The Pitbull Golden Retriever mix, otherwise known as the Golden Pit, is a medium-sized mixed-breed dog created by breeding the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Golden Retriever. Combining the energetic, lovable Golden Retriever and the muscular and powerful Pitbull Terrier produces a lanky, high-energy, intelligent breed that’s perfect for the growing family unit.
The Pitbull Golden Retriever is sure to be a very loyal breed, with an affectionate side that makes them think they’re lap dogs! Expect your Golden Pit to protect your home and family, while being friendly to those you welcome through the door.
Image credit: its.smelliot
To learn more about this relatively new mixed-breed dog, continue reading our definitive guide as we delve into the histories, temperaments and popularity of each parent breed. By the end, you’ll have a better idea of why anyone would want to purchase or adopt a dog like the Golden Pitbull.
Pitbull Golden Retriever mix – At a glance
| Weight: | 35–75 pounds |
| Height: | 17–24 inches |
| Lifespan: | 10–15 years |
| Coat colours: | Dark gold, black. |
| Temperament: | Friendly, sociable, attention-seeking, loyal, affectionate. |
| Suitable for: | Active families, active single individuals. |
What does a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix look like?
Like most designer dogs, the Golden Retriever Pitbull will borrow part of its physical appearance from each of its parent breeds. It will likely inherit the golden coat color of the Retriever, but the white markings that are traditional of Pitbull Terriers. Expect a muscular, lean body with short hair that will shed lightly year-round.
Expect your Golden Pit to have a wedge-shaped head and a Pitbull Terrier’s jawline and face. Like the Golden, your Golden Retriever Pitbull may also have floppy ears, but these will be triangular. You can expect your Golden Retriever Pitbull to be about 17-24 inches tall and weigh between 35 and 75 pounds.
The history of the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix
The Pitbull Golden Retriever mix was likely created during the 1990s or early 2000s, as mixed-breed enthusiasts sought to create a combination between the guarded, protective Pitbull Terrier and the ever-loyal, loving and physically beautiful Golden Retriever.
Fortunately, plenty of history exists about the parent breeds of the Golden Pit, so we can glean information about the Pitbull Golden Retriever from each parent breed.
The history of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is one of the world’s most popular dog breeds. In Scotland and England in the 19th century, the Golden Retriever was developed by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, who crossbred several different breeds to achieve the ‘Golden Retriever.’ These were Red Setters, Tweed Water Spaniels, Flat-coated Retrievers, and, Bloodhounds. The result was a competent hunting dog for retrieving small game such as ducks, foxes, and more.
A far cry from their beloved family pet status of today, Golden Retrievers historically had a high prey drive and was used as a war messenger dog, along with other roles such as K9 sniffer dogs for police operations and more.
Golden Retrievers have also been used as therapy dogs and emotional support dogs, renowned for their friendliness and affectionate nature. Goldens are also incredibly popular farm dogs and have been used for herding cattle in their past.
Today, Golden Retrievers are one of the world’s most popular dog breeds.
How popular are Golden Retrievers?
Goldens arrived in the US in the 1920s and were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1932. Having already extreme popularity in the UK and Western Europe, their evolution to equal popularity in the US seemed natural.
Used for a mixture of roles from working farm dogs to therapy dogs and as beloved family pets, the Golden Retriever is routinely one of America’s most-popular dogs.
In 2021, the Golden ranked as the third most popular dog in the US, according to the American Kennel Club.
Who are Golden Retrievers a good dog for?
Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds in the US for good reason – they’re a great fit for almost any family unit or single individual. The even-tempered, friendly, loving and loyal nature of the Golden Retriever makes them perfect for almost anyone!
Unfortunately, their size and strength make them an ill-fit for the elderly and those living in apartments.
How did Golden Retrievers come about?
The Golden Retriever was bred by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, a Scottish baron and kennel keeper in the late 19th century. Combining the Tweed Water Spaniel, the Newfoundland dog, Red Setters, Bloodhounds and the flat-coated Retriever, Marjoribanks was able to create the beloved golden coat, happy-go-lucky companion pet that so many around the world know and love today.
