Labrador Golden Retriever Mix Food Requirements
Feeding plan will vary depending on your pets age, activity level, and metabolism. But generally, the Golden Retriever Lab Mix should eat between 3.5 4.5 cups of the best dry dog food daily, split into two equal meals. Make sure to include a bowl of clean water for your Goldador to stay hydrated and avoid feeding them the worst dry dog food around!
If youre going to feed your Goldador with commercially manufactured foods, make sure to follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging. Keep in mind that there are dog foods that cater specifically to a dogs age and energy levels.
Age plays a crucial role in choosing the right food. Whelps will have their nutritional needs met better with the best puppy food brands, while older dogs need nutrient ratios found in the best senior dry dog food.
Size should also be factored in when choosing the right kibble. The best dry dog food for small dogs is completely different than the best large breed dry dog food and you should take time to learn the difference.
Remember that by providing your companion dog with a proper diet plan and nutritional foods, you can actually help in lengthening his life. Food boosters can help your pooch strike the right balance of nutrients. Introducing Nutra Thrive dog food supplement may be a perfect choice if the dog is not getting vitamins and minerals they need.
Some of the brands we found to boast the highest quality of ingredients are:
Labs Can Be Yellow Black And Chocolate Goldens Can Only Be Gold
It is a common misconception that Labradors can be golden in color. In fact, if you ever do cross paths with a golden colored Retriever then it is probably a Goldador .
The color of Golden Retriever vs Labrador dogs is one of the major differences.
Golden Retrievers and Labradors have differences coat colors.
Their breed standards state:
Labrador Retrievers can also come in a red or silver. However, these two colors are not officially recognized.
Golden Retriever Lab Mix
Also known as Goldador or Golden Labrador, the Golden Retriever Lab Mix is the product of breeding a purebred Golden Retriever with a purebred Labrador Retriever. Both parent dogs are widely popular around the world and are known for their excellence in service work, therapy, and hunting.
These dogs are prime choices for families. They were bred to keep the tolerance and physical strength of a Labrador while also keeping them happy and affectionate nature of the Golden Retriever. Some Goldadors serve as assistance or therapy dogs, some hunt or detect bombs, while some are solely loyal family companions. The hybrid dog is people-friendly and is for everyone belonging to any age, as long as they get regular outdoor activities and are given much attention.
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Are They Good With Other Dogs
Golden retrievers:
Their good-naturedness doesnt end with people.
Golden retrievers are great with other dogs.
We did a study and found that 31.6% of golden retriever owners currently have more than one dog, and 57% of those people have a golden plus another breed.
Labradors:
Like golden retrievers, labradors are known for being great with both people and dogs.
If you have or want a home with multiple dogs, labs and goldens are great candidates to be one of those dogs.
Labrador Retriever Vs Golden Retriever Breeders
Whether you are choosing a Lab or Golden Retriever breeder, your criteria should be very similar.
A reputable breeder should willingly provide you with health information about both parent dogs.
Including results of health screenings, vet checks, and evidence of them.
The breeder should also readily provide you with past references, an initial health guarantee , as well as a take-back guarantee if the new puppy isnt a good fit.
They should also have a record of required immunizations and a willingness to stay in contact to answer any questions you may have.
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Labradors Are More Popular
The Golden Retriever and Labrador are among the most popular dog breeds listed by the American Kennel Club.
Goldens are ranked the 3rd most popular breed and Labs are first.
The Golden Retrievers popularity sky rocketed to 3rd after the movie Air Bud.
Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dog breed in America for over 20 years.
Both retrievers are loved for their gentle nature which is why they are used as therapy and working dogs.
Golden Retriever Vs Labrador The Great Debate
Youre thinking about getting a new dog and have narrowed down the choice to the Golden Retriever or Labrador. Congratulations, thats a pretty great dilemma! Especially given that both of these popular dog breeds are famously friendly and lovable! So whats the difference between a Lab and a Golden Retriever? Either a Golden or a Lab can melt the heart of any animal lover. But as with most breeds, many dog lovers have a favorite.
Are you a Golden person or a Lab person? If youre new to both breeds, here are some key facts about Goldens and Labs to help you decide which one is the perfect pet for you. As you will see, there are good reasons why both are so popular!
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They Were Bred For Different Jobs
The differences between the purpose of the Golden Retriever vs Labrador are subtle now because they both have similar jobs, however, historically they had very different jobs!
Golden Retrievers were actually a gentlemans dog, bred to retrieve waterfowl. Labradors were a fishermans dog, bred to retrieve fish nets and fish.
