I prefer HeartGold, but honestly like Lugia more than Ho-Oh. (Though I still like both.) Gold is something I've always liked better than silver. Often, I opt for gold jewelry instead. (Funnily enough though, my first game was Silver because it came in a pack with a significantly less ugly Gameboy than Gold.)
Still, HG has Growlithe and Arcanine, and they were once my favorite Pokemon of all time. Of course, SS doesn't lag too far behind with Vulpix and Ninetales, who were also former favorites of mine. Still, I preferred using the former many times, so I went with HG anyway.