re: Golden retriever or Chocolate lab?

Wow. Lots of opinions out there.

First off, everything I say is speaking in generalities. Most of it holds true for the given breed, but it's also going to depend on the breeding stock of the specific pup and what it's been born to do. So you could have a field trial bred golden that's going to be heavily driven and fast-paced, and you can have a show-bred lab that's going to be soft and lazy.... so all that being said:

Golden is going to be generally more easy-going and more sensitive. It's not going to be as hard-headed as a lab (and labs aren't really that hard-headed in the grand scheme compared to say a Chessie). The golden is going to need a little softer touch in training because they can get cowed at harsher training methods. They're super sweet dogs and want to please their owners.

Lab is going to likely be more high-energy and more hard-headed. It's also easy to train and will want to please the owner. My experience is that labs are a little more athletic than goldens and more driven. They CAN also have a little more aggression toward other dogs and/or people... but you're not going to see many truly aggressive labs (unless it's an intact male, which can be dog aggressive).

Both of them are going to be high energy as young dogs and mellow quite a bit as they age. Both are prone to getting fat and lazy as older dogs. Hair is kind of a toss up. My experience is that yellow labs shed the worst. Goldens have more hair to shed, but it's not going to be as fine and just permeate everything like a lab's can. The golden will also get stuff tangled in its hair if you're out in the field much, so you'll have to do some brushing.

Hard to go wrong with either dog. Once you decided on your breed, you'll have to ask another question: boy or girl? That will open a whole other can of worms.

quote:

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The golden is going to need a little softer touch in training because they can get cowed at harsher training methods. They're super sweet dogs and want to please their owners.

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A friends wife trains relievers primarily for agility/obedience. She attends those meets every other week it seems. She has had exceptional Labs and Goldens that excel at these event. She does not train with any feedback that is negative. She says it is not necessary and dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. And her dogs don't just run out and fetch stuff and bring it back. They have a portfolio that far exceeds that. So no negative feedback baws! You've probably seen a dog that may cower if an owner raises a hand as if to hit. Her dogs don't even know what that is.

3 pages of experience and suggestions about advantages and disadvantages of goldens VS chocs,
go get you a hunting poodle and never have to deal with stupidity, hardheads, or hair loss ever again, dem sum smart SOBs and great family dogs...

How old is he?

He’s just trying to establish dominance over the older dog.

I have a red golden retriever and he is honestly the best dog I've ever owned.

I don't hunt with him. Just a companion dog. Great on/off switch. Great with all other people/dogs. Incredibly well behaved and has a goofball personality. He is laying right next to me as I type this.

There’s enough ignorance on this topic to fill Tiger Stadium. Coat color has nothing to do with intelligence, compliance, drive, etc.

Whether you choose a lab or a golden is a matter of personal preference. Both breeds are excellent. Just do adequate research on the parents and pedigrees even if you’re not after a high power performance dog. Best of luck. fp

OP, pictures of pups.




Grand niece sleeping with them.

Beautiful dogs. How much are they asking?

Thymel76@yahoo.com

Fish, any idea if any pups are still needing adoption?