The Golden Retriever and the Alaskan Husky are two of America’s most favorite dog breeds. Known for their intelligence, beauty, family-friendly nature, and zest for life, these purebred dogs make excellent additions to a number of active households throughout the United States.
And as the designer dog trend hits an all-time high, it’s no surprise that the Golden Retriever Husky Mix would find its way onto the scene.
Beautiful both inside and out, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is becoming a highly sought-after crossbreed canine.
Is this the right dog for you and your family? Let’s find out!
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Meet The Golden Retriever Husky Mix
The Golden Retriever Husky mix is a gorgeous combination of two energetic and affectionate dogs.
The Golden Retriever Husky Mix, also known as the Goberian, is a cross between the purebred Siberian Husky and the purebred Golden Retriever. A newer type of crossbreed, there are many traits that will be left up to chance when it comes to this dog, though there are some genetic traits we can predict.
Let’s take a moment now to look at a brief breed overview:
Height: 20 to 24 Inches
Weight: 45 to 90 Pounds
Temperament: Energetic, Playful, Affectionate, People-Oriented, Friendly, Intelligent
Health Issues: Hip Dysplasia, Cancer, Allergies, Eye Issues, Bloat, Epilepsy, Heart Problems, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Juvenile Cataracts, and Corneal Dysplasia
Lifespan: 10 to 15 Years
Average Cost Through A Breeder: $1,200 to $1,600
Average Cost Through A Rescue: $250 to $500
Best Suited For: Active and Experienced Dog owners, Families, Homes With Large Yards
Golden Retriever Husky Mix Breed Overview:
This beautiful mixed breed is going to be a medium-sized dog with a dense, double coat that sheds heavily year-round. Both the Siberian Husky and the Golden Retriever are known for their friendly, outgoing nature. Neither knows a stranger and will enjoy getting to meet new people and going on new adventures. This means that their crossbreed offspring will likely have the same temperament.
However, we should note that the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is known for being a very high-energy dog that could become overwhelming for novice dog owners or owners who are looking for a more laid-back canine.
In fact, if not properly trained, exercised, and kept mentally stimulated, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is prone to destructive behaviors, anxiety and stress.
Do you have what it takes to take on a Golden Retriever Husky Mix? Keep reading to learn more and see for yourself.
But First, Here Is What You Should Know About Hybrid Dogs
Crossbreed dogs like the Golden Retriever Husky mix come with their share of pros and cons.
The terms crossbreed, hybrid dog, mixed breed, and designer dog have been loosely used here in the United States for some time now. Though they all mean the same thing – a dog that is the offspring of two specifically chosen purebred parents – understanding what a crossbreed is can be somewhat confusing.
Furthermore, crossbreed dogs are not only popular, but they are also controversial. So, what is cross-breeding, when did it start, and why is it such a topic of debate?
Well, crossbreeding dogs is the process of breeding specific purebreds in an effort to combine particular characteristics. This process has been ongoing for centuries and has resulted in some of the most popular purebred dogs we know and love today.
In fact, the Golden Retriever himself is a product of careful crossbreeding throughout the years.
Originally, crossbreeding was designed to help create dogs for specific working purposes. Golden Retrievers, for example, are bred hunting dogs designed to gently and efficiently retrieve shot fowl for their masters.
However, in more recent years, crossbreeding has become a trend that has resulted in a number of first and second-generation crossbreed dogs being sold to the general public for top dollar.
The reason this could be considered controversial is that hybrid dogs, unlike purebred dogs, are somewhat unpredictable.
One of the benefits of purebred dogs is that you can predict their overall appearance, health issues, lifespan, and temperament. With crossbreed dogs, many of these characteristics and traits will be left up to chance. This is especially true when it comes to first, second or third generation crossbreed dogs.
Of course, so long as potential owners are aware of what this means, there should be no reason not to invest in a crossbreed like the Golden Retriever Husky Mix. In fact, there are even benefits to investing in a hybrid dog.
