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Need to Know
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Basic training required
- Generally healthy breed
- Enjoys active walks
- Large dog
- Some drool
- Requires frequent grooming
- Quiet dog
- Welcomes everyone happily
- Generally friendly with other dogs
- Gets along with other pets with training
- Great family dog
- Needs a yard and does well in the suburbs and country
Personality
Both breeds have sterling reputations as active, friendly, and loving dogs that thrive on human companionship, delighting in nothing more than pleasing their owners (except perhaps indulging in food and diving into any available water!). They are ideal pets for families with children and get along well with other household animals. These breeds are extremely affectionate and happy, constantly wagging their tails and always ready for action. They are highly trainable and eager to learn. They’re the foodies of the dog world, delighting in treats, which can be helpful when training but challenging for maintaining a healthy weight.
Understanding the Goldador requires knowledge of its parent breeds. Labrador Retrievers originated on the coast of Newfoundland in the 17th century and bred to help fishermen with their nets. They were favorites of the English upper classes for many years. Golden Retrievers were developed by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth) in the 19th century from breeding a yellow retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel. Today, they are beloved pets and capable working dogs. Both breeds came to the United States in the early 20th century, where they’ve been beloved ever since.
Grab your boots, because Goldadors love being outside, splashing about in the rain and mud. They are good and reliable family dogs with amiable temperaments.
Both the breeds that make up the Goldador are highly active and enjoy exercise, needing a couple of hours of it every day. They enjoy games, training, interactive toys, and being involved in all family activities.
The Goldador is a large dog originally bred for country life, which means they need a good-sized outdoor space. These exercise fanatics appreciate access to the great outdoors, although they do well inside as family dogs so long as their exercise requirements are being met.
Despite the shedding, their coats are fairly low maintenance, although matting can occur in longer coats, especially behind the ears.
Goldador owners will need boundless energy to keep up with this very active dog who enjoys work and is very social, wanting to be involved with everything. They are a joy to train as both breeds are intelligent, love working with their owner, and can learn pretty much anything you want to teach them (hence their success as working dogs and as assistance dogs). But like all clever dogs, they will learn bad habits as quickly as good ones, so reward-based training should start early and be ongoing.
Well-trained Goldadors make good family dogs, seamlessly becoming members of the family.
The cost of a Goldador from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.
Learn more about feeding and caring for your Goldador on Purina.
Did you know?
- Thanks to the Goldador’s kind nature and intelligence, they’ve been used as guide dogs, service dogs, search and rescue dogs, bomb detection dogs, and even therapy dogs.