Labs or Golden Retrievers

 Labs or Golden Retrievers

By: Ryan Brouwer

         Are you confused on what kind of hunting dog to get?  Are you thinking, “should I get a Lab or a Golden Retriever?”  You’re not alone; many are thinking the same thing.  These two different breeds are close but have some clear advantages you would want as a hunting dog.

            Labs originated in Newfoundland but were developed as a breed in the United Kingdom.  Labs, also known as Labradors or Labrador Retrievers, were originally used for swimming out to fishing nets and pulling them to shore but later became used as gun dogs.  Golden Retrievers originated and developed as a breed in Scotland.  They were always used as gun dogs.

            There are several similarities, which are helpful for hunting as well as the other occupations they do.  They both have soft mouths, which is why they can pick up game without damaging it.  Both breeds have water repellent fur that helps keep them warm when they have to go in the water during the cold winter, fall, and spring seasons.  They both love the water and fetching or retrieving; that is why they make such good duck, goose, or waterfowl dogs.  You don’t really have to send them to get the dead, floating bird that’s on the water because they are off as soon as the bird starts to drop.

They are used many times as assistance dogs.  That means they make good seeing dogs, hearing dogs, etc.  The police use them both.  They are used to search for lost people, search for illegal drugs in people’s houses, and look for bombs in luggage at airports.  They are loving, kind, loyal and compassionate so they are very popular family dogs.  They are both prone to hip displasia, an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, if it’s severe, can cause lameness or very painful arthritis, because they are medium to large dogs.  This is hereditary so if a parent has it a pup is likely to have also.

            Both breeds also have advantages over each other and for hunting.  Some of the Lab’s advantages is they have webbed paws which comes in handy while swimming and retrieving something from the water.  They also made good guard dogs because of their loyalty to their owner.  They generally get few diseases but they can get ear infections because their floppy ears trap in warm, moist air.  They have also been the most popular family dogs for the past several years.  They were the first large dog breed to be the most popular family dog.

            Golden Retrievers also have some “special features” that are good but also bad.  Golden Retrievers have an eager-to-please demeanor which means they will do almost anything the owner tells them to do.  Because they are so eager to please, they learn tricks easily.  They are good with cats, other dogs, and some livestock.  They make good mothers to different species; they have even been used in zoos to nurse orphaned tiger cubs.  However, they are prone to many different diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and many eye failures/diseases.

            I hope this essay helped you find your gun dog and future best friend.  Just make sure you check the pup’s parent’s hips because if they are bad the pup has a high chance of having bad hips as well.