Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog" Compare Siberian Husky and Wire Fox Terrier. Which is better: Siberian Husky or Wire Fox Terrier or Shetland Sheepdog?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Siberian Husky	Wire Fox Terrier	Shetland Sheepdog
Origins	Russia	England	Scotland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Sled Dogs	Hunting Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	12	99	24
Reviews	3	1	5
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Other Names	Chukcha, Chuksha, Husky, Icee, Sibe	Wire Fox Terrier, Foxie, Wire Hair Fox Terrier, Wirehaired Terrier	Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 as a Terrier breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Nordic Sledge Dogs section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Club Espanol De Terriers	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry
Price	$700-$1200	$800-$1200	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Size	Medium	Small	Medium
Weight	Male: 45–60 pounds (20–27 kg), Female: 35–50 pounds (16–23 kg)	Male: 15-20 pounds (7-9 kg), Female: 13-18 pounds (6-8 kg)	14-27 pounds (6-12 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 45–60 pounds (20–27 kg), Female: 35–50 pounds (16–23 kg)	Male: 17.5 pounds (8 kg), Female: 15.5 pounds (7 kg)	20.5 pounds (9 kg)
Height	Male: 21–24 inches (53–61 cm), Female: 20–22 inches (51–56 cm)	Male: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm), Female: 13-15 inches (33-38 cm)	13-16 inches (33-41 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 21–24 inches (53–61 cm), Female: 20–22 inches (51–56 cm)	Male: 15 inches (38.5 cm), Female: 14 inches (35.5 cm)	14.5 inches (37 cm)

Hair & Care - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Coat	Fluffy	Wiry	Dense
Colors	Agouti White Gray Sable Red Black	White White & Black White & Tan White & Black & Tan White & Tan & Black	White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black
Grooming	Average: The Siberian Husky requires average grooming effort.	Average: The Wire Fox Terrier requires average grooming effort.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.
Shedding Level	Siberian Huskys shed above average.	Wire Fox Terriers shed none to minimal.	Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately.

Characteristics - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Temperament	Alert Gentle Outgoing Friendly Intelligent	Alert Fearless Keen Intelligent Bold Friendly Quick	Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful
Intelligent Rank	Average: Siberian Husky's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: Wire Fox Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Siberian Huskys are easy to train.	Wire Fox Terriers are easy to train.	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The Siberian Husky is a playful breed.	The Wire Fox Terrier is a highly playful breed.	Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Wire Fox Terriers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	Shetland Sheepdogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Siberian Huskys are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Wire Fox Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Shetland Sheepdogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Siberian Huskys need for social interaction is average.	Wire Fox Terriers need a lot of social interaction.	Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed.
Barking	Average: The Siberian Husky barks occasionally.	High: The Wire Fox Terrier is a very vocal breed.	High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed.
Watchdog Ability	Siberian Huskys are not the best choice if you want a good watchdog.	Wire Fox Terriers are average watchdogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs.
Territorial	Siberian Huskys can't provide protection for their territory.	Wire Fox Terriers strongly protect their territory.	Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Siberian Husky has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Wire Fox Terrier has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Siberian Huskys have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Wire Fox Terriers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Shetland Sheepdogs have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Siberian Huskys have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Wire Fox Terriers have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds.
Prey Drive	Siberian Huskys have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Wire Fox Terriers have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Siberian Huskys are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Wire Fox Terriers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Shetland Sheepdogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Siberian Huskys adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Wire Fox Terriers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Wire Fox Terriers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Shetland Sheepdogs do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Stranger Friendly	Siberian Huskys are average friendly towards strangers.	Wire Fox Terriers are average friendly towards strangers.	Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Siberian Huskys are kid-friendly dogs.	Wire Fox Terriers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Siberian Huskys are not cat-friendly dogs.	Wire Fox Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Siberian Huskys are very dog-friendly dogs.	Wire Fox Terriers are not the most dog-friendly dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Siberian Husky is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Wire Fox Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Siberian Huskys are usually recommended for elderly people.	Wire Fox Terriers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Shetland Sheepdogs are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Siberian Huskys do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	Wire Fox Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds.
Good For First Time Owners	No Siberian Huskys are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	Yes Wire Fox Terriers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	No Shetland Sheepdogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Siberian Husky breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Wire Fox Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Shetland Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Health Issues	The Siberian Husky is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Wire Fox Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Shetland Sheepdog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Cataracts Corneal Dystrophy Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Arthritis Deafness Epilepsy Eye Problems Legg-perthes Disease	Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Haemophilia Heart Problems Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Trichiasis Von Willebrand's Disease
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	13-14 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	Yes	No
Energy Level	Siberian Huskys are high energy dogs.	Wire Fox Terriers are high energy dogs.	Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.
Exercise Need	Siberian Huskys need quite a lot of exercise.	Wire Fox Terriers need a lot of exercises.	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need.
Sleeping Need	Siberian Huskys don't need too much sleep.	Wire Fox Terriers don't need too much sleep.	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Low to Average.	Low to Average.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers cold weather The Siberian Husky can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Shetland Sheepdog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Low The Siberian Husky has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium The Wire Fox Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Siberian Husky is an average drooler.	The Wire Fox Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Siberian Husky vs Wire Fox Terrier vs Shetland Sheepdog

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	4-8 puppies	4-6 puppies	4-6 puppies
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