Anyone With Experience Owning Both a Labrador Retriever AND a Golden Retriever?

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We're really starting to think seriously about bringing another dog into our lives soon.

Just in case we decide not to rescue (which I'm leaning towards), we're giving ourselves a few months to find a good breeder, so that we can bring a puppy home after we return from WDW in June.

Of course, I'm partial to Goldens. Chloe's the only dog that I've really ever gotten attached to, so I don't have a lot of experience getting close to any other breed. DH wants a Lab - chocolate to be exact.

I've heard that they're more high-strung than Goldens, but other than that (and even that might not be true) I can't say I've ever heard a comparison between the two breeds.

Are they as goofy and sweet as Goldens? Are they about as active as Goldens? More so? Less so?

Something tells me I'm not going to get my way on this one, and I'm going to be the proud owner of a chocolate lab in the next year. Not that it's a bad thing at all, I just really want another Golden.

 

[nephthys43]

i have a yellow lab named zara. she's a big doof. not high-strung at all. my clumber, benji; on the other hand, is ridiculously high-strung. but, anyhoo, zara is my cuddle-butt. she's the sweetest thing ever. always ready to play or go on a walk or just veg out with me. love her to death. (and way less hair than a golden )

 

[marydmjj]

I don't have any input but I just want to say that I LOVE your pictures of Chloe. She is so cute.

 

[PrincessTiff]

Your golden is absolutely adorable!

My puppy is half lab and half golden. Does that count? She is VERY goofy and loves to "play games".

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Your golden is absolutely adorable!

My puppy is half lab and half golden. Does that count? She is VERY goofy and loves to "play games".

There was one here in rescue about a month ago and it had lab hair, and was almost white! He had the prettiest dark eyes and it looked like he was wearing eyeliner. His face looked more golden than lab though.

Now he's gone. I guess that's a good thing though!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I don't have any input but I just want to say that I LOVE your pictures of Chloe. She is so cute.

Thanks! She's my goofball!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

i have a yellow lab named zara. she's a big doof. not high-strung at all. my clumber, benji; on the other hand, is ridiculously high-strung. but, anyhoo, zara is my cuddle-butt. she's the sweetest thing ever. always ready to play or go on a walk or just veg out with me. love her to death. (and way less hair than a golden )

Oh yeah - lots of hair on Chloe.

This is what I wanted to hear. Zara sounds a lot like Chloe! I love the name, by the way! Very pretty!

 

[transparant]

I have a 2 yr. old Golden (male) and a 1 yr. old Choc. Lab (male). Both are fantastic breeds. But I do have to say that my choc. Lab is way smarter than my Golden. He sheds less too. So...if given a choice between the two...I'd choose the Lab. But like I said - I love both breeds.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I have a 2 yr. old Golden (male) and a 1 yr. old Choc. Lab (male). Both are fantastic breeds. But I do have to say that my choc. Lab is way smarter than my Golden. He sheds less too. So...if given a choice between the two...I'd choose the Lab. But like I said - I love both breeds.

I knew there was someone on here that had both breeds and I couldn't remember who it was. I think it was you.

Chloe is more of a goofy smart, than a knock-your-socks-off smart. Sometimes we just shake our heads at her, because she'll just totally miss "getting" something and then there are other times that she amazes us. Most of the time, we're shaking our heads.

Do all chocolate labs have those amazing green eyes?

 

[mrsv98]

We have had three Labs (two right now) and we love them very much. Both my black labs have been extrmemly smart, the yellow? well let's just say she is very lovable

They do have less hair than Goldens, but they are "puppies" for long time, at least two years. I have never had a golden but since they are retrievers, too, I would think they share a lot of the same traits. Love to chew, chase balls and RUN!

Be careful about getting a chocolate. They tend to have more eye problems than black or yellow labs. Personally, I would go the breeder route. Find a reputable breeder and go and visit to see the set up and the parents.

Here is a pic of our yellow:

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We have had three Labs (two right now) and we love them very much. Both my black labs have been extrmemly smart, the yellow? well let's just say she is very lovable

Yes, she looks very lovable! She has that same look, that Chloe has!

They do have less hair than Goldens, but they are "puppies" for long time, at least two years. I have never had a golden but since they are retrievers, too, I would think they share a lot of the same traits. Love to chew, chase balls and RUN!

DH wants to train this one to be a true retriever too. I'm not too wild about that, but he likes to hunt. If he shot a gun around Chloe, we'd probably never see her again.

Be careful about getting a chocolate. They tend to have more eye problems than black or yellow labs. Personally, I would go the breeder route. Find a reputable breeder and go and visit to see the set up and the parents.

Good to know. I wonder why? I wonder if it has anything to do with the lighter pigmentation?

Here is a pic of our yellow:

You've got to love that face! She looks adorable!