Have you ever heard of the term “hybrid vigor”? This term is the idea that crossbreed dogs may actually have a better chance of being healthier than their purebred counterparts thanks to their widened gene pool.
You see, purebred dogs have been so overbred for centuries in an effort to maintain their breed standard that many of them have a much higher chance of passing on certain genetic health issues to their offspring.
Crossbreed dogs, on the other hand, may have a less likely chance of inheriting specific genetic health issues.
With that being said, we should point out that this theory is not widely accepted by everyone. Those who disagree with the idea of hybrid vigor point out that genetics are genetics and that crossbreed dogs face just as much risk of inheriting genetic health issues as either of their purebred parents.
Furthermore, you must also consider now that crossbreed dogs could have a longer list of genetic health issues to contend with, as they are the offspring of two different purebred parents with different health issues in their genetic makeup.
Still, when considering if a crossbreed dog like the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is right for you, worrying about the designer dog debate is a small part of the overall decision.
It’s also important that you make sure this type of dog fits in with your lifestyle and that you will make a good owner for him as well.
So, without further ado, let’s learn more about the Golden Retriever Husky Mix.
What Will My Golden Retriever Husky Mix Look Like?
Because he is a hybrid, the appearance of your Golden Retriever Husky Mix will vary.
As we discussed above, determining what your Golden Retriever Husky Mix looks like can be tricky, especially if you have obtained a first or second-generation crossbreed.
However, there are a few basic physical characteristics we can predict when it comes to this hybrid dog.
When it comes to size, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is going to be a medium-sized dog weighing between 45 to 90 Pounds. He will grow to be between 20 to 24 inches in height, and his coat will be thick, double-coated, and weather-resistant.
The coloring of a Golden Retriever Husky Mix could vary, and he could look more like his Husky parent or more like his Golden Retriever parent, or he could fall somewhere in between.
One of the fun things about the Golden Retriever Husky Mix dog’s appearance is that he could have the potential to have different colored eyes. This is thanks to his Husky parent’s DNA, as Husky dogs can have blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, or even two different colored eyes.
While the Husky and the Golden Retriever do have similar traits as far as height and weight, they look very different from one another too.
The Husky, for example, has erect, pointed ears while the Golden Retriever has long, floppy ears.
Your Golden Retriever Husky Mix could inherit ears that are more like one parent breed over the other, or they could be somewhere in between the two types.
If you want a Golden Retriever Husky Mix with a particular appearance, you do have a few options. You can either choose to go through a breeder who specifically breeds this type of hybrid and select a dog that is a third or fourth-generation puppy, or you can obtain an adult dog over one year of age whose appearance has already been established.
Of course, with all that being said, remember that the appearance of your Golden Retriever Husky Mix is a small piece of a bigger puzzle when it comes to the overall dog.
After all, you’re investing in a dog, not a coat color or eye color. And this is why it’s so important to consider temperament and personality.
Is The Golden Retriever Husky Mix A Good Family Dog?
This is a mixed breed that can make a wonderful and energetic playmate for children.
While the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is certainly not going to be the right dog for everyone, one of the things we love most about him is that he has such a family-friendly nature. This is a dog that can do excellent with children and other pets. He is very people-oriented and is happiest when he is involved with his family.
This means that the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is not an outdoor only dog, though he will enjoy some outdoor playtime every day.
If you have children, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is an excellent addition to your family. He is an energetic and outgoing dog who does well with youngsters of all ages and makes a fun-loving companion. He gets along with strangers and enjoys having other canine siblings or friends to romp with.
With all that noted, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is a high-energy dog. This is not the ideal dog for more laid-back families and he could be a bit overwhelming for very young children or more hesitant children.
This is also a dog that needs plenty of activity each and every day and will not do well in smaller spaces like apartments or homes without yards.
He could become destructive if left to his own devices and even exhibit anxiety and stress if not kept properly exercised and mentally stimulated.
This means that the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is best suited for very active families with a flexible schedule, as well as more experienced dog owners who have a basic understanding of high-energy dogs.
