The Golden Retriever and Siberian Husky have both been popular for many years as useful working dogs and affectionate companions.
The offspring of these two breeds, the Golden Retriever Husky mix or Goberian, is a relatively new addition to the world of designer breeds.
What do I need to know about the Golden Retriever Husky mix? This mixed breed can favor either one of the parents in terms of appearance and personality or can be a nice combination. Expect a Goberian to be friendly, social, affectionate, intelligent, and playful, but a stubborn streak isn’t out of the question.
A Golden Retriever Husky mix can make the perfect addition to your family. In the following, we’ll highlight the key aspects, both positive and negative, of this delightful mixed breed.
Appearance
With two breeds’ genetic makeups at play, the appearance of the resulting puppies can vary quite a bit.
Some Goberians may look very similar to one parent, and some will be the perfect combination of the two breeds.
A Goberian:
- May have a soft, long coat like a Golden; a shorter, smooth coat like a Husky; or be somewhere in between.
- Can have floppy or upright ears.
- Will be muscular, well balanced, and graceful in movement.
- Usually is less than 24 inches tall.
- Typically weighs between 45 and 65 pounds.
- May have the Golden Retriever’s trademark smiling face or a Husky’s wolf-like features.
What Colors Do They Come In?
One of the best things about mixed breeds is the variety of possible colors.
Golden Retrievers come in three shades: golden, light golden, and dark golden. A Goberian could inherit any one of those colors.
On the other hand, Siberian Huskies can be pure white, black, agouti, brown, gray, sable, tan, red, or any of those colors combined with white.
So, you can see that a wide variety of color possibilities exist for this mixed breed.
Can They Have Blue Eyes?
Yes! Thanks to their Husky side of the family, Goberians’ eyes may be a beautiful icy blue or a darker blue shade. Heterochromia is also possible (one brown eye and one blue eye).
Of course, these adorable dogs may have ordinary brown eyes, but various shades and hues make this common color gorgeous too.
Temperament
Since both parent breeds are noted for being friendly, intelligent, gentle, eager to please, and energetic, the same can generally be expected in their offspring.
A Goberian should be loyal, sociable, affectionate, and absolutely adore people but may have an independent or stubborn streak.
Are They Easy to Train?
Goberians who inherit a Golden Retriever disposition will likely be a joy to train as Goldens are famously eager to please their owners.
However, Siberian Huskies have a reputation for being a bit on the stubborn side and can be challenging when it comes to training.
Are They Good Family Dogs?
Considering that both parent breeds were created to be companion working dogs, it comes as no surprise that, yes, Goberians make great family dogs.
They tend to be quite social, very affectionate, and adore being fully immersed in family life.
Most Goberians will get along well with other household pets, provided that they’re well socialized.
Do Goberians Get Along Well With Children?
Golden Retrievers and Huskies tend to be gentle and tolerant with children and will form deep, lasting bonds easily.
Of course, no dog should be expected to endure endless harassment or intimate exploration of little fingers, but generally, you’ll find that this mix is exceptionally tolerant and patient.
If you’re looking for ways to encourage your kids to spend more time playing outside, the Goberian might do the trick.
They’re energetic and playful and will happily join in games of tag, hide-and-seek, fetch, Frisbee, and more.
Shedding
Both parent breeds have an undercoat and are known to shed copiously, especially Huskies, so expect a fair amount of shedding from your Goberian.
Frequent brushing will definitely help, and during seasonally sheds, an undercoat rake will be your new best friend to remove the loose fur before it winds up all over your house.
Exercise
Considering that Goldens and Huskies are very active breeds, don’t be surprised by the high energy of their offspring.
At minimum, your dog will need two 30 minute exercise periods every day, though more is better, as a tired dog is usually a well-behaved dog.
Forms of exercise can include brisk walks, jogging, swimming, hiking, running, and of course, playing.
Be cautious with puppies though to prevent injury. Stick to the guideline of 5 minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day.
Socialization and Mental Stimulation
Like his parents, a Goberian should be naturally friendly and intelligent.
Early socialization is still important to ensure that your pup grows up to be a confident, well-rounded, social member of canine society.
The more people, animals, and experiences that he’s exposed to in a positive manner, the more comfortable and trustworthy he’ll be.
We have a complete guide to socialization with helpful tips and even a checklist if you could use some pointers.
An under-exercised mind is trouble waiting to happen. The smart Goberian will need activities that stimulate his brain and encourage him to think for himself.
For Goberians who take after Huskies more, mental stimulation will be especially important to satisfy their independent nature.
For creative, inspiring ideas, be sure to read our Guide to Mental Stimulation.
Health
Although some experts may not subscribe to the idea of hybrid vigor, the term is often used to describe the tendency of mixed breeds to inherit the best traits from each parent and to enjoy better overall health than their purebred counterparts.
The possibility exists, however, for a Goberian to suffer from conditions that are commonly seen in either parent breed.
Golden Retrievers
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends screening Golden Retrievers for hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disorders including pigmentary uveitis, and cardiac issues before breeding takes place.
Hypothyroidism, cancer, skin issues stemming from allergies, patellar luxation, and Von Willebrand’s disease are known to occur as well.
Siberian Huskies
Although Huskies don’t usually suffer from an abundance of genetic conditions, the OFA recommends screening for eye disorders and hip dysplasia.
Epilepsy, hypothyroidism, testicle retention, hypertension, and laryngeal paralysis have been seen in the breed on occasion.
Hopefully, your Goberian will inherit above-average health from his Husky parent and never experience any major issues.
Are There Any Negative Traits?
In addition to the possible heavy shedding and need for lots of exercise, there are a few aspects to Goberians that some people may consider to be negative.
Not Guard Dogs
Because of the friendly, gentle temperament, a Golden Retriever Husky mix won’t make a good guard dog.
Sure, they may bark if the doorbell rings, but for protection of your home and belongings, you may be better off investing in a security system.
May Be Vocal
If your Goberian takes heavily after his Husky parent, be prepared for a wide range of vocalizations.
Although Huskies usually don’t bark very much, they do produce some pretty funny noises regularly.
Whining, howling, yipping, and even “talking” can be expected, much to the delight of many owners.
Uncomfortable in Hot Weather
That luxurious double coat may be lovely to admire and addicting to touch, but it may make your dog fairly uncomfortable in periods of super-hot weather.
While much of the undercoat will be shed as summer approaches, you’ll want to take extra precautions when temperatures soar to keep your Goberian cool and comfy.
May Not Be Trustworthy Off-Leash
This will depend on which parent breed your dog takes after in the temperament department.
Those more like a Golden may remain completely obedient when not on a leash and dependably stay right by your side.
However, Goberians who take after their Husky parent may have a strong urge to roam and may take off at the first opportunity.
Until full maturity has been reached and your dog has proved to be reliably obedient in every situation, it’s probably best to keep him on a leash or in a securely fenced area when outside.
