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10 Popular Golden Retriever Mixes (With Pictures)

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on March 18, 2024 by Nicole Cosgrove

10 Popular Golden Retriever Mixes (With Pictures)

Are you considering adopting a dog for your family? Do you think a Golden Retriever or Golden Retriever mix could be the dog for you? Find out more about Golden Retrievers and some of the best Golden Retriever mixes below.

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The 10 Popular Golden Retriever Mixes

1. Goldador (Labrador Retriever x Golden Retriever Mix)

Goldador golden retriever labrador mix
Image Credit: Nathan.Jones.Camera, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–12 years
Height About 24 inches
Weight 55–85 pounds
Temperament Loyal, friendly, excitable

One of the only breeds that consistently ranks higher than the Golden Retriever in popularity is the Labrador Retriever. The Goldador, a mix of both breeds, is the best of both worlds. In terms of personality, the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever have a lot in common, so you can likely expect more of the same from Goldador mixes.

Like both of its parent breeds, the Goldador is very friendly, loyal, and athletic and usually does well with children. Keep in mind that, like the Golden Retriever, the Goldador is a fairly large dog. If you have small children, you should monitor your dog when he is interacting with your kids; although they are usually gentle, these dogs can get excited and accidentally knock over little ones.


2. Gollie (Golden Retriever x Collie Mix)

gollie_Sponner, Shutterstock
Image Credit: Sponner, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height Up to 24 inches
Weight 50–75 pounds
Temperament Loving, friendly, protective

The Gollie is a crossbreed between the Golden Retriever and the Collie. Like Golden Retrievers, Collies are social and intelligent dogs that usually do well with kids. Thanks to the Lassie films, Collies are well known for their loyalty. With parents like the Collie and the Golden Retriever, your Gollie is likely to be a loving and loyal pet. He may also inherit the Collie’s watchfulness, though you probably shouldn’t rely on your Gollie as a watchdog—the Golden Retriever has never met a stranger.


3. Goldendoodle (Poodle x Golden Retriever Mix)

GoldenDoodle_Josh Fields, pexels
Image Credit: Josh Fields, Pexels
Lifespan 10–15 years
Height 21.5–26.5 inches
Weight 30–45 pounds
Temperament Easy to train, friendly, intelligent

As mentioned, Goldendoodles tend to be low-shedding dogs, making them an appealing alternative to the Golden Retriever. But that’s not all these Poodle and Golden Retriever mixes have to offer. Although they look like fluffy teddy bears, these pups are very athletic and playful dogs who love to go out for walks, runs, swims, and hikes. Goldendoodles are highly intelligent dogs that are also fairly easy to train with plenty of positive reinforcement.


4. Golden Cocker Retriever (Golden Retriever & Cocker Spaniel Mix)

golden cocker retriever puppy
Image Credit: PxHere
Lifespan 10–15 years
Height 20”–24”
Weight 30–45 pounds
Temperament Intelligent, friendly, energetic

The Golden Cocker is a mix between the Golden Retriever and the Cocker Spaniel. In addition to the standard “golden” color, the Golden Cocker Retriever’s coat color can be either black, red, or fawn due to its Cocker Spaniel parentage. Like many Golden Retriever mixes, the Golden Cocker Retriever is not a dog you should bring home if you can’t dedicate time to making sure it gets adequate exercise. These dogs are docile but active; they have a high energy level and need at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. The Golden Cocker Retriever is a moderate shedder that needs to be brushed on a daily basis.


5. Basset Retriever (Basset Hound x Golden Retriever)

Basset Retriever resting on park grass
Image Credit: Jon Osumi, Shutterstock
Lifespan 8–12 years
Height 10–12 inches
Weight 40–70 pounds
Temperament Loyal, intelligent, patient

The Basset Retriever is the product of two breeds that may seem like an unlikely pair: the Golden Retriever and the Basset Hound. While the Golden Retriever is an energetic and eager-to-please pup, the Basset Hound can be fairly stubborn and sometimes lazy. Overall, the Basset Retriever is a calm, loyal, and sometimes protective dog. They are not aggressive pets and tend to be good with kids. Depending on which of his parents your Basset Retriever inherits his coat from, his grooming needs can range quite a bit. If the coat is longer, like the Golden Retriever, you should plan to brush him at least three times per week; if the coat is shorter, like the Basset Retriever, you only need to brush about two times per week.


6. Goldmation (Dalmatian x Golden Retriever)

Goldmation portrait
Image Credit: Karen Rojas 05, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–12 years
Height 19–23 inches
Weight 55–70 pounds
Temperament Playful, friendly

As you might guess from its name, the Goldmation is a cross between the Dalmatian and the Golden Retriever. If your Goldmation inherits his temperament from his Dalmatian parent, he will be a good watchdog for your family. These dogs can be quick to bark, so you will need to be patient with your pet; you probably won’t be able to stop the barking altogether, but with some training, you can control it. Like other Golden Retriever breeds, the Goldmation tends to shed heavily, so you may want to consider a different mix if you want a dog that is low-shedding.


