Labrador or golden retriever

[Blubell46]

Morning all,

I am thinking of getting a Labrador or golden retriever. I am in no rush and thinking if we do decide to get one it will be in the Summer.

I really want to do my research well and I was wandering if you can direct me to any websites to read.

We are a family of 4 and have two teenagers (15 &13), who are committed in helping us walk the dog - fingers crossed. My Dh works from home and sometimes goes and sees clients, maybe once a week- when he will be alone for a day or two max. He is able to take him/ her for a walk at lunch time.

Thank you for your advice in advance.

Golden retriever all the way. Such beautiful, gentle and incredibly smart dogs.

They are wonderful, yes (and I miss my old boy every day) but more involved than a Lab in terms of grooming.

Labradors are VERY food motivated and will eat everything in sight. Including the poo of other animals, they can become overweight very easily. I prefer retrievers personally but both breeds are intelligent, loyal and generally healthy as breeds.

Check hip and eye scores with any breeder as they can both suffer from bad joints

If you want one in summer you need to get your name down on lots of waiting lists now. Good breeders have lists that are often a year or more long. You want to contact your local breed club.
Prices for both have absolutely sky rocketed because of covid. Lots are charging 3k or more. Good breeders have told me they won't be putting there prices up to anywhere near this.
Do your research on Champdogs, kc and Facebook groups etc. If someone has dogs available 'now' walk away. Good breeders pups are sold before the mum is even pregnant in most cases. If they have dogs 'ready' it's a sign something is not right.
You want a recommendation ideally for good temprement and health.
Don't pay any money/deposit until you have actually seen pup in person and seen mum with pups.
Good luck.
Both are beautiful breeds and very similar.
I personally prefer goldens but that's just me.

Whichever you go for, though this is much more of an issue with Labs as there are relatively few working GRs, be aware of the show/ working split.

A working line Lab is a different creature from a show-line one. On average, the workers are more energetic, more athletic and also cleverer (and therefore better at, er, making their own entertainment).

We had golden retrievers. Such loving family focused dogs. Mine used to warm my back every morning at breakfast sitting on the back of my kitchen chair. Don’t think we did discipline very well..... great dogs!

Our golden boys were fine being left for half a day. Even tempered, gentle and Emotionally intelligent. They do have a dog smell though which such thick fur.

Very thick coats and tonnes of shedding - tumbleweeds of hair all over the house even with regular grooming . And mud wallowing. I used to call him the Hairy Hippo.

Also please bear in mind that you won't be able to leave either for a day even with a mid day walk, as you mentioned your dh will need to do this for work. Especially as a puppy.

These dogs thrive on company and often become destructive if bored and left alone for longer than a couple of hours. Both breeds need a lot of exercise and stimulation and this needs to be spread out through the day.

Why not rescue a dog in need of a home?

Thank you for all comments and so my research begins.x

Some negative but important things I haven’t seen mentioned:

• Golden retrievers are very susceptible to osteosarcoma (bone cancer), I’ve seen a fair few posts over the years talking about relatively young retrievers losing their lives to cancer.

• Both Labradors and goldens are prone to severe resource guarding, that is, guarding that is noticeable from 8 weeks or so where they aggressively guard the stereotypical food, furniture etc but also idiotic items like sweet wrappers, stones, space, blades of grass etc, though I’ve heard it’s more common in Goldens rather than labs.

It’s a very important consideration if you have/are planning/have visiting children as imo a resource guarding dog cannot be safely kept with children.

• There is research suggesting some Labradors have a faulty gene causing them to be constantly hungry which explains the reputation they have for eating everything regardless of its edible or not and imo sounds like a dreadfully cruel way of living, never feeling satisfied and full.

• Both breeds are bitey/mouthy pups and typically bouncy, ‘full of life’ energetic dogs keen to make friends with everyone.

I think a lot of people assume they are very placid and laid back breeds but imo a healthy lab/golden is a very rambunctious dog in need of strict training else it will be a nightmare bouncing around barrelling everyone over.

You may wish to consider a rescue greyhound or lurcher - they are actually very lazy. And very, very gentle and loving.

@Thatsmycupoftea

Also please bear in mind that you won't be able to leave either for a day even with a mid day walk, as you mentioned your dh will need to do this for work. Especially as a puppy.

These dogs thrive on company and often become destructive if bored and left alone for longer than a couple of hours. Both breeds need a lot of exercise and stimulation and this needs to be spread out through the day.

@Thatsmycupoftea I have to disagree. Leaving them from a young age gets them used to it.

Agree with most points mentioned above. I spent Christmas with my son, his fiancée and their 9 month old retriever - he is an utter joy! So cuddly and affectionate (although he did steal my knickers from my bedroom and present them to my son so that was a little embarrassing).

If you like the size and temperament of labs and golden retrievers, may I draw your attention to the magnificently gorgeous Hungarian Vizsla?

I promise I'm not on commission, I'm just very biased and absolutely love this breed🧡🐾🧡👏

Oh my goodness @SilverOtter he is adorable! ❤️🐶

@GreekOddess

Oh my goodness *@SilverOtter* he is adorable! ❤️🐶

She's a she, but thank you!🥰

What about a flatcoat retriever? Always happy and very loving. Ours is okay with being left for a few hours now and again but is very much a people dog.

My goodness all these photos of your dogs are gorgeous !! They look so adorable and can't wait till we get one- thank you

Retrievers are easy to train and care more about pleasing you, on the whole. They have placid big dog temperament while Labradors can quite frankly be over grown jack Russell's who never get past being two.

But that's all generalising.

I should add, I was thinking of show retrievers, can't comment on working.

The hair loss is mighty.

Golden retriever! I've got two

The poster discussing resource guarding, this isn't a big issue if you are aware of it and manage the dog accordingly. I don't leave my DD alone with my dogs ever, any small child shouldn't be left alone with any dog IMO. A dog guarding everything has serious issues. Most will only guard something high value if they feel threatened as if they are about to lose it. And high value is the key phrase there. Imagine if you were only allowed to eat porridge all day everyday and someone gave you a massive cake, but then someone else came up behind you and tried to snatch it. You wouldn't be best pleased either. It's not something only confined to labs and goldens.