The best way to maximize the health of your Golden Retriever is to start with an animal purchased from a reputable breeder. All large dogs are prone to specific bone disorders such as hip dysplasia, which can render them lame before the first year is up. Hip dysplasia can sometimes be corrected through surgery, but they surgery is expensive and the recovery period is long. Often a dog with hereditary hip dysplasia must be euthanized.

A reputable breeder will screen your pet and your pet’s parents for this kind of genetic bone disorder, and will also be able to weed out personality disorders and obsessive behavior problems that are the result of poor breeding. Genetic problems can’t really be eliminated once they are discovered. Starting with an animal that is reasonably free of hereditary defects is the first step to ongoing good health for your pet.

Once you are reasonably sure you have brought home a healthy Golden, feeding and grooming are your next major concerns. Golden Retrievers gain weight very easily and are more prone to obesity than other dogs. Do not overfeed your Golden or feed scraps from the table, no matter how much your dog wants them. Obese Golden Retrievers are more likely to develop arthritis, joint problems, and wide range of physical problems such as cancer and diabetes, than are Golden Retrievers of a normal weight.

Golden Retrievers also need to be brushed regularly and professionally groomed several times each year to keep their long fur healthy and their hindquarters clean. A professional groomer will also make sure that two small glands in your Golden Retriever’s hindquarters are clear and that his toe nails are clipped properly. Anal glands can become stopped up on large dogs, causing infection and misery for your pet, so regular trips to the vet and the groomer are vital.

Speaking of vets, finding a good one and keeping up regular visits is a necessity for anyone who plans to live with a Golden Retriever. The veterinarian will make sure your pet gets regular vaccinations, and will also send you home with medicine that protects against heartworm and common pests like fleas and ticks. A vet can spot health problems in the early stages and treat them before they cause you expense and cause the animal undue suffering.

Veterinarians are also vital sources of information for Golden Retriever owners. Vets can make referrals to the best local obedience schools for you and your Golden, the best kennels, and competent groomers, and they can also advise you on minor issues involving behavior and socialization. Vets see lots of pet ownership failures and most want you and your Golden Retriever to have a good life together, not a miserable frustrating one. When you own a dog, you need all the good advice you can get, and a good vet can become your best ally.

Golden Retrievers can develop a variety of health problems late in life, such as arthritis, diabetes, and even cancer, but most of them problems are manageable and can be treated without having to put the dog down. All older dogs begin to wane at some point, but with regular veterinary care, proper feeding, daily exercise, and careful attention to your dog’s habits and signals, most Goldens can live 15 years or more and most of them will be healthy, happy years.

In the best case scenario, caring for the heath of your Golden Retriever becomes a natural part of living with your dog once you’ve bonded and spent time together. Just as you’d never ignore the health of a child, you know when your Golden Retriever is not at his best. Prevention, health maintenance, and regular vet visits are the best way to insure that you and your Golden Retriever have many healthy, happy years together.

Living with a Golden Retriever is not all roses, however. They do have specific needs and unique personalities. The following tips can help you to understand your Golden better and help you both to maximize your time together:

• Goldens like to ‘talk’. Golden Retrievers do bark, but they also will come up to their owners or visitors carrying a toy or just smiling broadly and make a sort of half-barking half-gurgling sound that seems a lot like talking. This is not aggressive behavior and it is not the same kind of vocalization as barking, it’s just the Golden’s way of saying hello. You might want to warn visitors who don’t know this that it’s nothing to be worried about, and that your dog is just being friendly.

• Goldens need lots of human attention. Golden Retrievers are not the most demanding or most active of all dogs, but they do need to be around people and they do need lots of exercise. A Golden Retriever will not be happy confined to backyard or a crate for long periods alone. They need to be where their owners are, so if you can’t be home with your Golden most of the time, this might not be the right dog for you.

