The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is a dog you don’t see very often. It’s a product of two seemingly opposite breeds — one known for being family-friendly and the other with a reputation for being fierce.
The differences between a Pitbull and a Golden Retriever seem obvious, but what most people don’t realize is that the two breeds have many similarities too.
For starters, both are playful, smart, affectionate, and extremely loyal. Bred together, you get Pitbull Golden Retriever mixes — dogs that make for hardy, athletic, and faithful companions.
If you want to learn more about these special mixed-breed dogs, read on as I share all the facts you need to know.
What Is a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix?
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The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix, also known as the Golden Pitbull, is a well-built, medium to large dog that brings together two well-known breeds, the Golden Retriever and the American Pit Bull Terrier. Like its parent breeds, this mixed breed dog is athletic, intelligent, and loyal.
The Pitbull Golden Retriever mix is not a popular combination, likely because the two parent breeds seem quite different from each other in terms of physical appearance, as well as temperament.
The Golden Pitbull potentially has all the best traits of its parents: the strength and loyalty of a Pit, the playful and affectionate nature of a Golden Retriever, and the intelligence of both.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Origin and History
There is no known record of how the first Golden Retriever Pitbull mix first came to be. As one of the rarest hybrids, there isn’t a lot of information about the history of the Golden Retriever Pit mix.
Fortunately, we can take a closer look at the history of the two parent breeds to learn more about this hybrid.
Known for its spectacular long golden coat, the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The breed originated from Scotland and was initially bred as the ideal gundog in the 1800s.
As a well-loved canine, the Golden Retriever breed is often crossbred with other dogs. Other examples of Golden Retriever hybrids are the Golden Rottie and the Goldmaraner.
Meanwhile, American Pit Bull Terriers do not have the same charming reputation as Golden Retrievers due to misinformation about the breed.
Historically, Pitbulls were bred for dog fighting, hence their reputation for being ferocious and menacing. Their powerful build can also be intimidating to many people.
However, the Pitbull is gentle and affectionate when trained and socialized properly. When bred together with the Golden Retriever, you get a powerful but playful, loving, and loyal Pitbull Golden Retriever mix.
Check out this video to learn more about the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix:
9 Popular Questions About Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix | Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix<a href="https://youtu.be/-Dv8P8zh5_A" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F-Dv8P8zh5_A%2F0.jpg" alt="9 Popular Questions About Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix | Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Appearance
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As a hybrid breed, it’s quite difficult to predict what a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix will look like, especially with two such different-looking parent breeds.
However, there are some features that we can expect from a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix. For instance, this hybrid will most likely have a broad skull, either a wide or long muzzle, and round or almond-shaped eyes.
You can also expect your Pitbull Golden Retriever mix to have floppy ears. Even if their Pitbull parent’s ears are cropped, their pups will still genetically inherit the Pitbull’s natural ears.
Its eye color will depend on the eye color of its parents. It may range from darker shades like brown and black to lighter colors like blue.
The Pitbull Golden Retriever mix can inherit either the field Golden Retriever’s build, which is long-limbed and lean, or the stocky and muscular physique of the American Pitbull Terrier.
Most Golden Retriever Pit mixes tend to have the short coat of the Pitbull, though sometimes, they inherit the signature lustrous long coat that the Golden Retriever is known for, and in even rarer cases, both.
The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix’s coats can come in a range of colors: golden, mahogany, merle, yellow, black, grey, brindle, and many more. After all, its Pitbull parent alone has over 20 coat color variations.
You may even see a white or blue fawn Pitbull Golden Retriever mix if one of its parents is a white Pitbull or blue fawn Pitbull.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Size and Weight
Usually, the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix will be a medium or large dog, standing at around 16 to 24 inches tall at the withers when fully grown. Weight-wise, expect this mix to range between 60 and 75 pounds.
Like most medium-breed dogs, the Pitbull Golden Retriever reaches its adult size at around 12 to 15 months, though it may still continue to grow a little bit until 18 months of age.
More often than not, Golden Retriever Pitbulls tend to be slightly bigger and heavier than females.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Temperament and Personality
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As descendants of two highly-affectionate, trainable, and loyal breeds, Pitbull Golden Retriever mixes can make for great family dogs.
Golden Retrievers are known for being one of the friendliest breeds and are very loving. Meanwhile, despite their aggressive reputation, Pitbulls are, in fact, very sweet dogs.
Both parent breeds also show high intelligence, making the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix a highly trainable dog that can do well with basic and specialized training.
When the Golden Retriever and Pitbull are bred together, their offspring make an excellent choice for a family dog.
However, this mix may develop separation anxiety due to their affectionate nature, but this can be prevented with proper training.
It’s also worth noting that your Golden Retriever Pit mix might not get along well with other pets due to its Pitbull lineage. Pitbulls are not known to be violent with humans but can be intolerant of other animals.
This means that the Golden Retriever Pit mix might be a better match for experienced dog owners, who can train them properly and correct any aggressive tendencies early on.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Lifespan and Health Issues
With two robust parent breeds, the Golden Retriever Pit mix is expected to be a generally healthy dog.
