Siberian Retriever

Quick Take

• These dogs are smart enough to learn a command in five repetitions, yet experts warn they may be the wrong choice for first-time owners. See their trainability →
• Leave a Siberian Retriever alone too long and something specific kicks in that can quietly destroy your home and your dog's wellbeing. Learn about separation anxiety →
• There's one common feeding choice that's perfectly fine for most dogs but poses a life-threatening risk for this breed. Check the bloat risk →
• Even puppies from the same litter can look and act completely different, making it nearly impossible to predict what you're actually bringing home. Explore puppy variation →

Siberian Retrievers are an attractive hybrid mix that has been bred by crossing a Labrador retriever with a Siberian husky. Both parent lines are medium to large working dogs, but their temperaments are very different: Labs are known for their friendly, almost goofy personalities, while huskies are loyal but stubborn. Even if they come from the same litter, no two Siberian retrievers are ever quite alike, so you can never predict what your Siberian retriever’s appearance or temperament will be like. One thing’s for certain, though: Your pet will be very intelligent, so the sooner training begins, the better.

Other names for the Siberian retriever include husky Lab, Labsky, Labradorksy, and Huskador. This crossbreed should not be confused with the Goberian or Gusky, which is a cross between the Siberian husky and the Golden retriever. Siberian retriever coats can be one of any number of colors, including black, white, chocolate, brown, or tan. Huskadors with chocolate coloring are always offspring of the unique chocolate Labrador retriever. Siberian retrievers may inherit webbed feet from their Labrador parent.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning Siberian Retrievers

Size and Weight

Any individual Siberian retriever’s dimensions will depend upon which of its parents it most resembles. Male dogs are slightly larger than female dogs. At six months old, puppies will be around 13 inches tall and weigh about 25 pounds; at one year, puppies will be 20 inches tall and weigh 40 pounds.

The typical height range for a full-grown male is 21 to 25 inches, while the full-grown female’s range is 20 to 24 inches. These crossbreeds weigh between 40 and 60 pounds.

Origins 

To understand the origins of this hybrid breed, we need to look at those of its two parent breeds:

The Labrador retriever itself is actually the result of development in the United Kingdom from St. John’s water dogs imported from the Colony of Newfoundland, Canada, in the 1800s.

The Siberian husky is a canine of the Spitz variety with origins traceable to several thousand years ago and is believed to possess wolf ancestry.

The Siberian retriever is a comparatively recent designer breed that emerged in the 1990s when canine enthusiasts bred Labrador retrievers with Siberian huskies.

Common Health Issues

Labrador retrievers and Siberian huskies are healthy breeds for the most part, so their hybrid offspring tend to be healthy, too. Their typical lifespan ranges between 10 and 14 years. Still, it’s wise to make sure that any breeder you deal with has tested the puppy you’re interested in adopting to rule out the possibility of congenital health conditions.

Hip dysplasia can become a concern, particularly if your husky Lab is overweight or isn’t getting enough exercise. Because of their size and large appetites, Siberian retrievers can also be affected by bloat, which is a life-threatening condition. They may be predisposed to ocular conditions like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and corneal dystrophy. Finally, because of the shape of their ears, they’re prone to ear infections, especially if they spend a lot of time outside and dust, dirt, or other debris gets into their ears.

Temperament

Siberian retrievers have lively and affectionate personalities. This is not a dog you can leave alone for long periods of time; if you do, your pet is likely to develop separation anxiety so intense that he or she will begin exhibiting destructive behaviors. Another distinctive Siberian retriever trait is strong hunting instincts, inherited from their Siberian husky parent. Early socialization is a must if you don’t want your Huskador to behave aggressively toward other animals.

How To Take Care of a Siberian Retriever

Siberian retrievers put on weight quickly if overfed, so pay special attention to their dietary needs. Other factors you’ll need to consider as a pet parent to this crossbreed include their unique needs for activity, training, and grooming.

