Goberian puppies

About the Goberian

The Goberian crosses the Golden Retriever with the Siberian Husky, two of the most popular breeds in the United States, and this is still a fairly rare and recent mix. PetMD gives adults as 15.9 to 34 kg and a lifespan similar to the parents', 10 to 14 years. Some take after the Golden, with a solid coat, dark brown eyes and ears that flop; others get the Husky's multicoloured coat, light brown or blue eyes and erect ears.

Both parents were bred for work, so plan on daily exercise for body and brain, and on space where they can run safely. The Husky side can bring barking and howling that make apartment life hard. Brush once or twice a week, and more when the undercoat sheds once or twice a year. With socialisation, both parent breeds get on with children and other dogs. Owners are most often surprised by the shedding, so expect fur on clothes and furniture.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Goberian puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow scoring radiographs of both parents
• Inherited eye disease including progressive retinal atrophy, which is why both parent breed clubs recommend an eye examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist before breeding
• Hypothyroidism, most common between four and ten years of age, diagnosed on a thyroid blood panel
• Subaortic stenosis from the Golden Retriever side, picked up as a murmur and confirmed by echocardiogram
• Cancers including haemangiosarcoma, which Golden Retrievers are prone to, diagnosed by imaging and biopsy

Your Goberian puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Goberian.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 34 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 34 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

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Sources

• petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• Health notes from Goberian breed information at https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/goberian. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for adult height, the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.