Once you get introduced to the world of hybrid dogs, you’ll have so many options to adore. Among these hybrids, the Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix will probably stun you the most. So, what exactly is the Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix?
The Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix is a hybrid dog born from the cross between a Golden Retriever and a Black Labrador Retriever. Also known as the Black Goldador, you will find this mixed dog to be one of the versatile dog breeds that you can train to become an ideal companion or service dog in spite of being wary of strangers.
Do you want to get more information on this hybrid before you adopt one? Or have you gotten one and would like to know how to groom it properly? If yes, for any of these cases, kindly keep reading, as I’ll be answering these subsequently in this article.
How Big Do Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes Get?
Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes can grow up to 24 inches tall. Females in this breed usually max out at 22 inches. When in good health, an adult Black Goldador typically weighs between 60 to 80 lbs.
Coat Colors And Patterns
Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes have minimal fur coat color options. Because of the characteristic colors of both parents, the Black Goldador can only have a few coat colors.
Golden Retrievers come in three shades of gold, cream, and a rare red color. Meanwhile, Black Labs’ fur comes only in black. The characteristic black fur of Black Labrador Retrievers is due to a certain pigment called eumelanin.
Eumelanin production depends on the B locus in cells. The B locus contains the B and b genes which are responsible for pigmentation. Basically, if the B genes are dominant, then the Labrador Retriever will have black fur.
These genes can then be passed on to its Black Goldador offspring. So, we can pretty much guess the colors the Black Goldador comes in since it will inherit all these coat colors, including black.
So far, Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix dogs have been known to have the following coat colors:
- Cream
- Dark Golden
- Light Golden
- Red
- Classic Golden
- Black
Physical Appearance
The Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix typically looks like an average Labrador Retriever. However, it is a relatively big dog and has long, droopy ears. In addition, it has a dense fur coat that makes it appear huge.
Its head is square with a straight muzzle that ends in a black or brown nose. Having a pink nose is out of the window, as it would be almost impossible. Nevertheless, if your Black Goldador has a pink nose, it’s probably because of hypopigmentation.
The common eye colors for this breed are typically light and dark brown. However, puppies can be born with blue eyes. But as they get older, they’ll turn brown.
How Long Do Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes Live?
Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes can live between 10 to 15 years.
Of course, Black Goldadors can die long before they reach these ages under poor conditions or because of accidents. Nevertheless, there’s a high chance that your pooch may live longer if you take good care of it.
One area of your pooch’s life you are responsible for is its health. One popular question people ask is if Black Goldadors are healthy. Well, as with all dogs, the average health condition of your Black Goldador depends on the following factors:
- Average health status of parents
- Treatment of the dog’s mother during its gestation period
- Vaccination status
- Feeding habits
- Maintenance level
Although there are a variety of typical diseases that dogs suffer from that your Black Goldador is susceptible to, some are quite peculiar to the hybrid. The most prominent of these illnesses include:
Joint Dysplasia
In general, joint dysplasia is a common issue that Black Goldadors will face. This condition is characterized by the displacement of a bone from the joint it’s supposed to be fixed into. This condition usually manifests in areas at the hips and elbows.
For example, in hip dysplasia, the thighbone doesn’t fit into the hip socket. For elbow dysplasia, the three bones that make up the elbow joint don’t articulate well and make the joint loose.
All in all, dysplasia can be pretty painful and severely limits your pooch’s movement, resulting in other health issues, like obesity, stemming from mobility impairment.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy is an ocular condition in dogs. It occurs slowly and is caused by the gradual death of photoreceptor cells present in the retina. It eventually ends in complete blindness, and sadly, it’s irreversible.
Cataracts
Cataracts are another condition that affects the eyes of Black Goldadors. This happens when the lens of your pooch is covered with a cloudy film that impairs its vision. Luckily, with surgery, you can remove this film. But in most cases, it ends in blindness.
The good thing about these diseases is that they can be diagnosed on time. Therefore, you must take your pooch to the vet regularly for checks.
How To Take Care Of Your Black Goldador?
Taking care of a Black Goldador is relatively easy. As long as you know the areas you need to maintain, keeping your pooch in good health won’t be difficult.
The two important areas of your Black Goldador’s life you need to take care of are:
- High-quality diet
- Exercise routine
High-Quality Diet
Typical adult Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix dogs need about 3.5 to 4 cups of quality feed per day. However, your pooch’s nutritional requirement may vary based on its activity level.
A high-quality feed contains all the nutrients your pooch needs in the right proportion. Three significant nutrients your Black Goldador requires daily are carbohydrates, protein, and calcium.
