking or running.
They take many years to mature as they like being playful and silly for as long as possible.
Golden Retrievers, like Huskies, aren’t naturally guard dogs.
Although they might initially bark at strangers, they then want to make friends.
Being a service dog is another task that Golden Retrievers can take on.
They are intelligent, easy to train, trustworthy, and loyal.
They are also sensitive to people who are in pain so being a service dog is an excellent occupation for them.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Size: Which is Bigger?
A Golden Retriever is a little bigger in both height and weight than a Husky.
Golden Retrievers can be classed as large dogs, while Huskies are medium-sized.
Husky vs. Golden Retriever Temperament: How Do They Behave?
Both Golden Retrievers and Huskies are on the ball. There’s not much that gets past either of these dogs.
They love people and are clever. However, although Huskies can live well with other family pets, their prey drive might endanger other pets like cats.
Golden Retrievers are quieter in nature than Huskies, but they love human company and always want to be with their master.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Life Span: What’s Their Life Expectancy?
Huskies can live a little longer than Golden Retrievers, 12 – 14 years in comparison to 10 – 12 years for Golden Retrievers.
The reason for this is that Golden Retrievers are larger dogs and large dogs tend to have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Health: Are They Prone to Health Conditions?
Bad news for both Golden Retrievers and Huskies is that they can be prone to problems with their eyes.
They can get progressive retinal atrophy which can cause blindness. Cataracts can also affect either breed.
It’s always a good idea to check up on their eyes from time to time and a visit to the vet wouldn’t go amiss.
Both dogs can get hip dysplasia which means that the hip joint is not formed correctly.
This can cause limping and bunny-hopping. The treatment is medical therapy or even surgery.
For Huskies who are keen on more strenuous exercise than Golden Retrievers, things like climbing stairs can make hip dysplasia worse.
It can even be passed on from their parents so it’s not a bad idea to find out the family history of the dog before you adopt it.
Golden Retrievers can also get elbow dysplasia which is the malformation of the elbow joint.
The bone or cartilage can be damaged and this starts the onset of osteoarthritis.
You will find that they can get lameness in their front limbs.
Golden Retrievers can also suffer from aortic stenosis which is a congenital heart disease and Von Willebrands Disease, an inherited bleeding disorder.
In addition, the Golden Retriever has a higher than average risk of developing cancer and unfortunately at the moment there are no screening tests available.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Appearance: What Do They Look Like?
Huskies and Golden Retrievers aren’t that similar in appearance.
Golden Retrievers have straight or wavy coats while Huskies can come in all sorts of varieties; medium or dense coats, harsh and rough, straight and thick.
However, both have thick coats meaning that warmer temperatures aren’t ideal for them.
Golden Retrievers are a light golden in color, golden, or dark golden, while Huskies are quite often black and white, piebald, copper, black and tan splash, red, silver, sable brown, or grey.
Huskies have eyes which are shaped like almonds and medium shaped heads, while Golden Retrievers have heads that are never too broad or too narrow.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Shedding: What Kind of Coats Do They Have?
Both Huskies and Golden Retrievers have thick, double layer, water repelling coats.
They do shed all year round, but twice a year, they have a big shedding session. This is good for getting rid of old hair.
It is important to bathe either dog when they shed even if you think that it’s a difficult, even impossible job.
I have tried to wash my Sherlock and seem to get wetter than him, but he does look all the better for it and seems to shed less for a while.
Brush either dog once a week to keep shedding to a minimum.
Neither Huskies nor en Retrievers cause many allergies, but they can get allergies themselves because of their thick coats.
Skin allergies can develop in both Huskies and Golden Retrievers, sometimes due to canine atopic dermatitis.
They can get ticks, fleas, and bugs and combing and grooming can help with this. Regularly bathing with a mild shampoo can also help.
If you constantly change what you are feeding either your Huskies or Golden Retrievers, they can get allergies on their skin so try to stick to what they know.
If you are not sure what is causing the allergy, start eliminating different food sources.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Grooming: How Much Do They Require?
Huskies don’t need to be brushed as much as Golden Retrievers.
They don’t seem to need as much grooming as other dogs with double coats so this can be an incentive to adopt one.
Not all dogs like to be brushed and it can cause problems like fighting.
On the other hand, Golden Retrievers need more grooming.
They need to have their hair cut and trimmed about once a month. This can cost around $30 – $40 dollars, more if you have them bathed and their nails trimmed.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Training: Can They be Trained Easily?
Huskies need to be trained from an early age if you want to have any chance of having a well-trained dog.
They do have a stubborn streak and you have to let them know who’s boss.
The Golden Retriever on the other hand is much easier to train.
They want to please people so they are keen to learn and do what they are told.
If you would like any help training your dog, check out this article!
Husky vs. Golden Retriever Availability: Are They a Rare Dog Breed?
Huskies are less common than Golden Retrievers particularly in warmer climates.
They suit lower temperatures whereas Golden Retrievers will adapt to most climates although very hot temperatures are not ideal because of their heavy coats.
Don’t buy from a puppy mill. The pups won’t have had a suitable amount of care and their parents might have been forced to have litter after litter.
There are plenty of good breeders about there so do your research.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Family Dog: Are They Good with Children?
Golden Retrievers love to play and are ideal as a family dog.
Kids might be rough with them from time to time, but they’ll take it all in their stride.
Huskies love children too, but because they are so much more boisterous.
You do need to keep an eye on them especially if they are playing with smaller children.
Husky vs. Golden Retriever Food: How to Feed Your Dog?
Golden Retriever puppies should be fed three times a day in the morning, noon, and evening.
They should not be fed after 6 p.m. Peas, potatoes, and flaxseed provide nutrition for them and chicken fat is good for their skin.
Other great foods are chicory root and chelated minerals.
Husky puppies can be allowed to have food present at all times as they aren’t big eaters, but three meals a day is also suitable, reducing to two at the age of 12 – 16 weeks.
What is most important is to train your husky not to growl if the food is taken away.
Adult Golden Retrievers can be fed commercially produced dog food, but home-cooked food is better for Huskies as it stops them from itching, loose stools, and dandruff.
As the Golden Retriever is prone to bone problems, overfeeding is not recommended.
Huskies can be fed less food than Golden Retrievers.
They are in fact your perfect pet for weight control. If they are hungry, they will eat, if they’re not, they won’t. In this way, they are cheap to keep.
Boredom puts Huskies off food, but Golden Retrievers are less fussy eaters.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Living Conditions: Where are They Best Suited?
Both Huskies and Golden Retrievers fare better in a house where they have a garden to run about in.
Not that an apartment is out of the question if you have time to spend with your pet.
Huskies do well in cold temperatures, although it isn’t unknown to see them in hotter climates.
In fact, I have even seen some on the island of Crete where I live.
Hopefully they don’t suffer too much in the extreme heat of the summer months.
Golden Retrievers like warmer temperatures, but they don’t do well if it’s too hot.
Husky vs Golden Retriever Running Costs: Are They Expensive to Look After?
Golden Retrievers probably cost slightly more to keep than Huskies do.
This is because they eat more and their professional grooming costs are more expensive.
Husky vs Golden Retriever: Conclusion
Golden Retrievers and Huskies both make excellent family pets.
They are friendly and intelligent as well as loving, and both have masses of energy so if you want exercise, either dog is ideal.
However, if you are looking for a dog which is easier to train and look after, go for a Golden Retriever.
Without that little bit of stubbornness Huskies have, Golden Retrievers can be blended into your family with ease.
