Origins

• Labrador retrievers were bred by fisherman in Newfoundland to help catch fish, primarily by bringing back lost fishing nets. They were later bred with hunting breeds like setters and pointers until they became exceptional gundogs, retrieving downed game for bird hunters.
  
  Golden retrievers were also bred for hunting birds, but originated in Scotland and are a mix of yellow retrievers, Irish setters and water spaniels.
  
  

Color and Coat

• Goldies live up to their name, ranging in color from deep gold to light cream. Labs come in black, yellow, and chocolate. Where the Lab has a short and dense hard coat, the Goldie has long, lush silky fur. The coats of both these dogs are water-resistant, but where Goldies require regular grooming, Labs can get away with an occasional brushing and shampoo.
  
  

Size

• A significant difference between the Golden retriever and the Labrador retriever is their potential size. Goldies range from 55 to 75 pounds when grown, while an adult Lab can weigh up to 100 pounds.
  
  

Personality

• Both breeds are known for their intelligence and loyalty. These dogs are eager to please their owners and trainers and tend to be consistently obedient. Because they are hunting dogs, trained to range far and wide, both Goldies and Labs need plenty of vigorous exercise every day.
  
  

Abilities

• In addition to being excellent hunting dogs, Golden retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are good choices for many jobs---guiding the blind, search and rescue, drug detection---as well as agility training and obedience competitions.