When did first cross-breed the Golden Retriever?
The Golden Retriever is one of the world’s most popular dogs. For this reason, it has also become an increasingly popular parent dog for crossbreeding. It’s likely that crossbreeding of the Golden Retriever began in the 1990s and early 2000s as the crossbreeding craze swept through the US.
Some popular Golden Retriever mixes include:
- Corgi Golden Retriever Mix (Golden Corgi)
- Boxer Golden Retriever Mix (Golden Boxer)
- Golden Retriever Chihuahua Mix (Golden Chi)
- Golden Retriever Dalmatian Mix (Goldmatian)
- Golden Retriever Pug Mix (Golden Pug)
The history of the Pitbull
The Pitbull Terrier, otherwise known as the American Pit Bull Terrier, is a muscular, stocky, medium-sized dog breed created in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for the purpose of participating in blood sports.
Pitbull Terriers were bred from the Olde English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier, creating a fearsome and feared, rough-and-tumble combination. In the early 19th century, blood sports were popular in the UK – including dog fighting and ‘bull-baiting’ – a ‘sport’ wherein an angry bull cow would be released into a field with a Pitbull Terrier, or other terrier-type breed and either kill the dog, or be ran till it collapsed. This ‘game’ was bet upon and became something of a public spectacle.
In 1835, blood sports across the UK were outlawed by the Cruelty to Animals Act, which prevented blood sports, as well as a variety of other inhumane sport involving animals. This made the Pitbull Terrier almost universally unpopular in the UK – many were shipped off to the US between 1845 and 1860.
The Pitbull Terrier began a new life in the US and was originally used (unfortunately) for more dog fighting, but quickly became used as attack dogs during wartime and were put to use by police units across the country.
How popular are Pitbulls?
Since their arrival in the US, American Pit Bull Terriers have remained unrecognized by the American Kennel Club, meanwhile the AKC does recognize the American Staffordshire Terrier, a close cousin of the American Pitbull Terrier.
The United Kennel Club did recognize the breed in 1934. Given that the AKC refuses to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier, there are no AKC population statistics to gather information about popularity.
Other sources indicate that the American Pit Bull Terrier accounts for 20% of the ‘strong’ dog breed in the US.
Who are Pitbulls a good dog for?
Despite fears over aggressive behavior, the Pitbull Terrier is still a beloved family pet – providing you can find one, thanks to the many bans that are in place in many cities throughout the U.S.
Strong, muscular dogs, Pit Bulls are recommended as a pet for families with older children and single individuals who can handle their strength and boisterousness. Pitbulls also have a stubborn streak that can make them difficult to train.
Pit Bulls are not recommended for the elderly or those living in apartments. They can suffer from separation anxiety, which can lead to destructive behavior.
How did Pitbulls come about?
Pitbulls were first bred in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to participate in blood sports like dog fighting and ‘bull-baiting.’ Bred from the Olde English Bulldog and Old English Terrier, the Pitbull Terrier routinely found itself on the wrong end of an angry bull horn, and eventually found itself on the wrong end of the law as well.
Pitbulls have been the subject of widespread bans throughout the US, Canada, and much of Europe thanks to their aggressive tendencies and even some attacks that have cost the lives of pets and people throughout the years.
When did first cross-breed the Pitbull?
Given the legal circumstances surrounding the ownership of the American Pit Bull Terrier, sometimes owners will create Pitbull mixes to circumvent this legislation. Others wanted to introduce the American Pit Bull’s strength and power into another breed.
This resulted in some very popular Pitbull mixes, such as:
- Jack Russell Pitbull Mix (Jack-a-Pit)
- Yorkie Pitbull Mix (Yorkie-Pit)
- Beagle Pitbull Mix (Beaglebull)
- Great Pyrenees Pitbull Mix (Pyrenean Pit)
- Pug Pitbull Mix (Pug-a-Pit)
How important is a dog’s temperament to your family?
One of the most important parts of researching any prospective dog for your family, is to understand what to expect when checking out prospective new dogs. Understanding what your family’s habits are and how a dog might fit into the unit without too much effort and training is the primary goal here.