 

[mrsv98]

DH wants to train this one to be a true retriever too. I'm not too wild about that, but he likes to hunt. If he shot a gun around Chloe, we'd probably never see her again.

If you want to go the training route, look for a breeder that has "field" dogs not "Bench" dogs. The bench labs are more for show. They tend to be taller and less sturdy.

Our breeder is well-known for breeding great field dogs with excellent temperment. Field dogs will be bred to be smaller and more compact. They can go all day in any weather. I take our girls to the dog park in all weather and they love it.

This is our Sammy, we lost her in Sept and my heart is still broken

I don't have a good picture of baby Belle yet, she won't hold still long enough! But you can see they are all sturdy, solid labs, not leggy and that's what you want to look for in a field dog.

 

[aynt79]

I've heard that they're more high-strung than Goldens, but other than that (and even that might not be true) I can't say I've ever heard a comparison between the two breeds.

I've actually heard the exact opposite. The only goldy's I've known would hit the ceiling because they were so excited to see you. The labs I've met were never as excitable as that. My DH wants a chocolate lab as well, to field train and all. He would love to get a silver, but they are much harder to come by. We probably will think about getting one after winter.

 

[Keli]

There was one here in rescue about a month ago and it had lab hair, and was almost white! He had the prettiest dark eyes and it looked like he was wearing eyeliner. His face looked more golden than lab though.

Now he's gone. I guess that's a good thing though!

His color could have been due to bad nutrition. Our golden was a rescue who had been seriously underfed for a long period of time. She was nearly white. We didn't realize the color was from bad nutrition until after we got her. She got darker and darker until she's now the color of any blond golden. I loved the color of her fur when it was white but now I'm thankful that her coat is a typical 'golden' color.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

If you want to go the training route, look for a breeder that has "field" dogs not "Bench" dogs. The bench labs are more for show. They tend to be taller and less sturdy.

Our breeder is well-known for breeding great field dogs with excellent temperment. Field dogs will be bred to be smaller and more compact. They can go all day in any weather. I take our girls to the dog park in all weather and they love it.

I learned something else today! I know I've seen "boxier" labs, with "blockier" (is that even a word???) heads. Maybe those are field dogs?

They both have the same temperment though, right? My main concern, is having a good family dog.

This is our Sammy, we lost her in Sept and my heart is still broken

Awww, I'm sorry about your loss. It must be so tough. I'm dreading that day.

I don't have a good picture of baby Belle yet, she won't hold still long enough! But you can see they are all sturdy, solid labs, not leggy and that's what you want to look for in a field dog.

Thanks for the info. It's definitely something I'll look into!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I've actually heard the exact opposite. The only goldy's I've known would hit the ceiling because they were so excited to see you. The labs I've met were never as excitable as that. My DH wants a chocolate lab as well, to field train and all. He would love to get a silver, but they are much harder to come by. We probably will think about getting one after winter.

Chloe's pretty laid back. The other day, DH was trying to get her to put her front paws on his chest, by standing on her back legs.

I was like, "Are you out of your mind?? Most people are trying to train their dogs to not do that and here you are encouraging it!"

She wouldn't do it, BTW. She's a slug.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

His color could have been due to bad nutrition. Our golden was a rescue who had been seriously underfed for a long period of time. She was nearly white. We didn't realize the color was from bad nutrition until after we got her. She got darker and darker until she's now the color of any blond golden. I loved the color of her fur when it was white but now I'm thankful that her coat is a typical 'golden' color.

I didn't know that. Another rescue currently has a six month old male that was found almost starved to death, and he's very white too. He's in horrible shape. I started crying last night when I saw his picture. If we weren't leaving in June, he'd be one that I would be interested in rescuing.

You can see him on www.goldenbeginnings.org.

Here's a pic of the rescue that I was referring to. I posted it on here a few months ago for some reason.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I have a 3yr old golden that we have had since she was a puppy and a 5 yr old black lab that we got just a year ago. Both are incredible sweet and really just the best dogs ever (I may be SLIGHTLY prejuidiced about that!!). They are both female, which is not the best combination according to the vet, but they are best friends and a joy to have in our family. I have found that the lab is more protective when someone comes to the door, and the lab definitely sheds more. It really has been wonderful having two dogs to love! The only downside is twice the vet bills!

 

[mrsv98]

I learned something else today! I know I've seen "boxier" labs, with "blockier" (is that even a word???) heads. Maybe those are field dogs?

They both have the same temperment though, right? My main concern, is having a good family dog.

IMHO, field labs have the best temperment. They are not as high strung, as least the ones I have known. They do have the blockier heads, a bit less refined looking.

Just give them a good amount of exercise and lots of things to chew and they will be in paradise!

 

[WDWFAN9]

Here are my girls, affectionately referred to as the lil' love magnets.