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 Or Lab: Which Is Better
The right choice of dog breed for you might not be the right one for your neighbor or your friend. A lot of things determine which dog you should choose. For example, your pastimes, your hobbies, the time you have to spend with your puppy, family life, tolerance for dog hair, and level of dog training skills are all factors that determine whether the Lab or Golden Retriever is for you.
The fact is that you can never go wrong with any of the two breeds. You will be fine if the puppy you get is from a professional breeder. Make sure you go for a puppy that has good health, friendly parents that have an excellent medical history.
Bear in mind that anyone you choose, you can never go wrong.
Remember that the Labrador and the Golden Retriever are number one and number three, respectively, according to the list of the nations most popular dogs.
Golden Retriever Health Issues
- Low thyroid: Golden Retrievers may have low thyroid, which is also known as hypothyroidism.
- Cataracts: Vision blockages in the form of cataract clouds often require surgery to remove. Without treatment, cataracts can cause blindness in a dog.
- Luxating patella: The kneecap dislocation known as a luxating patella can make your Golden favor their other three legs over the bad one. They may also skip, hop, or limp to avoid stepping on the bad leg.;
- Von Willebrand disease: If your Golden Retriever lacks the proteins to make their blood clot, then they may have Von Willebrand disease. The symptoms can include hemorrhaging out of various areas of the body, but dogs can also be asymptomatic.
- Cancer: Like Labs, Golden Retrievers may develop cancers like osteosarcoma, mastocytoma, and/or lymphosarcoma.
- Subvalvular aortic stenosis: A congenital defect, the heart condition called subvalvular aortic stenosis causes the left ventricle to shrink in size so blood flow cannot occur to and from the heart.
- Skin issues: From lipomas to sebaceous cysts, seborrhea, sebaceous adenitis, and lick granuloma, a Golden Retriever is prone to many painful and uncomfortable skin conditions. Some can cause oily fur and others hair loss.
- Hip dysplasia: Just as Labs can have hip dysplasia, the similarly-sized Golden Retriever can as well.
If you read our post on Goldadors, which are a combination of Labs and Golden Retrievers, then some of these health afflictions may seem familiar to you.
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Differences In Life Expectancy
Theres a difference in the life expectancy of both the breeds as well. While Labradors have an average life expectancy of 10-12 years, Golden Retrievers have a slightly longer expectancy of 10-13 years.
The price of the puppy is another difference between the two dog breeds.
Of course, these prices can vary.
But, on average, Golden Retrievers sell for $800 to $1200 while Labrador puppies are comparatively more expensive at $900 to $1500. The price depends on the region youre from.
Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Retriever: Grooming
Golden Retriever should be groomed regularly. It has a silky overcoat that is quite long and a soft undercoat. Golden Retrievers should be groomed once every week. Regular brushing helps in reducing shedding. In addition, you need to comb the golden retriever’s coat correctly to get rid of matting. Finally, owners can use a furminator to keep their fur clean.
Using shampoo should be avoided as it affects their soft undercoat. Instead, gently hose the sides and legs of the dog with plain water and avoid using any chemicals. If the dog gets very dirty, then you can take the help of a professional groomer.
Carefully trimming the nails and fur is essential. Trim their nails once every month to prevent divergence in feet. Nails must be trimmed with utmost care as it would cause immense pain if the process goes wrong. The same is the case with the trimming process. You need to make sure that you don’t hurt their coat while you trim their dog hair.
Golden Retriever, according to American Kennel Club;needs the double coat to keep themselves protected. Before starting the trimming process, make sure that their fur is clean. The fur should also be dried before you start trimming them. Professional groomers recommend that blow-drying should be done in the direction of the growth of their fur.
When compared with Golden Retrievers, Labs need lesser grooming. Labs are not as high maintenance as Golden Retrievers.
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Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Retriever: All The Stats Facts And Data Youll Ever Need To Know
In choosing a breed that you want to buy and have a dog of your own, the best on the list of your choices are the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. But youll have to choose between the two and you should know every details between Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever.
