Why can't people get their own computor then they can ask these questions them selves. I'm asking this for a dog walking friend.
She knows one has a long coat & the other has a short coat, but are there any differences other than that?

What about in temperment?

Excercise?

And anything else you can think off.

Goldens are generally bigger than labradors. The goldens I know tend to have less of a 'work ethic' than the labs - ie labs are more demanding of activity and brain-work, whereas the goldens are somewhat more laid-back ... but they're far from being couch potatoes!

My friend used to like our golden retriever when we had one years ago, but she didn't like it when our goldie rolled in mud & had to be hosed down when she got home and she took ages to dry, so she thinks labs might be easier so that's why she wants to find out about them.

Goldens and Labradors are exactly as Jeangenie describes them. Temperament should be good in both breeds. Labradors have a harsher coat i.e. the fur tends to dig into the carpet as opposed to a Golden where the fur just covers the area on top therefore some people tend to think that the Labrador fur is harder to hoover up.  Golden coats tend to float and so many a time you end up eating some with your sandwich. I am not sure about Labradors but certainly the Golden loves mud baths and will tend to wallow. Labradors can be particularly bad at chewing as pups and tend to love their food more than Goldens. People often think they are the same dog with one having a longer coat. Completely wrong.

Do labradors wallow in mud the same as golden retrievers?

If it's wet they love it. :-)

Our old one used to leap into and lie in the filthiest cattle-troughs!

Also depends whether it's a "working type" or "showing type" - they have different characteristics

Don't be fooled by a name. My Golden retriever is sooo laid back and when I first met her, thought that the breeder had druged her but my daughters golden retriever is a nut case. He pulls like a steam train and destroys the house if left on his own. Both are however adorable, mine for lovely cuddles and peacful strolling and hers because he is sooo cute that he gets away with being naughty. He brings his PJ's over to stay when Mum is on holiday.

> Our old one used to leap into and lie in the filthiest cattle-troughs!

My Dad's current one is like this... And then jumps out into thigh deep mud(on him), oh the delights to then drive him home again...

To be honest if your friend is basing her choice of dog as to how muddy they get, she needs to re-think her reasons of choice.

Labs and GR's both love water and mud and both get as filthy as each other, a clean lab or GR out on a walk not covered in some type of slosh (depending on area you live, though both need good walks) in autumn and winter are not really living as they should be.

Both breeds just need a quick rinse and towel dry, or a dry and brush through, both have the same amount of mud on them, believe me I know :-D having many in the family, the GR's coat just takes a little longer to dry, but in a warm room or with the help of a hairdryer were not talking too much longer.

GR's are a much more laid back retriever strain (well the ones I know) compared to a lab, a lab needs more exercise and mental stimulation as already said, it is more important for your friend to think about what she can offer each strain, rather than put the coat at the top of the list, truth is in bad autumn, winter weather we all get fed up with the mud, but it is part of having a dog. :-)

When we used to take our dogs for a walk me with my golden retriever & her with her Irish setter, she would always groan when my goldie went for a mud bath, so she knew she didnt want a goldie for that reason. Occasional she went for a walk with someone else who had 2 labs & she never saw them wallow in mud, she also likes the look of a lab & she wants a dog that can be easily trained like our goldie.

It's interesting that working & show types have different characteristics, in which way are they different?

The working strains are generally more athletically built, have higher energy thresholds and need more mental stimulation, they have been selected and bred over generations for the requirements needed and their behaviour is quite different from the show strains.

Which is why you should always check lines and ask about the background of pups you are interested in as the characteristics are different and they are much more demanding dogs if accidently bought as pets. :-)

<<<she would always groan when my goldie went for a mud bath, so she knew she didnt want a goldie for that reason.>>>

Every individual dog will have different characteristics, regardless of breed. Dobes, as a rule, don't like water, yet I've got one that will go in with enthusiasm. Of the 4 Goldies I've had, 3 have loved water and mud, one didn't. I know plenty of Labs, although I've never owned one, that will make a beeline for every puddle, muddy or not.

I find my Goldies coats reasonably easy to keep clean. With both breeds (Labs and Goldies) that I have coming in for dog grooming I've had some come in that hold on to water and others that dry in minutes.

I certainly wouldn't bank on getting a Lab that hated water and mud!

