Labradors and Golden Retrievers are both known to be fantastic family pets because of their warm, friendly and likable nature. They’re both hunting dogs and have many similar characteristics. Still, some differences set them apart from each other that should be considered if you’re looking for a duck hunting companion.
The Labrador and Golden Retriever are both excellent for duck hunting and have gentle mouths that enable them to carry the game without damaging it. Labradors require less maintenance than Golden Retrievers. Both dogs have anatomy that allows them to move quickly in the water.
This article will explore the differences between the Labrador and Golden Retriever. Hopefully, it can guide you in making the right choice of the best dog for your duck hunting. Keep reading.
Differences Between a Labrador and a Golden Retriever
Let’s look at an overview of some of their differences before getting into each breed’s details.
| Differences | Labrador | Golden Retriever |
| Personality | Independent, which sometimes makes it hard to train | Enjoys being around people and wants to please their owner, easier to train |
| Temperament | Energetic, playful, and cheerful | Calm, patient, friendly, and hardly ever aggressive |
| Coat | Short, straight coat with a strong, broad tail | Long, thick, shaggy coat and tail that requires regular grooming |
| Weight and Height | Weighs between 55 and 88 pounds (24.95–39.92 kg) and is about 24 inches (60.96 cm) tall | Weighs between 55 and 75 pounds (24.95–34.02 kg) and is 20–24 inches (50.8–60.96 cm) tall |
| Average Lifespan | 10–14 years | 10–12 years |
| Litter | 5–13 puppies | 5–10 puppies |
| Origin | Canada | Scotland |
Regardless of these differences, both the Labrador and Golden Retriever are good hunting dogs.
Labradors Were Bred To Hunt
Labradors were bred to hunt and have been hunting ducks and other game animals since the 1800s. They were skilled at picking up ducks that hunters had shot and carefully carrying them to the hunter. Since they have soft mouths, they can hold the game in their mouths without damaging it.
Labradors make great hunting companions because of the following:
- They’re highly intelligent.
- They’re strong swimmers.
- They thrive on an active lifestyle.
- They have a strong, solid, physical structure.
Labradors are highly intelligent and require constant mental stimulation, making them excellent working dogs. These dogs typically serve as search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs, and hunting dogs. Even though they like their independence, they follow instructions well and are consistent in their behavior.
Since they have high energy levels, these dogs love hunting as it provides them with the ideal opportunity to exercise. When not given an outlet for their energy, Labs can become destructive. Labs are fast and agile and perform well both on land and water.
Labradors are excellent for swimming, thanks to their short, dense, oily, and water-resistant coat. Their hair is thick enough to keep them warm but short so that ice doesn’t stick to their fur when they’re out of the water.
Labs have webbed paws that give them control in the water and a thick, rudder tail that helps them to swim.
Golden Retrievers Were Bred As Gundogs
Golden Retrievers love water and have a keen sense of smell which is extremely useful in hunting. They were bred as gundogs, and their job was to collect ducks, waterfowl, and other game animals that were shot. Like Labradors, they have gentle mouths, allowing them to carry the game without damaging it.
Golden Retrievers are excellent duck hunting dogs because of the following:
- They’re extremely intelligent.
- These dogs love water and are natural swimmers.
- It’s easy to train them.
- They have a strong, solid physical structure.
- They love to exercise.
Like Labs, Golden Retrievers are intelligent working dogs, also employed as guide dogs, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and hunting dogs. Since they love pleasing their owners, they’re obedient and good at following instructions.
Golden Retrievers are fast swimmers and are naturally drawn to water. They also have an oily coat that makes their fur water-resistant, and webbed paws allow them to swim more efficiently.
Exercise is crucial in maintaining their health, and hunting allows them to run in wide-open spaces and swim. Hunting also keeps Golden Retrievers mentally stimulated as they have something to focus on.
Labrador vs. Golden Retriever: Which Breed Is the Better Choice for Hunting Ducks?
Neither breed is the better choice for hunting ducks—they’re both equally good at what they do: hunting. When selecting a dog, it comes down to personal preference and the tiniest details as these dogs are so similar in characteristics and temperament.
You Still Need To Train Your Lab or Goldie How To Hunt Ducks
Even though it’s an instinct for Labradors and Golden Retrievers to hunt, they still must be trained to hone their skills and instill discipline. The proper training also reduces the risk of your dog getting injured while hunting.
It’s always best to begin training your dog when he’s a puppy. This way, you’re not having to break bad habits and are essentially starting on a clean slate. When deciding on a pup, most hunters recommended choosing a puppy from a line of hunters rather than domestic family pets. Also, make sure your dog is healthy.
Once you’ve selected a puppy to be trained as your duck hunting companion, you can begin training by following these steps.
- Start with obedience training.
- Get your pup comfortable around water.
- Familiarize your puppy with guns.
- Teach your puppy to hunt.
- Train your dog to get into the water.
The first training step involves teaching your pup obedience and getting them to follow simple instructions like ‘sit’ and ‘come.’ Learning obedience lays the foundation. Hence, they need to master this before moving on.
Once your puppy has learned to follow instructions consistently, you can move on to the water training. While both Labradors and Golden Retrievers are natural swimmers, you still need to ensure they’re comfortable and happy in the water. You can do this by letting your dog swim in the pool at home if you have one or taking your dog to the beach. If you don’t have a pool or access to a beach, you can buy a kiddie’s inflatable pool for your dog to splash around in.
Since dogs’ ears are much more sensitive to sound than humans’, the sound of gunshots can be terrifying. Get your dog used to the sound by taking him to target practice. It can be overwhelming so start slowly. Only fire the gun a few times at their first session, as overexposure can be stressful.
The next step is the actual hunt. During obedience training, your pup learned how to react to specific words. Now you must teach your dog to retrieve when they hear a word. It’s a good idea to use scented dummies for your dog to collect and reward them when they’ve recovered them to reinforce this behavior.
When your dog has mastered retrieving the dummies on land, you can use the same system to teach them to retrieve dummies from the water. Please don’t rush the process. Let your pup practice as much as possible before taking them out on a real hunt.
Final Remarks
Labradors and Golden Retrievers are both excellent breeds for hunting ducks. Both breeds are highly intelligent, good-natured, hard-working, and can be trained. Whether you choose a Labrador or a Golden Retriever, you can expect them to be loyal and efficient duck hunting companions and loving family pets.
Read Also:
- Are Lab Puppies High Maintenance? Everything You Need To Know
- Labrador Vs Cocker Spaniel Shedding: Which Is Better?
- Can a Lab Live To Be 20 Years Old? Lifespan Explained