Anyone planning to bring a dog into their life is sure to ask one question: “What is the best dog for me?” However, if you are struggling with the choice between a Labrador Retriever and a Golden Retriever, answering this question may prove difficult since both breeds share so many similarities. To further add to the confusion is the fact that these two breeds are in the Top 3 of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of Most Popular Dog Breeds, with the Lab at No. 1 and the Golden at No. 3.
If you are still wondering which between the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever is the right dog for you, you came to the right place as we at Pups Central are here to help you make an informed decision.
The Statistics
If you look at the comparative statistics of the two breeds, you will learn that the Labrador Retriever is slightly larger than the Golden Retriever. Labs are 21.5-24.5 inches in height and 55-80 pounds in weight compared to the Golden at 21-24 inches in height and 55-75 pounds in weight.
Take note that the male of each breed would also be slightly larger than the female.
Physical Appearance
At first glance, those who are unfamiliar with Labs and Goldens may mistake one for other, especially if they have the yellow coat color. But there are key features in their physical appearance that can help you tell them apart.
First, take a closer look at their muzzles. Labs have broader muzzles with more prominent jowls. In contrast, Goldens have narrower muzzles with lean jaws.
Another distinguishing feature is their double coat. The Labrador has a dense outer coat of short hairs and a softer, insulating undercoat. While the Golden also has a soft, insulating undercoat, their outer coat is thicker and wavier and the hairs are definitely longer.
When it comes to body build, Labs tend to be more muscular than Goldens.
Last but not least, look at their tails. Labs have the characteristic “otter tail”, which acts like a rudder when they are swimming in water. On the other hand, Goldens have a long, fan-like tail.
Shedding
Since we talked about the breeds’ coat, let’s move on to a concern of many dog lovers, namely shedding.
Because of their double coat, you can expect both breeds to be moderate shedders all year round. Heavier shedding – known as “coat blows” – should be expected during spring and fall when they are growing new coats for the summer and winter.
However, because of their longer and paler hairs, Goldens need to be groomed more often than Labs. During periods in between coat blows, Labs can be brushed just once a week. Not so with Goldens. They need to have regular brushing every 2-3 days. Also, because of their gorgeous golden or reddish gold coats, Goldens need professional grooming more often than Labs.
Personality and Temperament
Both Labs and Goldens make perfect family dogs because of their loving, sociable, sometimes goofy, and eager-to-please personalities. Their affectionate and playful nature make them suitable companions for children. Both breeds can be trained to be service dogs, so that you can see them as companions to people with disabilities as well as the elderly.
The difference between the two breeds lies in their energy levels. Labs are high energy dogs, thus requiring more time for physical activities. Labs need to be taken out for long walks or runs of at least an hour twice a day in order for it to release its energies, otherwise it may lead to frustration and destructive behavior. While Labs are intelligent, their high energy level may make it difficult for them to concentrate during training.
On the other hand, Goldens have medium energy levels. While they also require time for play and other physical activities, they readily adjust to the home lives of their less active owners, choosing take naps in their doggy beds or on the laps of their “humans”.
Both Labs and Goldens are “people-oriented”, so they can’t be left alone at home for long periods of time.
If you are thinking of having your Lab or Golden serve as a guard dog, sorry, but they are the wrong breeds for this purpose. While both dog breeds are loyal and protective of their families, they are too friendly even with strangers, so you can’t expect them to attack and bite a robber. However, with proper training, Labs and Goldens can become watch dogs instead, encouraging them to bark (and they do have loud, deep barks) at strangers or intruders in the house to alert their owners.
Potential Health Issues
Both Labs and Goldens share similar health conditions, in particular allergies and knee and/or hip dysplasia and other joint problems. However, dog owners should be aware of certain diseases that commonly afflict the individual breeds.
Let’s look at Labrador health problems first. Labs are commonly afflicted with cancer, particularly lymphoma and lymphosarcoma, as well as cancer of the lungs, liver, spleen, mast cell tumors in the bone marrow, and bone. Studies have shown that spaying female Labs causes a slight increase in cancer risk.
Other health problems that are common to Labradors include Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Glaucoma (both of which can lead to blindness) and Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC), a genetic order which causes Labs to collapse when they are over-excited during periods of intense exercise or physical activity.
Moving on to Golden health problems. Cancer is a big problem among Golden Retrievers, with a study showing that 38 percent of Goldens will die from this dreaded disease. Four of the deadliest cancers that commonly afflict Goldens are lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumors. Unlike Labs which show a slight increase in cancer risk when females are spayed, Golden females show a significant increase of cancer.
It’s not just cancer that there’s a dramatic increase in risk with spaying. There is also a greater risk of developing hip and elbow dysplasia. Because of these risks, female Goldens are best left not spayed or, if there is a need to prevent pregnancies especially if there is a male dog in the house, spaying should only be done after 12 months of age.
Other diseases that commonly afflict Goldens include the congenital heart condition known as subvalvular aortic stenosis and blindness-causing eye conditions such as PRA, pigmentary uveitis, and cataracts.
Because of the prevalence of inherited diseases in both Labs and Goldens, it is important to know the family history of the dog and that the breeder should’ve done the tests that would determine the presence of these medical conditions.
We have enumerated the similarities and differences between Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. While both make great family dogs, you should consider your lifestyle. If you have a very active lifestyle, the best choice for you would be a Lab. For those with mellower, more sedate lifestyles, Goldens are the ideal dogs. If you have allergies, both Labs and Goldens may not be good choices because of their frequent shedding. You should also take into consideration the potential for costly diseases developing in either breed.
Still, whatever choice you make, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are the most loyal and loving dogs that you and your family can ever have and are sure to bring joy and laughter into your household.
