Labrador Retreiver vs. Golden Retreiver

W3bbo

So I've decided I'd like a dog to fill a void in my life (and something to tear me away from my computer), I'm looking for an intelligent, affectionate, cuddly/fluffy medium-sized breed requiring not that much maintenance, so the classical Labrador Retreiver and Golden Retreivers came to mind.

I was browsing through some photos and it looks like the Golden Retreivers are off the more-fluffier variety (great for stress relief, I hear), but that's subject to lots of variables (like moulting, time of year, etc)

So for an absolute beginner, with no dog-rearing experience whatsoever, who'se looking for a fluffy companion, would you recommend a Yellow Labrador Retreiver or a Golden Retreiver, or am I barking up the wrong tree altogether and a third breed is a better match?

Thanks

nrhareiner

I have had both breeds in the past and now have a 9 week old Golden pup. I also have a 12 week old Corgi pup which I had no real intention of getting however a very good freind of mine breeds champion corgis and she gave me a pup for christmas.

Now I love my retreivers and they are very affectionant and learn quickly but take a lot of training and if you do not work with them from day 1 you will have your hands full. The same is also true of Corgis they are just smaller. My corgi is really a great dog and what I like is even full grown she will only be about 25lbs and I like that idea. Easyer to bath in the house in the winter. They fit better in the car and all.

I would recomend any of these breeds.

I also have a Salukie however being a sight hound they tend to be a bit harder to train although this one has not. She does well off leash even out with the horses in the pasture and has been very easy to train for agiltiy even weaves.

Even a nice cross from the pound would do well too if is the correct size for you. I have gone that way too.

Yep I think I really answered you questons haven't I. LOL

Good Luck.

Heidi

DogAdvocat

I don't think there's a lot of difference between the two breeds you've chosen. One has longer hair that tends to float around the house, and one has shorter hair that tends to stick in everything. Of more concern is your desire for smart and affectionate. I've seen both of these breeds range in intelligence, and I think a lot of it is what you're willing to put into training them. But the biggest thing is YOU. Are YOU ready for the intelligence of a dog that requires you to stay a step ahead of him? Are YOU going to wish he wasn't quite so smart when you are stumped by how to stop him from doing something you don't like? Are YOU going to be able to keep him from getting bored, which leads to frustration and destruction? Do you have plans for activities that you can do with your dog that keeps him stimulated and tired? Agility, for instance?

And then there's affection. So many people want affectionate dogs, and then leave them on their own for long hours. What is that dog supposed to be affectionate to? An affectionate, people-oriented dog, is also going to get frustrated and destructive, and possibly suffer from separation anxiety when left alone.

By "not much maintenance" - are you only talking grooming, or are you talking about your general interaction with it? Golden Retrievers certainly require more brushing, but all dogs should be brushed, even the short haired ones.

And unless you are considering adopting an adult dog, where you get to know it's personality, it's size, and it's health issues before adoption - there is a whole lot of homework needed before considering a puppy. Whatever breed you decide on, find out what health problems it's genetically prone to and what pre-breeding tests it's breeder should be doing to prevent reproducing these diseases. For both labs and goldens, CHD (canine hip dysplasia) is the biggest health issue, and if your dog has that it will have a very painful and miserable life. Make sure the breeder guarantees against CHD for at least two years, because it can show up by then.

And whatever you do, please stay away from pet shops. All their dogs are puppymill dogs, and buying them supports a cruel industry and buys you a lot of potential problems.

W3bbo

Wise council. I guess I'm prepared, and there's plenty to do around where I live, just a few hundred metres from my house is a National Trust property and park, for example. But I haven't thoroughly researched just yet, so I'm still learning

I wouldn't dream of leaving a dog alone for more than a few hours. There's always someone at home whilst I'm out, so that's not much of a problem.

I meant by grooming, yes.

That was the plan (to buy directly from a breeder) from the start, I'm familar with puppymills and disgusted by the industry. Fortunately the UK is a small place and breeders are everywhere.

There's a Golden Retreiver Rescue contact near my area, I think I'll give them a phone-call and make a few enquiries, but I guess rescued retrievers go like hotcakes.

LabLady101

Thank you DogAdvocat! A lot of people do think that Labradors do not require much. And you definately hit the nail on the head when you said that they are so intelligent that you actually need to stay one step ahead!