Both breeds were bred for their loyalty, intelligence, swimming abilities, and soft-mouths:
- Their loyalty makes them excellent companions.
- Their intelligence makes them easy-to-train.
- Their swimming ability helps them excel in their jobs.
- Their soft-mouths helping them fetch water-fowl without harm.
Golden Retrievers were originally bred to retrieve shot waterfowl during a gentlemans hunt. They were the perfect sporting companion for wealthy owners who enjoyed game hunting.
Unlike the Golden, the Labrador Retrievers first job was to retrieve nets, ropes and fish for fishermen.
It wasnt until after the St. Johns Water Dog was imported to England that aristocrats admired their loyalty, work ethic and love of water. After they arrived in England, Labradors were then bred to be sporting companions whose duty was to retrieve shot waterfowl .
At this point, both breeds became popular companions for shooting sports.
Golden Retriever Lab Mix Grooming & Care
Although they have thick double coats, Golden Lab mixes are moderate shedders and wont fill your house with loose hair. However, regular grooming is still necessary and you should brush your mix three times a week with a curry brush. Your mix will shed more during the shedding season at which time youll have to brush him every day.
When it comes to bathing, do it once every two months or as needed to keep your Goldadors coat clean and shiny. For bathing, use only dog-approved shampoos that wont dry up or irritate your dogs skin. Furthermore, be sure to rinse your dog any time he goes swimming to prevent skin infections.
The rest is basic care and includes regular teeth brushing, nail clipping, and ear cleaning. The Goldador can be prone to ear infections due to its floppy ears so make sure to check and clean the ears weekly. And whenever in doubt, take your dog to the vet who can show you how to clean your dogs ears at home.
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Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Labrador Retreiever you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan.Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videosthat will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Choosing A Golden Vs Lab Puppy
What about once the Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever puppy decision is made?
Whether you decide on a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever choosing a single puppy out of a litter of cute puppies is never an easy task!
Plus, how do you decide which dog breeder to work with?
Or, if you are rescuing a Golden or Lab puppy, what kind of questions should you ask to learn as much as possible about your new puppys background and overall health?
While both dog breeds evolved to work, hunt and herd, both can also inherit serious health problems, as the previous section here explained.
These tips will help you choose the healthiest puppy of either breed!
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Labrador And Golden Retriever Mix Temperament
Its hard to predict the exact temperament and personality of any mixed-breed dog since there is no way to tell if your Goldador will take more after his Lab parent or vice versa. However, meeting the puppys parents can help you gauge their temperaments and give you a better idea of how your Golden Retriever Labrador mix is going to be.
What Is The Average Golden Retriever Size
How big will your Golden be when fully grown? Golden Retrievers are sturdy but elegant medium to medium-large size dogs. Golden Retriever size can be influenced by genetics, whether your dog is male or female and even where you live!
Did you know that there are some small size and body type differences between English and American Golden Retrievers? Because they have been bred from different lines, English Goldens tend to be slightly stockier than the taller American Goldens, but these variations are minor.
Sex differences are linked to size in Golden Retrievers, with males being 12 inches taller and around 10 pounds heavier than females. Size-based sex difference in animals is known as sexual size dimorphism. In dogs, these differences tend to be more noticeable in larger breeds than in small or toy breeds. Lets look at specific height and weight ranges for Goldens next!
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Labrador Retriever Puppies For Sale
Because Labrador Retrievers are not a rare breed, the average Labrador Retriever price is between $300 and $1,000 if you choose to go through a breeder.
In a world where some dogs cost as much as $6,000 , $300 is practically unheard of, making the Lab one of the more affordable dogs out there. At that price, whether to buy or adopt is less a matter of expense and more a matter of preference.
Grooming Your Labrador Crossed With Golden Retriever
The Golden Lab Retriever Mix has a double-coat so it should be groomed regularly, especially during their shedding season.
The hybrid dog sheds moderately, so you dont have to worry about it taking much of your time. You might need to brush them once or twice a week if they inherited the short coat of a Lab. However, if they got some of that long, waxy Golden Retriever fur, brushing them 3-4 times a week throughout the year is recommended.
During their shedding season, daily brushing must be done regardless of the hair length. You dont have to worry about regular trimming as their hair wont grow as long or be feathered like their Golden Retriever parent.
When it comes to bathing, your Golden Lab Mix should only be given a bath when needed, such as when its coat becomes too soiled or when hes going to spend a heavy activity on a hot summer day. You can also try to do a swimming activity since this hybrid dog loves to a swim a lot.
More attention should be given to the ears when grooming because the Golden Lab Mix is much more prone to suffer from ear infections than other dogs. Their ears should be cleaned regularly and taken care of by a professional groomer.
