Ok honestly, what do you think is the better dog? The Labrador Or Golden?

Question

And do not say neither. Im asking which is better out of the two in your opinion. What is the real difference? (besides appearance, even though they look a lot a like)

And please, give reasons.

Look people, I dont give a damn whether you like another breed better and are "tired" of the retriever. Dont bother answering someone who is interested in the breed. Go shed your negativity elsewhere

And anyone that has a lab that doesnt like people either has not been socialized properly, or is not of true temperment, or both. ;)

And some of your answers, well they are just a little over the top with -not to the point- boring text.

Thank you everyone else.

Answer 1

goldens, they are a lot calmer(usually) and cuter and i like them.... :)

Answer 2

Well, both are terribly overbred and if they keep going on like they are now, neither will remain a very nice breed at all.

A well-bred Labrador is a fine hunting dog, and can really work well for you.
A well-bred Golden is a lovely companion and hunting dog.
I prefer the Goldens disposition and build, and after having trained so many Labs, I would never have one myself.
As for Goldens, I have three retired show Goldens right now, but would most likely never have another, simply because I am tired of the breed.
Both breeds are just a bit too large for me...I actually prefer the size of an Australian Shepherd or English Setter.
There are a TON of differences, and they are hardly the same breed.
I do not think either is a better dog, nor is either the ideal family dog as everyone likes to say they are.
These breeds are hunting dogs, working dogs. They need and deserve a job and plenty of physical and mental stimulation.
If we went back to minimal breeding of these breeds, and got them back to their healthy breed standards, bred to do what they were bred to do, NOT bred to be lazy, lethargic "family" dogs, then I would appreciate them a bit more.

And do not even get me started on "english white" goldens, nor "silver/red" labradors.
Grr......

Answer 3

Very similar dogs bred for the same purposes. Labs are much easier to care for because of their short coats and they come in a wider variety of colors from light cream to black.

Goldens are beautiful and are a great deal of work because of their big, fluffy coats.

Just from memory, don't hold me to these numbers - I think in 2005 out of some 900K AKC registrations 160K were labs and 50K were goldens - the number 1 and 2 dogs.

Latest stats:

http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm

Labs have been number 1 since the 1990s. Goldens fell from 2 to 4.

I also think goldens have become more aggressive than in the past. Many golden are still wonderful, hugely friendly dogs but some are dog aggressive. I haven't seen that in labs but that's just from personal observation.

The Irish Setter went on the decline possibly because over breeding for that beautiful coat made for some fairly stupid dogs. Maybe this is happening to some goldens. I don't know for sure.

Answer 4

I favor the Labs(own 3). They both shed, but you don't have the grooming to worry about with a Lab. Both breeds have certain medical problems that are prevalent to the breed.
They are both very intelligent dogs, looking to please their owners in whatever activity they are involved in.
With both breeds, you can choose between the conformation lines and the working lines of dogs. The working Goldens are a bit smaller, bred to work the field all day long.

Answer 5

I have a Lab. She is a good dog and a wonderful family pet. I would one day like to own a Golden. I believe Goldens are a little more laid back, but each dog is an individual and this is a really hard question. Some guide dog schools are now attempting to breed the ultimate service dog by crossing those two breeds.

Answer 6

I have to agree with DogLover. Each dog is an individual regardless of the breed. I am owned by 5 labrador retrievers and wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

They will not mentally mature until they are between 3 to 5 years old. Having said that, you have a the mind of a puppy in an adults body. They do require a lot of excercise, and fetch is something they usually like to do. I say usually because each dog is an individual. I have one lab, Toby, who would rather run in circles around the yard to burn enrgy, rather than play fetch. Then I have the extreme opposite, Pearl who would play fetch until she dropped dead of exhaustion, so we hav eto monitor her carefully. However, they are great dogs if you have the time for them.

Also, they are heavy chewers. I can not use regular "Red" colored Kongs as my guys will chew through them. They have to have the more indestructable "Black" Kong.

Another note, they shed anytime of the year like its going out of style. So you better be prepared to go into work or anywhere else, covered in fur.

I am not saying that they aren't wonderful dogs, but they just happen to have a few quirks that I like to share with people who are considering.

I don't know much about Goldens, so I can't say which is better.

It all depends on the individual dog, because they each have their own personalities just like humans.

Also, don't think every lab or dog for that matter is friendly. Two of my Labs do not care for people much. One of those two plus another two aren't as Dog friendly as they are made out to be. We are working with them to overcome this, but for some it is impossible. Yet another example of personality.

I highly reccomend you visit the Labrador Retriever Club's website; http://www.thelabradorclub.com . Then Visit the golden retrievers national website; http://www.grca.org . These are each the American Kennel Club Parent Club for each of these breeds. Also, visit http://www.akc.org .

Do your research and look at as many different reputable breeders as you can. This will help you decide which breed is right for you if either. Remember, different dogs fit different lifestyles. You can't just make a lab or a golden or any dog for that matter fit into your particular lifestyle.

Also, visit with different lab and golden rescues. You may just be able to give a dog a second chance at a forever home.

As long as you do your research, I think you will figure out which dog is right for you.

Remember the dog will pick you!

Best of luck, and if you need any other assitance, just contact me.

Answer 7

Labs and Golden's do not look a lot alike, I don't see any similarities at all in the breeds for appearances sake.

Golden's are a very good family dog, they are versatile and can be easily trained....very good up land and fowl hunters.

Labs are also very good family dogs, they too are versatile and can be easily trained, that is if you have the patients to work with their thick headed personalities.
Labs are too excellent hunters they can be used for fowl and for up land just like the Golden's.

The better of the two I think are the Labs, I love to train dogs and the Lab is always such a challenge just because they are so intelligent I am always being tested with my knowledge of training them and I enjoy the out come when I get to hunt with the dog I just trained.

Answer 8

First of all, Labrador Retrievers look nothing like Golden Retrievers. Labs have a short, single coat while goldens have a long double coat. Now that I have said that I will answer your question. Unless you are an avid waterfowl hunter golden retrievers are the better dog. They are a more versatile hunting dog, better at upland bird hunting than labs and good with water retrieving. Both are good pets but goldens are more responsive to the people around them. If duck hunting is your thing, a good lab is your best friend. Labs are the best water retrievers around.

Answer 9

I prefer goldens, because they have a great sense of humor. They are terrible watchdogs. They love everyone. They're very hard to train, because everything is a game to them. They can be clever and tricky, but mostly they want to to swim, fetch, and play with you. I love them for all of the above reasons.

I've never had a lab, but I believe they're far more energetic, focused and serious. They're also happy, friendly dogs. Both breeds get cancer and hip dysplasia.

***Whoever said labs have a single coat - I question that. They are rugged outdoor dogs, bred for hunting. They have lots of oils in their coat to protect them. A single coat wouldn't protect them from the harsh elements. You need to double-check your resources.

Answer 10

I think the lab because it doesnt have as much hair to shed as the golden and because they dont jump so much around kids like the golden.

Another reason i like the lab is because of their intelligence and their temperant.( there so well mannered)

Answer 11

I prefer labs. less grooming and I actually know some about this breed because Ive owned one, wheras with the goldens, I dont, never had one.

goldengal would be able to give you alot of info on golden retrievers, and carrie o'labrador and punkera could tell you more about labs.