As far as the grooming aspect of a Labrador, here's a good link for how to groom and maintain a proper Labrador coat:
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/grooming.html
I bet a lot of people do not/did not think that there was that much effort that goes into maintaining a proper Labrador coat!

I do want to give the OP some credit though. It does sound like he is doing his research before buying which is wonderful- kudos to the OP!! My only advice to the OP would be to continue to ask questions (just like you are doing) and don't stop until you are absolutely comfortable and confident with your decision. Good luck!

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DogAdvocat

Whether they go like hotcakes or not, because they are such a popular breed, there are far too many of them for the available homes. So I'm sure you'll find that there are plenty that do need homes. I'm glad you're taking this route. The rescue should also be able to tell you a lot about what it's like to live with that specific type of dog as well.

Wow, what an super website. I wish all breeds had something that extensive. Thank you for posting it.

Travis

I think that you need you consider the fact that a golden OR a lab is not necessarily a low maintenance animal. Golden or Labrador Rretrievers are in my opinion a full sized dog. They require a good sized living space (bigger than an apartment). They need exercise (walks, etc.) on a daily basis to stay healthy. In some peoples minds the necessity of daily outings and exercise would be considered more than "not that much maintenance". There are smaller breeds of dogs that require less space and exercise than either of these breeds. You need to decide what breed fits your lifestyle. It's not which breed is the best, but which is most suited to you. Good luck!
Travis

Keno's Mom

Labs come in 3 colors - yellow (ranging from pale cream to fox red), black, or chocolate. Both breeds are about equal - it just depends on if you want a long or short hair dog. Labs DO shed - a lot, and both would need regular brushing to keep shedding at a minimum.

I like labs better cause they clean up a lot quicker (like when wet from snow or running thru puddles/ponds). IMO they have more of a waterproof coat and little doggy smell.

When you adopt, check out the breed rescue groups or a very GOOD breeder. Too many byb's out there and both breeds should have clearances. Labs are #1 in the country (for about the 15th year or so) and its better to take your time to look for a good, healthy dog.

Also do not buy into the "rare" colors of so called "white" or "silver" labs - there are no such thing. Silvers are crosses (even if they did it many generations ago) They are not accepted colors in the breed. And beware of anyone putting higher price tags on certain colors - remember labs are only in 3 colors - anything else is questionable.

Two other things.

1. Lab females should be 55-75 lbs and males about 10-15 lbs heavier. Labs should NOT be 90-100+ lbs. Read the standard. Too many breeders are not breeding to the standard - stay away from those.

2. Also labs go thru a rebellious stage between 6-18 months - its the toughest time to deal with them, so be patient if you adopt a puppy. Train early and be consistant.

MagicToller

Keep in mind that these are sporting breeds that need rigorous exercise and training to keep them stable and happy. Most of the time, these guys are protrayed as the most versatile and perfect breed ever, but this could not be further from the truth. Yes they are amiable goofs that can be fun to train, but they are also a very common breed found in pounds due to misguided education.

Just make sure you've got everything in place if you decide to go for a sporting pup

W3bbo

Alright, thanks for all the advice.

I still haven't had the chance to phone up said Goldie rescue place near me, hopefully I'll have the time to tomorrow.

But if they don't have any "in stock" so to speak, what places do you recommend? There's epupz.com where I've been looking recently, as well as other puppy classified-ads websites, are they trustworthy enough?

LabLady101

In general, I would not trust anyone that advertises on a website of that fashion or classified-ads. So, no, IMHO these places are not trustworthy. Also, buying a pup from one of those sites or classifed ads just further encourages the activities of the BYBs (Back Yard Breeders) that post them.

I would visit your local kennel club or retriever club. Talk to the members there and see if they have any breeder recommendations. More times than not, they will be able to give you a referral to a responsible breeder. It may take some time and you may be put on a waiting list, but you will get the right pup eventually.

People say, "You get what you pay for" and I think this applies PERFECTLY to buying a pup from a responsible breeder.

Alpha

epupz.com sounds an awful lot like a BYB to me. Supporting puppymills is a big no no. (I would imagine there are a tonne of pups, so maybe BYB doesn't even apply)

I think the best advice that's been given to you is to visit the AKC website and search from some reputable breeders of each breed in your area. They'll have plenty of information about their breed as well as what they breed for in their own dogs. Some breeders focus more on different aspects of the breed depending on what they're breeding for.

