Golden Retriever Husky Mix Breed Traits & Characteristics

The golden retriever husky mix is a cross between a golden retriever and a Siberian husky. Golden retriever huskies are also commonly referred to as goberians.

Golden retriever husky mixes are 22–24 inches tall and weigh between 35 and 80 pounds. They combine the best personality traits of the husky and the golden retriever, including loyalty, intelligence, and confidence. The average lifespan of this mixed breed is 10–15 years.

Due to their high exercise requirements, these dogs are best suited to active people who enjoy the outdoors.

Golden retriever husky mixes typically cost $250–$1,500.

Golden Retriever Husky Mix Characteristics & Overview

Golden retriever husky mix with two golden retrievers

Common names:Golden retriever husky mix, golden retriever husky, goberian
Origin:Unknown
Parent breeds:Golden retriever and Siberian husky
Breed group:Hybrid
Size:Large
Height:22–24 inches
Weight:35–80 pounds
Colors:Golden, or silver, blue, and white
Coat:Double coat, medium length, straight or curly
Life expectancy:10–15 years
Temperament:Loyal, outgoing, confident, intelligent, active
Shedding:Moderate/heavy shedders
Barking tendency:Moderate
Cost:$250–$1,500

Origin & Purpose

The origin of the golden retriever husky mix is unknown. It’s likely that they became popular during the designer dog boom in the 1990s.

Golden Retriever Parent

The golden retriever was bred to fetch game for Scottish hunters in the late 1800s. These dogs were brought to the United States in 1910, and they were recognized and named by the American Kennel Club in 1932.

Today, golden retrievers are mostly family dogs. Due to their smart, loyal nature, some golden retrievers work as service dogs for people with physical impairments.

Golden retriever huskies often inherit the golden retriever’s body size and stature, floppy ears, and feathered tail.

Siberian Husky Parent

The Siberian husky is a medium-sized dog that originated in Northeast Asia, where it was bred for companionship and sled pulling. These dogs arrived in the United States in 1908 and gained fame in the sled racing sport.

In 1930, Siberian huskies were recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club. Today, Siberian huskies are commonly kept as house pets, but some are still used as sled dogs.

Golden retriever huskies usually inherit the husky’s silver, blue, and white coloring, and the husky’s ice-blue or brown eyes.

Life Expectancy

Golden retriever husky mixes typically live for 10–15 years. The dog’s health status, diet, and activity level affect its lifespan.

Healthy dogs typically live longer than sedentary dogs that eat a poor diet.

Golden Retriever Husky Mix Appearance

Golden retriever husky mix parents: golden retriever and husky

Golden retriever husky mixes have golden retriever bodies with thick, double coats and husky coloring. Their exact appearance depends on how much of each parent is passed on to the puppy.

Height and Weight

Golden retriever husky mixes are considered large dogs, with a height at the withers of 22–24 inches, and a weight of 35–80 pounds. Males usually grow around 2 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier than females.

The sizes of the parent breeds affect the size of the golden retriever husky puppy. Golden retrievers are heavier than huskies, so golden retriever huskies with golden retriever bodies are heavier than those with husky bodies.

Colors

Golden retriever husky mixes are typically white, silver, cream, black, gray, blue, and brown. Commonly, they have husky coloring, combining white and silver, white and tan, or white and black.

Some dogs of this mixed breed have block-color bodies in light-to-dark shades of gold, like golden retrievers. All-black or all-white variations are rare.

Coat

The golden retriever husky has a double coat, with straight or curly fur. The dog’s undercoat is thick and plush, providing insulation, and the topcoat is coarse and medium-length.

Although these crossbreed mixes have thick, fluffy coats, they don’t shed as frequently as their high-shedding husky parent.

Head and Facial Features

These dogs have the rounded heads, narrow muzzles, and the square, black noses of golden retrievers. Some golden retriever husky mixes have floppy, golden retriever ears, and some have triangular, erect, Siberian husky ears.

These mixes usually inherit the husky’s piercing blue or brown eyes.

Personality and Temperament

Golden retriever husky mix appearance

According to the American Kennel Club temperament guide, the golden retriever is friendly, reliable, and trustworthy, while the Siberian husky is gentle, friendly, alert, and outgoing. Golden retriever husky mixes have many of the positive personality traits of their parents and are known to be friendly, energetic, and smart.

Like their husky parents, these dogs sometimes become reserved as they reach old age. Some are needy and suffer from separation anxiety, so they’re best suited to people who spend a lot of time at home.

The loyal, playful, gentle, and fun-loving nature of the golden retriever husky mix makes the dog ideal for families with young children.

Barking

Golden retriever husky mixes bark and howl more than other dogs. The dogs’ moderate barking tendency comes from the Siberian husky, which howls, whines, and barks to communicate with its owners.

If barking or howling is a problem, they can be trained not to bark by using verbal commands.

Golden Retriever Husky Mix Care

Caring for a golden retriever husky is easy, but you need to spend more money on this large dog breed than you would for small or medium dog breeds.

These dogs need lots of food, regular grooming, and plenty of exercise.

Food Needs

Golden retriever huskies need to eat between two and three cups of high-quality kibble per day, or approximately 1,500 calories, split into two or three separate meals.