• Brush your Golden at least twice a week. Golden Retrievers are gorgeous, but unfortunately they don’t stay that way without regular grooming and constant care. Brush your dog at least twice weekly and more often if necessary, and have the dog professionally groomed a couple of times per year minimum. Keep the fur around your Golden Retriever’s hindquarters well trimmed to keep waste material from caking onto the fur and causing a bad odor.

• Don’t feed table scraps. Golden Retrievers are more prone to obesity that other large dogs. Goldens will happily eat whatever you are eating, and they will eat as much of it was you give them. Sadly, feeding your Golden Retriever people food will cause him to pack on pounds fast and can quickly increase the likelihood that he will become ill or develop arthritis or joint problems that require expensive medical intervention. Feed your dog according to directions and don’t feed him anything more.

• Walk your Golden Retriever every day. Golden Retrievers were bred to be hunting and fishing companions. They are active outdoor pets that need regular exercise in order to be calm and happy. Walking your Golden will reduce behavior problems inside the home, and will keep him healthy and strong late into his already long life. Walking is good for people too.

• Set limits early. Golden Retrievers love to chew and they love to play. Start teaching your Golden not to chew your things and not to bark from the first moment you bring him home. Make sure you have lots of chew toys on hand, and if your Golden runs off with your slippers, take them away with a firm “No!” and give him a toy instead. Don’t let your Golden bark incessantly. If he is barking at something outside, get up and look, thank him, and tell him to lie down This will usually stop the barking. If he is barking while playing with you, stop play and say, “No barking!” and don’t’ resume play until he calms down.

Golden Retrievers learn quickly and want to make their owners happy, but owners still have to take the initiative by letting their dogs know early on what is expected of them. Once you’ve set some appropriate ground rules and understand how to feed and groom your Golden, relax and enjoy the ride! Golden Retrievers are popular for a reason. With a little direction and lots of love your Golden Retriever will provide years of loving, unforgettable companionship.

Golden Retriever mixes are fast becoming as popular as purebred dogs. The Golden Retriever is a good candidate for a hybrid dog mix because of its intelligence and highly social personality.

The most common and most fashionable Golden Retriever mix is a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. The AKC calls these hybrid dogs Golden Labradors, but they are also sometimes called Goldadors or Goldador Retrievers. Not all Goldadors are precisely 50% Lab and 50% Golden. Often hybrid dogs are bred for generations, so the precise mix can be hard to determine. They may look nearly identical to Goldens or to Labs.

Both Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers possess very similar traits. Both are people-loving, nonaggressive dogs bred to hunt and fish, and to flush and fetch small game. Both love the water and both have water resistant fur that keeps them from getting cold even when plunging in on wintery days. The advantages of crossbreeding Goldens with Labs include heartiness, appearance, and some strengthening of the inherited qualities of each. Some Golden Labs or Goldadors are indistinguishable from purebred dogs–others clearly look like a mix.

Another common Golden Retriever Mix is the Australian Retriever, a hybrid created by breeding a Golden with an Australian Shepherd. Breeding the Australian Shepherd with a Golden Retriever results in a mixed dog that retains the shepherding capabilities of the Australian working dog with the easy-going, fast-learning nature of the Golden hunting companion.

Dogs bred to shepherd animals often are very demanding of an owner’s attention and demand constant stimulation and learning. By introducing the Golden’s heredity, the dogs mellow out learn more easily without the intense human interaction. The idea is not that Australian Shepherds are bad or irritating dogs, or that Goldens never need human attention, but rather that mixing the two gives a dog with a temperament in between the two purebred standards; a dog that might be more appropriate for some households.

What is the difference between a hybrid mix and a mutt? Popularity and fashion is one answer. Mixing two purebred dogs can sometimes result in a perfectly wonderful animal that isn’t worth a dime but makes a lovely pet. Other times, a hybrid mix takes off and becomes so fashionable that mainstream organizations like the AKC end up recognizing it, not as a new breed, but as something that has changed the understanding of a particular class of dogs and is here to stay. Many dogs that eventually end up as separate breeds start out as hybrid mixes like the Goldador of the Australian Retriever.

