Golden Retriever Mix

Golden retrievers are, without a doubt, one of the most popular dog breeds ever! They are smart, friendly, and incredibly devoted to their loved ones. Therefore their intelligence and attentive nature make them brilliant guide and therapy dogs. Additionally, breeders adore them because when they combine this dog’s genetics with other breeds, the result is generally a more obedient and vivacious pooch. Golden retriever mixes have varied personalities, and, as with any crossbreed, they are more uniquely colored than purebreds. However, due to mixed breed personalities being more challenging to predict, you never really know what your dog will be like until they are older.

Unfortunately, some purebred dogs can pass on specific health issues to their offspring. For example, golden retrievers are susceptible to hip dysplasia and cancer. Combining two breeds lessens the chance of either parent’s common health issues affecting the hybrid.

This article will focus on the Gollie, a golden retriever and collie mix. But first, let’s take a look at some other golden hybrids.

Types of Golden Retriever Mixes

While the golden retriever is basically perfect in every way, combining them with another purebred results in something even more special. Here are four of the most popular golden retriever mixes:

Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle Mix)

Unlike the golden retriever, goldendoodles are low-shedding dogs, thanks to their poodle genes, making them an appealing alternative. But that’s not all the goldendoodle has to offer. While they may look like fluffy bears, these pooches are very playful and athletic and love walking, jogging, swimming, and hiking. Additionally, these hybrids are highly intelligent dogs, making them fairly easy to train, using plenty of positive reinforcement in the process.

Basset Retriever (Golden Retriever and Basset Hound Mix)

The basset retriever is the offspring of two unlikely breeds: the golden retriever and the basset hound. While the basset hound is stubborn and relatively lazy, the golden retriever is energetic and eager to please. So, the basset retriever is loyal, calm, and occasionally protective. Therefore, they are not aggressive and tend to get along well with kids.

The basset retriever’s grooming needs can vary significantly because they can inherit their coats from either parent, meaning they can have short or long fur. Therefore, if they take after the long-haired golden retriever, they will require more grooming. But, if they inherit the basset hound’s coat, grooming will be minimal.

Goldador (Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever Mix)

One of the only breeds that continuously ranks higher in popularity compared to the golden retriever is the Labrador retriever. Therefore, their hybrid, the goldador, is the best of both worlds. When it comes to temperament, the golden retriever and the Labrador have plenty in common, so the goldador shouldn’t be much different.

Similar to its parent breeds, the goldador is very loyal, friendly, and muscular. Additionally, they are the perfect companion for children of all ages. However, the goldador is a large-sized designer breed, so there should always be an adult present when interacting with younger kids, as they could easily knock a child over in excitement.  

Golden Shepherd (German Shepherd and Golden Retriever and Mix)

Here is another popular hybrid, the golden shepherd is a mix between two of the most loved dog breeds, German shepherds and golden retrievers.  This designer breed, often called the golden German shepherd, is super adorable, highly intelligent, and extremely loyal to its loved ones. However, their appeal is due to their incredibly loving personality. This golden retriever mix makes the perfect companion for families with plenty of free time to play, exercise, and give attention to the golden shepherd.

Golden Retriever Mix Pros and Cons

The Best Dog Food for a Golden Retriever Mix

The Gollie is a relatively high-energy dog. Therefore experts recommend dry, high-quality kibble full of nutrients and vitamins for their active lifestyle. It’s advisable to give them between 2.5 to 3 cups of dry dog food, divided into two or three small meals daily, depending on their size and activity level. Whatever you do, do not free-feed this golden retriever mix, as they can put on weight quickly and tend to overeat. Additionally, treats are always great, but only in moderation.

Golden Retriever Mix Size and Weight

The gollie is considered a large breed because its weight ranges from 50 to 75 pounds. Furthermore, they can reach heights of 24 to 25 inches tall.