Speaking to a reputable breeder about breed specific qualities and traits is the best way to go. Breeder's will always have pet quality pups that need to be homed but they'll also have all of the neccessary testing done to ensure your new friends health

Snowshoe

The advice that Alpha and the other posters have given you is excellent. This is one of the many reasons I frequent this board.

Anyone who has to advertise their puppies, whether it's in the newspaper or on a cheap website is not worth your time or your money.

Good breeders will be recommended to you by their peers.

Puppy mills and back yard breeders come in many forms. A back yard breeder can have well meaning intent, but they are still a back yard breeder.

Here what to stay away from:

1) Their breeding stock doesn't have any championships or field titles. *Back yard breeders will tell you that the puppies' grandparents, etc. had titles and will emphasize that their dogs are AKC, or whatever registry they choose*

2) Their dogs won't have had health checks. Here are the proper certifications to look for: PennHip, Pennheart, CERF, OFA. The parents of your puppies should have at least two of the above certs done.

If you don't know what those acronyms stand for, you really should find out. It's YOUR responsibility as a puppy buyer.

*BYBs typically tell you that their dogs have seen a vet, which is really the very least that should happen*

3) They don't ask invasive questions, and try to sell you on getting a puppy from them.

Good breeders will grill YOU to make sure that YOU ARE SUITABLE. That's right, their dogs are like children to them, and they want to make sure their babies are going to a good home.

Good breeders will also pick the puppy that best suits YOUR needs. You may end up wanting that large, bumbling male puppy with endless energy. However, your needs may suit you more for a quieter, less demanding puppy.

4) They are scornful of people who take the time, effort, energy, and money to title their dogs in some fashion. They may make jokes, or make excuses for why they don't show their dogs. Here are a few:

"Oh, I KNOW that Bonnie and Billy are quality. Just LOOK at them!"
"Didn't you know that hybrids are healthier then purebreds 'cause their mixed?"
"I'm breeding for temperment, and Molly is SO SWEET!"
"You can't meet the mom. She's really frightened of strangers and protective of the house."

Well, this is the best advice that I can give someone puppy shopping. The rest is up to you. Just remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

There is no such thing as getting a "great deal" on a family pet that will be with you for at least 10 years.

W3bbo

Well not being american, the AKC doesn't operate in my area But there's the original TKC (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/). They have a list of registered breeders over the country here (http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/as...lden%29&loc=9), unfortunately none of the accredited breeders are close (the nearest accredited one is in Gloucestershire, some 100 miles away), but there's a few non-accredited breeders in the North West.

Thanks for the tips re: epupz.com, saved me a lot of potential problems

Tamara

May I suggest you do try Rescue Centres. Due to the long running popular advert for Andrex toilet paper here in the UK. (It features a very sweet puppy golden lab but is also mistaken for a Goldie). These have become one of the most popular puppies for Christmas. Around this time of year sadly a lot of these pups are given up. Just a thought

W3bbo

Yes, I forgot to mention in my last post that I phoned up the three nearest rescue centres to me, none of them have anything in stock. The first one I called recommended I contact a breeder instead anyway.

peabody71

I personally love goldens but their long coat can be a bit much depending on your tonlerances.
Labs short hair is deffinately a plus. Both breeds have very similar dispositions,
great with kids and very active sporting dogs. You've got to take them to the lake once in awhile and let them chase a stick they'll love you for it.

W3bbo

Of course, that's all well and good, but the problem is actually getting one in the first place

Tess&Coco

Any news on finding a lab/golden? You mentioned you'd tried local rescue places - whereabouts are you and are you able/prepared to travel? If you haven't already looked, the Dogs Trust has a website with examples from all its centres (about 15 in the UK, I think) and you can do the application form on-line. Not sure what the protocol would be if you found a suitable dog in another area. RSPCA also has centres all over, but they don't show the animals on the web. They are all very helpful if you telephone. Good luck with your quest and keep us posted!

W3bbo

I'm in Cheshire, and able to travel, but not too far (ideally, no further than the Midlands)

Thanks for the suggestion, I checked out their site but they only have one Golden, but she comes with a "friend", the two of them are looking for a house with two males already, ah well (she looked really friendly too)

But now I've got another choice dilemma: Eurasiers, they seem so ideal. Anyone want to comment on that particular breed?

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