What can you expect of a Golden Retriever mix? In general, the most popular Golden Retriever mixes today are prone to similar health issues and have temperaments very similar to a purebred Golden. Anyone interested in buying a Golden Retriever mix will still want to deal with a reputable breeder and will still need to inquire after the health and bloodlines of the breeding pair.

Golden Retriever mixes may or may not cost any less than a purebred dog, which is all the more reason to make sure the mixed puppy was bred by someone who knows about dog breeding and not by someone who just thought it would be fun to mix up some different kinds of dogs and see what happens next. A reputable breeder will have screened the mixed dogs for hip dysplasia and other genetic afflictions common to large dogs, and will have a better understanding of each individual dogs temperament and capabilities than a person who is just experimenting and selling animals.

A final advantage of Golden Retriever mixes is that they can sometimes have a better resistance to various illnesses and disorders common to purebred dogs. Because purebred dogs draw from a smaller and smaller pool of genetic material with each generation, introducing the genes of a different breed can make for a specimen that is physically more resilient than either pure strain.

Golden Retrievers have a well-deserved reputation for being eager to please and easy to train, but that doesn’t mean a Golden Retriever puppy will just magically know what you expect. You have to let your puppy know what you want in very clear terms and you have to be consistent in how to respond to misbehavior.

You don’t have to hit or scold your puppy. A firm “No!” will usually suffice. The more calm you are when you deliver this word “No!” and the more consistent you are in directing your puppy, the faster your Golden Retriever will learn and the easier it will be for both of you when your dog is grown.

The first day you bring your Golden Retriever puppy home you should start by laying down some simple ground rules. Do not allow your Golden Retriever puppy to chew on your personal belongings or bark excitedly. When the puppy barks, say “No!” firmly and as often as needed, and help him calm down by making him sit or lie down. If he chews on the furniture or your shoes, again deliver a firm “No!” and immediately replace the forbidden item with a chew toy.

Allowing your puppy to bark incessantly or chew up your household will teach him that he can do anything he wants inside your house. He will eventually end up banished to the backyard, where he will be miserable without you, or you will end up taking him to the pound, and you will be the one who is miserable. Neither outcome is what you want, so start training early and be consistent.

Another issue you will have with your new Golden Retriever puppy the very first day is housebreaking. You will need to take your puppy outside about every 20 minutes, sometimes even more frequently. Puppies take frequent naps punctuated by short periods of intense play. Whenever your puppy has been doing anything for 15 or 20 minutes, it’s time to take him outside. Don’t bring him back in until he has done his business.

If you have been playing, he will likely pee right away (if he hasn’t already done so on the rug), since activity increases his need to do this. The trick is to get him outside before he feels the need and relieves himself in the house. So, if he’s been sleeping for twenty minutes, the second he wakes up take him outside. If he’s playing excitedly, however, you may want to take him out after only ten minutes to prevent an accident.

At first it will seem like all you ever do is take your Golden Retriever outside and wait for him to pee, but if you put your time in the first few weeks, he will soon come to you and tell you, or stand by the door and indicate he is ready. This is exactly what you want.

It’s a good idea to plan to be home the first few weeks after you adopt a Golden Retriever puppy and to expect to spend a lot of time training him. If you can’t do this, you may want to put dog ownership off until you can block out some time to properly train and socialize your new pet.

Formal obedience training is also highly recommended. As soon as your Golden Retriever puppy is old enough enroll him in a formal class so the two of you can learn to go for walks that are fun for both of you, and so you can learn to handle almost any situation that might arise when you and your dog are in a public setting. Obedience training will enable you both to enjoy each other by setting ground rules and putting you in charge, not vice versa.

Finally, your first week home you will need to teach your Golden Retriever puppy to sleep in a crate. He will not like this and will cry all night for several nights. Do not relent and let him into your bed, and do not get up and try to calm him. You can give him a favorite toy, a soft pad to sleep on, and a small snack at bedtime. Make crate time positive and keep it light. And then leave him alone.