The Best Dog Food

A full-grown husky lab will need 1,000 to 1,500 calories or two and a half to three cups of high-quality dog food per day. If your dog is particularly active, he or she may need more than that. Because this hybrid breed tends to develop bloat, wet dog food is not recommended for them. Look for brands that contain at least 25 percent protein, 10 percent fat, and a healthy amount of fiber, but avoid fillers like corn, soybeans, or wheat.

We know this breed sheds quite a bit. And while this doesn’t replace grooming or eliminate the hassle of this breed’s mountain of fur, there are shed-control dog foods out there to consider.

Huskador puppies will need a specially formulated puppy kibble until they’re one year of age. Puppies should be fed three to four times a day until they’re six months old. Older puppies and adult Siberian retriever dogs should be fed at least twice a day to help them control their tendency toward bloat.

Maintenance And Grooming

If you have allergies, a Siberian retriever is not the ideal dog for you. Shedding is a big issue. You’ll need to brush them once a day with a pin brush to eliminate dead hair, and even with that, expect power vacuuming to become a regular part of your house cleaning routine. On the plus side, they don’t develop that distinctive dirty-dog smell that some breeds get if they go without a bath for more than a week. You won’t have to bathe your dog more often than once a month unless it has been playing in the dirt outside.

As noted above, this hybrid mix tends to develop ear infections, particularly if it has inherited floppy retriever ears. Ask your vet to show you how to clean your dog’s ears safely. Your dog’s teeth should be brushed at least three times a week, and its nails will need to be clipped monthly.

Training

Siberian Retrievers are very smart, which should make them easy to train, right? For the most part, this is true, but if your pet has inherited the husky stubbornness trait, you will first have to convince it that you are the alpha in the pack. For this reason, it’s important to start training and socializing your Siberian retriever as soon as you introduce it into your household. Great patience is required because these dogs can be very independent thinkers. This is why Siberian retrievers may not be great pets for first-time dog owners.

Once your dog gets into the rhythm, though, the sky’s the limit for how much they can learn. These dogs do not respond well to punishment-based training. Be firm and assertive, but praise lavishly and bestow treats when your dog gets it right, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly members of this breed will learn to follow your commands.

Exercise

Siberian Retrievers crave exercise. These dogs are rovers; if you don’t exercise them, they will simply slip out an open door and exercise themselves. They love to run, and they also love to dig. Rather than trying to curb their digging, it’s best to designate one area of your backyard for digging and train them to stay within that spot. Other physically demanding exercises that this hybrid mix enjoys include swimming, playing ball, playing frisbee, running as you bike, and even pulling wagons and kiddie carts.

Puppies

Siberian Retrievers are almost always first-generation hybrids, meaning puppies are almost always the offspring of a purebred Labrador retriever and a purebred Siberian husky. Since Labradors are slightly larger than huskies, on the whole, Labrador females almost always bear the pups. Puppies are considered full-grown at around 18 months of age.

Children

If they’ve been well trained and socialized, Siberian Retrievers are very good with children, even toddlers. They will be good-humored even when their ears and tails are being pulled. However, it’s never a good idea to leave children under 10 and large dogs unsupervised together.

Dogs similar to Siberian retrievers

Malamutes, golden retrievers, and Samoyeds share some similarities with Siberian retrievers.

• Malamutes: Like the Siberian retriever’s husky forebear, malamutes were bred to pull sleds. Weighing close to 100 pounds, however, malamutes are much bigger than Siberian retrievers. Malamutes can be black, tan, or sable, but white is the predominant color of their faces and underbody.
• Golden retrievers: Golden retrievers are also larger than Siberian retrievers, but they share the same sweet, affectionate nature. Goldens’ characteristic lustrous, light-colored coats give them a very distinctive appearance.
• Samoyeds: Samoyeds were also originally bred to herd reindeer, hunt, and pull sleds in Siberia. Samoyeds are spitz dogs, a group characterized by thick fur, pointed ears, and curled tails. For the most part, they are pure white dogs with fluffy coats, slightly smaller than Siberian retrievers, but a few have biscuit-colored (tan) coats. They are never black.