If you want a full rundown of the Siberian Husky vs Great Dane, then you’ve come to the right place.
These two breeds are very, very different at first glance. Great Danes are much larger and look completely different from the wolf-like, slender Siberian Husky. There are quite a few similarities between these two breeds, though, including how stubborn both breeds can be and the variation in coat colors.
This is only the beginning of the comparisons, so stay tuned to learn every similarity and difference between the Siberian Husky and Great Dane.
Contents
Difference In Appearance
It wouldn’t be a great comparison if we didn’t address the elephant in the room: Siberian Huskies and Great Danes have very different appearances.
Huskies are very wolf-like in their appearance, with several Spitz-type characteristics such as pointed ears, a thick double coat, and a curly tail.
Great Danes are extremely large, with narrow, flat-topped heads, long necks, prominent eyebrows, and long, muscular bodies.
When stood on their back legs, Great Danes easily tower over most people.
Other Key Differences Between The Siberian Husky vs Great Dane
Now that the most obvious difference is out of the way let’s see what other differences there are between these two popular breeds.
Size
There’s a pretty big difference in the size of the Siberi and Husky vs Great Dane, which should be no surprise given how Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds.
- Huskies reach 35 to 60 lbs in weight and 20 to 23.5 inches in height on average.
- Great Danes dominate in terms of height and weight, reaching 110 to 175 lbs in weight and 28 to 32 inches in height.
If you’re looking for a large breed, you can’t go wrong with the Great Dane.
Exercise Requirements & Energy Levels
Although Great Danes are much larger, they need a lot less exercise.
Huskies are one of the most energetic breeds, thanks to their working background. They were originally domesticated by the Chukchi people of Siberia and used as sled dogs to pull light loads over extreme distances and are still used for this purpose in places today.
This means they need at least 2 hours of exercise daily, whereas Great Danes only need 30 minutes to an hour each day and are happy to lounge around the house all day.
Vocal Nature
Huskies are much more vocal than Great Danes and will howl, scream, or even ‘talk’ at any point during the day. This can become even worse if you have more than one husky, as they will set each other off.
Great Danes can be vocal and bark if they are alerting you to an intruder on their territory, but aside from that, they are not very prone to barking for no reason. You’ll definitely know if somebody is there, though, as the Great Dane’s bark is formidable.
Coat Type & Grooming
Huskies and Great Danes couldn’t have more different coat types and lengths if they tried.
Huskies have a thick double coat that is medium to long in length. A double coat means that the fur is split into two distinct layers: a short, wooly undercoat for insulation in the cold and a guard layer with longer hairs that protects the coat and skin below from moisture and debris.
On the other hand, Great Danes have a single coat that is very short in length.
Due to the difference in coat type and length, huskies require much more grooming than Great Danes and shed more often.
They will also blow their coats twice per year on average, which is a process where they transition into their summer coats and lose a lot of fur in the process. Great Danes will also seasonally shed twice a year, but it isn’t to the same extent as the husky.
Guarding Instinct
Another key difference between the husky vs Great Dane is in their guarding instincts.
Huskies have little to no guarding instinct by nature and are more likely to befriend a stranger than anything else. Huskies are among the friendliest dog breeds you can find despite their intimidating wolf-like appearance.
Great Danes are quite the opposite; they are still very friendly towards people they know but have a strong guarding instinct and will protect their families and territory.
Lifespan
Unfortunately, most big dogs, like the Great Dane, have a shorter lifespan than other dogs.
With a lifespan of 8 to 10 years on average, Great Danes live shorter lives than most other dogs, like the Siberian Husky, whose average age is anywhere from 12 to 15 years.
Cold Tolerance
Huskies are very well acclimatized to cold temperatures due to their thick double coats.
Great Danes, on the other hand, don’t have the same coat type and lack much fat, making them quite vulnerable to the cold despite their huge size.
Similarities
Despite how different these two breeds look, they have quite a few similarities.
Let’s take a deep dive into them!
Color Variation
Huskies and Great Danes have very different coat types but share a common trait of having many coat color variations.
Huskies have multiple different coat colors, from all white to red, black and white, sable, black, tan, agouti, and more.
Great Danes can also come in various colors, from blue to harlequin to merle and more.
Stubborn
Another key similarity between these breeds is how stubborn they can be.
Huskies are known for being stubborn; it’s a classic personality trait of Spitz-type breeds like the husky and others such as the Alaskan Malamute.
Great Danes are also surprisingly stubborn, and it’s important to be patient with them during training to make sure they consider at least some of what you say.
This trait makes both particularly hard to train, although huskies do probably take the title for being the harder of the two to train.
Great With Families
Huskies and Great Danes are both ideal family dogs.
They get along well with all the family members and are highly affectionate, but supervision will be required with small children.
Huskies can sometimes run into children due to their high energy drive, and the size of the Great Dane also needs to be taken into account.
Early Socialization Is Key For Both Breeds
Early socialization is an important part of raising either of these breeds.
Huskies need to be socialized from an early age so they can learn to contain their excitement when they meet other dogs and people, while Great Danes benefit from it by learning not to be suspicious or protective at times.
There are, of course, many other benefits of socializing these breeds from a young age, like there are with all breeds.
Which Breed Is Best For You?
Choosing between the Siberian Husky and Great Dane is entirely personal, but there are some essential things to consider.
Great Danes are much larger, so they take up much more space and require much more food, which can be expensive. They are less work in terms of exercise and grooming, though, so they can be easier if you have the space for them.
Huskies are only for the most active of people, and you need to be patient with their stubborn personalities and how vocal they can be at times. They are not good guard dogs like the Great Dane, but they are just as loyal and good with the family.
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