If they are bred from healthy parents and are well taken care of throughout their life, Golden Retriever Pit mixes can live from 10 to 13 years.
To get a better idea of how long your Golden Retriever Pit mix can live, check out this article on the lifespan of Pitbulls.
Here are some of the common health issues that are likely to be inherited by the Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix:
Hip Dysplasia: This condition is common in many dogs, but especially in the parent breeds of the Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix. Since hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease, this hybrid is especially prone to it. Hip dysplasia causes a loosening in the hip joints, which causes excruciating pain.
Skin Conditions: Various diseases of the skin such as seborrhea, ichthyosis, and allergies could affect your Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix. Signs of a skin condition include scratching, crusty lesions, a foul odor, and a greasy coat. These are often treated with oral medication or medicated shampoos, depending on your dog’s needs.
Cancer: This can be inherited by your Golden Pit Retriever from its Goldie parent. Often affecting dogs in their senior years, cancer can come in many forms and affect many different parts of your dog’s body. Signs include lumps or bumps, wounds that don’t heal, swollen lymph nodes, and abnormal bleeding.
Being vigilant and keeping an eye out for these health conditions will help you detect them early on, giving your Golden Retriever mixed Pitbull the best chance at recovering.
How to Take Care of Your Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix
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Pitbull Golden Retriever mix dogs are quite hardy and don’t require any special care, apart from the basics: a healthy diet, regular grooming, proper training, and enrichment.
Let’s dive deeper into each of these.
Food and Diet
You should give your Pitbull Golden Retriever mix the best dry dog food that contains all the nutrients they will need to stay healthy.
Moreover, select a dog food that is tailored to your pet’s size to make sure they are getting just the right amount of calories.
For a better idea of how much to feed your pet, take a look at this Pitbull feeding guide.
You may also offer your Golden Retriever Pit mix occasional treats, but make sure to choose a healthy kind to keep them from becoming overweight.
For puppies, large-breed puppy food will make sure they have enough nutrition as they go through several growth spurts.
Feeding your Golden Pit Bull Retriever mix twice a day is optimal. This will give them enough energy to fuel them throughout the day.
If you want to get a better idea of how much your Pitbull Retriever mix should eat, you can also base it on the feeding guidelines for Golden Retrievers.
Cleaning and Grooming
The grooming requirements of your Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix will depend heavily on the coat length that they inherit from their parents — whether they inherit a single or double coat.
Since many Golden Pitbulls inherit the short single coats of Pit Bulls, we can expect their grooming to be low-maintenance.
Bathing once a month and brushing weekly should be enough for them to maintain a healthy coat.
However, Golden Pitbulls that turn out to be medium-coated dogs or long-coated dogs will require more grooming. You will need to bathe them at least once every two weeks and brush them daily to keep their coats healthy.
Also, remember to regularly trim your dog’s claws as keeping them long can lead to injuries.
You can also regularly cover their paws in dog-friendly balm as extra protection if they are walking on hot or rough pavements.
Training and Exercise
Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes are inherently smart dogs, and owners can make the most of this through training.
Training them from a young age with basic commands will make it easier for you to walk them and travel with them in the future.
Using positive reinforcement — rewarding their desired behaviors instead of punishing unwanted behaviors — is regarded by many dog trainers as the most effective and humane method of teaching your dog.
You can also introduce your Golden Pitbull to crate training. The practice of crate training will make it easier to potty train them and prevent them from chewing on household items.
As an energetic and active mixed-breed dog, your Golden Pitbull will also need a lot of exercise — at least one to two hours each day.
How Much Does a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Cost? Puppy Prices & Expenses
As rare as the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is, it’s difficult to determine a standard price for puppies. Because they are so rare, the price range is on the high side, ranging from $1,500 to $2,500.
To get an idea of how much your Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix might cost, take a look at our Golden Retriever price guide and Pitbull price guide.
Aside from the cost of the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix puppy, you also need to prepare for other expenses such as food, vet fees, and other supplies.
Here’s a summary of all the initial expenses associated with owning a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix:
With this in mind, you’ll be able to plan your budget more thoroughly before bringing home your Pitbull Golden Retriever mix.
It’s also practical to set aside an emergency fund in case your dog needs urgent medical care or has destroyed something that needs to be repaired immediately.
Places to Find Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Puppies for Sale and Adoption
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Because the Golden Retriever Pit Bull mix is a rare breed, you may be hard-pressed to find a reputable breeder that offers this hybrid.
If you’re determined to find your Pitbull Golden Retriever mix, your best bet might be to browse puppy advertising websites.
To help you out, I’ve listed down a number of sites where you can find reputable breeders offering Pitbull Golden Retriever mixes for sale:
Lancaster Puppies – This website advertises puppies of over 200 breeds from across the country. They have a page dedicated to Golden Retriever mix puppies of all hybrids. You can check this page regularly for a Golden Pitbull.