7. Golden Boxer (Golden Retriever x Boxer)

golden boxer
Image Credit: kung_tom, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–15 years
Height 22–25 inches
Weight 60–75 pounds
Temperament Loyal, watchful, energetic

The Golden Boxer is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Boxer. These dogs are good family dogs who will take well to children and pets as long as they are socialized early on. Boxers are often used as guard dogs, so your Golden Boxer may be wary around strangers, but not aggressive. Boxers are very active dogs; depending on how much he physically resembles his Boxer parent, your Golden Boxer may need high-intensity exercise on a daily basis. These exercise needs mean that the Golden Boxer may not be suited to apartment living.


8. Golden Cavalier (Golden Retriever x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Mix)

Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 17–18 inches
Weight 35–40 pounds
Temperament Playful, dependent, loving

 The Golden Cavalier is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Physically, these dogs look like smaller versions of the Golden Retriever. If you want a Golden Retriever but don’t want a large dog, the Golden Cavalier could be a good option for you. Unlike other dogs on this list, the Golden Cavalier is not a highly active dog; however, you will still need to offer your dog plenty of opportunities for physical and mental stimulation.


9. Golden Dox (Golden Retriever x Dachshund Mix)

Golden Dox_Shutterstock_Joy Brown
Image Credit: Joy Brown, Shutterstock
Lifespan 8–14 years
Height 12–20 inches
Weight 30–50 pounds
Temperament Intelligent, friendly, stubborn

The Golden Dox is a medium dog that is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Dachshund. These dogs usually do well with kids and other dogs, but you may want to reconsider this mix if you have small animals because of the Dachshund’s terrier instincts. The Golden Dox is an overall sweet and friendly dog, but it does have a stubborn streak that can make training a challenge at times. These dogs may be small compared to the Golden Retriever, but you need to make sure they are getting adequate exercise; a bored Golden Dox may be prone to destructive behaviors such as chewing.


10. Golden Chi (Chihuahua x Golden Retriever Mix)

Lifespan 11–12 years
Height Around 17 inches
Weight 15–30 pounds
Temperament Intelligent, stubborn, protective

The Golden Chi, a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Chihuahua, is perhaps the strangest mix on this list. After all, the sheer size difference between the Chihuahua and the Golden Retriever can make breeding the two rather difficult. If you happen to find a Golden Chi, you should know that they are great dogs that combine the happy-go-lucky personality of the Golden Retriever with the feistiness of the Chihuahua.

Depending on the personality traits your dog inherits, he may not be very good with kids and other pets; Chihuahuas can be aggressive, especially if they are not well socialized. At up to 30 pounds, these dogs are the smallest on this list, making them suitable for apartment living.

golden retriever_Shutterstock_Olena Brodetska
Image Credit: Olena Brodetska, Shutterstock

What Makes the Golden Retriever So Popular?

Even if you don’t know much about dogs, you have probably heard of the Golden Retriever. That’s because this breed is one of the most popular breeds out there. According to the American Kennel Club, they are the third most popular registered dog breed in the United States.

So, why is the Golden Retriever such a popular breed? For starters, they are intelligent, social dogs that tend to be good with kids and easy to train. They are also very athletic dogs, which means they are great dogs to take out for a run or to enter into dog competitions. Due to their intelligence and stable temperament, Golden Retrievers are commonly used as emotional support animals and rescue dogs.

Although Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs, there are a few reasons why you may not want to get a purebred. One reason is cost. Although the price of buying a Golden Retriever puppy can vary, you can expect to pay at least $500 and up to around $3,500 for one of these dogs. You aren’t very likely to find a purebred Golden Retriever in a shelter, but you may very well find a Golden Retriever mix. The cost of adopting a crossbreed from a shelter will be significantly lower than it would cost to buy a purebred puppy.

Another reason why you may decide against buying a purebred Golden Retriever is if you don’t want to deal with a dog that sheds a lot. In addition to shedding, Golden Retrievers need to be groomed on a regular basis. If you like the Golden Retriever breed but want to find a dog that sheds less, you may want to consider a crossbreed that is low-shedding, such as the Goldendoodle.

Now that you know a little bit more about Golden Retrievers and why they are such popular dogs, keep reading to learn about some of the most popular Golden Retriever mixes.

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Conclusion

Any Golden Retriever mix will have at least some of the Golden Retriever’s friendly personality, making them great dogs for crossbreeding. If you’re looking for a dog with the personality of a Golden Retriever but smaller, less active, or lower-shedding, you should consider a Golden Retriever mix. While you may be able to find a breeder with the mix you want, don’t forget to check your local shelter if you are still looking for a pet; there are many dogs out there just waiting for a place to call home.

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Featured Image Credit: Tawat Kambum, Shutterstock

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