In our family only 1 Lab avoided puddles, all the rest would have a blast being in it and love the fact that they could get really smelly and wet at the same time.

To be honest if your friend is basing her choice of dog as to how muddy they get, she needs to re-think her reasons of choice.

I disagree. Everyone needs a dog that fits them as well as only possible and this includes habits/behaviour and coat types. I currently have 8 large dogs: 5 Malinois, 2 Malinois/Golden crosses (same coat as Malis) and one Golden. That one single Golden drags in ten times more mud than the other 7 dogs put together, and needs a LOT more coat care. Certainly with mine (and he's not the only one I've ever had, I've had ten over a period of 29 years) takes a lot more than a few minutes rinse, dry and brush. They don't all have the same coat length and coat quality. :) I think this is very relevant for anyone considering a breed -have they got the extra time needed for coat, or would they prefer an easier coat/dog that doesn't like getting dirty (Malinois don't roll in dirty stuff and tend to stay clean as an example -but instead when they moult they moult MUCH more than a Golden) so they can spend extra time on say walks or training? Not everyone has the same amount of time available and it's just sensible to look at ALL aspects of a breed before making a firm decision that will affect your lifestyle for the next 12-15 years.

I should perhaps also add, our Labrador (that we lost recently) didn't drag in as much mud, simply due to the fact there was no feathering for it to stick to. When a muddy Golden comes indoors they wag their tail and the mud splashes all the way up to the ceiling. :) So unless there is a bathroom/shower available straight inside the front door, there will be mess as Goldens don't stop wagging until the day the die.

I wonder if our OP's friend has been watching that advert of the Goldie absolutely covered in mud from head to foot and going into the white bedroom and having a good old doggy shake. I would just die if that happened.

Personally I'd never allow any dog into my house until it had been through the outhouse shower room, but a good point, not everyone will have that luxury.  Once the dogs are in the shower I can't believe the mud that comes off the labs though especially the blacks who don't even look that bad until you start to clean them, the plus side is the GR show's the mud and dirt easily, which I see as a benefit, you can see what your getting. :-D

>going into the white bedroom and having a good old doggy shake.

I would never have a white bedroom - it's just asking for trouble!

She is lucky that she had an Irish Setter who didnt wallow in mud, mine are like mud magents !!

I cant comment on labs as i have never had one.
I have had and have GRs and very different ones indeed over a good many years. Most of them were very laid back temperment and easy going chunky types.
I have now one very cute pup of 5months..very sweet chunky pup...i get the feeling she is as the others were as pups.

And wait for it i have one working type 3yr old GR that gets into any dirty muddy puddles she can find runs through brambles and works the whole time when out free running,she is very well built dog,very long legs and athletic...and never stops.
So take it from me all golden retrievers are not laid back and quiet.
Would i go for a working type again...yes...i would,but i cant say it has not been a challenge...but i wouldnt be without her.

I agree with Carrington Ive got a show cocker who loves getting caked up. My border Collie is cleaner.

> Our old one used to leap into and lie in the filthiest cattle-troughs!

Yep have one of those! LOL :)

Far worse than rolling in mud - fox poo!!!  My old Lab would make a beeline for the nearest "deposit" of the stuff, and no amount of calling would stop her!  Selective deafness would kick in and she'd come back afterwards saying "yeah, what did you want, I've just had a grrrrreat time, can you smell it"?

Give me mud anyday.

I've just got a new Lab puppy, and crossing fingers that she is one that doesn't like rolling in it!

On a slightly different note - how do you know if the golden retriever is a working dog??   Are they built differently?  

> On a slightly different note - how do you know if the golden retriever is a working dog??   Are they built differently?

The working strain are usually lighter in bone, darker in colour and often have light coloured eyes. They are also much livelier.

Working bred goldens are usually quite dark in colour and tend to be lighter boned. Have a look at this website, as they have both show and working lines.
Http://www.abnalls.com

Pedlee, You beat me to it as I was looking for a link to some pics.

Try mixing a Flattie and mud!!!!! Or as some call them a long haired black lab!!

Well pedlee said just what my retriever looks like.
Darker golden,light colour eyes,fine boned and musseled with long legs and VERY LIVELY.

Thank you both.   That is an interesting site and I can see the difference quite clearly