When a Golden Retriever and a Pitbull are crossed, the resultant offspring is called a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix. Also, they are known as “Pitbull Golden Retriever” or “Retriever Pit.” However, “Retriever Pit” is also referred to as Labrador Pit bulls. The Golden Retriever Pitbull mixes are highly energetic large breed dogs with unpredictable personalities. However, inheriting the common traits from their parents, these dogs are highly protective and social. They are friendly, affectionate, loyal, and devoted, which makes them ideal family pets. They are also wonderful companion dogs who love to help their pet parents and offer emotional support. Additionally, they are good watchdogs who are very keen on their surroundings.
Table of Contents
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Pros and Cons
PROS | CONS |
Great family pets | Barks loud |
Excellent watchdogs | Irregular behavior and temperament |
Excellent companion dogs | Can involve in destructive behavior when bored |
Socializes well | Unpredictable personality |
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Basic Information
- Name: Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
- Height: 17 to 24 inches
- Weight: 35-75 lbs.
- Size: Large
- Coat: Short, manageable coat, or long shaggy coats
- Color: Dark Golden Hue, Black, Brindle, Brown, White, Solid, Bi-colored, Tricolored
- Energy: High
- Activities: Agility, obedience, or fly ball
- Group: Working
- Barking Level: High
- Shedding Level: Medium
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Litter Size: 5 to 10 puppies
- Life Span: 8-15 years
- Other names: “Pitbull Golden Retriever” or “Retriever Pit”
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix Comparison
Features | Golden Retriever | Pitbull |
Image | ||
Origin | Scotland | United States, United Kingdom |
Height | Male: 23-24 inches Female: 21.5-22.5 inches | 17 to 19 inches |
Weight | Male: 65 to 75 poundsFemale: 55 to 65 pounds | 30 to 85 pounds |
Size | Medium | Large |
Group | Sporting Group | Terrier |
Children Compatibility | Medium to High | High |
Family Compatibility | High | High |
Pets Compatibility | Low to Medium | Low |
Barking Level | Medium to High | Medium |
Shedding Level | Medium to High | Medium to High |
Hypoallergenic | No | No |
Grooming Needs | Medium to High | Low |
Overall Health | Low to Medium | Medium to High |
Energy | Medium to High | Medium to High |
Exercise Needs | Medium to High | Medium to High |
Trainability | Medium to High | Medium to High |
Activities | Driving Cattles, Cart Pulling, Escorts, Police Dogs | Agility, Conformation, Obedience, Tracking |
Complication in breeding | No | No |
Litter Size | 5 to 10 puppies | 5 to 10 puppies |
Lifespan | 7 to 12 years | 6 to 12 years |
Other Names | Goldens | Pitbull, Pitbull Terrier |
Golden Retriever Pitbull Personality
A Golden Retriever Pit Bull’s personality depends on an individual dog’s gene expression. He may either exactly resemble one of his parents or maybe a perfect hybrid of both. Therefore, his personality is entirely unpredictable. However, these dogs have a well-built stature that may be lean or muscular. In addition, they may have brown or blue-colored eyes with floppy ears.
Golden Retriever Pit Bulls’ coats can vary in appearance: they may be elongated, medium or short, wavy, straight, and curls. In addition, they may come in a combination of black, golden, brindle, yellow, brown, or white. Golden Retriever Pit Bulls can have a single or double coat depending on the dominant parent gene.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level | High |
Family-Friendly | High |
Kid-Friendly | High |
Pet-Friendly | Medium to High |
Strangers-Friendly | Medium to High |
Adaptability Overview
Good for New Pet Owners | Medium |
Good for Apartment Living | Low |
Sensitivity Level | Medium |
Tolerates being alone | Low |
Cold Tolerance | Low to Medium |
Heat Tolerance | Low to Medium |
Golden Retriever Pitbull Temperament
Due to their large and athletic stature, the Golden Retriever Pit Bull dogs are confident and energetic. They are well-mannered, fun-loving, loyal, and friendly. These dogs are very affectionate to their pet parents as they consider each family member as its pack. These dogs are prone to separation anxiety; they shouldn’t be left alone as they may develop destructive behaviors such as digging, chewing, and barking. Additionally, they are incredible nanny dogs who are gentle and highly protective of kids. However, they are wary of strangers and need time to warm up with them.
Being quick learners and having a pleasing demeanor, Retriever Pits are easily trainable. This trait keeps them from getting aggressive. Also, they make excellent watchdogs and therapy dogs owing to their parent genes. As highly active breeds, they enjoy exercises and physical activities. With an innate protective instinct, they prove to be excellent watchdogs with a high prey drive. For this reason, they shouldn’t be left alone with other smaller pet animals.
