Golden Labrador: All About this Breed

Reviewed and approved by the biologist Samuel Sanchez

Written by Laura Morales Negrin

Last update: 21 December, 2022

We can’t say that a new variety of dog emerges every day, but it is true that the last decades have seen the birth of many hybrid breeds that are worth knowing. The Goldador or Golden Labrador is one of those dogs.

This dog inherits the beauty and goodness of its two parents, which can be easily deduced by the name that its breed carries. Still don’t know which they are? We invite you to discover this information and many more about the Golden Labrador.

Origin of the Golden Labrador

Its registered birth occurred in Europe a decade ago. We emphasize the term “registered” because we know today that these crosses were made long before, but there’s no official data on them.

To give rise to the Golden Labrador (also know as the Goldador), a cross is made between pure specimens of the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever breeds.

When breeders began looking for this hybrid dog, the goal was to obtain a therapy dog that possessed the most optimal conditions of each of the two breeds we’ve mentioned, and they succeeded. However, in addition to this, Golden Labradors are also excellent pets and are increasingly used as search and rescue dogs, due to their keen sense of smell.

Finally, it should be noted that although this breed of dog is achieving great international fame, it isn’t registered by official bodies, such as the American Kennel Club or the International Cynological Federation. There’s still time for this to occur.

Characteristics of the Golden Labrador

The Golden Labrador is classified as medium-sized, with a height of between 54 and 62 centimeters (1.8 to 2 feet). The weight can range between 27 and 36 kilos (60 to 80 pounds). Variation in both size and weight can be found in sex (females tend to be smaller).

However, the dimensions may vary a bit in hybrid breeds, as they’ll depend on which genes predominate in the specimen.

The Golden Labrador’s body is muscular and balanced, presenting a very athletic demeanor. It has an elongated head, but it does not end in a pointed snout like the Retriever’s. The ears are square and hang on both sides of the head. The eyes, meanwhile, are large and dark. Finally, we can highlight that its tail is medium and erect.

Coat of the Golden Labrador

This dog has a double-layered coat. The lower section is dense, soft, and woolly, while the outer section is short and smooth, although it can sometimes ripple a bit. The colors of their hair are those of the breeds that gave them life, that is, gold, chocolate or black. Even so, the most common are the reddish-gold and yellow specimens.

Golden Labrador temperament

The Golden Labrador puppy is a bit nervous and noisy, as it loves to run and play without rest. For this reason, it’s best to keep an eye on them, as they can suffer unexpected accidents if their owners aren’t paying attention.

It’s important that these dogs are socialized from an early age and, especially, trained to stop them from biting and to control their physical strength. Failure to do so may unintentionally weaker people when they grow up.

In general, when they grow up, Golden Labradors are calm, loyal, attentive, and very patient dogs. That’s why they’re great dogs for therapy and excellent companions for children. Their levels of empathy are staggering.

Golden Labrador care

Golden Labradors require a balanced and supervised diet, as it can inherit its gluttony from the Labrador Retriever. In addition to giving them the right amounts of food, it’s important for them to exercise daily in order to stay fit and active.

These dogs inherit their passion for water from their parents. Therefore, swimming is an activity that will benefit them both physically and mentally. Although not everyone has a pool available, if it’s a possibility, it will make the animal very happy. If not, a trip to the sea would be a wonderful idea.

Speaking of their mental level, it’s also essential that these dogs stay active in that aspect on a daily basis through the use of toys, activities, and games with their owners. If not, the dog may end up suffering from stress, anxiety, boredom, and other behavior associated with the lack of stimuli.

Bath and hygiene

Bathing this dog should be limited to when they’re really dirty, and carried out, at most, on a monthly basis. What is important is to brush their hair two to three times a week. This is essential in order to keep their coat healthy, as loose hair is removed and the new one grows healthier. In times of molting, this task should be even more frequent.

The ears should be checked every 10-15 days and must be cleaned to avoid the accumulation of mites and wax that cause infections. For such sanitization, the ideal is to have appropriate ear products for dogs, which are obtained in pet stores.

On the other hand, do not forget to brush your teeth and cut your nails if necessary because they do not wear them naturally.

Training of the Golden Labrador

Golden Labradors are intelligent, docile, and attentive dogs, and so it’s usually quite simple to train them. It’s easy for them to grasp orders and their responses are usually quick.

Of course, as in all cases, positive reinforcement and perseverance are the essential tools for its training. In addition to training, as mentioned above, early socialization of this dog is important.

Golden Labradors: health and diseases

The life expectancy of the Golden Labrador is around 10-12 years and it’s usually a dog that enjoys good health. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s immune to certain diseases, some inherited from the parent breeds. Among the pathologies that most frequently occur in this animal are the following:

• Hearing diseases: due to the shape of their ears, they tend to accumulate bacteria and mites that cause infections, such as otitis
• Hip dysplasia
• Knee dysplasia
• Cruciate ligament tear
• Obesity
• Cataracts
• Progressive retinal atrophy

Regular check-ups by the veterinarian, as well as the prompt action of the owner in the event of any possible symptoms of illness, will promote the good health of your Golden Labrador. Many of these conditions are chronic and slow-progressing, so they’re usually diagnosed at routine visits.

The Golden Labrador as a pet

Due to their friendly and peaceful nature, Golden Labradors are a very well-loved companion animal by families, including those with children. In addition, due to its good temperament and predisposition to learning, it’s a good choice even as the first pet.

Of course, you must be responsible with its care and learning, and the owner must exert their authority as leader. Remember that being firm doesn’t mean being aggressive with the dog, but teaching it obedience using respect.

Ideally, if you opt for a Golden Labrador as a pet, it should live in a place with plenty of outdoor space for the dog to move around a lot. Small apartments are not advisable for these dogs, although they could be adapted if they’re taken out several times a day.

Finally, it should be noted that this is a sociable dog that gets along well even with strangers, and so its main mission isn’t to be a guard dog. It usually gets on well with other dogs, but to ensure a good coexistence, the best thing is that they grow up together.