Why you Should Get the Siberian Husky Instead of the Toy Poodle.

Last Updated: Apr 04, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Siberian Husky Versus Toy Poodle: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Siberian Husky and the Toy 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 Toy 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 Toy Poodle.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Siberian Husky and the Toy 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 Toy 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 Toy 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 Toy Poodle.

Siberian Husky versus Toy Poodle

Siberian Husky versus Toy Poodle: Overview

A very important difference between the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized dog while the Toy Poodle is a small-sized dog.

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 Toy 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 Toy Poodle: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Siberian Husky to the Toy 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 Toy Poodle

FactorSiberian HuskyToy 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 6 to over 10 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 pounds6 to 10 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$2760
Price Range$700 – $1250$1894 – $3500
Temperament Score86.8 percent78.9 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 Toy 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 Toy Poodle is 88 out of 125.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy 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 Toy Poodle are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Siberian Husky versus Toy Poodle

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Siberian Husky and the Toy 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 Toy Poodle weighs 6 to 10 pounds when fully grown. The Toy Poodle is From 6 to over 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Siberian Husky versus Size of Toy Poodle

    Lifespan of Siberian Husky versus Toy 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 Toy Poodle is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Toy Poodle is 13.5 years.

    The Toy Poodle live as long as the Siberian Husky.

    Siberian Husky versus Toy Poodle

    Temperament of the Siberian Husky Versus the Toy Poodle

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Siberian Husky is 86.8 percent while the temperament score for the Toy Poodle is 78.9 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 78.9 percent, the Toy Poodle has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Siberian Husky and the Toy Poodle by measuring the temperaments of 310 Siberian Huskys and 57 Toy Poodles.

    Price of Siberian Husky versus Price of Toy 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 Toy Poodle puppy is $2760. The price of the Toy Poodle typically ranges from $1894 – $3500. However, the price of the Toy Poodle can be as low as $450 and as high as $9835. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 872 Toy Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Toy Poodle is more expensive than the Siberian Husky.

    `
    Siberian Husky Toy Poodle
    Average Price $1080 $2760
    Price Range $700 to $1250 $1894 to $3500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Siberian Husky and Toy Poodle. For different price points, the charts show how many Siberian Husky puppies or how many Toy 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 Toy Poodles

    A breakdown of the prices of Toy Poodles

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Siberian Husky puppy or the Toy 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 Toy Poodle

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

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

    The Toy 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 Toy Poodle

    Siberian Huskys do not like to be left alone.

    Toy Poodles do not like to be left alone.

    Do Siberian Huskys shed more than Toy Poodles?

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

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

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

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

    Toy 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 Toy Poodle?

    Siberian Huskys get along very well with other dogs.

    Toy Poodles get along very well with other dogs.

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

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

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

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

    Siberian Huskys are not easy to train.

    Toy Poodles are very easy to train.

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

    Siberian Huskys drool moderately.

    Toy Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Siberian Huskys and Toy Poodles?

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

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

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

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

    Toy 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 Toy Poodles?

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

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

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

    Siberian Huskys can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Toy Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Siberian Husky vs. Toy Poodle

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

    Toy 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 Toy Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Toy Poodles can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Toy Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

    Toy 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 Toy Poodle. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Siberian Husky to other breeds:

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

    Conclusion: Siberian Husky versus Toy 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 Toy Poodle better suits you and your family.