Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix

A chef mixes different ingredients to cook a new dish; a painter mixes different colors to paint a unique piece of art; an interior designer plays with different designs to find the one that feels right; dog breeders mix different breeds to combine the best qualities and develop a perfect breed.

Cross-breeding is not a new concept, as breeders have been doing this for eons. Mixing a Golden Retriever and Pitbull is a result of that concept.

In this article, you will know all about the Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix and how successful the breeders were to carry on with this breeding.

What is a Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix?

It’s a cross between a Golden Retriever and an American Pitbull Terrier. Breeders thought, why not mix one of the gregarious and intelligent breeds with a strong, muscular, and confident breed!

A Golden Retriever, an exuberant Scottish gundog, stands at the position of 3rd most popular dog in the U.S. because of its calm demeanor and high trainability. In contrast, an American Pitbull Terrier is a brave, tenacious, and clever dog having a 235 PSI bite force and a running speed between 25 to 30 mph.

Based on these features, one can expect a hybrid family protection dog, even-tempered but strong-willed.

But here is a little trouble. When a breeder mixes two dogs, there are chances that the puppies don’t have the qualities that they expected. Out of the litter of 6, there’d probably be one or two puppies possessing the desired traits.  

Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix General Features

The appearance of these dogs depends on the dominant genes of their parents. Generally, Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes have a golden or yellow color or a white base with black and/or brown on top. Their coat texture and length also have a variety of possibilities, such as it can be short, delicate, and thin, to medium and long. If the coat is long, chances are, it’d be shaggy, wavy, or gets curly at the end.

Here is the general profile of Golden Retriever and Pitbull’s appearance.

Based on the above profiles, you can expect any of the possible combinations. A Golden Retriever and Pitbull Mix can be large- or medium-sized; it can have fur all over the body or not at all. In some cases, puppies from this mix are reported to have hair on their ears only.

Generally, this mix is a large dog when fully grown, weighing around 30 to 75 pounds and standing between 17 to 24 inches tall. The females are generally a little lighter and smaller, but not always.

Golden Retriever and Pitbull Mix Temperament

Golden Retriever and Pitbull Mix dogs have an even temperament, but as with all the hybrid dogs, predicting the exact temperament is like throwing arrows in the dark.

Talking about the temperament of the parent breeds, the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) test results show that Golden Retrievers have a score of 85.6%  and American Pitbull Terriers have a score of 87.4%—higher the percentage, friendlier the breed.

The mix of these two breeds is one of the friendliest dogs ever. They are devoted, protective, loyal, and goofy. But that depends on the individual nature of parents.

However, the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix does exhibit temperamental issues if left alone. These dogs love to socialize with humans and other dogs. They love attention and can develop separation anxiety, and as a result, it might end up barking, chewing, and digging.

Other than their hate for being left alone, the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is a good dog for families with children and seniors because it is gentle and forms strong bonds with children. It is recommended that an elder be there at the bonding time because this breed has a Pitbull bloodline—dogs developed for fighting.

While these dogs are friendly, it’s better to start their obedience training from puppyhood.

Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix Health Problems

Being a mixed breed, Pitbull Golden Retriever is at risk of developing various diseases that the parent breeds are predisposed to.

Let’s find out which diseases are common in its parents.

According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Golden Retrievers can develop cardiovascular disorders, dental issues, golden retriever neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ncl), gr1 progressive retinal atrophy, gr2 progressive retinal atrophy, ichthyosis vulgaris—a condition that causes widespread and persistent thick, dry, rough, “fish-scale” skin—muscular dystrophies, shoulder, elbow, and hip dysplasia. The Golden Retriever has a 60% chance of developing cancer—the highest of any breed.

On the other hand, American Pitbull Terriers are at risk of progressive spinal cord disorder, hips and shoulder dysplasia, thyroid infections, and eye conditions.

Keeping in view the above, it is expected that the mix can have such issues. However, if a dog is adopted from a reputable breeder, is given proper nutrition and physical activity, it can comfortably live for 10 to 15 years.

Golden Retriever Pit Mix Fitness

Golden Retriever Pit Mix are high-energy dogs and require vigorous exercise to stay fit.

Though Goldies and Pits have contrast appearances and differ in various traits, when it comes to energy level, they both are the same. Both breeds have elevated energy levels and love to spend their time playing, running, and jumping around. Both require 2 to 3 hours of exercise daily.

Consequently, their mix also needs considerable physical activity to stay in shape and keep the boredom away. Else, if the dog gets bored, it can make them fidgety and aggressive.

Golden Retriever Pit Mix Nutrition

A high-quality dog food prepared according to the dog’s age will have all the nutrients the breed needs. Not only age, but Golden Retriever Pit Mix’s nutrition requirements also vary per their size, activity levels, and health concerns. These dogs have high energy levels, requiring enough caloric intake that can meet their nutrient requirements.

Based on their parent’s profiles, since both their parents need 3 to 4 cups of dry dog food, their mix also requires 3 to 4 cups of dry dog food.

But make sure that you are feeding your dog with high-quality food that doesn’t contain any meat by-products and artificial ingredients.

You can select food for your Golden Retriever Pit Mix from the following:  

1. Healthy foods for Pitbull
2. Healthy foods for Golden Retrievers

While filling your dog’s tummy, keep in mind that he can become overweight, so look out for his caloric consumption and weight level. Other than regular meals, be careful about treats too. Treats can be important in training, but giving too many—and too much—can cause obesity.

As a puppy, Goldie-Pit mix should eat four balanced and high-quality meals daily. As an adult, he should eat twice per day, for a total of 1,600 calories. Consider replacing a cup of formula with raw pork or poultry, and take protein content to at least 18% of its diet.

Pitbull Golden Retriever Mix Grooming and Care

Their grooming requirements depend on the thickness and length of their coat. As it’s a mix, it can have a short or long coat.

If the genes from Golden Retriever are dominant, expect your dog to have long lustrous hair, else you’d have a broad-jawed short-coated dog, just like a Pitbull.

If your dog has a long coat, brush them daily, else brushing them weekly is enough.

Bathing them once a month is enough, but if your dog gets sweaty after playing or loves to roll in the dirt, give them a nice wash per requirements.

Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix