Choosing your next furry best friend is not an easy task. When you’ve narrowed down your options to Siberian husky and German shepherd, you have to compare the two in order to choose the perfect one for you. Both of these breeds are known to be extremely friendly family dogs, but the qualities of one may suit your family and you better. In order to help you make the right decision, let’s look at both breeds in detail.
Breed History
They are both known to be working dogs, but Huskies are relatively an older breed when compared to the German shepherd. Siberian Huskies were developed in Russia to transfer light loads from one place to another without tiring quickly. The icy terrains of Russia have influenced the breed that we see today. Besides being a working dog, the Siberian husky was also known for its companionship.
The German shepherd, on the other hand, originated in Germany and was a herding dog initially. The distinguishing features of the German shepherd breed were engineered carefully for more than four decades. The best herding dogs were cleverly mixed to finally form the German shepherd, a breed that would become one of the most recognizable police and family dog breeds of the world.
Appearance
The Siberian husky and the German shepherd do look similar in a few respects, while in others, they look completely different. Generally, Huskies are shorter than German Shepherds with an average height of 20 to 24 inches and have an average weight of 35 to 65 pounds. Meanwhile, the German Shepherds, on average, are 22 to 26 inches tall, weighing from 50 to 90 pounds.
The build of German Shepherds is tall and sleek, which gives a powerful and muscular appearance. The additional muscles in comparison with Huskies are what give German Shepherds the extra weight. Huskies have a proportionally shaped and compact body.
As long as the breeds’ coats are concerned, both of them have a fluffy double coat. The fluffy double coat was intended to keep them warm in the Arctic and German environment initially.
The colorings of the coat, however, are different. The traditional “classic” colors of the German shepherd are tan and black, but there is a large number of other coats as well. On the other hand, Huskies have about nine colors, and the most common one is the gray and white coats. Moreover, both of the breeds have similarly shaped heads with dark features.
Temperament
From all the features between the two, temperament is the most different. German shepherds are known to be serious pups, always on high alert for guarding duty. They are known to protect their family till the very end and are highly suspicious of anyone that doesn’t belong to the family. It is one of the reasons why German Shepherds are one of the most common guard dogs as well as family dogs. They are extremely loving to their primary caretaker and are known to be “one-man dogs.”
Huskies are totally different from German Shepherds in this regard. They are very friendly to every member of the family, and to even strangers. These are loving dogs that may invite a would-be intruder with open arms, which is one of the reasons why they are not considered fit to be guard dogs. Huskies like to be the center of attention and are mostly, if not always, involved in mischievous activities.
German shepherds will surely let you know when there is an intruder, howling and barking loudly. But a Husky would barely bark or howl if he saw an intruder come in. Huskies are very talkative dogs, though. They love to talk, sing, and howl to their owners.
Exercise
Both of these dogs need exercise throughout the day, although the quantity may be a little less in the case of a German shepherd. A German shepherd requires at least 60 minutes of exercise daily and is known to be a medium-energy dog. An hour of exercise keeps a German shepherd healthy, fit, and occupied. German shepherds also like to take part in activities that can get their brains working. These activities may include agility exercises, Frisbee, and fetch.
Huskies are high-energy dogs. For them to stay fit and occupied, they need to exercise for at least 90 minutes a day. Walking and jogging with them is a pleasure, and they make excellent partners. If you live in an icy or snowy area, your Husky would love to get involved in sledging, considering it was the thing he was made for.
Conclusion
Despite their differences, both German Shepherds and Huskies are amazing family dogs who will prove to be loyal and loving to your family. Nevertheless, each of them has their own requirements that must be met. The German Shepherds need a loyal and loving partner who will love them and reward them. He needs to work and exercise to not get bored and have a good daily routine.
The Husky, however, is a breed known to be stubborn and free. They require mental stimulation as well as physical stimulation, but most Huskies have a lack of exercise that makes them have destructive behavior. Yet, they are loving to everyone, so that’s a plus point.
If you want a high-maintenance dog, you can get a Husky, or if you want a loving and loyal partner, the German shepherd might be the best for you. However, if you cannot choose between the two, consider checking out Gerberian Shepsky, which are German Shepherd-Husky mix dogs.