Australian Shepherd Care Guide: The Cowboy’s Favorite Breed
Breeds / 2024
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix: Dog Breed Information and Owner’s Guide
What do you get when you mix together two of the friendliest dogs?
You get a loyal, dutiful companion that will give you the best of both worlds.
The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is a very uncommon hybrid between the Golden Retriever and the American Pitbull Terrier.
This results in a confident and sweet natured dog with a fierce devotion to its friends.
However caring for them requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
If you are ready for the hard work then prepare to meet one of the best friends you will ever have…
Contents and Quick Navigation
- What is a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix? (Overview)
- Pros and Cons
- Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Appearance
- 5 Fun Facts About Pitbull Golden Retriever Mixes
- Personality and Temperament
- Caring for a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
- How To Train A Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
- Quick Breed Summary Table
- Summary
What is a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix? (Overview)
This dog is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Pitbull. It is one of the most uncommon breeds around and very little is actually known about them.
Unfortunately it is affected by the negative reputation of the Pitbull and other bully breeds.
This breed’s temperament is a genetic wildcard. If you are looking for one, be prepared for both a Pitbull or a Golden Retriever.
Pitbull Golden Retriever mixes are playful and energetic and very helpful to their owners.
It is nearly impossible to predict the behavior and temperament of this mix, so anyone looking to adopt one should research the personalities and care requirements of each parent breed.
- Overview: Hybrid (Golden Retriever/Pitbull).
- Purpose: Companionship.
- Weight: 30-75 pounds.
- Size: 17-24 inches.
- Temperament: Rambunctious, devoted and sociable.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- More docile alternative to Pitbull.
- A great family dog.
- Helpful and protective watchdog.
- Very eager to socialize.
- Great emotional support animals.
Cons:
- Grow to very large sizes.
- Can engage in destructive behavior when bored.
- Unpredictable behavior and temperament.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Appearance
There is no official standard for this hard to find hybrid, but its accepted that the breed should embody the positive traits of both parents.
These dogs can come out looking like either one of the parent breeds, or a perfect mix of both. Their appearance is variable and will depend on gene expression.
They should be large and well-built dogs that stand up to 24 inches tall.
You will find they can be thin and lean or have a wider, more muscular build.
Lab Pitbull mixes can come out with any possible combination of these appearances, but careful selective breeding can create a more predictable appearance.
Height and Weight
Males stand anywhere between 18-24 inches tall with females standing 17-22 inches tall.
You can expect them to weigh anywhere between 30-75 pounds.
Coat and Colors
This is certainly a dog of many colors.
They can be the solid gold colors of a Golden Retriever, or a mix of darker colors against a white base.
Your mix may be a solid, bi colored or even tri colored.
This breed can be single or double coated, with fur of just about any length.
A short coat is typically thin and fine furred, while a long coat may be shaggy or wavy. Some may even have an attractive curl to them.
Short to medium coated dogs will shed mildly and only need brushing once or twice a week. Long coated dogs are frequent shedders with daily brushing and grooming requirements.
5 Fun Facts About Pitbull Golden Retriever Mixes
- Pitbulls are often trained as guard dogs, but they make much better emotional support dogs.
- The breed is not currently recognized by any organization, and there are no breed clubs or rescues.
- All dogs have a background as pack animals, and this breed’s extreme loyalty to its family shows that it is more in tune with their old pack mentality.
- The Golden Retriever has history as a hunting partner used to retrieve waterfowl.
- This breed has no true name, but they are sometimes referred to as Retriever Pits. This name also applies to the more common Labrador Pitbull mix.
Personality and Temperament
The breed’s personality should be the perfect mix of a big friendly dog and a confident, loyal companion.
However this dog’s personality and temperament will be luck of the draw (just like with any hybrid). Their unpredictability can make them difficult to train and to manage.
One thing you can be certain about is their fun loving and active nature.
A mix of a sporting dog and a terrier is a recipe for boundless energy.
Their energy must be let out in bursts through the day. Your dog will certainly let you know when they need something to do.
Pitbull Lab mixes social butterflies have an inborn desire to make new friends. They won’t have any trouble getting along but may get wild when they get too excited to see their friends.
They cannot tolerate boredom and hate to be by themselves. If you expect them to keep themselves entertained, they will do so by trashing your house. A high prey drive means that it will take some time for them to get along with your other pets.
It is nearly impossible to pinpoint which specific behaviors your pup will inherit. But no matter what, you can expect them to be a loyal devoted friend to you and your family.
