golden Retriever or labrador?

[EliNHunter]

Don't go by weight, go by height and build (and your vet's advice if they know what they're talking about!). My Yogi was a stout 103 and IN SHAPE. My Eli was a solid 105 and IN SHAPE, when I got Hunter, he was a skinny thing at 65 and now he's 85 and IN SHAPE. My sister's lab, Rudy, just weighed in at the docs at 118 and is OUT OF SHAPE. Lol... he needs to lose at least 10 pounds to be IN SHAPE. We like 'em big!

Oh, and I'm getting ready to take Hunter on his daily jaunt to run right now... keep him lean at 85! I think that's his ideal weight. He's so tiny next to my other bruts I've had!

 

[shadowolf]

ok first off I think Labs would be my choice.
They come in alot different colors.
I would get a chocolate lab with green eyes.. *drools*
Or I would get a curly coated Retriever... they are so beautiful.

I think Golden R's are a good choice too for a family dog. most tend to get obses with time because they get lazy as they get older. ..

I would suggest a lab because they are great with kids, can be great gaurd dogs, and they are very playful.

be careful with labs though, they tend to focus their time on balls and sticks onse you introduce them to it.. also most labs, that i have met, have been very good at eating rocks... GULP.. this can be dangerous but if delt with early it wont be a problem.

 

[EliNHunter]

If you're a high energy person that wants to put alot into your dog who needs the energy burn-off, then a lab's for you. If you want the same kind of bonding power but with a more laid back breed that's there when you want them but lay back when you don't, then a golden's for you. Of course this is not the same for every dog (genetic-wise, etc.), but it's a pretty good stereotype. I guess that's why I spend so much time volunteering with Lab Rescue. People get those cute little cuddly puppies that they know have "good personalities" only to grow up to be a 90 pound "puppy" who still gets on your lap at any given moment, sleeps in your bed or on the couch like he used to do, and pushes his way into you to get attention and sheds everywhere. Can you blame the dog? That's their makeup! People need to realize this before they get a dog!

 

[bubbatd]

My grandson , Nash , has his Rudy ....but I think he loves my Chip because he can cuddle with him. Labs are good with kids, but Goldens are loving and they never snap, growl or bite. ( of course if they're of good breeding etc). As to them getting fat, I've seen more over weight Labs than Goldens. None of my aged Goldens were fat...14 to 17 yrs old .

 

[EliNHunter]

None of my aged Goldens were fat...14 to 17 yrs old .

Except for Copper, Mom/Bubbatd. She got HUGE and HATED our fat jokes! This was back before dogs were being diagnosed with thyroid problems, which I think she had. She looked like a barrel on wheels! One Christmas when she was especially large, we gave her a stuffed pig. She was so embarassed and mad... she took it outside to the edge of the woods and buried it immediately!

 

[bubbatd]

She was just pleasantly plump !!! Didn't waddle ...... except when she sat up !!!

 

[Doberluv]

The only reason a dog is overweight is not because of their breed. It's because their owners feed them too much. LOL. If one takes in more calories than one is expending, then naturally....one will get overweight.

I think they're both lovely, family breeds, good with kids, tolerant and playful if bred and raised right. I had a Chocolate Lab who recently had to be pts at 14 yrs old. She was my heart...excellent with kids and very laid back from the time she was a little pup. She did get exercise riding with me alongside my horse and then here, hikes and walks every day. But, she wasn't at all hyper and probably would have been fine with a little less exercise. But if you're a reasonably active person and can take the dog somewhere to run every day, you should be fine with either breed. Read up first, visit some shows, talk to people. Also, decide how much you're into grooming. I was thinking of a Golden before I got my Lab and decided on the shorter hair, although, they still need a lot of brushing...it's thick, sheddy hair. But no more tangles. LOL.

 

[shadowolf]

The only reason a dog is overweight is not because of their breed. It's because their owners feed them too much. LOL. If one takes in more calories than one is expending, then naturally....one will get overweight.