Within a few days he will stop crying and see the crate as his ‘den’ and you all will sleep just fine. If you relent and get up to soothe or scold him, this crying phase will drag on much, much longer and will wear you out before him.

Your puppy will need direction on much more than just learning to go to the bathroom outside. The following behaviors should all be addressed from the moment your puppy comes home in order to insure you end up with a dog you can love instead of a dog that will drive you crazy.

•    Potty training. The easiest way to housebreak a puppy is to take it outside every time it does almost anything for ten or fifteen minutes and don’t bring it back indoors until it has done its business. Puppies like to be active, but activity quickly causes them to need to urinate. These periods of activity are interspersed with frequent, naps. So, for example, your puppy wakes up from a nap: take him out to pee. Your puppy plays for ten minutes: time to go out until he pees. Your puppy eats or drinks: take him out until he does his thing. And so on. At first, you will be constantly taking your puppy outdoors, but very quickly he will pick up on what you want from him and he will come and get you or go to the door the tell you he needs to go out. This is what you want.

•     Nipping during playtime. All puppies do this, but you should not tolerate it. It’s irritating when a puppy does it, and dangerous when an older dog does it. Whenever your Golden Retriever puppy nips at you, stop playing and firmly say “No”. You don’t have to hit or abuse the puppy; the word “No!” will eventually be enough. Be consistent and the puppy will learn.

•    Barking during playtime (or anytime). Don’t let your Golden bark while excited. Tell him “No!” and then stop what you are doing until he calms down. If your Golden appears to be barking at something outdoors, get up and look at it, say “thank you” or “good dog,” and then tell the dog to calm down and follow up with “No!” if necessary. Usually dogs that bark at something outside just want you to reassure them things are fine. If you let your Golden Retriever puppy bark incessantly it will drive you crazy when the puppy grows into a dog and the behavior will be harder to break.

•    Food and toy socialization. From the very beginning, your Golden Retriever puppy needs to know that you are in charge of food and toys and that you can touch them whenever you wish. Keep a hand on your puppy’s food dish while he eats the first few times, and repeat occasionally to show him you can. Take a toy away once in awhile so he knows that you are in charge of his toys, not him.

•    Chewing. Golden Retrievers puppies will chew up slippers, furniture, clothing, and almost anything that you let them chew; so don’t let them! Have a variety of chew toys handy and when you catch your Golden Retriever puppy chewing, take the personal article away while saying “No!” and replace it with one of the toys. A simple but firm correction is enough—the important thing is to be clam and consistent, not loud or threatening. The calmer you are, the quicker the puppy will learn.

Last but not least, do enroll your Golden Retriever puppy in obedience school as soon as possible. Obedience training will allow you to take your Golden Retriever on walks that are enjoyable for both of you, and will give you and your dog confidence in your ability to handle any situation that arises. Most dogs that end up in rescue kennels or at the pound are good dogs that were never properly trained. Train your Golden Retriever early, thoroughly, and consistently, and you will have a friend for life.

Much as you may want to double click your way to a Golden Retriever puppy, this is not the way to go. Adopting a Golden Retriever puppy requires education, forethought, and planning. A puppy of any breed is a huge responsibility and will throw even the most flexible household into a bit of chaos for weeks or even months. Golden Retrievers and other purebred dogs are even riskier to bring home or order on impulse. Their very popularity makes them favorite target of puppy mills and other irresponsible breeders and dog traders.

What difference does it make where you adopt your Golden Retriever puppy?

Puppies sold online and through pet stores typically come from unsanitary, inhumane ‘puppy mills’. These puppy mills do not screen for genetic problems, and they do not socialize the puppies or treat them well. A Golden Retriever puppy adopted from a pet store is much more likely to develop personality problems, obsessive behavior, or genetic diseases like hip dysplasia, which can make a puppy completely lame before the end of its first year.