Is The Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix A Good Family Dog?
This breed comes from two excellent family dogs, making it one of the best dogs for a family.
They are known for extreme loyalty to their families, who they will view as their pack.
Caring for a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
Exercise Requirements
Any dog in the sporting group needs more exercise than your average pooch. Taking your dog for long walks and runs will help both you and your dog stay fit.
Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes need at least an hour of exercise every day. The best way to do this is to take them out for a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood and dedicate the rest of the time to play.
Running and fetching is one of this dog’s favorite ways to let loose. They also love to jump, and will catch a Frisbee or a ball right out of the air. You can tune in to their wild sides by giving them toys to hunt.
This is the perfect pooch for taking along with you on your own daily activities. They make excellent hiking partners and will enjoy a trip out into nature just as much as you will.
- Number of Walks Per Day: 1.
- Total Exercise Needed Per Day: ~60 Minutes.
Grooming and Shedding
If you have a short coated dog, grooming will be much less intensive than it would be for a mix with a longer coat.
Short and medium coated dogs need brushing once or twice a week. Long coated dogs will need brushing every day, and may need special brushes and combs for shed control.
Do not be tempted to run to the bathtub every time your pooch gets a little dirty. Too much bathing will wash out the protective oils in your dog’s fur.
You can give your dog a full bath every 3 months, but daily dirt and grime should be wiped away.
Feeding and Diet
These large active dogs need plenty of healthy food to fuel their daily work and play. Your dog’s specific dietary needs are based on many factors, including their age and activity level.
This breed benefits from including raw foods in their diet. Even if you feed them kibble, you should find ways to add raw meat to the menu.
You can replace one of their cups of kibble with some cuts of raw pork or poultry.
Protein is the most valuable nutrient in any dog’s diet, with healthy fats at a close second. Muscular breeds like this will need more protein than others. Fruits and vegetables make a great healthy treat for your dog. These are packed full of vitamins and minerals, but should only be given every once in a while.
| Calories Per Day: | Cups of Kibble Per Day: |
|---|---|
| 1600 | ~4 |
Known Health Problems
- Unfortunately Golden Retrievers and related breeds are more susceptible to cancerous tumors than other dogs.
- Hip dysplasia is very common for all large dog breeds. This is a malformation of the hip joints that causes pain and eventual arthritis.
How Long Does A Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Live?
You should expect your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix to live for 10 to 15 years.
How Much Does A Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Cost?
This is a very little known breed with no official organization, so finding a breeder will be very difficult. If you do find one its rarity means that you could be paying upwards of $2500 for a pup.
How To Train A Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
Training will depend on your puppy’s unique personality.
However you will still need to focus on the four key areas: obedience, housebreaking, socialization and behavior.
You will need to start tackling each one of these as soon as you bring your pup home.
One of the first steps is to create a safe space for your dog to relax in while you are away.
This is done through crate training.
The crate will become your dogs den in the house, where they can feel safe and secure while they wait for you to come back home.
When dealing with a bully breed, many assume that physical punishment should be used when training them.
They could not be any more wrong.
In reality the use of harsh correction and physical discipline will create aggression rather than eliminate it.
Instead take advantage of your Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes loyalty. They will do anything to make you happy, so let them know how proud of them you are. If they misbehave just ignore it and they will catch on very fast.
Quick Breed Summary Table
| Breed Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Size: | 17-24 inches. |
| Weight: | 30-75lb. |
| Lifespan: | 10-15 years. |
| Coat: | Single or double. |
| Color: | Golden yellow, black, brown and white. |
| Do They Shed: | Yes. |
| Temperament: | Loyal, social, protective and athletic. |
| Intelligence: | Medium. |
| Socialization: | Social and eager to make new friends. |
| Destructive Behavior: | Destructive if under stimulated. |
| People Skills: | Friendly, but can get a bit excited with others. |
| Good with Children: | Yes. |
| Activity Levels: | High. |
Summary
A Golden Retriever Pitbull mix may be the perfect dog if you can handle the demands of a large dog. If you have owned bully breeds before, you might find this one a bit easier than others.
You must be prepared for a high energy dog that wants people around for most of the day.
At their core, these are even tempered and sweet natured dogs that love to meet and socialize with other people and pets.
You never really know what your pup will be like until you bring them home.
If you are willing to work with them, they will pick up on it right away. They will reward you with their special brand of unconditional love.
If you are sure you are ready for one let us know in the comments section below…