Golden Retriever Pitbull Training
Although Golden Retriever pit bulls are easily trainable, they need a dominant trainer to assert the firm alpha position. This trait prevents your dog from becoming stubborn. Their training must begin early from puppyhood and can be kept short and positive. Additionally, these dogs must be crate trained. For this purpose, start associating your dog with the crate the moment he comes home. The crate has to be linked with positive experiences such as treat time, mealtime, and relaxation.
Trainability Overview
Easy to Train | High |
Intelligence | High |
Prey Drive | Medium to High |
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite | Medium to High |
Tendency to Bark or Howl | High |
Wanderlust Ability | Medium |
Attention/Social Needs | High |
Golden Retriever PitBull Exercise Needs
The Golden Retriever Pit Bulls are highly energetic dogs that require an hour of exercise per day in addition to their daily play-time. Inheriting the traits of a working dog, these dogs need to be mentally and physically stimulated. Physically, they can be engaged with long, intense walks in addition to mentally stimulating activities like a treasure hunt with treats, scheduling an obedience session, or a puzzle toy.
Number of walks in a day | 1 |
Exercise time per day | 60 minutes |
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy Level | High |
Exercise Needs | High |
Playfulness | High |
Intensity | High |
Golden Retriever Pit Bull Grooming
The Golden Retriever Pit Bulls can inherit a short, medium-haired coat from its Pit Bull parent or a long coat, like its Golden Retriever parent. Long-coated dogs shed more when compared to short-coated dogs. Hence short-coated dogs have to be brushed twice a week, whereas long-coated dogs have to be brushed daily. Additionally, they have to bathe once every three months. As a result, they don’t get dirty frequently.
Other grooming requirements include trimming their nails, cleaning their eyes and ears to avoid infections. In addition, brush their teeth regularly to get rid of gum diseases and periodontal diseases.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding | Medium to High |
Tendency to Drool | Low |
Tendency to Snore | Low |
Easy to Groom | Medium |
Golden Retriever Pit Bull Health
- Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a heritable condition that occurs when the thigh bones don’t fit aptly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.
Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia:
- Injuries
- Excessive weight gain
- Wrong exercises
This condition causes defect or injury to the hip bones, joints and worsens without treatment.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs include:
- Reduced activity and movements
- Reluctance to rise, jump, run or climb
- Lameness in the hind limbs
- Reducing thigh muscle mass
- Swaying, “bunny hopping” gait
- Grating in the joint during movement
- Enlarging shoulders
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia occurs when the bones of the elbow joint don’t align properly. This malalignment causes abnormal pressure at the joint, leading to chronic rubbing, resulting in severe osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
- mild to moderate pain
- lameness in the forelimbs
Although the symptoms begin to show as early as four months of age, some dogs will not show these signs until later in life. Further, the disorder may also injure both the elbows, but one of them may be heavily affected.
- Bloat
Bloat or GDV is a life-threatening condition that is prevalent in deep-chested dogs. When bloat occurs, your pet’s gut becomes distended with gas and twists. The trapped gas hampers your canine’s ability to belch or vomit. This inability blocks the average blood flow back to the heart, causing a drop in blood pressure leading to shock. If untreated, this shock could eventually lead to death.
Causes Of Bloat:
- When they are fed more than one large meal per day
- They eat rapidly
- Drinks large volumes of water after eating
- Exercise vigorously after eating
Symptoms of Bloat:
- A distended abdomen
- Excessive salivation
- Retching without vomit
- Restlessness
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Rapid heart rate
- Cataracts:
This condition is caused due to the thickening of the eye lens, which leads to cloudy vision. Although it occurs primarily because of their age, you can treat this condition either with medications or surgery.
- Canine cancer:
Golden Retriever Pit Bulls are prone to develop cancer.
Symptoms of canine cancer:
- Lumps and bumps underneath a dog’s skin
- Abnormal odors emanating from the mouth, ears, or any other part of the body
- Abnormal discharge from the eyes, mouth, ears, or rectum
- Abdominal swelling
- Non-healing wounds or sores
- Sudden and irreversible weight loss
- Changes in appetite
- Coughing or difficulty in breathing
- Lethargy or depression
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Evidence of pain
- Cardiovascular disease:
Pit Bulls are prone to cardiovascular diseases, which may be congenital or inherited. Some of the most prevalent cardiac diseases in Pit Bulls include:
- Aortic stenosis
- Valve malformations
- Irregularities in heart rhythm
General signs of cardiovascular diseases in dogs:
- Exercise intolerance
- Weakness
- Coughing
- Breathing difficulty
- Increased breathing rate
- abdominal swelling
- Loss of consciousness
- A bluish tinge to skin and membranes
- Loss of appetite and weight
Some more symptoms that occur rarely include:
- Swelling of the legs
- Jaundice
- Coughing up blood
Your veterinarian may recommend that you count the number of breaths your dog takes per minute when your dog is resting at home. This can be an effective way for you to monitor the development or progression of congestive heart failure in dogs with heart disease.
