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Goldador (Labrador & Golden Retriever Mix): Dog Breed Info, Pictures & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

a golden retriever labrador mix dog lying on gray couch

Height: 22-24 inches
Weight: 60-80 pounds
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Colors: Gold, yellow, chocolate, black
Suitable for: All individuals and families, including first-time owners
Temperament: Loyal, loving, fun, energetic, intelligent, eager to please

The Goldador is a cross between two of the most popular dog breeds in the world: the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. The two breeds are very similar in temperament, which means that you should have a good understanding of the type of dog you will get, although the hybrid breed is popular because it is calmer than a Labrador and tougher than a Golden Retriever.

Like both parent dogs, this mix will be very loyal, he will get along with all family members and pretty much anybody that visits the house. He will be alert, so he can make a useful watchdog, but he is way too friendly and accepting to be a guard dog. The hybrid was first bred more than 10 years ago to create an effective working dog.

The Goldador can make an excellent service dog, especially excelling as a medical alert dog, therapy dog, search and rescue dog, or a sniffer dog. He is eager to please, intelligent, and enjoys making his owners happy. All of these traits make him highly suitable as a first-time dog for novice owners as well as a family dog and experienced handlers.

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Goldador Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The Goldador puppy is a hybrid breed. Such breeds usually attract a lower price than purebred dogs, and this is the case with the Goldador. While the parent breeds are popular, and crossbreeds like the Labradoodle, which is also bred from a Labrador Retriever parent, the Goldador is not as popular.

This hybrid breed may be bred intentionally, but it may also have been bred accidentally. There will be some examples in local shelters. In these cases, it is likely that they were an unwanted pet, that their owners may no longer be able to care for them, or that their owners were not expecting such energetic and physically demanding dogs.

Ensure that you use a reputable and reliable breeder. Meet one of the parent dogs, it will usually be the mother dog that is available for meetings. Meeting a parent allows you to see the physical characteristics that your puppy is likely to inherit.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Goldador

1. Labradors Love Water

Golden Retrievers love water, but the Labrador is arguably even better equipped for the wet stuff. They have thick coats that help protect them from the cold. They have a very thick tail, referred to as an otter tail, which works as an effective rudder to help guide them while swimming. They also have webbed feet, which enables them to more effectively push water behind them when swimming, so that they can swim faster, stronger, and further than a lot of other breeds.

The Labrador was first bred in Newfoundland. There’s not only a lot of water in the region but the water is cold and difficult to navigate, so the Labrador is perfectly equipped to deal with some of the most challenging and watery conditions around. Considering the Golden Retriever was bred in Scotland, they are no slouches in the cold, either, so you will have a dog breed that can swim and that will easily and readily cope with cold water, too.

2. Both Parent Breeds Are Skilled Retrievers

The Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever are, as their breed names suggest, retrievers. This means that they were bred as game-hunting companions. Hunters would kill birds and their retriever companions would locate the downed animals and bring them back to their owner. Although these breeds are as likely to be seen in homes and in front of the fireplaces as they are in rivers and carrying ducks, they remain highly skilled retrievers and hunting companions to this day.

3. They Are Very Energetic

Whether they are being used as search and rescue dogs, hunting companions, or kept as pets, Goldadors have huge energy requirements. They are born for swimming, running, and retrieving, and if you intend to keep one of these dogs in your home, you will need to be prepared to replicate this level of activity. Expect to provide at least an hour of exercise a day. Ideally, this exercise should include running off their leash. Goldadors do very well at dog agility, flyball, and other forms of canine sport, and they will benefit from the training and rigorous exercise that these activities demand. Although this breed is known for being loving and affectionate, friendly and well behaved, they can become anxious and may become destructive if they are not given enough exercise. So, consider hiring a dog walker to supplement exercise while you’re out at work during the day.

The parent breeds of the Goldador
Image Credit: Left – Pavlo Baliukh, Shutterstock | Right – Alexander Rim, Shutterstock

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Goldador🧠

The Goldador is bred from two of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The breed is also highly accomplished working and hunting dogs, and much is known of their habits and temperament. Although there is no guarantee that a hybrid breed will adopt the personality of either parent, it is more likely with a hybrid breed like the Goldador, because the parent breeds are similar.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?🏡 

The Labrador consistently takes the top spot as the most popular dog breed in the USA and around the world, while the Golden Retriever ranks in the top three. In fact, the Labrador has been named as the USA’s most popular breed for the past 29 years by the American Kennel Club, and it doesn’t look like it will be shifted any time soon. The reason for the popularity of both these breeds is explained in their ultimate friendliness. They are friendly with people, other dogs, cats, and other animals. They are friendly with adults, children, and seniors. This attribute makes both breeds, and the resulting hybrid breed, an ideal addition to any family.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?🐶 😽 

As with any puppy, early socialization is important to the Goldador breed. This helps ensure that the dog is accustomed to people and animals of all ages and types. It also introduces them to new situations. Socialization can take part in your own home, at puppy classes, at the local dog park, and more. A dog park is a great place for you to test your puppy with other dogs. At home, you will find that they display similarly canine-friendly attributes.