A better way to go about adopting a Golden Retriever puppy is to talk to several local veterinarians about reputable breeders in your area. Vets tend to know where not to buy a purebred dog and who is raising such dogs in a caring, responsible way. Once you have the names of a few Golden Retriever breeders, interview each of them by phone.

A good breeder will care about the dogs and will care about you, and this concern will be evident right away in your conversation. Reputable breeders will want to know more about you and your expectations of owning a Golden Retriever, and they will be able to share detailed information about each of their breeding pairs. They will want to match you to a specific puppy based on both temperament and physical traits, and will want to make certain that you know what you are getting into. Good breeders know that placing a dog in a household that is not ready for a dog is bad business practice.

What about looking through the classified ads for someone whose Golden Retriever has had pups? The problem with adopting a dog this way is the same as the problem with buying a puppy mill dog. You can’t be sure the dog is free of genetic defects, and in fact, you often can’t even be sure of the dog’s parentage. Just because the owner tells you that both parents are Golden Retrievers doesn’t mean they really are. You may take home an adorable puppy, but it may or may not be a purebred dog.

Finally, you might want to consider adopting a very young dog or an adult dog from a Golden Retriever rescue group instead of a puppy. Most people looking to adopt a family pet think they must have a puppy, but actually, many times an older dog works out better for the family. Older dogs are already housebroken and have distinct personalities that can be matched to your specific situation.

GRREAT (Golden Retriever Rescue, Education, and Training) is one national organization with lots and lots of local chapters, and many regional organizations that rescue Golden Retrievers exist as well. The fact that so many Golden Retriever rescue groups are necessary is a clue to how challenging it can be to live with a dog much less a puppy, and how many people impulsively plunge into dog ownership and then fail.

Golden Retrievers are known for being easy to train and friendly, and yet every year thousands are rescued from owners who didn’t know what they were getting into and found they couldn’t handle it. If nothing else, talking to your local Golden Retriever rescue organization will give you a good idea of potential problems and of the most common reasons dog owners fail—good things to know before adopting your puppy.

Occasionally rescue organizations do have puppies up for adoption too, and you can be sure they will not send you home with a Golden Retriever of any age until they are absolutely certain you are ready

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are not very different and share many of the same valuable characteristics. Both dogs are good hunters and love to flush and fetch small game. Both were bred to withstand wet, cold northern temperatures, and both dog adore water. Both Golden Retrievers and Labradors and naturally friendly, exuberant animals, and both love people and learn quickly.

So why mix the two breeds into a Golden Labrador Retriever? Mixing popular dog breeds is a hot trend. Some of it is simply dog fashion. People want these hybrid dogs so breeders create them. Dogs like Labradoodles (Labs mixed with poodles) and Cockapoos (Cocker Spaniels mixed with poodles) sell for every bit as much money as purebred dogs, sometimes more.

On the other hand, mixing breeds often strengthens the hybrid line of dogs that results. Cocker Spaniels can be nippy, skittish dogs, but adding in some poodle mellows them out and makes them a bit quicker to learn. In a similar way, mixing Goldens and Labs creates a pet that is a bit hardier and has the genetic advantages of both breeds.

Purebred dogs go through many generations of narrow choices in breeding stock, which can make it easier for genetic mutations and obsessive inbred personality disorders to come out. By mixing breeds, this risk is mad smaller. Goldens and Labs are so similar that mixing them seems natural. It can be difficult to tell a Golden Labrador Retriever apart from its purebred ancestors.

Golden Labrador Retrievers are more likely to include dogs with dark coats in shades of deep brown, mahogany, or black. They can have short or long hair depending on whether their Golden relatives were English Golden Retrievers or American Golden Retrievers.  A dog that has black fur but is a Lab/Golden mix is still known as a Golden Labrador Retriever. The name refers to the mix of breeds, not to the color of the coat.