Well, actually, its one of the hardest thing to do, especially for first time dog owners. Choosing between Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever takes time to understand everything about these two breeds.
To add up to their dilemma is the innate friendliness and loveliness of these well-known breeds. However, it is very difficult to made the right choice.
Moreover, the Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever have lots in common. And, they also have some distinctness to distinguish them.
These breeds are both extravagant in their own ways. The facts and details about these breeds should be identified to guide you in your decision making.
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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Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Which Is Better
It is likely safe to say this debate has raged ever since homo sapiens chose formal breed names for each of these two dog breeds.
But you are unlikely to find your answer in any kind of generalized assessment, because each of these amazing dog breeds has different traits and skills to offer.
The right dog breed for you might look very different than the right dog breed for your sister, your neighbor or your colleague.
Your hobbies and pastimes, family life, level of dog training skills, available time to spend with your pup, tolerance for dog hair and dander and similar factors will all point the way to your personal right choice in the Golden vs Lab debate.
The most important fact to remember here is this: you truly cant go wrong with either of these two dog breeds.
As long as you buy a puppy from a good breeder, you should be fine. Choose one with health tested, friendly parents with excellent medical family histories.
After all, the Lab and the Golden are numbers one and three, respectively, on the nations most popular pet dog list!
When all is said and done, both dog breeds can make for incredible canine companions.
So without further ado, lets dive into an exploration of the difference between Lab and Golden Retriever dog breeds so you can choose the dog breed that is the best fit for you!
Labs Have More Energy
If you are looking for a dog that loves to get outside and join you for a run, walk or adventure then both breeds are perfect.
Both dogs are active and love to have a job to do.
However, the energy levels of a Labrador vs Golden Retriever are very different.
Golden Retrievers are an active breed, but they do enjoy a calm and quiet environment. Their tranquil nature allows them to fit into a large variety of homes easily.
Unlike a Golden, the Lab is not suited for a sedentary lifestyle.
Their high energy levels may be a bit too much for seniors to keep up.
Labradors are a bundle of energy. From puppy to adulthood Labs have high energy levels and are very playful. Once they reach maturity, at approximately 18 months of age, they settle down a bit more. However, when comparing them to Golden Retrievers, Labradors are still very high energy!
The Labrador fits well into a lively and busy home. They love having children, a family to play with, and joining all of their adventures.
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Choosing The Flat Coated Retriever
There are many dogs that you can choose to add to your home, but none are as fun as working with the flat coated retriever.
They have lots of energy to run around and are great with kids and families, as long as you take the time to train them well. With just a bit of work and lots of exercise during the day, you will be able to enjoy the flat coated retriever in your family.
Getting The Best Out Of Labrador Cross Golden Retrievers
- Labrador cross golden retrievers need a lot of exercise, otherwise, they get restless
- Dont underestimate their intelligence just because they dont always want to do what youre asking them to do, doesnt mean they dont understand you
- They generally have the food drive and motivation of a Labrador, so are fun dogs to train
- You can very quickly teach them tricks and behaviours, just as quickly as you can teach them bad habits, so be careful what you are rewarding
- Introduce them to water because they love to splash about!
- They should be brushed two or three times a week and properly groomed in moulting season
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Labrador Retrievers Vs Golden Retrievers: The Similarities
Before contrasting these two breeds, let’s take a look at what they have in common. One obvious similarity is that both these dog breeds share the word “retriever.” This means that both dog breeds were selectively bred to retrieve game for hunters.
Both Labradors and Golden Retrievers are gun dogs that were used to assist hunters who utilized guns to hunt a variety of birds. Retrievers were mostly utilized to retrieve dead or dying waterfowl and upland game birds after being shot by the hunter.
Because retrievers were responsible to retrieve birds who were later meant to be presented on the table and consumed, it was important that they retrieved with a soft mouth so as not to puncture the meat. Retrievers were selectively bred for their biddability, a natural predisposition to follow directions.