While the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is known to be friendly and does well with children, it’s still important to remember that any dog can growl, nip or bite if they become handled too roughly or are in distress.
For this reason, it’s best to monitor young children around the family dog and to teach age-appropriate children how to respectfully interact around dogs in general.
Remind youngsters that dogs do not appreciate being roughly played with, teased, or hugged. It’s also a good idea to work with children on understanding basic canine body language. This could help strengthen the whole family’s bond with their Golden Retriever Husky Mix and even reduce the chances of a bite in the future.
Tips On Training And Socializing A Golden Retriever Husky Mix
Training and socialization are most effective when they begin early during puppyhood.
Outside of working with children on the best ways to interact with the Golden Retriever Husky Mix, it’s equally important to ensure you implement proper socialization and training with your Golden Retriever Husky Mix at an early age.
What You Should Know About Socialization:
Socialization is the act of ensuring you introduce your dog to as many new experiences as you possibly can while he is still young and impressionable. This includes introducing him to strangers, children, other animals, sights, sounds, and environments.
Ensuring your dog has many positive first impressions of his world will help reduce fear and anxiety in the future. This could in turn help reduce problematic behaviors like fear-based aggression and destructive chewing, marking, or barking.
It’s never too early to begin socializing a puppy, though very young puppies should not meet other dogs until they have been properly vaccinated.
It’s also never too late to work on properly socializing a dog, although the process can be more difficult and time-consuming when working with older dogs who have experienced trauma or fear during their initial fear period as puppies.
What You Should Know About Training:
Just as it is never too early to begin socializing a dog, it’s also never too early or too late to begin training.
The Golden Retriever Husky Mix is a very intelligent dog that is eager to please, though he is also high-energy which can make him somewhat complicated to train. When training your Golden Retriever Husky Mix, it’s best to keep sessions short, fun and game-like. Use positive reinforcement methods like treats and praise and avoid punishments like scolding or other aversive training tactics.
Aversive training methods that utilize scolding, punishment, pain, or fear can result in your dog shutting down and even impact the bond between the two of you.
Instead, stick with high-value treats, praise, and patience.
Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
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When looking for high-value treats to train your Golden Retriever Husky Mix, we recommend using treats that are small, smelly, and chewy. We like the above Pupford Training Treats for training your dog because they have all the traits that make a treat high-value.
They are also low in calories, which means you can use rapid feeding techniques when necessary. These treats are available in different flavors depending on your dog’s desired taste. They are also safe to feed to dogs of any age or stage in their life.
What Are The Exercise Needs Of A Golden Retriever Husky Mix?
This is an energetic crossbreed that requires plenty of daily exercises.
As we have mentioned a few times now, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix is a high-energy dog that does best with more active, outgoing owners.
He knows no stranger and enjoys playing and being outdoors. While these are incredible traits for a family dog, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix can be overwhelming for novice dog owners or those who live a more laid-back lifestyle.
Without proper exercise, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix can be prone to destructive behaviors like chewing and barking.
The best exercise for a Golden Retriever Husky Mix should be at least an hour or more a day. You can incorporate a combination of walks, hikes, jogs, runs, swimming, and free playtime in a backyard or even at a dog park.
We should note that Huskies in particular are prone to pull, especially as they are bred pulling and sled dogs. This means that your Golden Retriever Husky Mix may be prone to pulling ahead on walks as well.
Instead of using aversive equipment like prong collars or choke chains on your Golden Retriever Husky Mix, we recommend using a no-pull dog walking harnesse that clips in the front.
Easy Walk No Pull Dog Harness
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The Easy Walk Front Clip Dog Harness listed above is specifically designed to reduce pulling in dogs by alleviating the pressure put on your dog’s chest and throat. This pressure often makes dogs instinctively pull, especially dogs like Huskies or Husky mixes.
Instead, front clip harnesses help the walk feel more natural for your dog. If he does pull ahead, this type of harness will gently redirect him back to you without harming him.