I agree. .. But from my experience all the goldens I see at the dog pack ect. are over weight... labs not so much. Labs tend to burn more energy then Goldens imho

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

The standard for Labs I believe is 55-70 lbs.. I've seen a ton of Labs that weigh 100+ and while there's nothing wrong with having a large dog, Labs weren't meant to weigh 150 lbs..

But, she wasn't at all hyper and probably would have been fine with a little less exercise.

May isn't hyper at all, either. She's very calm and docile. Many Labs, before two years of age are pretty hyper. We didn't get May as a puppy, so I have no idea what she was like then, but the entire eight to nine years that she's been a part of our family, she's been super calm.

 

[suzanne118]

Golden retrivers have a long coat, and they need lots of grooming, they shed
fur, so do labs.
Labs have short hair, not much grooming is needed, both these breeds have
similar personalitys, the golden seems to be more laid back than the lab.
Both these breeds are so gentle either one you choose whould be great dogs.

 

[LabBreeder]

I've only read the first page worth of posts, and maybe I'm being biased here because I have 2 Labs, but it seems like Labs are getting the "bad" rap here over Goldens.
I like the funny comparison post between Labs and Goldens.

I've got a puppy and a 2 year old. Neither shed very much unless stressed (i.e. moving to another home). Neither one is very hyper. Right now they're both laying by me, one on each side, napping. Twice a day, for about 20 minutes, they both go nuts running around (inside or outside, it just depends) chasing each other and wrestling and fetching for about 10 minutes of that time. The rest of the time they want to be petted, lick on me, lay with me, and just be loved on. I don't see the "hyper activity" that everyone says all Labs have. Tira is from hunting lines and she's pretty calm. Gunner is more showy, and still a puppy so he is constantly wanting to play or sleep.

 

[LabBreeder]

How about sports?

GOLDEN: Tennis, Golf, F-1 racing

LAB: Monster Trucks, WWF, and NASCAR!

As much as I HATE to say this...every time you describe a Lab characteristic, you end up nailing either me or Tony (mostly Tony). lmao...

 

[LabBreeder]

ok first off I think Labs would be my choice.
They come in alot different colors.
I would get a chocolate lab with green eyes.. *drools*
Or I would get a curly coated Retriever... they are so beautiful.

You do realize that "green eyes" are not desireable. All Labs are supposed to have brown or hazel. Blue and yellow are definitely undesireable. I can't say that I've seen a Lab with green eyes....ever.

BTW, ours go outside for 10-30 minutes about 10 times a day (every 2 hours)

 

[mjpeter]

Golden retrivers have a long coat, and they need lots of grooming, they shed
fur, so do labs.
Labs have short hair, not much grooming is needed, both these breeds have
similar personalitys, the golden seems to be more laid back than the lab.
Both these breeds are so gentle either one you choose whould be great dogs.

Goldens don't need that much grooming. They need to be brushed, of course, but not much more so than many other breeds. We get his paws trimmed once in a while, but other than that, he's fairly easy to keep groomed. Of course, Luke's only seven months old, so maybe it will be more difficult as he ages.

 

[canadianmandy]

I have two yellow lab/golden retriever mixes (sisters) One looks like a golden and one looks like a Lab. Neither are hyper. Love (the Lab) thinks she a Lap dog... I think that cuz shes spoiled! lol and if she falls asleep in my room and I leave. She will wake up minutes later and run and jump on my lap and give my face a bath. She loves to catch. She hates water and She thinks she is a cat. Nick name is kitty lol!

Buddie is the one that looks like a Golden. Her fur requires more attention. She is our watch/guard dog. She will scream for attention... I am sure if my sister left she and she got loose she would search the earth. She hates other dogs (other than Lovie) She also hates strangers and will bark and growl and stomp around like a mad toddler. (she hates bikes and motorcycles) The change from city to country did her well we were always worried about her biting someone.... Buddie is scared of anything smaller than her head. IE my hamster .. Loves puppies ... My lil sister when she was newborn. shes a nut!

