A Detailed Comparison of the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky.

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Pekingese Versus Siberian Husky: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky 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 Pekingese and for the Siberian Husky. 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 Pekingese and the Siberian Husky.

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

Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

Pekingese versus Siberian Husky: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pekingese 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.

On the other hand, 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.

Pekingese versus Siberian Husky: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pekingese to the Siberian Husky 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 Pekingese and the Siberian Husky

Factor Pekingese Siberian Husky
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Easygoing 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Height 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 7 to 14 pounds 35 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1930 $1080
Price Range $1288 – $2500 $700 – $1250
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 86.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Eye Examination- min age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 86 13
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 73 45

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pekingese 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 Siberian Husky. 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 Pekingese is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Siberian Husky is 71 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pekingese is a better pet than the Siberian Husky. So, you should get the Pekingese!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky

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

  • Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Siberian Huskys get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs. However, Siberian Huskys get along well with other dogs.
  • Pekingeses are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Siberian Huskys are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Pekingeses have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Siberian Huskys have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Pekingeses have low exercise needs. However, Siberian Huskys require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Pekingeses are good for new dog owners. However, Siberian Huskys are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living. However, Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky

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

  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

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

    Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Siberian Huskys weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Siberian Huskys are 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

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

    Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the Siberian Husky

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Siberian Husky.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Siberian Husky is 86.8 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 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

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

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky by measuring the temperaments of 15 Pekingeses and 310 Siberian Huskys.

    Price of Pekingese versus Price of Siberian Husky

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    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 the Siberian Husky can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1036 Siberian Husky puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pekingese is more expensive than the Siberian Husky.

    Pekingese Siberian Husky
    Average Price $1930 $1080
    Price Range $1288 to $2500 $700 to $1250

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Siberian Huskys

    A breakdown of the prices of Siberian Huskys

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

    Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

    Adopting the Pekingese versus Adopting the Siberian Husky

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pekingeses and many Siberian Huskys 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 Pekingese named Leo that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pekingeses like Leo on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pekingeses, Siberian Huskys are also available for adoption. For example, Balton is a Male Siberian Husky that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Siberian Huskys like Balton that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Noodles is the name of another Pekingese (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Joy is an adorable Male Siberian Husky on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Pekingese versus the Intelligence of the Siberian Husky

    Pekingese Siberian Husky
    Intelligence Rank 73 out of 130 dog breeds 45 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    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 Siberian Husky is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    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.

    The Popularity of Pekingese versus Popularity of Siberian Husky

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pekingese and the Siberian Husky over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Siberian Husky is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Siberian Husky is 13 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Siberian Husky

    Popularity of Siberian Husky

    Year Pekingese Popularity Rank Siberian Husky Popularity Rank
    2013 77 14
    2014 82 13
    2015 80 12
    2016 93 12
    2017 88 12
    2018 92 14
    2019 83 15
    2020 95 16

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pekingese versus Siberian Husky

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Siberian Huskys do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pekingeses shed more than Siberian Huskys?

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Pekingese or the Siberian Husky

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Siberian Huskys drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pekingese or the Siberian Husky?

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

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

    Does the Pekingese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Siberian Husky?

    Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

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

    Do Pekingeses Bark and Howl? What about Siberian Huskys?

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

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

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Siberian Huskys can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pekingese vs. Siberian Husky

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

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

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

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

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Siberian Huskys get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pekingeses good family dogs? What about Siberian Huskys?

    Pekingeses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Pekingeses and Siberian Huskys?

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Pekingese Easier to Train than the Siberian Husky?

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Siberian Huskys are not easy to train.

    Is the Pekingese Better for Apartment Owners than the Siberian Husky?

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Pomsky.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Siberian Husky

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Siberian Husky that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Siberian Husky:

  • Samoyed (75 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Samoyed.
  • Bloodhound (75 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bloodhound.
  • Finnish Spitz (78 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Finnish Spitz.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Pekingese and how the Siberian Husky compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Pekingese and of the Siberian Husky to other breeds:

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Gordon Setter     Pekingese versus Vizsla     Pekingese versus Boxer     Pekingese versus Dachshund     Pekingese versus Pomapoo     Pekingese versus Patterdale Terrier     Pekingese versus Shichon     Pekingese versus Boykin Spaniel     Pekingese versus Australian Shepherd     Pekingese versus Japanese Spitz     Pekingese versus Irish Wolfhound     Pekingese versus Tibetan Spaniel     Pekingese versus Pug     Pekingese versus Barbet     Pekingese versus Black Russian Terrier     Pekingese versus Chihuahua     Pekingese versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Pekingese versus Akita Chow     Pekingese versus Bouvier des Flandres     Pekingese versus Stabyhoun     Pekingese versus English Cocker Spaniel     Pekingese versus Shiba Inu     Pekingese versus Irish Water Spaniel     Pekingese versus Chihuahua     Pekingese versus Lagotto Romagnolo     

    Siberian Husky Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Siberian Husky versus Bearded Collie     Siberian Husky versus Leonberger     Siberian Husky versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Siberian Husky versus Bernedoodle     Siberian Husky versus Bull Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Boxer     Siberian Husky versus Coton de Tulear     Siberian Husky versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Briard     Siberian Husky versus Boxer     Siberian Husky versus Spanish Mastiff     Siberian Husky versus Black Russian Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Mal Shi     Siberian Husky versus Weimaraner     Siberian Husky versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Siberian Husky versus Boykin Spaniel     Siberian Husky versus Pomeranian     Siberian Husky versus Coton de Tulear     Siberian Husky versus Chorkie     Siberian Husky versus Peek A Poo     Siberian Husky versus West Highland White Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Basset Hound     Siberian Husky versus French Spaniel     Siberian Husky versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Siberian Husky versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    Conclusion: Pekingese versus Siberian Husky. 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 Pekingese and the Siberian Husky better suits you and your family.