Golden Labrador Retrievers are prone to the same kinds of problems that Labs and Goldens face. Buying from a reputable breeder who screens for genetic bone disorders is essential. Never under any circumstances buy a Golden Labrador Retriever from a pet store. Pet stores frequently buy these dogs from ‘puppy mills’ that treat animals inhumanely and do not properly screen for inherited problems and disease.

Many professional breeders now mix popular dog breeds and specialize in specific mixes. Golden Labrador Retrievers often have been bred for several generations. They may or may not be an exact 50/50 mix. They may have one Golden Retriever parent and one Labrador parent, or they could have two parents who are also Golden Labrador Retrievers. If you deal with a reputable breeder, he or she will be able to discuss the parentage of your puppy and will be anxious to do so.

Golden Labrador Retrievers are happy, active dogs that need lots of human interaction. They do not like to be left alone and are not at their best in a sedentary lifestyle. Golden Labrador Retrievers do shed, so they might not be the best dogs for an owner who lives with allergies to pet dander.

Golden Labradors are wonderful family dogs and are perfect companions for outdoorsmen and hunters. They love to go camping, fishing, and hiking, and are happy with almost any outdoor activity. They are good with children, the elderly, and the handicapped, but because they love people so much they are not the best guard dogs. They are loyal and protective of their owners, but are as likely to lick and play with an intruder as to harm one.

Golden Labrador Retrievers may come with a price tag very similar to that of a purebred animal, depending desirability and locale. A healthy Golden Labrador Retriever can expect to live about 15 years. If this friendly dog sounds right for you, you will likely enjoy every single minute the two of you have together.

Here are some photos that have been sent in to us. Enjoy!

Click an image to enlarge:

In between those color extremes, Golden Retrievers can be found in shades of gold, light to dark brown, chestnut brown-red, deep mahogany reddish brown, and brown so dark it stops just short of black. English Golden Retrievers are stocky with short sleek fur and tend to be lighter in color, although dark pups are not unusual in litters of English Goldens by any means. American Golden Retrievers tend to have more natural color variation. Breeding for color is difficult, so in any given litter of Golden Retrievers, a few dark pups may show up. This is a perfectly normal and natural occurrence.

Dark Golden Retrievers are no better or worse than pale Golden Retrievers. However, the AKC standard is pale to medium gold for American Goldens and very pale gold for English Golden Retrievers. This means that a Dark Golden Retriever is not the right choice for anyone who wants to show the dog. Dark Golden Retrievers can make wonderful family pets or hunting companions and have all the positive personality traits of their paler cousins.

Another way that a Dark Golden Retriever can get that dark coloration is by having some Labrador relatives. Labradors and Goldens share many common characteristics. Both were bred to hunt and fetch small game, and both love to be outdoors and love to be with people. Both have water resistant fur and both learn quickly. Recently a trend toward mixed breed dogs has become very chic. Since Labs tend to be darker in color, a Lab/Golden Mix will usually be a bit darker.

Lab/Golden Mixes are often called Goldradors or Goldrador Retrievers. The AKC calls them Golden Labradors. Lab/Golden mixes have the best traits of both breeds and may be every bit as expensive as a purebred dog, especially when professionally bred. Never buy a purebred dog or a ‘designer’ dog mix like a Goldrador from a pet store or a classified ad.

Always buy from a reputable breeder, and make sure your dog has been screened for genetic defects like hip dysplasia. Many professional breeders now specialize in hybrid designer dog mixes, and many of these kinds of dogs have been bred for generations, even though they are not yet considered to be a separate breed in their own right.

Ultimately, the color of Golden Retriever you choose is a matter of taste and purpose. Few people buy dogs as show dogs, so chances are good that if you have your heart set on a Golden Retriever you will be as happy with a dark Golden Retriever as with a pale one.

While there are no significant differences in physical and personality traits associated with coat color, Dark Golden Retrievers and lighter Golden Retrievers all have unique characteristics that should be carefully considered before taking one home. Goldens of any coat color need lots of exercise and lots of human interaction. Dark Golden Retrievers will not be happy sitting alone in a fenced in backyard; they want to be where the people are.

