Introduction
If you are looking for a new family dog, you have surely considered the Siberian husky, the Bull terrier, the Fox terrier, the Cocker spaniel, the French bulldog, the Shih Tzu, the Bernese mountain dog, and the German shepherd dog, which are all great candidates. But what if we told you that there is a near-perfect dog out there?
Well, we would probably be talking about the Goldador. This mixed-breed dog or hybrid is a blend of two of the most popular pets in the country and it brings the best of both to the table.
If you’re considering Goldador puppies, you might have some questions. In this article, we’ll take a look at this lovable pup and try to answer some of them. By the end, you’ll have a better idea of whether these designer dogs are the best option for you and your family. Read on to learn more about this lovable pup!
What is a Goldador?
The Goldador is a mix of two of the most popular breeds out there: a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. It is part of a growing movement to mix purebred dogs that has emerged in the 21st century.
However, unlike some other mixes, these designer dogs make a lot of sense. Some hybrid breeds leave a lot of uncertainty, but the Goldador is not one. The Golden and the Labrador are both high energy retrievers that are loyal and easy to train. Because they are so similar there is very little tension between the two breeds in the dog.
This is a pretty good thing for you as an owner. It means that you can almost guarantee that your dog is fun loving, energetic, easy to train, and great with kids. Since the positives of the two parent breeds are almost identical, you can pretty much guarantee that they will be there.
What Makes the Goldador Unique?
Though not yet accepted as a “true” breed by the American Kennel Club, Golden Lab puppies are unique because they are a Labrador-Golden Retriever mix, which every dog lover will simply adore, whether they lean more toward one parent breed or the other.
As a result, no two dogs are the same. There is not a standardized “Goldador” breed yet so each dog is a bit of a surprise.
In some hybrid breeds, this is a problem because you simply don’t know what you are going to get. But, because the Goldador comes from two very similar breeds, there are a lot of things that are safe to assume.
In general, you can expect a golden retriever lab mix to weigh about 65–80 pounds and stand 21–24 inches tall.
Many of the characteristics of these mixed-breed dogs will depend heavily on its parents. Appearance is a great example. Depending on how much Golden or Lab DNA the dog has, it can look like either breed. No matter what, the coat will be slightly longer than a Labrador’s and will probably have some feathering to it. It will be a thick double coat that helps keep the dog warm. You can expect a good amount of shedding, especially in the spring and fall.
The color of the dog is also variable. It can come in Yellow, Chocolate, Black or all shades of golden. Your breeder should have a good idea of what the dogs will look like, and the appearance of the parents is a good way to guess.
The temperament of this Retriever-Lab mix is generally pretty good. Both Labs and Goldens love people, are fiercely loyal to their owners and are pretty obedient. As hunting dogs, they were bred to listen carefully and view their owners as alphas.
There is very little tension between the two breeds because of this. So, it is safe to assume that your dog will be happy and playful regardless of which way it leans.
Training and Exercise Needs
When it comes to training and exercise, this dog is fun. Retrievers, in general, are some of the easiest dogs to train. That being said, the Golden and the Labrador do learn very differently so your puppy might be a tough puzzle.
Goldens learn best through repetition and they are hard workers. They will keep repeating a task until they get it right. They border on obsessive though and it is easy to overwork them so you need to be careful when training your dog.
Labs, on the other hand, hate repetitive tasks. They get bored easily by them and will simply wander away if forced to work on something for too long. Instead, they do best with a few short training sessions every day rather than one longer one.
Labs are also food motivated dogs. If you can tie their training sessions to their meals, you will likely have lots of success. Ask them to sit and wait before eating breakfast or dinner and use treats as a reward.
Your Goldador will fall somewhere in between these two dogs. You might have to wait and see which training method works best for your animal. Regardless, though, your dog will respond best to positive reinforcement. You should be ready to give out lots of kind words and cuddles for a job well done.
You can also expect your Goldador to be athletic and active. As the cross between two hunting dogs, it is used to spending plenty of time outside. Don’t be afraid to take this dog for longer walks or runs because it can handle that extra mileage. In fact, they don’t wear out easily!
If you don’t go for long walks or runs, another fun way to exercise your dog is through fetch. Both Labradors and Goldens love to retrieve and a tennis ball or stick will become this dog’s best friend. This is an especially fun game if you live near a body of water and can throw the ball into a lake or ocean. Your Goldador is a natural-born swimmer that will love splashing around.
Exercise is extremely important to a Golden Retriever Lab mix. Both Goldens and Labs need a lot of it. If they don’t get enough, they will become destructive inside the home. This means that your furniture, shoes, clothes, trash cans, and anything else that you care about becomes fair game as a chew toy. They also might dig holes in the yard or break down a fence.
Plan to spend about an hour every day outside with your dog. If you do, you’ll be blessed with a calmer and happier pet in the house.
Conclusion
The Goldador is a near-perfect blend of two near-perfect dogs. It’s a great addition to any family, whether you have children or live alone. It will love you endlessly and quickly become a family member.