German Shepherd VS Husky – Which Breed Is Right For You?

Every breed of dog has something special to offer. The German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky are two popular breeds for good reasons. Some breeds do better in warmer climates and some excel in colder climates, while others make for great guard dogs or family pets. So which one is right for you?

German Shepherds and Huskies are both high-energy working dogs, good with kids, and need a lot of exercise and room to play. German Shepherds can make loyal guard dogs and love to be attached to their owners. The Huskies is a more sociable dog with even higher energy and love to be around your family (especially with kids).

In this article, we are going the examine the origins, appearance, temperament, energy level, lifestyle as well as popularity of the two breeds. Here is a quick summary of Husky vs German Shepherd:

	The German Shepherd Dog	Siberian Husky
Origin	Originate as a herding breed and developed by Captain Max von Stephanitz in the late 1800s.	The Siberian Husky is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. They were developed by the Chukchi Tribe in Russia.
Size	22-26 inches tall	20-23.5 inches tall
Weight	Males: 70-90 lbs. Females: 65-80 lbs.	Males: 40-60 lbs. Females: 35-50 lbs.
Coat	Double coated. Available short or long. They shed all year.	Double coated. Their thick undercoat makes them look fluffy. They shed twice a year.
Color	Black and tan is the most commonly recognized color. Rarer color variations, including sable, black, white, liver, and blue are available as well.	Usually appears in mahogany with lighter shades on the stomach.
Life expectancy	9-13 years	12-14 years
Energy level	High. Need at least 90 minutes of physical and mental exercise per day.	High. They are natural-born marathoners and can run long distances every day.
Top speed	30 mph	30 mph
Intelligence	Significantly more intelligent than Huskies. GSDs rank 3rd overall and belong to the top tier of working dogs.	Intelligent but somewhat independent and stubborn.
Bite force	About 238 psi	About 320 psi
Family friendliness	Love and very protective of their family, very child friendly	Huskies love to live in packs and they are very sociable. They are good with children as well as other animals in the household.
Trainability	Great, can do just about any job they are assigned to. (Why Are German Shepherds Used as Police Dogs?)	Good. But they tend to do things that see the benefit in. So a pack of high-value treats and patience is what you need.
Popularity	Ranked as AKC’s 3rd most popular breed.	Ranked as AKC’s 12th most popular breed
Cost of a puppy	US$1,250 to $3,000	US$1500-2500

Origins: German Shepherd vs Husky

The German Shepherd Dog is obviously originated in Germany. This dog breed is a working dog from day one. They were first responsible for herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators.

Nowadays, German Shepherds are commonly used as service dogs, police dogs, military dogs, guard dogs, and even therapy dogs.

In 1899, while attending a show, Captain Max von Stephanitz was deeply impressed by a dog’s intelligence, strength, and obedience. He purchased the dog immediately. This very dog was then registered in the same year, under a new breed registry – as the German Shepherd Dog.

The Siberian Husky is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. They were developed by the Chukchi Tribe in Russia with the strength and stamina to haul loads at a fast pace over icy terrain.

The most famous Husky was Balto, who led a pack of dogs during the most difficult stretch of a 658-mile journey while he carried medication to save hundreds of lives from a deadly outbreak of Diphtheria in 1925

Size and weight: German Shepherd vs Husky

German Shepherds are large dogs that measure 22 to 26 inches tall, from paw to shoulder, whereas the Siberian Husky measures slightly shorter at 20 to 23.5 inches tall.

The German Shepherd also weighs much more between 65 and 90 pounds, whereas the Siberian Husky weighs between 35 and 60 pounds.

The German Shepherd is longer than a Siberian Husky. This gives him a powerful appearance. The Husky is more proportionate and compact in his shape, whereas the German Shepherd is a lot more muscular. And it is his muscles that give GSD the extra weight.

Appearance: German Shepherd vs Husky

They have similarly shaped heads with large ears, with dark features such as their nose and lips. They also have a similar tail when they are in a relaxed state, which is long and thick.

One of the most distinctive differences between these two breeds is their eye color. The Husky, however, is more likely to have bright blue eyes, or even different color eyes, compared to the German Shepherd who should always have dark-colored, usually brown eyes.

Coat length and color

They both have a double coat, which functions to keep them warm in hostile weather conditions.

The GSD comes in a much wider variety of colors: The classic black and tan is their signature coat color. Rarer colors including sable, black, white, liver, and blue are available as well. Yet, the White German Shepherd is not recognized as a show color by the American Kennel Club.

The Husky is recognized in nine colors, with his white and grey coat being the most popular.

Nine colors chart for Husky dogs — Photos from httpswwwdeviantartcom

Temperament: German Shepherd vs Husky

Both German Shepherds and Siberian Huskies can make good family dogs.

German Shepherd is loyal and affectionate. They have strong guarding instincts and don’t make friends immediately, but once they do. With their family, they’re easy-going and approachable, but when threatened, they can be strong and protective, making them excellent watchdogs.