Since the work of both goldens and labs encompasses retrieving waterfowl from lakes and ponds, both breeds are blessed with a water-repellent coat.
Because of their past history as hunting dogs, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are categorized by the American Kennel Club under the “sporting group.” The sporting group encompasses various dog breeds that were developed to work closely with hunters helping them locate and/or retrieve quarry. Included in this group are spaniels, pointers, retrievers, and setters.
Lab Vs Retriever Grooming
Golden Retrievers need regular grooming. They have a medium length, wavy, double coat consisting of a water repellent top coat and a soft undercoat. Their undercoat grows more dense in cold months and sheds during warmer weather. Labs also have a double coat their undercoat keeps them warm during colder months, too but their top coat is shorter than a Retrievers.
Labs also need regular grooming but are less high maintenance than Goldens. Frequent brushing for Goldens is recommended, plus regular trimming of their longer fur around their ears, feet, neck, and tail. Labradors dont have longer fur around their ears, feet, neck and tail so they require less trimming than a Retriever. Their coat is shorter so they can be bathed less frequently than Goldens.
Recommended Reading: The Best Puppy Food For Golden Retrievers
Should You Get A Labrador Or Golden Retriever
As you can see, theres plenty of reason to consider either one of these wonderful breeds. It is unlikely that youd end up disappointed with either decision.
However, if you find yourself really torn to make a decision one way or the other, consider a Goldador!
A Goldador is a mix between a Lab and Golden Retriever. I wrote an article specifically about them and would recommend checking it out. This may be the solution you need!
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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Difference Between Labrador And Golden Retriever Temperament
The words commonly used to describe the temperaments of both Goldens and Labs are the words we use to describe very good dogs! Both breeds are friendly, reliable, affectionate, gentle, trusting, and kind. But many potential owners wonder about the differences between Lab and Golden Retriever personalities.
Before talking about temperament, its always a good idea to remind new dog owners that all dogs are individuals, and breed alone does not guarantee any specific personality traits or behaviors. Meeting the parents, good training and socialization practices from puppyhood into adulthood are the best ways to ensure that you get the kind of dog you want.
Labs and Goldens are both very trainable and obedient, which is good news for novice owners. Canine behavior experts explain the minor temperament differences between Goldens and Labs in terms of degrees. Generally, Goldens are said to be a bit softer, gentler, and more sensitive than Labs.
While both do well in families with children, Labs tend to have the advantage in adapting to households with boisterous, lively, and loud young children. Many Goldens prefer a slightly more calm and tranquil home environment.
Its always important to take your lifestyle into account when choosing a dogboth the breed and the individual animal. An active family with young children may prefer an energetic Lab, while a retired couple may welcome a gentle Golden instead.
Training Labrador Cross Golden Retrievers
Training Labrador cross golden retrievers is interesting but in some ways challenging. Thats because, separately, a pure Labrador and a pure golden retriever will train quite differently.
Trainer Leanne says: You never know what you are going to get because it all depends on whether they are more like a Labrador or more like a golden retriever. Golden retrievers tend to be a bit more sensitive and cuddly whereas the Labrador tends to be more motivated and keen to learn. If you get the right mix then you get a cuddly dog that loves you as much as it loves working, if not you end up with a highly intelligent dog that will out smart you to get food.
As a trainer its great if you get a cheeky clever one. You always have to be one step ahead of them as you can very easily teach them bad habits, but equally its nice if you get a cuddly one. If you want a fun, playful dog with a cheeky personality and love training then this breed may be for you.
Click if you want to discover;how we train our assistance dogs, including Labradors cross golden retrievers.
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Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Retriever: Whats The Difference
Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever are two of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, but what is the difference between them?
In this post, we are going to share the history, breed characteristics, appearance, temperament, and more to give you clear-cut insights about these two amazing dog breeds.
Lets dig into by starting with the origin of these family dogs.