Whether you’re an active family unit, seeking an active pet that’ll climb mountains with you and is comfortable outside, or a homely family seeking a smaller dog, that’s OK with chilling at home and doesn’t have extreme exercise requirements.
In either case, you want to ensure that you get a dog that best fits you and your family.
What is the temperament of the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix?
Luckily for most owners, your Pitbull Retriever is likely to inherit the best parts of the temperaments of each parent breed. Friendly, loving and loyal like the Golden, but also guarded and energetic, like the Pitbull Terrier.
Is the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix friendly?
The Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is likely be a very friendly dog. Inheriting either sets of genes, both of its parent breeds are incredibly affectionate animals and there’s no reason to suspect that your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix won’t be the same!
Is the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix easy to train?
You might expect your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix to be relatively easy to train, thanks to the Retriever’s genes. However, your Golden Retriever Pitbull mix may inherit the stubbornness of their Pitbull parents, along with their excitability.
To break through the initial stubbornness that some Golden Retriever Pitbull mix puppies may exhibit, use positive reinforcement and persistence when training your Retriever Pit. Proper training with a professional over many training sessions is recommended for any new family puppy.
How much can a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix weigh?
The average weight of a Golden Pitbull Terrier is between 35 and 75 pounds.
How tall can a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix get?
The average height of a Pitbull Golden Retriever is between 17 – 24 inches tall.
Similar-sized breeds
There are a few similar-sized breeds to the Golden Pit.
These include:
- English Bulldog
- Dalmatian
- Labradoodle
- Siberian Husky
- Shar Pei
Does the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix shed?
Despite being short-haired, you can expect your Golden Retriever Pitbull to be a moderate shedder, with the need for regular brushing, roughly once a week. This, combined with regular grooming, should be enough to keep their fur at bay.
How much exercise does a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix require?
Like both parent breeds, the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix is a hugely energetic and active breed. They will likely require between 45 minutes to one hour of daily exercises.
These include physical and mental exercises. Mental stimulation plays a key role in avoiding boredom among your Golden Retriever Pitbull. One such suggestion for mentally-stimulating toys is to fill a KONG toy with their favorite treats. This can also be used to introduce crate training.
Regular exercise is a necessary part of owning a Retriever Pit. Ensure you can give the Retriever Pit the levels of exercise that it needs to live a healthy, happy life.
How long can a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix live?
The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever Pitbull is 10 to 15 years.
What health conditions could the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix have?
- Hip Dysplasia (Hip joint inflammation)
- Elbow Dysplasia (Elbow joint inflammation)
- Corneal Ulcers (Eye condition)
- Heart Disease
- Heart Murmurs (Heart Condition)
How can you find a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix puppy for sale?
Before you try finding a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix for sale, we highly recommend you try to adopt one first. Many people leave their Golden Retriever Pitbull mix at an animal shelter or local veterinary clinic. Check here first!
If you strike out in person, you might consider looking for a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix online at AdoptAPet.com, which allows you to search your local area.
How much does a Pitbull Golden Retriever mix puppy cost?
The average cost of a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix puppy is between $1500 and $2500! Making them the Golden Retriever Pitbull mix, one of the most expensive mixed-breed pups out there! Adoption is approximately one-third of the cost of the lower end of that price range.
If you still want to purchase a Golden Retriever Pitbull mix, try your best to find a reputable breeder of mixed-breed dogs. Reputable breeders are sometimes hard to distinguish from puppy mills (which should be avoided like the plague), so we’ve created this handy guide to help you tell a puppy mill from a breeder you can trust.
Is the Pitbull Golden Retriever mix the right breed for you?
If you’ve been looking for a muscular, medium-sized mix that’ll give you the incentive to get up and exercise but also be content to lounge around at home and is a relatively low-maintenance pup, provided all needs are met – then the Pitbull Golden Retriever might be your best bet!
However, if the Pitbull Retriever doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps another mixed breed would? We’ve created dozens of detailed breed guides to help you make the best choice for your family.