My dog Loves small animals and babies.. She took well to my lil sisters.. Pulling of ears jumping on her... she sits and takes it no growl .... Just kisses.
Buddie will run away if my lil sisters go near her. (alwaya watch her)

Buddie gets bored easy and has taken to barking at airplanes/jets/helicopters... Growls and snorts lol ... you should have seen her I was letting her swim in our pond and she stopped to look up and bark at a jet... nearly sunk! nose up!

Love loves to use her paws like a cat... she will go back and forth in a hall like a cat batting a ball with her paws. She loves to sleep in my bed pressed against me.... snuggle bug.

Favorite words are go for a walk... go outside.. car ride? Wheres nibbles! lol I love my dogs.. Lol get one of each or a mix of the two.

Golden retriever mixed with yellow labs are called Golden labs

 

[LabBreeder]

A lab mix that hates water? Geez, the Golden part must have subdued the Labs love of water and swimming.
Seriously though, Tira will go nuts when you turn the ceiling fan off. Once it starts to slow down, and she notices, she'll look up at it and bark at it or talk to it (yes, there's a difference). She won't go directly under it for a long time. It's like she's afraid it will attack her or something. After 10 minutes or so, she forgets about it and only occassionaly looks up. Turning it back on is fine, she doesn't care.

 

[juliefurry]

I've never owned a golden but have known a few. The ones that I have known where very laid back and not a good watch/guard dog. They were very gentle and friendly with everyone. I am presently owned by a black lab and she is much the same way as a golden with a few slight differences. My lab is a good watch dog and I feel she would back it up if it was a last resort. My lab sheds A TON I do daily brushings and also supplement her food. She is also, as some had said, very energetic. However inside the house she is usually quite calm, unless you want to get her excited. When she is outside she is running and having a good old time, it's almost like a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personality with her. I give her LOTS of exercise, an hour walk in the morning and then an hour of fetch in the afternoon/evening (depending on outside temperature) and my sister in law's kids take her out walking for an hour or so everyday too so she gets good exercise. You have to be careful about overfeeding a lab because most seem to have bottomless pits for stomachs.

 

[juliefurry]

be careful with labs though, they tend to focus their time on balls and sticks onse you introduce them to it.. also most labs, that i have met, have been very good at eating rocks... GULP.. this can be dangerous but if delt with early it wont be a problem.

it's very hard NOT to introduce a lab to balls or sticks! My lab was retrieving ANYTHING she could get her mouth on by nine weeks. I have heard that retrieving is so bred in to them though that it just can not be stopped. We finally got her balls to retrieve after she started retrieving...unmentionable items and bringing them to our houseguests. Yes she has a thing with rocks too and she always brings rocks into the house when she goes outside, and she won't come back in without one .

 

[canadianmandy]

A lab mix that hates water? Geez, the Golden part must have subdued the Labs love of water and swimming.
Seriously though, Tira will go nuts when you turn the ceiling fan off. Once it starts to slow down, and she notices, she'll look up at it and bark at it or talk to it (yes, there's a difference). She won't go directly under it for a long time. It's like she's afraid it will attack her or something. After 10 minutes or so, she forgets about it and only occassionaly looks up. Turning it back on is fine, she doesn't care.

I thinks its cuz she thinks she is a cat

 

[LabBreeder]

mandie - lol, probably


My Labs don't shed alot. I don't know why and I'm not complaining. Maybe I just got lucky. Or maybe "alot" to me is like what some cats do.

Tira likes to push big rocks around with her nose. She used to "mouth" rocks, but not eat them. Gunner picks them up sometimes, but he'll drop it as soon as he knows we've caught him.

Both of ours love retrieving, doesn't matter what it is. Poor Gunner only gets to retrieve whenever Tira is tired or if he wants to retrieve something different than what she's retrieving. I might be throwing 2 different things in 2 directions to keep both happy.