Golden retriever or lab?

[BMWL]

We have made the decision to get a puppy in the next couple of months.
We love both golden retrievers and labradors, but are unsure which one to choose.
We have a large garden, so plenty of space for the dog to run around. One of us is always at home, so the dog won't be by itself for too long during the day. Both very active so it will get lots of walks/runs.
Just wondering if you have either, what pros/cons do you have with the breed?

Thank you in advance

I have had goldies for 40 years, and had a number of friends with labs.
They are both big strong dogs, the males especially, and need proper training so they don't "tigger" all over people (children) and knock them over.
Both breeds can suffer from hip and elbow trouble and you should look for ones where hips, elbows and eyes have been tested - you really really don't want the heartache and cost of a dog with those conditions. If the breeder can't show good results, walk away.
Both breeds are food motivated and can be very greedy. Good training is needed to prevent counter surfing and stealing. I have met some labs (and one of my goldens) who would literally eat until they were sick, then eat the sick.🤢
Have I mentioned chewing? 😂 All pups will chew, but for some the novelty never wears off. And if bored or unsupervised they WILL eat your best Italian sandles and your underwear.

Goldens in particular are water dogs - originally bred to retrieve birds from water - and the muddier the better. From observation labs are the same, but their coats don't pick up quite as much mud.

In both breeds the show lines tend to be bigger and blockier, and with goldens at least, can be a bit dim.
The working lines are slimmer and more active and cleverer - easier to train but need to be kept occupied as the devil finds work for idle paws (and jaws).

Goldens I think calm down sooner and are very people orientated. All mine have been good with children and matured into calm friendly family dogs.

It's the coat that is the main difference.
Both moult, labs have hair rather than fur- it's stiffer and sticks into fabrics.
Goldie fur- you never get rid of it. It's soft and fine like fluff and gets absolutely everywhere.
Pictures of my current retriever- age 10 weeks (gardening) and 7 (showing off)

Whichever you get, they are lovely

@quodvox

Best dog in world is a lab x goldie! I maybe biased!

It's actually a great point - heard that Guide Dogs for the Blind prefer these crosses to train as it combines the best of both breeds.

Or the worst! You can’t guarantee that a cross will cherry pick the ‘best bits’

Ahh, we had a goldie for 15 years. She was an angelic, calm lovely girl though she did chew her way through the vinyl flooring once when we left her for an hour.

We were still finding her hair in the Hoover a year after she died.

My gr practically had a reserved seat at the vet’s. He had to have his stomach pumped numerous times due to eating stolen goods (a whole roll of wrapping paper/several pound coins/whole box of m&S Extremely Chocolatey biscuits) and there was always something interesting emerging from his nether regions. On one occasion he was straining away in the middle of the local cricket pitch and eventually out came my dd’s pink stripy pants....

I once thought he’d eaten a packet of paracetamol and raced to the vet’s. He was innocent of the paracetamol disappearance, but they rang to say they’d found one Christmas decoration, a sock, and a quantity of “miscellaneous bits and bobs”. As others have said, you need that pet insurance!

@IrmaFayLear

My GR had a knee replacement when he was 8. There was a specialist orthopaedic hospital for animals, incredible facilities. He even had 6 sessions of hydrotherapy in the pool just for animals. Love watching the horses in pool. My husband who was waiting for a knee replacement at the time was actually envious

Wow I didn't think I would get this many responses! Thank you all for each of your comments.
We have thought long and hard about it, and are going to go for a golden.
Currently in the process of looking for a good breeder, who has all the relevant health checks ectopic completed.

Thank you everyone, cannot wait to meet my new dog 🥰

We will need pictures when you find puppy!! They are delicious when they’re tiny and all floppy and bonkers. I’m so envious, it’s been forever since I have a pup!

Sorry that meant to say 'etc' instead of ectopic 😂

Will put photos as soon as we have a pup - might be a few months but watch this space

Glad you're going for a golden - the headmaster of my primary school had one. Whisky was in the classroom and used to come and sit by me and if I didn't make a fuss of her she used to give me a big sloppy lick.

My late father had them, and his last one, Sandy, was a terror. Among other things he 'retrieved' a greaseproof-wrapped packet of bacon from a shopping basket, brought home without even piercing the wrapping, and a lady's gloves which he then very obligingly dropped in the middle of a cornfield.

Awwwwww..... I love naughty dogs.

Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is still active - I'm the OP (NC earlier in the month)

We have gotten a little golden retriever. He's too young to come home so we have to wait a few more weeks to pick him up. He's coming from a great home with two very health parents. I absolutely love him. The joy he has brought me already and we don't even have him yet!
We have called him Doug 😊

Just searching through old threads on golden retrievers as we are considering getting one. And just wondered how you were getting on OP?

Goldens in particular are water dogs - originally bred to retrieve birds from water - and the muddier the better. From observation labs are the same, but their coats don't pick up quite as much mud
Yeah, we’re Labrador people, had three plus two fosters, and my big takeaway is, they’re basically self-cleaning dogs

Vets say 'If you want a fun dog, get a Jack Russell. If you want a clown, get a labrador. If you want a well behaved dog, get a golden retriever.'

Personally, I think small dogs are hard to train because they're simply not placid and labradors simply don't care about your approval that much. In general, if you can't train a retriever you probably should have got a goldfish.

I have a GR so am biased but I feel they are less rambunctious and easier to train than labs. My girl calmed down at about 14 months and although she can be fun and bouncy puppy again if you go to the beach, or visit her favourite family member etc she is mostly very content to follow you around the house and lie on your feet when you sit down.

Just read your update, congratulations on Doug! GREAT choice

Ah, it was an old thread! Wish you every happiness with your golden retriever.

Pictures please! Congratulations!

Top tip - get down to their level even when they're tiny.