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Things to Know When Owning a Goldador

The Goldador is bred from loving and caring stock. But this doesn’t mean that they are ideal pets for all potential owners. Before buying or adopting one of this breed, consider the following factors to ensure that the breed is right for your family and circumstances.

Food & Diet Requirements🦴

Goldadors are big dogs and they have a lot of energy. As such, they also have big dietary requirements, and you will need to feed your dog around 4 cups of good quality food per day. You may need to feed a little less if your dog does not exercise much, or more if he is a working dog that regularly burns off a lot of calories. The Goldador is prone to putting on weight and becoming overweight, and this can be a major health problem for dogs. Ensure that you measure their food, take into account the combination of wet and dry food you give, and take off any treats or training tidbits you give them. Always ensure that any dog has a constant supply of fresh water down, and try to stick to a feeding schedule for the benefit of your dog.

Exercise🐕 

One of the greatest challenges of owning this breed is trying to provide them with enough exercise. You will need to provide at least an hour of exercise a day. This can be broken into two or three walks, but your Goldador will enjoy time off his leash and will benefit from being allowed to run and burn off energy. His friendliness means that you can take your dog walking, cycling, or on almost any other adventure activity that your family takes part in.

Training🦮 

The trainability and intelligence of this breed mean that they will not only benefit from regular exercise but also regular and ongoing training. Sign up for puppy classes and consider going to agility or other canine sports classes. Your dog will enjoy the activity and it will help burn off energy. It will also keep them mentally active. Providing mental stimulation can provide a challenge: remember that this breed excels at tasks including search and rescue. The more fun you can make training, the better the experience for you and your dog.

Grooming ✂️

The Goldador will usually benefit from the same double coat as its Labrador Retriever parent. This has a short topcoat and a dense undercoat. It protects the breed from the cold and the wet, and while the color might range from yellow to gold, it can also come in black or chocolate. It will need regular brushing because this removes dead hair and prevents knotting. This not only means that your pup feels fresher, but it prevents the hair from cascading onto furniture and floors, so you all benefit. Brush every week and, during shedding season, be prepared to brush every day.

His love of water means that your Goldador will probably spend a lot of time in rivers, lakes, puddles, sprinklers, and any other source of water. You must wash him down after he has spent time in natural water sources. Check his ears and wash off any dirt and residue.

Your hybrid dog’s ears will need regular checking, not just when he’s been swimming because this is one breed that is prone to ear infections. Wipe him with a damp cloth to remove any buildup. You will also need to provide dental and nail care to ensure that your dog is comfortable and healthy. This means trimming nails every month and brushing his teeth at least twice a week. Nail and teeth care should start at a young age. This not only helps ensure long-term health but it gets your dog used to having a toothbrush in his mouth and having his paws lifted and snipped at.

Health and Conditions❤️

The Goldador is considered a generally healthy breed, but there are several conditions that he is prone to, including hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is common in large breeds, and dogs should be screened before being bred to ensure that this condition is not present. Ask to see proof of screening of the dog’s parents before buying the puppy. Look for symptoms of the following conditions and seek veterinary guidance if your puppy shows any signs.

Minor Conditions
  • Diabetes
  • Eye problems
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Progressive retinal atrophy

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Male vs Female

There are no known differences between the male and female of this breed. Both genders will grow to a similar height, although the male does tend to be a little heavier than the bitch. Upbringing, training, and socialization, are more important to the temperament of a dog than the gender, although some owners insist that male dogs are more affectionate but more difficult to train than female dogs.

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Conclusion

Despite being a cross between two of the most popular dog breeds in the world, the Goldador is not that common of a hybrid breed. He was first bred 10 years ago, however, and because the parent breeds do share plenty of attributes, we know a lot about this mix. The Goldador will usually be very friendly, with other animals as well as people, and his eagerness to please, combined with his intelligence and his love of fun, means that this breed can be easy to train. His friendly nature and trainability also make him a good choice for first-time owners.

Originally bred as a hunting companion, the Goldador is still popular as a retriever of game birds, and his skills also make him a popular choice for search and rescue, as a police dog, and even as a therapy or medical companion dog.

However, the Goldador does require a lot of exercises, typically at least an hour a day, and he also requires regular grooming to manage his beautiful coat. If you have the time and inclination to dedicate to the breed, he will make an excellent addition to your home.

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Featured Image Credit: Cavan-Images, Shutterstock

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