The exact amount of food required depends on the dog’s size, activity level, age, and metabolism.

At least 20% of their diet should be protein due to the dog’s active nature. Buy food that’s specially formulated for large dogs to ensure your dog receives the right balance of nutrients for its size.

Grooming Needs

The golden retriever husky has moderate grooming requirements. Brush the dog once or twice a week to remove loose hair and prevent matting, and clean the dog’s teeth once weekly to maintain good oral hygiene.

Clip your dog’s nails when you hear them clicking on the floor, and bathe it once a month. Professional grooming isn’t required.

Exercise Needs

Golden retriever huskies are highly active dogs that need at least 60 minutes of exercise per day. In addition to walking, they enjoy jogging, hiking, running alongside a bike, swimming, playing fetch, and agility classes.

These dogs aren’t suitable for living with inactive people or people with mobility issues, and they’re not good apartment dogs, due to their large size and high exercise requirements.

Mental Needs

Mental stimulation is essential for the smart golden retriever husky mix, and the dog needs between 30 and 60 minutes of bonding and brain training activities per day.

Good toys for playtime include puzzle games and food release games, tug-of-war toys, and tennis balls. Games like hide-and-seek and find and retrieve, with toys and dog treats, give these dogs the opportunity to put their working brains into action.

Common Health Concerns

Golden retriever huskies are prone to some of the health conditions affecting their parent breeds, including the following.

Eye Problems

The golden retriever husky is susceptible to eye problems like cataracts, which cloud the lens and deteriorate the dog’s vision over time. Cloudy pupils over one or both eyes, and clumsiness and difficulty seeing in dimly-lit areas, are all signs of cataracts. Surgery is the only effective cure for canine cataracts.

Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is common in huskies and golden retrievers and can be passed down to golden retriever huskies from their parents. Hip dysplasia causes the hip joints to form improperly, leading to lameness and pain.

Treatments for hip dysplasia include exercise therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and diet supplementation. Surgery is required for serious cases of hip dysplasia.

To reduce the risk of hereditary health problems, buy the dog from a breeder who has health certificates for both the parent dogs. Prevent non-hereditary health conditions, like obesity, by ensuring the dog follows a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

Training

Husky and golden retriever mixes

Golden retriever husky mixes are intelligent and eager to please, so training these dogs is easy. Some of these hybrid dogs inherit the husky’s mischievous nature, so the dogs should be trained from puppy age to get them used to following commands and knowing who’s the boss.

Leash train and toilet train your golden retriever husky mix as early on as possible if the dog hasn’t already been trained in its previous home.

Consistent, daily training sessions and positive reinforcement are effective. Consider professional training if your dog is stubborn and doesn’t pick up commands.

Introduce your golden retriever husky to a variety of environments from puppy age to adulthood, with walks, puppy classes, and trips to the dog park.

Golden Retriever Husky Mix Price

The golden retriever husky is a moderately affordable to expensive dog breed. The cost depends on whether you buy from a breeder or adopt the dog.

How Much is a Golden Retriever Husky Mix?

A golden retriever husky mix typically costs $250 to $1,500. The price range depends on the age of the dog, the dog’s health status, the uniqueness of the dog’s coat colors and markings, and whether you adopt or buy a dog.

Adopting a dog is about $200.

How Much Does it Cost to Own a Golden Retriever Husky Mix?

The cost of owning a golden retriever husky mix is $100–$200 per month. This cost includes food and water supplies, new toys, walking and training supplies, and healthcare.

Professional grooming, dog sitting, training, and dog walking are additional, optional monthly costs.

Is a Golden Retriever Husky Mix Right for You?

Golden retriever husky mix

The golden retriever husky mix is an energetic, loving dog that’s great for families, but these dogs aren’t suitable for all people or lifestyles.

Who Should Get a Golden Retriever Husky Mix?

Golden retriever husky mixes are highly active dogs with lots of energy to burn, so they’re ideal for active families with medium-sized or large backyards.

They are known for their friendly, gentle natures, and they love being around people, so they’re great for families with young children. These dogs are commonly available for adoption, so if getting a dog from puppy age isn’t important to you, consider adopting a dog from a shelter.

Who Should Not Get a Golden Retriever Husky Mix?

Golden retriever huskies love human interaction and get lonely and anxious when they’re left alone, so they aren’t suitable for people who are often away from home.

The cost of owning a golden retriever husky is higher than the cost of owning a small dog, so you shouldn’t get this dog breed if you have a tight budget.

Due to their large size and high exercise needs, these dogs aren’t suitable for apartment living.

More Golden Retriever and Siberian Husky Mixes

Want a golden retriever mix or Siberian husky mix but aren’t keen on the golden retriever husky mix? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:

Golden Retriever Mixes

Siberian Husky Mixes

About Thomas Woods 224 Articles
Thomas has been a dog lover since he was 6 years old when his parents got him a rescue Labrador. Since then his love for dogs has lead him to study Animal Behavior & Welfare. He now keeps a six year old English Bullmastiff and educates pet parents through his online publication Perfect Dog Breeds.

2 Comments

  1. We have a six year old Goberian and love her like crazy. Beautiful and stubborn, dedicated to mommy but loves everyone she meets instantly. And yes, destructive if left alone too long.

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