Long nails should be trimmed to avoid problems concerning tearing or splitting if they are not worn down naturally.
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Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Health
When looking at Golden Retriever vs Labrador health as an overall picture, the Labrador probably comes out on top. The high risk problems in Labs are often avoidable through health testing.
Good hip and elbow scores, PRA clear DNA test and a recent eye test will help you to find a health puppy. With Goldies these tests still need to be carried out, but there is the added life limiting risk of cancer.
Labrador Retriever Adoption And Rescue
Adopting a Labrador Retriever puppy should be fairly painless. You may not have to wait long at all to find a Lab at your local shelter or adoption center.
You may be thinking to yourself, at $300 from a breeder, why would I want to adopt an older dog for the same price and who probably had a rough history? For one thing, adopting a dog gets him out of the shelter. Thats one less dog the shelter has to find a home for, and one more dog they can help when the space frees up.
For another, when you adopt you get to enjoy the benefit of bypassing all the annoying puppy stuff. You dont have to train him not to chew your slippers, or to do his business outside.
This is because if his former owner didnt train him on these things, the animal shelter did. The shelter will do everything they can to make a dog look as appealing as possible for adoption so he can find his fur-ever home.
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Goldador Health And Care
All pedigree dog breeds are inbred to some extent. The measure of this is called the coefficient of inbreeding .
The higher the COI, the greater the risks of health issues arising specifically from inbreeding. In general, health problems start to emerge if the COI is much greater the 5%.
In a crossbreed such as the Goldador, the COI is usually much lower than it is in a purebred dog, and this is a good thing.
To begin to look at the health and care of a Goldador we first need to consider the inherited health risks from both parent breeds .
Labrador Retriever Temperament And Behavior: What To Expect
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Because the Labrador Retriever temperament is so cheerful and outgoing, he remains one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world a position belonging to him for many years. However, this does not necessarily mean he is the perfect dog for all circumstances.
The ancestors of this breed first appeared in Canada, but the modern Labrador Retriever developed in England during the 19th century. Hunters used Labs to retrieve the ducks they shot. Labs are an athletic breed, which means they need to work, else they can become difficult to manage.
The Labrador Retriever temperament is best suited for an active person who is willing to exercise their dog both physically and mentally. If your idea of a pleasant afternoon is curling up with a good book, then Id recommend you not to choose a Lab for your canine companion. Otherwise, your dog will become bored, and thats when behavior problems start to appear.
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What Are The Main Characteristics Of A Golden Retriever Lab Mix
Like any other crossbreed, a Labrador Golden Retriever Labrador mix can inherit the characteristics of either parent or both.
Crossbreed dogs, like The Goldador, are no more likely to inherit health issues than purebred dogs in fact, it is believed they may actually be stronger. Any mixed puppy can inherit all, some, or none of the health issues its parent breeds have.
Fact: Not all mixed-breed dogs inherit exactly 50% of their characteristics from one parent and 50% from the other. It can be heavily weighted towards the characteristics of one parent more than the other.
The characteristics of The Goldador are a combination of nature and nurture: genetics of the parents, the environment, and the quality, type and amount of training and socialization. Any mix-breed dogs personality and appearance will vary from one dog to another.
Golden Retriever Labrador Mix Health Problems
While mixed-breed dogs are generally healthier than their purebred counterparts, the Goldador is prone to certain health problems that affect Goldens and Labradors.
The most common health problems seen in this mix are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Diabetes
- Progressive retinal atrophy
The best way to avoid these issues from arising is to get your Goldador puppy from a reputable breeder. Make sure to check if both parents have clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hips, elbows, heart, and thyroid. Additionally, ask the breeder to show you clearances from Canine Eye Registry Foundation showing that the eyes are healthy and normal.
This mix has an average life span of 10 to 15 years, so dont get one if you arent ready for a long-term commitment.
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Mosaics And Other Mis
At least one example of a Labrador Retriever mosaic for pigmentation has been described. This male dog exhibited random but distinct black and yellow patches throughout his coat. He was the result of a black female heterozygous for yellow bred to a yellow male , and was mated with Labradors of each of the recognised colours. The resulting puppies were all consistent with the inheritance pattern of a yellow Labrador with black pigment. The most probable cause was either a somatic mutation early in development or a fusion between two zygotes that left some cells with genetics capable of producing dark fur, and others including the reproductive cells incapable of doing so.
Other âmis-marksâ such as brindle, tan points, white spots, and rings around the tails are not uncommon in Labradors. Each of these conditions have various underlying genetic as well as environmental causes.