Golden Retriever Pit Mix – Sweet & Friendly Or A Menace?

Updated: October 13th, 2022

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The golden retriever pit bull mix is a fairly new and rare designer hybrid, created by crossing the American pit bull terrier and golden retriever dog breeds. If you are looking for a loyal and active companion dog, the golden pit is a fantastic choice!

While bully breeds, including pit bulls and their mixes, have a bad rep for aggression, golden retriever pit bull mixes are anything but aggressive! This cute-looking crossbreed is one of the friendliest dogs you are going to meet! Exceptionally gentle with children and devoted to their people, they are ideal family dogs that will consider you a member of their pack.

Stay with me until the end of this article to find out everything you need to know about the pit bull retriever mix, including their nutritional needs, potential health problems, exercise requirements, and much more!

What Type Of Dog Is A Golden Retriever Pit Bull Mix?

A golden retriever pit mix is a designer breed developed by breeding a purebred golden retriever with a purebred American pit bull terrier. Recently developed and still fairly rare, this unusual crossbreed is still unfortunately affected by the negative press that is associated with pit bulls and other bully breeds. But remember, no dog is born aggressive, and it’s always the owner to blame if the dog is behaving badly.

It’s virtually impossible to pinpoint how and when the golden retriever pit bull mix came to be. To get a better idea of what you can expect from this mix, let’s take a look at its parent breeds.

Golden Retriever

On one side of this crossbreed’s parentage is the golden retriever, a longtime favorite and one of the friendliest dog breeds in existence. Hailing from Scotland, the golden retriever is a medium-to-large size gun dog developed by Dudley Majoribanks. Originally bred to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game birds during hunts, goldens are energetic, smart, and highly trainable people pleasers.

American Pit Bull Terrier

The American pit bull terrier was originally bred to bait bulls, but this breed evolved into all-around farm dogs and later moved into homes to become “nanny dogs.” Unfortunately, this breed was also used by unscrupulous people in dogfighting rings. As a result, the APBT has been a subject of controversy and is even banned in some cities due to their reputation of being aggressive.

Fortunately, a properly raised and socialized American pit bull terrier is anything but aggressive! They are loyal companions and gentle family dogs that shower their people with love and affection.

Golden Pit Bull Mix Appearance

Being a mixed-breed dog, the golden pit bull may take more after one of its parent breeds or be a perfect mix of them both. Expect your mix to be solidly built with a strong layer of muscles. When it comes to features, the dog’s head should be the mix of both parents: floppy ears and eyes that are usually brown but can also be blue.

Size, Weight & Height

While there are no set standards when it comes to size, most golden retriever pit bull mixes are large dogs. They are generally between 17 and 24 inches tall and weigh from 50 to 75 pounds. Female dogs are generally slightly smaller, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Coat & Color

Considering that pit bulls and goldens have completely different coats, it comes as no surprise that their offspring can sport nearly any coat length. Depending on which parent breed your golden pit bull takes more after, it can have a short, medium, or long coat. The short coat is usually thin and fine, while the long coat can be shaggy or wavy, and some dogs even have curls.

Besides different coat lengths, the golden retriever pit bull mix can sport a wide range of colors, which can also be found in solid, bi-colored, or tri-colored patterns. The most commonly seen colors are:

• Golden
• Yellow
• Black
• White
• Brown

Pit Bull And Golden Retriever Mix Temperament

Predicting the personality and temperament of any designer dog is hard work, since mixed breeds inherit a mixture of traits from two distinctive parent breeds. Therefore, there is no way of telling if your doggo will take more after a golden retriever or the APBT. Meeting both pit bull and golden retriever parents can give you a better idea of how your mix will look and behave when they grow up.

Although mixed breed dogs are always full of surprises, it’s safe to say your pit bull retriever mix will exhibit the following character traits.

Loyal

Both goldens and pit bulls are extremely loyal and devoted to their human families, and their offspring will be the same. While some might be wary of strangers and need some time to warm up to new people, all golden pit bulls are affectionate and loving with their owners.

Besides being a devoted member of the family, your golden retriever pit bull mix will consider you and all other household members as their “pack.” Both golden retrievers and American pit bull terriers get along nicely with children, so you can expect your mix to be the same.

Golden pits are extremely gentle and protective of kids and make superb family dogs that will watch over youngsters better than a paid nanny.

Social

Most golden retriever pit bulls are highly social and friendly towards everyone, although some can be aloof around strangers. Like their golden retriever parents, golden pits are social butterflies that enjoy meeting and greeting new people. They will also be just as eager to become fast friends with all other dogs in the doggy park.

However, despite their friendly nature, you should still start socializing your golden retriever mix puppy early on. Aim to introduce your pit bull retriever mix to different people, pets, noises, and situations while they are still a puppy. With the help of early socialization and obedience training, your pooch will grow into a well-mannered and friendly dog.

As companion dogs, golden pits love to spend time and interact with their owners, so they don’t appreciate being left at home alone often. When left alone for long periods of time, they tend to easily develop separation anxiety, which leads to destructive behaviors such as excessive barking, chewing, and digging.

Before you decide to bring this mixed-breed home, consider whether or not you’ll have enough time and energy to meet your dog’s social needs. If you work long hours or travel a lot, the golden retriever pit bull mix isn’t the right dog for you.

Fast Learner

Since both golden retrievers and pit bulls are intelligent breeds, it’s safe to say that their mixed breed offspring will be smart, too! Quick wits combined with an eager-to-please nature make golden pits highly trainable and fast learners. More often than not, it takes just a few obedience training sessions for this designer hybrid to pick up on all basic commands.