Along with routine physical exercise, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix will also need plenty of mental exercise as well.
Remember, both the purebred Golden Retriever and the purebred Siberian Husky are working dogs at heart. They are very clever and can easily become bored if left to their own devices.
To help reduce anxiety and destructive behaviors in your Golden Retriever Husky Mix, we recommend working to keep your dog properly mentally stimulated throughout the day, especially while you are away or busy.
You might consider investing in puzzle toys that help to keep your dog entertained and challenged. Some of the best puzzle toys utilize treats to help hold your dog’s interest. We also recommend investing in KONG toys for large breed dogs that you can fill with all your dog’s favorite goodies.
Along with ensuring your dog has plenty to do while you are away, we also suggest incorporating mental stimulation into daily exercise routines.
This could include making your dog an impromptu doggy obstacle course in your backyard using patio furniture, or hiding treats around your home that your dog has to find. He will enjoy these fun challenges and love playing games with you at the same time.
How To Groom A Golden Retriever Husky Mix
Golden Retriever Huskies are double-coated breeds that shed heavily.
Though the Golden Retriever Husky Mix does have a double coat that sheds year-round, grooming him may not be as tedious as one might assume. This crossbreed is a dog with a weather-resistant, self-cleaning coat, which means he only needs to be bathed about once every six weeks or so.
In fact, over bathing your Golden Retriever Husky Mix could actually lead to a deterioration of the natural oils his skin produces that help to keep his coat healthy in the first place. However, outside of bathing, this is a dog that is going to require some routine care.
Because he is a shedding dog with a double coat, it’s important to brush him routinely with a deshedding brush and undercoat rake. This will help remove debris, reduce doggy odor and ensure your dog’s coat is healthy.
He should also have his nails trimmed or ground down every two weeks or so and his teeth should be brushed once daily using a dog-safe toothbrush and toothpaste designed for canine consumption.
Arm & Hammer Dog Toothbrush
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There are many types of dog toothpaste and toothbrushing you can choose from, but we recommend the Arm & Hammer canine tooth care kit listed above. It comes with everything you will need to help keep your dog’s teeth healthy, including a finger brush, a double-sided toothbrush, and flavored toothpaste.
Like all dogs, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix can be prone to ear infections, so it’s important to check and clean his ears often and make sure they are free from a buildup of debris, moisture, or wax.
The Golden Retriever Husky Mix Health Issues and Lifespan
There are pros and cons to the Golden Retriever Husky Mix that you should consider before you invest.
Though we did touch on hybrid vigor briefly at the beginning of the article, it’s important to remember that it is not guaranteed when it comes to mixed-breed dogs. This means that your Golden Retriever Husky mix could be susceptible to any and all of the genetic health issues of his purebred parents.
With a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, the Golden Retriever Husky mix is most commonly known to struggle with the following genetic health problems:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cancer, Allergies
- Eye Issues, Bloat
- Epilepsy
- Heart Problems
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Juvenile Cataracts
- And Corneal Dysplasia
While it can be difficult to predict which types of health issues your specific Golden Retriever Husky mix may be most at risk for, there are a few ways you can go about ensuring your dog lives his happiest, healthiest life.
Take a look.
Get Your Puppy Or Rescue From A Reputable Source
First, it’s imperative that you do your best to get your puppy or rescue dog from a reputable source. This would include breeders that understand the importance of responsible breeding practices and breeders that can provide you with the proper paperwork showing their puppies have been screened and cleared of any serious health issues.
Avoid backyard breeders, online sellers, or those who are not certified. If you prefer to rescue, do plenty of research and choose a rescue or shelter you trust.
On average, the cost of a Golden Retriever Husky mix through a breeder is between $1,200 and $1,600. If you prefer to go through a rescue, you can find the dog of your dreams for a fraction of the cost! Often, rescuing a Golden Retriever Husky mix is going to be around $250 to $500.
Furthermore, there are plenty of Husky mix dogs in shelters throughout the United States looking for a loving forever home. It’s certainly worth looking into.