Health Overview
Basic Health | Medium to High |
Weight Gain Possibilities | Medium |
Size | Large |
Golden Retriever Pit Bull Diet and Nutrition
The Retriever Pit is an agile and large dog that requires a high-quality meal with a rich protein content that constitutes about 18% of its diet. An adult Retriever Pit requires 1600 calories per day that can be divided and served as two meals. Raw pork or poultry should replace a cup of your dog’s formula. On the contrary, a puppy should eat four balanced meals per day. However, the right combination of exercise and a proper diet can prevent obesity.
Golden Retriever Pit Bull Living Condition
The Golden Retriever Pit Bull has an urge to expend its energy, making them unsuitable for apartment life. Being loving and gentle, these dogs are excellent service dogs who offer valuable service to their pet parents. These canines are also kid-friendly but quite wary of strangers. Dogs with short coats tolerate a warm climate, whereas those with a long coat tolerate colder weather.
Things to Remember Before Buying a Golden Retriever Pit Bull
The Golden retriever Pit Bull is pretty rare to find; hence they can be expensive. Additionally, these dogs grow up to be very big, and they also require a physically active pet owner.
Cost of a Golden Retriever Pit Bull Puppy
A Golden Retriever Pit Bull Puppy costs up to $2,500. Ensure to meet the puppy’s parents and check for health certifications and registrations for the parents before buying.
Adding a Golden Retriever Pit Bull to Your Family
Golden Retriever Pit Bull Images










Golden Retriever Pit Bull Videos
OTHER GOLDEN RETRIEVER MIXES
- Border Collie Golden Retriever mix
- Siberian Husky Golden Retriever mix
- Cocker Spaniel Golden Retriever mix
- Bernese Mountain Dog Golden Retriever mix
- Yorkshire Terrier Golden Retriever mix
- Basset Hound Golden Retriever mix
- Irish Setter Golden Retriever mix
- Jack Russell Terrier Golden Retriever mix
- German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix
- Poodle Golden Retriever mix
- Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix
- Rottweiler Golden Retriever mix
- Vizsla Golden Retriever mix
- Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever mix
- Beagle Golden Retriever mix
- Belgian Malinois Golden Retriever mix
- Boxer Golden Retriever mix
- Chihuahua Golden Retriever mix
- Chow Golden Retriever mix
- Corgi Golden Retriever mix
- Dachshund Golden Retriever mix
- Dalmatian Golden Retriever mix
- Doberman Golden Retriever mix
- Great Dane Golden Retriever mix
- Great Pyrenees Golden Retriever mix
- Saint Bernard Golden Retriever mix
- Samoyed Golden Retriever mix
- Pitbull Golden Retriever mix
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Golden Retriever mix
- Afghan Hound Golden Retriever mix
- Alaskan Malamute Golden Retriever mix
- Bullmastiff Golden Retriever mix
- English Pointer Golden Retriever mix
- Akita Golden Retriever mix
- Weimaraner Golden Retriever mix
- Lhasa Apso Golden Retriever mix
- Airedale Terrier Golden Retriever mix
- Shar-Pei Golden Retriever mix
- Shetland Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix
- Newfoundland Golden Retriever mix
- Scottish Terrier Golden Retriever mix
- Springer Spaniel Golden Retriever mix
- English Mastiff Golden Retriever mix
- English Bulldog Golden Retriever mix
- American Bulldog Golden Retriever mix
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever mix
- Catahoula Leopard Dog Golden Retriever mix
- Shih Tzu Golden Retriever mix
- Blue Heeler Golden Retriever mix
- Pug Golden Retriever mix
- Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever mix
- Greyhound Golden Retriever mix
- Shiba Inu Golden Retriever mix
- Maltese Golden Retriever mix
- Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix
- Anatolian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix
- Schnauzer Golden Retriever mix
Other American Pitbull Terrier Mixes
- Labrabull or Pitador
- Pitsky or Pusky
- German Pit
- Boxbull
- Chipit
- Pitweiler
- Corgi Pit or Porgi
- Doxie Pit
- Great Danebull
- The Poodle and Pitbull mix
- Beagle Pit
- Mastbull
- American Pit
- Bully Pit
- Golden Pitbull
- Pit Heeler
- The Rhodesian Ridgeback Pitbull mix
- The Shar Pei and Pitbull mix
- The Pug Pitbull Mix
- The French Bulldog and Pitbull mix
- Pitmatian
- Boston Pit
- The Jack Russell Terrier Pit Bull mix
- Greybull Pit
- Pit Whip
- English Pitbull
- The Weimaraner Pitbull Mix
- Pit Chaw or Bull Chow
- Collie Pit
- Akita Pit
- Cur Pitbull mix
- Pointer Bull
- Doberpit
- French Pitbull
- Saint Pitbull
- Pit Bullmastiff
- Alaskan Pitbull
- Pyrenees Pit
- The Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Pitbull Mix