To help your pooch reach its full potential, start training during puppyhood and only use positive reinforcement techniques. Refrain from using physical punishment in training, since it won’t get you anywhere and will make your dog afraid of you or even aggressive.

Energetic

The golden retriever pit bull is a highly energetic and active dog that needs regular exercise to stay healthy and in good shape. Your doggo will need at least one hour of exercise every day and will enjoy long walks, running, jogging, or swimming.

Besides these activities, you should also take some time every day to play with your mix, as they enjoy all sorts of games. Hide and seek, flyball, tug-of-war, and fetch are all fantastic ways to keep your pooch exercised and mentally stimulated at the same time.

Golden Retriever Pit Mix Health Problems

Mixed breed dogs generally have fewer health problems than their purebred counterparts. Having said that, your golden retriever pit bull mix might still inherit some of the same conditions that typically affect both American pit bull terriers and golden retrievers.

The most common health problems seen in this crossbreed are:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Cancer
• Cataracts

The best way to prevent these issues from arising is to get your mix from a reputable breeder. Make sure to ask the breeder to show you the dog’s hip and elbow scores and ophthalmologist evaluation stating that there are no hereditary issues.

Pit bull golden retrievers have an average life span of 10 to 15 years and are considered a generally healthy mixed breed. Make sure you are ready for a long-term commitment before you decide to bring this mix home.

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Golden Pit Bull Mix Dietary Needs

The ideal diet for a pit bull and golden retriever mix consists of lots of proteins, fats, wholesome carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals. Being a large and active breed, your doggo will need around 1,600 calories per day divided into two meals.

Keep in mind that this is just a general estimate! Your dog may need more or less food depending on their age, activity levels, and any health problems.

Golden retriever pit bull puppies should have four small, evenly spaced meals a day and eat high-quality puppy food designed for large breed dogs. Once you bring a new puppy home, don’t change their food right away; instead, continue feeding the same food the breeder used for a month. After the first month or so, you can slowly transition your puppy to the formula of your choice.

Golden Pit Bull Grooming & Care

Depending on which genes your pooch inherits, they can either have a single or double coat in one of three lengths – short, medium, or long. Dogs with short and medium-long coats don’t shed a lot and only need to be brushed twice a week. Long-haired golden pits, on the other hand, shed profusely and have to be brushed every day.

The frequency of bathing will depend on how dirty and active your dog is. For most pups, once every three months will do the trick and help keep your mix looking and smelling great. However, you can always bathe your dog more often if they get extremely dirty or smelly from playing in the backyard or on outings. If more frequent bathing is necessary, use natural or mild hypoallergenic dog shampoos that won’t damage your dog’s coat and dry out their skin.

The rest of your golden pit’s grooming needs are fairly basic. This grooming regimen should involve regular nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning. To get your mix on board with their new grooming routine, start doing everything while they are still a puppy. This way, your golden retriever pit will get used to having their teeth brushed and nails trimmed and won’t object once they get older.

FAQs About The Golden Pit

Are golden retriever pit bull mix good dogs?

The golden retriever pit bull mix is a wonderful dog that is deeply devoted to its owners and is fond of children. Friendly and loyal by nature, these dogs get along with other pets and people and tend to greet everyone with a wagging tail. While some golden pits may be wary of strangers, early socialization can help these pups to become friendlier and more accepting of new people.

How much is a golden retriever pit bull mix?

The golden retriever pit bull costs on average anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500. This rather hefty price tag is because the golden pit is still an unusual and rare designer breed, so there aren’t many reputable breeders that make puppies available. Unlike other designer hybrids, this mix isn’t as popular, so you might want to consider adopting from a shelter or rescue organization if possible.

How big do pit bull retrievers get?

The golden retriever pit bull mix is generally a large breed, but since there are no set breed standards, some dogs may be smaller. Male dogs are usually between 18 and 24 inches tall at the withers, while females are typically around 17 to 22 inches tall. Golden pit bulls usually weigh from 50 to 75 pounds, with males often being heavier than female dogs.

Are pit bull golden retriever mix dogs aggressive?

Pit bull golden retriever mix dogs aren’t inherently aggressive. When properly socialized and trained from a young age, these dogs are no more dangerous than any other properly raised dog. Although pit bull mixes and bully breeds are often deemed as aggressive, golden retriever pit bulls are friendly, loyal, mild-mannered, and intelligent.

Do pit bull golden retriever mixes shed?

Pit bull golden retriever mixes that inherit the golden retriever’s long and shaggy coat tend to shed a lot all year round. To keep the shedding to a minimum and to prevent mats and tangles from forming, you’ll need to brush your dog daily, using a designated dog brush to fit its coat. Dogs that have short-to-medium-long coats, on the other hand, don’t shed much and will need to be brushed only once or twice a week.

If you have a long-haired golden pit, invest in a de-shedding brush and a sturdy slicker brush that can go deep in the coat and remove as much loose hair as possible.

Additionally, if you or anyone in your family suffer from allergies, this mix isn’t a good choice, as its long coat and associated dander will frequently trigger those allergies.

Conclusion

The golden retriever pit bull mix is still not as popular as other retriever mixes, but it is bound to attract the attention of dog lovers thanks to its loyal and friendly nature. Besides being extremely gentle with children and an ideal family dog, this mix is very easy to train and a great option for first-time owners. The breed’s most notable qualities are:

• Playful and energetic
• Fast learner and easy to train
• Extremely loyal

As a bonus, if you decide to get one, this mix will prove to be the friendliest canine you will ever own!

Do you own a pit bull golden retriever mix? What do you like most about your dog?

Share your experience owning this mixed-breed with us and our readers in the comment section below!