Golden Retriever Mix Common Health Issues

Both the golden retriever and the collie are prone to some serious health concerns. For example, the golden retriever generally suffers from cataracts, epilepsy, elbow dysplasia, skin allergies, and heart disease. While collies are prone to gastric torsion, progressive retinal atrophy, dermatomyositis, neutropenia, and arthritis. So, unfortunately, the gollie may inherit some of these conditions. If you suspect something is wrong with your golden retriever mix, hurry down to your local vet for a checkup.

Life Expectancy

If cared for properly, gollies can live long and healthy lives. Their lifespan ranges anywhere from 12 to 15 years.

Golden Retriever Mix Temperament

Gollies make excellent family pets who will lick you and your family members to death if you let them. Additionally, they are incredible with children as they are very tolerant and don’t mind some roughhousing. Kids will often lay on them and pull their fur as their silky soft coat probably feels like a pillow. You don’t even have to worry about children sticking their fingers into a gollies mouth because they will most likely lick them instead of snapping their jaws shut.

While gollies make good watchdogs since they generally bark when there is a newcomer at the door, they are not the best guard dogs. Instead of intimidating the stranger, they typically run up to the intruder and greet them with a waggy tail.

Lastly, the gollie makes an excellent service dog, much like the golden retriever, due to its friendly personality and ease of training. These hybrids can effortlessly open doors, pick up items, and assist the disabled, senior, or veteran with anything else they might need. Additionally, this makes them ideal candidates for the armed forces, police, sentries and serving as a courier.

How to Take Care of a Golden Retriever Mix

Caring for a gollie is relatively straightforward. However, due to being a hybrid, they can inherit traits from either parent breed, so their maintenance largely depends on which characteristics they possess.

Grooming

You can expect the gollie to shed a lot, so brushing them daily is mandatory if you want to keep your home hair-free, well, as hairless as possible, anyway. However, it is best to brush them outdoors, as their long, silky fur can easily be carried away by the wind and distributed elsewhere. Of course, that’s your neighbor’s problem, right? The length of this golden retriever mix’s fur will vary, but it is generally long and comes in an array of colors like gold, black, brown, white, tan, and yellow.

Only bathe your gollie when they are filthy, as they need natural oils to keep their coats and skin healthy. This means you shouldn’t wash them more than once every three months.

Training

Because the gollie is so eager to please its owners, they are incredibly easy to train, which is why they make such great pets for novice owners. However, when training, this golden retriever mix needs a lot of positive reinforcement, like treats or praise.

Exercise

Gollies are filled with energy from the moment they are born to well into their senior years, so they need an active family that will take them out on lots of adventures. While keeping them in an apartment is not impossible, it is best to have a secured big backyard where they can let loose and run around to their heart’s content. However, they will still need a good walk or playtime in between as well. As this golden retriever mix is a social butterfly, they really enjoy frequenting dog parks where there are plenty of friends to play with.

Puppies

Female gollies can give birth to litters of  4 to 6 pups.

Golden Retriever Mix and Children

Due to their amazingly docile nature and puppy-like behavior, gollies make charming additions to almost any family. They adapt well to children and adults of all ages, providing both parties know how to interact with them respectfully.

These dogs make great playmates, so if you have energetic children who need to let off some steam, the gollie is a match made in heaven. However, one of these pups might be a little hard to handle for seniors, as they need a lot of exercise. But they can easily rescue an adult gollie, who will be the perfect companion.

Gollies integrate well with other pets in the home, especially if they are raised together. However, this does not mean they don’t need socialization from a young age. Exposing your gollie to new surroundings, people, and animals is one of the best things you can do for them.

Golden Retriever Mix Cost

A gollie pup from a reputable breeder can cost between $300 to $700, depending on the location, breeder, and pedigree. In addition, other expenses may include grooming tools, medical needs, and accessories like leashes, training manuals, and toys.

Dogs similar to the Golden Retriever Mix

• Chesapeake bay retriever
• Flat-Coated retriever
• English springer spaniel