Updated: July 18th, 2022
The Golden Retriever Husky mix isn’t a purebred dog, but a fairly new and rare type of designer hybrid. A cross between a Siberian Husky and a Golden Retriever, this smart and friendly mix inherited some of the best traits of its parenting breeds.
Affectionate and outgoing, they get along with everyone and are exceptionally gentle with children. Highly energetic and active, this mix needs a lot of space and isn’t a good option if you don’t have a backyard.
Stay with me till the end of this article and find out if this adorable crossbreed is the right dog for you!
What Is A Goberian?
The Goberian, also known as Golden Retriever Husky mix, is a crossbreed between a purebred Siberian Husky and a purebred Golden Retriever. Although fairly rare, this recently developed designer dog is becoming increasingly popular due to its cute looks and friendly nature.
To understand a Goberian dog, you will have to know a bit more about its parenting breeds.
Best known for their golden coat and affectionate nature, Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve shot waterfowl during hunting and shooting parties. Nowadays, Goldens are one of the most popular dog breeds thanks to their friendly, intelligent, and kind nature.
Bred to pull sleds and work in packs, the Siberian Husky is a working dog and was bred to endure extreme weather conditions. Outgoing and smart, Huskies are stubborn and mischievous dogs, with tendencies to wander off.
When you combine the two, you get a Goberian – a highly energetic, friendly, and intelligent dog that will keep you on your toes!
Husky Golden Retriever Mix Appearance
Being a crossbreed, no two Goberians are the same, and your dog’s appearance will depend on what genes it inherits from his parents. You should expect your mix to be athletically built with muscular legs and a straight back.
As for features, the head is usually rounded with a narrow muzzle, the ears are in most cases floppy but can also be straight, and the eyes can be piercing blue, brown, or one of each color.
Size, Weight & Height
In terms of size, a fully-grown Golden Retriever and Husky mix can be a medium or a large dog. They usually measure 20 to 24 inches in height and weigh 45 to 90 pounds. It’s common for female dogs to be smaller, but with crossbreeds, you can never know for sure.
Coat & Color
Goberians have a thick double coat that provides a great deal of insulation and makes it hard for them to tolerate warmer climates. Hence, this mix isn’t the best choice if you live in a hotter climate since it can overheat easily. Depending on which parent your dog takes more after, the coat can be straight or wavy and is usually a mix of two or more colors.
Most commonly seen colors are:
- White
- Golden
- Black
- Gray
- Brown
- Cream
- Red
Golden Retriever And Husky Mix Temperament
Predicting the temperament of any mixed-breed dog is tricky, and there is no certain way to know if your Goberian dog will take more after his Husky parent or vice versa. To get a better sense of your new Golden Retriever Husky mix, try to meet both of his parents and get a sense of their temperaments.
Friendly
The Husky and Golden Retriever mix is going to be a very friendly and people-oriented pooch. Like both of its parenting breeds, the Goberian likes to spend time and interact with people and is especially gentle towards children.
Goberians form strong bonds with their humans and will love to spend time and cuddle with all family members. However, they tend to pick a special person, someone whom they favor more than anyone else and that person will have a special place in their hearts.
Highly Energetic
The Husky Golden Retriever mix is a very energetic and active dog that requires prolonged exercise sessions to stay happy and well-behaved. If not properly exercised, Goberians can easily get bored and will resort to destructive chewing, howling, barking, and full-blown mayhem! Due to its highly energetic nature, this mix isn’t a great apartment dweller and will prefer a big yard where it can play and run around.
Goberians need up to 90 minutes of exercise every day, and enjoy swimming, running, hiking, or any other activity that gets the heart rate going. If you aren’t into cardio, you will have to take time and commit to walking your mix for 12 miles or more each week.
Independent
Depending on how much it takes after its Husky parent, your crossbreed can be very independent and stubborn at times. If this is the case, starting obedience training from a young age is essential if you don’t want to be bossed around by your dog.
Goberians also have the tendency to be strong-willed, so you will have to be the “alpha” if you want your dog to listen and behave.
Intelligent
Both Huskies and Golden Retrievers are smart breeds, so your mix will be too. The greatest thing with owning an intelligent dog is that they are easy to train when properly motivated.
Start training your puppy as soon as you bring it home and only use positive reinforcement. Using treats, play, toys, or cuddles as rewards can motivate your pooch to stay focused on training (even if he is stubborn) and this will make the whole process a lot easier for you.
Goberians that take more after their Husky parent have a stronger wanderlust potential so it is wise to keep your pooch on a leash and have a fully fenced yard. Otherwise, be prepared to run miles to catch and bring your dog back home from exploratory adventures.
Husky And Golden Retriever Mix Health Problems
Mixed breed dogs are healthier than their purebred counterparts. While Goberians are generally healthy, they are prone to certain diseases that affect Huskies and Golden Retrievers.
The most common problems seen it this mix are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Cancer
- Heart issues
- Bloat
Getting your mix from a reputable breeder who does all health checks is the best way to avoid these problems. You should meet the puppy’s parents and check if they have good hip and eye scores.
Compared to other dogs of their size, Goberians have a longer lifespan and on average live from 10 to 15 years. So, be prepared for a long-term commitment before you decide to take this crossbreed home.
Feeding A Goberian Dog
The ideal diet for this mix is the one that contains lots of proteins, fats, wholesome carbs, and essential micronutrients. Regardless of the type of food you want to feed to your dog, make sure that it’s formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed dogs. To learn more, read our complete Golden Retriever Feeding Guide.
Adult Goberinas should eat two times a day to avoid bloat and stomach problems. Puppies should eat four times a day until they are one-year-old, after which you can cut their portions into three or two smaller meals a day.
When it comes to feeding your mix, you should stick with the recommended amounts based on his age, activity level, or any health problems. And whenever in doubt, ask a vet or a canine nutritionist to design a feeding plan for your dog.
Siberian Husky And Golden Retriever Mix Grooming & Care
Although it has a dense double coat, this crossbreed doesn’t shed much and won’t fill your home with loose hairs. However, you should still brush your mix three times a week to remove dead hairs and distribute skin oils through the length of the coat. Here is my review of the best dog brushes out there.
Considering that your pooch will spend a lot of time outdoors, playing in the puddles and mud, bath times should be taken when needed. Just make sure to use an appropriate dog shampoo that won’t damage the coat or dry up your dog’s skin.
The rest is pretty much basic care, and involves regular teeth brushing, nail clipping, and ear cleaning. Make sure to check your dog’s ears once a week and clean them when needed using a dog-friendly ear cleaning solution. And if your pooch takes more after its Golden Retriever parent and has floppy ears, he will likely be prone to waxy build-up.
Conclusion
The Golden Retriever Husky mix is still a fairly rare type of designer dog, but more and more people are interested in everything these dogs have to offer. Besides being incredibly smart and loyal, Goberians are extremely friendly and make a perfect addition to active families with children. The breed’s selling points are:
- Very affectionate
- Doesn’t shed much
- Smart and fast learners
As a bonus, if you decide to get one, you won’t have to pay for a gym any time soon – your Goberian will get you in shape in no time!
