Why the Siberian Husky is Better than the Miniature Poodle as a Pet

Last Updated: Apr 04, 2022

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Siberian Husky Versus Miniature Poodle: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Siberian Husky and for the Miniature Poodle. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Siberian Husky or the Miniature Poodle.

Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle: Overview

Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are similar in size. The Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Siberian Husky belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Miniature Poodle belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Siberian Husky to the Miniature Poodle based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle

FactorSiberian HuskyMiniature Poodle
Good For Novice Owners1/55/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/55/5
Easy To Groom2/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/52/5
Easy To Train2/55/5
Height20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulderFrom 10 to over 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather3/54/5
Does NOT Drool3/55/5
Intelligence3/55/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
Weight35 to 60 pounds12 to 20 pounds
Easygoing2/52/5
Does NOT Shed2/55/5
General Health4/52/5
Does NOT chew on things2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather5/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1080$2500
Price Range$700 – $1250$1500 – $3000
Temperament Score86.8 percent76.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination- min age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)452

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Siberian Husky in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Miniature Poodle. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Siberian Husky is 71 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Miniature Poodle is 88 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Miniature Poodle, we still believe that the Siberian Husky is a better pet than the Miniature Poodle.

    This is because Siberian Huskys are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Siberian Husky will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Siberian Husky :-). We are for the Siberian Husky. So get a Siberian Husky!

    Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle

    Below is a list of where the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are most different:

  • Siberian Huskys are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Miniature Poodles are good for new dog owners.
  • Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Miniature Poodles adapt well to apartment living.
  • Siberian Huskys are not easy to train. However, Miniature Poodles are very easy to train.
  • Siberian Huskys shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Miniature Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Siberian Huskys are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Miniature Poodles are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle

    The Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are most similar:

  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle.

    The Siberian Husky weighs 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. The Siberian Husky is 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Miniature Poodle weighs 12 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Poodle is From 10 to over 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Siberian Husky versus Size of Miniature Poodle

    Appearance (Colors) of the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle

    Siberian Husky Colors

    The Siberian Husky comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Bicolor
    • White / Cream
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Sable
    • Merle (Red)

    The Siberian Husky comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Apricot / Beige

    Miniature Poodle Colors

    The Miniature Poodle comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate

    The Miniature Poodle comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    Lifespan of Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    The lifespan of the Siberian Husky is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Siberian Husky is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 13.5 years.

    The Miniature Poodle live as long as the Siberian Husky.

    Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    Temperament of the Miniature Poodle Versus the Siberian Husky

    The Siberian Husky has a better temperament than the Miniature Poodle.

    This is because the temperament score for the Siberian Husky is 86.8 percent while the temperament score for the Miniature Poodle is 76.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 86.8 percent, the Siberian Husky has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 76.7 percent, the Miniature Poodle has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle by measuring the temperaments of 310 Siberian Huskys and 73 Miniature Poodles.

    Price of Siberian Husky versus Price of Miniature Poodle

    The average price of the Siberian Husky puppy is $1080. The price of the Siberian Husky typically ranges from $700 – $1250. However, the price of a Siberian Husky can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1036 Siberian Husky puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Miniature Poodle puppy is $2500. The price of the Miniature Poodle typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of the Miniature Poodle can be as low as $350 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1190 Miniature Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Miniature Poodle is more expensive than the Siberian Husky.

    `
    Siberian Husky Miniature Poodle
    Average Price $1080 $2500
    Price Range $700 to $1250 $1500 to $3000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Siberian Husky and Miniature Poodle. For different price points, the charts show how many Siberian Husky puppies or how many Miniature Poodle puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Siberian Huskys. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Siberian Huskys. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Poodles

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Poodles

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Siberian Husky puppy or the Miniature Poodle puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    Adopting the Siberian Husky versus Adopting the Miniature Poodle

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Siberian Huskys and many Miniature Poodles are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Siberian Husky named Charley that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Siberian Huskys like Charley on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Siberian Huskys, Miniature Poodles are also available for adoption. For example, Jax is a Male Miniature Poodle that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Miniature Poodles like Jax that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Ned is the name of another Siberian Husky (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Ezra is an adorable Male Miniature Poodle on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Siberian Huskys and Miniature Poodles are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Siberian Huskys and Miniature Poodles that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Siberian Husky versus the Intelligence of the Miniature Poodle

    `
    Siberian Husky Miniature Poodle
    Intelligence Rank 45 out of 130 dog breeds 2 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Siberian Husky has an obedience intelligence rank of 45 out of 130 dog breeds. The Siberian Husky belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Siberian Huskys tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Miniature Poodle has an obedience intelligence rank of 2 out of 130 dog breeds. The Miniature Poodle belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Miniature Poodles tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Miniature Poodle is more intelligent than the Siberian Husky.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle

    Siberian Huskys do not like to be left alone.

    Miniature Poodles do not like to be left alone.

    Do Siberian Huskys shed more than Miniature Poodles?

    Siberian Huskys shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Miniature Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Siberian Husky or the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Miniature Poodles require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Siberian Husky or the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys get along very well with other dogs.

    Miniature Poodles get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Siberian Huskys good family dogs? What about Miniature Poodles?

    Siberian Huskys are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Miniature Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Siberian Husky Easier to Train than the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys are not easy to train.

    Miniature Poodles are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Siberian Husky or the Miniature Poodle

    Siberian Huskys drool moderately.

    Miniature Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Siberian Huskys and Miniature Poodles?

    Siberian Huskys get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Miniature Poodles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Siberian Husky Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Miniature Poodles have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Siberian Huskys Bark and Howl? What about Miniature Poodles?

    Siberian Huskys are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Miniature Poodles are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Siberian Huskys can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Miniature Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Siberian Husky vs. Miniature Poodle

    Siberian Huskys have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Miniature Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Miniature Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Siberian Huskys can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Miniature Poodles can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Siberian Husky Better for Apartment Owners than the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Miniature Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Siberian Husky or the Miniature Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Miniature Poodles are very good for new dog owners.

    Siberian Husky Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Siberian Husky compares to other breeds aside from the Miniature Poodle. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Siberian Husky to other breeds:

    Siberian Husky versus Akita     Siberian Husky versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Siberian Husky versus German Shepherd Dog     Siberian Husky versus Samoyed     Siberian Husky versus Alaskan Malamute     Siberian Husky versus Labrador Retriever     Siberian Husky versus Australian Shepherd     Siberian Husky versus Golden Retriever     

    Conclusion: Siberian Husky versus Miniature Poodle. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Siberian Husky and the Miniature Poodle better suits you and your family.