Routine Vet Visits
Keeping up with routine veterinarian visits is another great way to help ensure your dog is healthy. For larger dogs like the Golden Retriever Husky mix, most vets recommend annual visits until your dog is at the age of seven. Once he reaches seven, it’s best for your Golden Retriever Husky Mix to be seen at least twice a year to keep up with ever-changing health issues.
If you’re concerned about keeping up with the costs of routine vet visits and medical care, we would suggest looking into investing in pet health insurance.
Doggy DNA Kits
If you go through a reputable breeder to obtain your dog, you will often be given paperwork proving your puppy has been screened or cleared of any serious health issues. This isn’t always the case if you adopt your dog through a rescue.
However, you do have the option of having your dog’s health screened yourself. In fact, canine DNA kits are becoming more and more popular, and they can provide you with a wealth of information on your Golden Retriever Husky mix including his genetic history and what he may be predisposed to as far as health issues down the road.
Proper Grooming, Exercise, and Diet
Last, remember to keep your Golden Retriever Husky Mix on a quality dog food specified for his age, weight, and activity level.
For Golden Retriever Husky Mix dogs, this should be dog food for large breed dogs that is high in protein, fatty acids, carbs, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. Avoid dog foods that contain additives, byproducts, corn, soy, wheat, or gluten, and stick with dog foods that contain real meat protein as the first ingredient.
You do have the option of choosing between dry dog food, wet dog food, raw dog food, and homemade dog food. Whichever option you choose, be sure that your dog food contains all the nutrients your specific dog needs in order to thrive.
Remember, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix can be prone to a number of health issues that can be exasperated by a poor diet. This includes issues like allergies and Bloat.
Bloat is a serious and often life-threatening condition that can come on suddenly and is caused when air or gas fills your dog’s intestines.
To help combat bloat, we suggest investing in a puzzle feeder.
Slow Feeder
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Also known as a Slow Feeder, Puzzle Feeders help slow your dog down while he eats and helps reduce the amount of air swallowed during mealtime. This can not only help reduce the chances of your Golden Retriever Husky Mix from experiencing Bloat, but it can also help encourage healthy eating habits, enhance digestion, and ensure a fun and fulfilling mealtime experience.
Puzzle Feeders come in a variety of patterns, but we recommend the above-listed puzzle feeder for a Golden Retriever Husky Mix because it is made with dog-safe material and helps make mealtime challenging and stimulating for your clever and energetic dog.
Is The Golden Retriever Husky Mix The Right Dog For You? Let’s Find Out!
When looking for a puppy or rescue, we recommend going through sources you trust.
Golden Retriever Husky Mix dogs can make excellent additions to the right household or family. Is that family yours?
Remember, this is a hybrid dog that can do very well with children and other pets, especially when he is well trained and properly socialized. However, this is also a crossbreed that is quite energetic and needs plenty of exercise and physical activity each and every day to stay happy and healthy.
The Golden Retreiver Husky Mix sheds heavily year-round, so he may not be the ideal dog for those who suffer from allergies.
If you are looking for a more relaxed dog, we suggest avoiding choosing the Golden Retriever Husky Mix.
However, if you are an active single, family, or couple looking for an energetic and fun-loving fur kid to join your family, the Golden Retriever Husky Mix may just be the perfect dog for you!
Jen Jones is a professional dog trainer and behavior specialist with more than 25 years of experience. As the founder of ‘Your Dog Advisor’ and the ‘Canine Connection’ rehabilitation center, she applies a holistic, empathetic approach, aiming to address root causes rather than merely treating symptoms.
Well known for her intuitive and compassionate approach, Jen adopts scientifically-proven, reward-based methods, encouraging positive reinforcement over punishment. Jen specializes in obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy socialization. Her innovative methods, particularly in addressing anxiety and aggression issues, have been widely recognized. Jen has worked with many of the world’s leading dog behaviorists and in her free time volunteers with local animal shelters and rescue groups.