PuppySpot – This platform has found happy homes for hundreds of puppies in the United States. While they advertise mostly purebred puppies, they occasionally have mixed breeds too. Stay updated on their site to see if they have Golden Retriever Pitbull mix puppies for sale.
PuppyFinder – This website lists puppies for sale from many different hybrids, with pages dedicated to a number of Golden Retriever mixes. There is a good chance that you will find your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix puppy here.
Golden Retriever breeders or Pitbull breeders may occasionally have mixed puppies for sale.
Aside from checking these breeders and websites that advertise puppies for sale, you can also try your luck at various rescues or shelters.
Here are some rescues and shelters where you might be able to adopt a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix:
Friends to the Forlorn – Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this shelter is among the Pitbull rescues dedicated to saving Pit Bulls, Pitbull-type dogs, and bully breeds. There may occasionally be a Pitbull Lab or Golden Pitbull on their website.
Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue – As one of the largest Golden Retriever rescues in the country, this group rehomes over 300 dogs every year. Their dogs for adoption include both Golden Retrievers and Retriever mixes like the Pitbull English Golden Retriever or the Lab Pitbull Golden Retriever, and more.
Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida – Based in Florida, this shelter has rescued thousands of Golden Retrievers, including many Goldie mixes. Their website shows the age, gender, and personality of adoptable dogs, as well as the parentage of mixed breeds. You can check them out regularly to find a Golden Retriever Pit mix.
If you’re considering adoption and want to know more about the experience, take a look at our guide to dog adoption.
You can also check out our guide to finding free puppies in your area to further cut down on costs.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix
Bringing home a puppy or new dog should not be done lightly and must be considered from all angles. In this section, I list the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix.
When it comes to owning a Golden Pitbull, here are the pros:
Loving and affectionate: It’s safe to say that the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is one of the friendliest dogs out there. With their sweet temperaments, they provide enough love and emotional support to their human companions.
Highly intelligent: The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix ranks high in terms of intellect. This makes them easy to train and good candidates for being service dogs, therapy dogs, or search-and-rescue dogs.
Relatively low maintenance: Golden Retriever Pitbull mix dogs are robust and generally healthy, with a need only for minimal to moderate grooming. As athletic, medium-sized, or sometimes large dogs, they can thrive in various environments and situations.
Loyal and protective: If you’re looking for a pet that will make a loyal companion and a great watchdog, the Golden Retriever Pitbull is a good choice. Their loyalty and intelligence make them alert to danger and unsafe situations.
Meanwhile, here are some of the cons of owning a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix:
Unpredictable appearance: As a mixed breed, it’s difficult to say what your Golden Retriever Pitbull puppy will look like or even how big it will get. Their final color, height, and weight will be revealed as they age.
Not recognized by kennel clubs: Because the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is a hybrid, it cannot be registered in kennel clubs and, therefore, cannot be entered in most dog shows and competitions.
High exercise needs: Active owners will meet their match with the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix. However, more sedentary or busy people might find their daily exercise requirements to be too demanding.
Can be intolerant of other pets: While gentle with humans, the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix might not be as welcoming of smaller animals. Fortunately, early socialization can help with this.
Going over this list will hopefully give you a better picture of what it’s like to own this hybrid. With the pros and cons laid out, you can more easily determine if this dog is a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do Golden Retrievers and Pitbulls Get Along?
The calm nature of Golden Retrievers makes them get along well with other dogs, including Pitbulls.
While Pitbulls can be protective and sometimes intolerant of other dogs, proper socialization can ensure that they get along well with dogs of any breed.
Are Golden Retriever Pitbull Mixes Aggressive?
Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes are not inherently aggressive. Aggression in dogs usually happens when they are conditioned to behave that way, such as when they are bred to be fighting dogs.
However, due to their Pit Bull heritage, your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix might show some aggression to smaller animals. This can be corrected early through training and early socialization.
Do Golden Retriever Pitbull Mixes Shed a Lot?
As thick double-coated dogs, Golden Retrievers shed their undercoat quite heavily twice a year. At the same time, Pitbulls as single-coated dogs shed throughout the year.
Depending on the type of coat your dog inherits from its parents, you can watch out for moderate to heavy shedding at least two times a year.
Are Golden Retriever Pitbull Mixes Hypoallergenic?
Neither of its parent breeds is hypoallergenic, so the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix is the same. Hence, this breed might not be the best choice for those who suffer from allergies.
The Pitbull Golden Retriever mix may also drool often, causing potential problems for those who are allergic to dog saliva.
Final Thoughts: Is a Golden Pitbull Mix the Right Dog for You?
The Golden Pitbull may be one of the rarest mixed breeds out there, but those who own them can attest to how great they are as pets.
However, the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix will do best with an experienced owner who can handle this dog’s physical strength and harness its intelligence in the best possible way.
With the right training and care, dog lovers and owners can find a worthy companion in this one-of-a-kind hybrid. Share your thoughts about the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix in the comments below!
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