Goldens of all colors also need lots of exercise. They train easily, but they do need human direction and instruction. They are very intelligence but they won’t automatically know what you want unless you teach them.

Obedience training in the first year is highly recommended for Dark Golden Retrievers because of their size and active nature.  Large dogs can be very difficult to manage on walks or outings when not properly trained. Obedience training helps both the owner and the dog to get the most out of their time together.

Finally, Dark Golden Retrievers with long hair must be brushed regularly and professionally groomed at least two or three times per year to stay looking and smelling nice. They do shed, so if allergies are an issue, another breed might be more appropriate.

Black Golden Retrievers can also be the result of mixing Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers on purpose. Hybrid dog mixes have become very popular in recent years, and Lab/Golden mixes are among the many hybrid dogs that are catching on.

The AKC refers to Lab/Golden mixes as Golden Labradors, but they are also often called Goldadors or Goldador Retrievers. Goldadors are not a separate breed in their own right, but they are frequently bred on purpose. Some kennels intentional breed many generations of Golden Labradors, so these dogs may or may not be 50/50 Labrador and Golden.

Should you consider adopting a Black Golden Retriever? That depends entirely on why you want the dog and what you intend to do with it. If you are looking for a show dog for professional development, a Black Golden Retriever is not the right animal for you, since it doesn’t meet the accepted standards. If you are looking for a family pet or a hunting dog, you will want to discuss that individual dog’s temperament with the breeder.

A good breeder will want to match you up to an animal most likely to fit into your household. Black Golden Retrievers that are a Golden/Lab mix can be exceptional hunting dogs; possessing the best qualities of each separate breed in one animal. Black Goldens that get their coloroation from being the unusual dark pups from a purebred litter can make perfectly wonderful family pets. What you decide depends entirely on your own personal situation.

If you are buying a Black Golden Retriever puppy from a reputable breeder who is not mixing Labs and Goldens on purpose, the breeder should definitely give you a bit of break on the price and should offer this without you having to ask. On the other hand, Golden/Lab mixes can be nearly as valuable as purebred Goldens depending on where you live and the demand for these dogs in your specific area. You may or may not save money by buying a Black Golden.

Both Labs and Golden Retrievers are medium sized dogs with lots of variation within each breed in terms of size and color. Purebred male Black Golden Retrievers and black Golden/Lab mixes weigh about 65-75 pounds fully grown. Females weigh about 55-65 pounds. A Black Golden Retriever that is over 100 pounds in weight is considered obese. Labs and Goldens both stand about 26 inches at the shoulder for males, with females a bit shorter and smaller.

Black Golden Retrievers that come from purebred stock can be shorthaired or long-haired, depending on whether the parents are English Golden Retrievers or American Golden Retrievers. English Golden Retrievers have shorter fur and a stockier build than longhaired American Retrievers, but both variations can produce an occasional black pup in aby normal litter.

The color black is recessive in Golden Retrievers, meaning it occurs very rarely because other colors are genetically stronger. This does not mean that purebred Black Golden Retrievers are naturally any weaker or less healthy than their paler brothers and sisters. Black Golden Retrievers are just as susceptible to genetic diseases as any other Retriever, however. Breeders should screen all parent dogs for these problems and present buyers with proof of such screening no matter what color the dog is.

Black Goldador mixes should also be screened for inherited diseases common to large dogs. Buying a Black Golden Retriever or a Black Golden/Lab mix from a classified ad or a pet store is tempting, but in the long run you’ll spend more money and experience more grief if you take home a dog with a genetic problem that you will if you bite the bullet and buy from a reputable breeder. Some genetic bone disorders can be repaired with expensive, difficult surgery, but often a dog with a genetic disorder must be euthanized.

In short, Black Golden Retrievers are every bit as friendly, energetic, and rewarding as pale Goldens. Buy your Black Golden Retriever from a reputable breeder, train it well, find a good vet, and you are sure to have many happy and memorable years together.