An adequate amount of carbohydrates gives your dog the energy it needs for daily activities. In addition, protein helps to repair worn-out tissues and replace cells that die daily. Meanwhile, calcium in your canine buddy’s meal is essential for normal bone growth and strong teeth.
Apart from that, there are other nutrients that your dog needs which include vitamins and some other minerals. And because it can be pretty challenging to get all of these in a meal, your dog can have a deficiency of these nutrients.
Luckily, supplementing your pooch’s diet with multivitamins will ensure that your pooch gets all the essential nutrients it needs every day.
Perhaps you can’t take the stress of preparing a meal for your Black Goldador. And you prefer already made high-quality feed for it. If this is the case, look no further, as Pet Plate contains all the nutrients your dog needs to grow healthy.
Exercise Routine
Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix dogs require at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Black Goldadors are very active dogs, so extra exercise with you shouldn’t take much time. But if you are someone who works from home or stays at home all day, then you will need to take your pooch for walks.
Moreover, exercise is essential for this hybrid as they have a high disposition to obesity and heart disease when they stay inactive.
Are Black Goldadors Aggressive? Temperaments Of Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes
Black Goldadors aren’t aggressive dogs. They are very friendly and playful dogs. They associate well with their owners and other dogs that they are used to.
Nevertheless, Black Goldadors do not welcome strangers well. They will bark and even attack people when they feel that they or their owners are threatened.
So, if you live in a place where your dog sees strange faces every day, do not be surprised when you see it displaying some aggressive behavior. To enable your dog to be friendly towards people, you can start socialization training early.
Training
Being bred from two intelligent dog breeds, you will find the Black Goldador very easy to train and versatile. These mixed dogs have shown to be outstanding guide dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs.
Another reason is that this hybrid is very bent on pleasing its owner. Therefore, your Black Goldador will obey every command you give it just to make you happy.
So, whenever you want to teach your pooch something new, always give it a good rub to let it know it has done well. Also, giving it treats is a good motivator. However, it will be best to give your dog treats occasionally to avoid situations where it expects treats every time.
Clingy
You can leave your Black Goldador at home alone. Nevertheless, this hybrid is quite clingy, and it may take some time for your dog to get used to your absence.
In the period where it’s still getting accustomed to you leaving it alone, your furniture is in danger. Therefore, it will be best to find a professional sitter for your Black Goldador in your absence.
Is A Black Goldador Hypoallergenic? Grooming Tips For Black Lab Golden Retriever Mixes
The Black Lab Golden Retriever Mix is not hypoallergenic. This dog has two layers of thick fur that it sheds in little quantities every day.
This Black Goldador also drools a lot, especially when it feels hot. Its fur and saliva have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people. So, this is something you should be aware of.
Deshedding
The Black Goldador sheds a lot. It sheds heavily during seasonal changes. But daily, it sheds little amounts of fur.
Seeing fur around your home can be annoying for you. So, you’ll have to de-shed your dog at least three times a week to get rid of loose fur that will fall off and litter your house. How exactly do you deshed your dog?
Deshedding is relatively easy. It’s the same thing as brushing. So, with the right tool, you can keep your home fur-free. The FURminator Undercoat Tool is perfect for you if you want to get rid of loose fur on your dog.
Bathing
It will be best if you bathe your Black Goldador at least once a month. They don’t require much bathing. But on occasions when yours gets dirty or starts developing an odor, you should bathe it.
Bathing can come with some complications for dogs, especially when you’re not doing it right or using a good shampoo.
For example, acidic shampoo can be corrosive to your dog, thereby decolorizing its fur and damaging its skin. As a result of poor skin health or peeling skin conditions, your dog can produce more unwanted dander.
Fortunately, Pro Pet Works All Natural 5 In 1 Oatmeal Shampoo is perfect for your pooch as it is non-acidic and contains natural oatmeal that’s gentle on your dog’s fur. Using it, you won’t be scared that your dog will suddenly lose its black sheen or perfect golden color.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Black Goldador Cost? Black Goldadors typically cost between $300 to $1,200. However, Black Goldadors puppies with more desirable fur colors, such as pure black and golden, can cost a lot more.
Do Black Goldadors Like Swimming? Yes, Black Goldadors generally like to swim. However, your dog may develop a phobia for water if it has had bad experiences. Therefore, it will always be best to supervise your Black Goldador while it swims.
Are Golden Retrievers Smarter Than Black Labs? No, Golden Retrievers are not smarter than Black Labs. Given that both breeds essentially share one common ancestor, namely the St. John’s dog or the lesser Newfoundland, they are both regarded to be equally smart.
