Difference between labrador and golden retriever

Dog breed labrador retriever, also called the retriever and labrador retriever for its common use in hunting, originated in Canada in the sixteenth century, specifically in the Newfoundland and Labrador area found in the northeast of this country. It is believed that the main breed from which these dogs descend is the San Juan Spaniel and that after several crosses with other breeds, some Irish and others Portuguese and English, the breed that we know today was born.

To begin to explain what a Labrador retriever is like, we will tell you what it is physically. It is a medium-sized breed since its weight is between 25 and 40 kg and usually has a height at the cross of between 54 and 57 cm, the males being slightly larger than the females.

The coat of these dogs is short, rough, dense and smooth, and if they are well cared for and healthy they usually have a shiny coat. Your hair color can be chocolate brown, yellow or black, but always in a single color and without stains. In addition, the yellow color can occur in various shades, from an almost white cream to more yellowish and even reddish tones.

With respect to behavior and character, can be described as dogs that meet the following traits:

• Kind
• Faithful
• Sociable
• Very balanced character
• Quiet
• Patients
• Brave

This combination makes them a breed suitable for living with children and the elderly as it makes them very manageable. As we have commented at the beginning of this article, this breed is among the most intelligent canines and this makes them perfect companions for people in need of help in some situations, such as blind or deaf people, with a physical disability that hinders their movements and they are even recommended for children with autism problems.

Dog breed golden retriever comes from Scotland and, specifically, it originated in the middle of the 19th century, although there are also those who affirm that its origin is English. Like the aforementioned breed, it is a hunting dog since it was bred for this purpose. But, today and for many years, these are ideal breeds as a companion animal. This canine breed is believed to have been created from the crossbreeds of retrievers and spaniels from these European areas. Nowadays, different main lines can be differentiated in this breed, so we can have in front of a golden of English, Canadian or American phenotype.

To begin to describe what the golden retriever is like, we will talk about its physical characteristics. It is a breed considered medium in size, since its weight ranges between 25 and 38 kg and his height at the cross is between 53 and 61 cm, becoming taller than the Labrador breed, although they take a few cm of difference. In this case, the males are also usually somewhat larger than the females.

The coat of this breed is smooth, shiny, multi-layered, long and somewhat wavy. It is considered long-haired although in some parts of its body the hair is semi-long, in addition, it is resistant to water. The colors of the coat of these dogs are usually golden tones, ranging from a light brown almost white shade to a reddish brown shade.

About his character and behavior, we can describe them as dogs that fit the following adjectives:

• Faithful
• Friendly
• Loving
• Confident
• Docile
• Quiet
• Smart
• Balanced
• Patients
• Brave

These capabilities and features, along with the fact that it also one of the most intelligent breeds, also make it a working dog and is suitable for people with special needs as well as Labradors.

After having seen a basic description of the physical and behavioral aspects of each of these two dog breeds, we are going to comment on some of the main differences between labrador and golden retriever:

• The origin of both races is different, as we have already mentioned, one comes from Scotland and the other from Canada, the latter being older than the first.
• The Labrador has a short, rough coat that can be black, chocolate brown, or light brown or tan in color. On the other hand, the golden dog has a long, or semi-long in some areas, and soft coat that can range in various shades of gold, from the very light almost white to a reddish tone.
• Although both breeds shed their hair at the usual times, the shorthaired sheds much more than the longhaired breed. In addition, especially because of the coat, the former is easier to maintain than the latter.
• The Labrador is of a much more vigilant character than the Golden as far as its territory is concerned, since the latter is of a somewhat more trusting character in general. But, this does not turn them into watchdogs, since in reality normally at most they warn of the presence of someone unknown with a couple of barks and that’s it.
• Generally, Labradors are somewhat more active and energetic than Golden Retrievers.
• In addition, the short-haired breed is better adapted to changes that may occur in its environment such as a move or new people at home.

Now that you know what the difference between labrador and golden retrieverYou may also be interested in knowing the differences between the Maltese Bichon and the Coton de Tuléar.

There are many people who want to share life with a dog of these breeds, as they are very similar, but they do not know which of the two is more suitable for their case. When in doubt about which is better, something that depends on the situation and lifestyle of each person or family, we must take into account the differences and similarities mentioned above.

Likewise, for example, those who live in the city often wonder: Is a labrador or a golden retriever better for a flat?. Obviously, they are dogs that need to expend energy so the ideal is that they live in places where they can run around and get tired, they should never be locked in a flat, as in the case of any other breed. Therefore, if the dog, of whatever breed it is, is going to live in an apartment, we must take into account that they need to go for a walk, play, run and interact between 45 and 90 minutes a day, in a single time or distributed in the times that we want.

Generally, Labradors are somewhat more energetic and active than Golden Retrievers, so this is a factor to consider. If at home you are very active and you go out a lot for walks or excursions, then a Labrador may be a better option than a Golden, and if not, perhaps the long-haired breed is better.

Another factor to take into account that many wonder is the intelligence of the animal to learn and understand us, since this way its education can be easier for us. In this case, you have to know that there is a scale that measures, taking into account many factors, this type of intelligence in dogs. It’s about the Stanley Coren scale, a doctor who created the canine intelligence scale after studying many different breeds. A) Yes, Both the Labrador and the Golden Retriever are among the 10 most intelligent breeds on this scale, the golden being in 4th position and the labrador in 7th position.

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