This highly intelligent and trainable breed thrives on having a job to do. German Shepherds can make loyal guard dogs and love to be attached to their owner as well as their handler. And they can be trained to do just about anything, from tracking bombs on the battlefield to being an eye-seeing dog.

The Husky is a sociable dog breed that loves to be in the pack at all times. For this reason, they are affectionate to every family member, including the pets at home. They are not as aloof to strangers as compared to the GSD.

The Siberian Huskies are not particularly attached to one person. They are usually quite friendly with everyone. And because they were not bred to be super trainable, they are very independent dogs.

The Husky is still a very primitive dog. They retain a lot of wild traits, howling a lot more than barking, and not having as strong a motivation to take direction from a person.

Early socialization is a must for both breeds – exposure to as many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences as possible. It is essential for ensuring the puppies grow up to be well-rounded dogs.

Evergy levels: German Shepherd vs Husky

While both are high-energy breeds that need a lot of daily exercise. Both are active breeds, but the Husky especially loves to run and they can run at longer distances.

They are both prone to develop separation anxiety. With their size and power, they can both find themselves in destructive behavior if left alone at home for too long.

The German Shepherd, as we know it, is a high-energy dog that requires 60-90 minutes of exercise per day to keep him fit, healthy, and happy. The German Shepherd would prefer to partake in challenging activities such as agility courses, or playing fetch and frisbee.

The Husky, on the other hand, is a super high-energy dog who needs at least 90 minutes of exercise a day and would prefer long walks. And he makes for an excellent jogging partner. And if you live somewhere snowy or icy, he would especially love to go sledding, just like what he was originally bred to do.

Be mindful that they are both known to jump 6-foot fences easily – if left bored and unattended. It is very important to help these dogs channel their energy before it manifests itself into destructive behavior. And you must ensure that you enclose your yard with extra tall fencing.

Prey drive: German Shepherd vs Husky

A “prey drive” is what compels a dog to chase small animals instinctively, which can include birds, mice, insects, squirrels, and even the household cat.

What fires a dog’s prey drive is movement. Sudden and quick movement triggers a reflexive response in dogs. If your dog sees a running cat, his prey drive could have triggered him to chase.

German Shepherds are originally bred as herding dogs with the job of protecting livestock. They tend to have less prey drive than Huskies and other hunting dogs if well-socialized at an early age.

On the other hand, Huskies can have a stronger prey drive because they originated in the harsh conditions in Siberia where the food source is scarce. It is merely a built-in survival skill they inherit.

While huskies are generally friendly and not aggressive towards other dogs, they must be supervised around small animals in and around the home, especially if you have cats, rabbits or even chickens.

Grooming need: German Shepherd vs Husky

Both the German Shepherd and the Siberian Husky have double coats.

German Shepherd whose coat feels slightly harsher and the Husky’s coat is much softer to touch in comparison. Regardless, they will both require brushing 2 to 3 times a week.

During their shedding season, which happens twice a year, they will “blow” his inner coat all at once – to prepare for a seasonal change. During this time, they will most certainly need brushing every day. This not only keeps their coat healthy but also keeps your household handy.

The German Shepherd should be bathed once every 8 weeks or so, whereas the Husky is known to be a self-cleaning pup, who will only need a bath a few times every year.

Popularity: German Shepherd vs Husky

German shepherd dogs were introduced in the United States by soldiers returning home from World War I. The breed caught the public eye because of movie stars Rin Tin Tin. (See: Top Movies Featuring German Shepherds [Comedies, Dramas, Wars, Actions and More])

By World War II German Shepherds were the military breed of choice. The first guide dogs were also German Shepherds. Today, they are one of the most popular dogs in America. In 1999, German shepherd dogs were third on the American Kennel Club’s list of the Top 50 Breeds.

Ranked as the 12th most popular breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Huskies are trending as new family members across the country. TV shows like “Game of Thrones” put the breed in the spotlight, and their impressive-looking features are attracting dog lovers and hopeful pet owners.

Final Thoughts: German Shepherd vs Husky – which breed is right for you?

If you are interested in working with an intelligent and highly trainable dog, who is eager to please and can help out around the house, then the German Shepherd is for you. GSDs are in general very friendly with children and can be trained to get along with small animals like cats in the house. Most importantly, a GSD will make the perfect guard dog by instinct. Yet they can sometimes be too vocal and they love to make noises.

And if you’re an active family with young children, the Husky might be more suitable. It is because they always love to be in company and thrive in a pack. This breed can run for long-distance so they can be your perfect marathon training companion. But you must supervise the interaction between the Huskies and cats because they might have a strong prey drive to chase your cats like a game.

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Sarah Miller

Sarah is a lifelong dog enthusiast from New York who found her true calling when she adopted a spirited German Shepherd puppy named Max. Alongside her husband David, a canine health specialist, Sarah turned her home into a sanctuary for rescued German Shepherds, offering them love, training, and rehabilitation.

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