Goldador vs Catahoula Bulldog - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Long ago, ranchers kept the Catahoula Leopard to catch and carry prey, but because it lacked the strength to do so, they would include other stronger dogs in the pack. The American bulldog was more well built, stronger and more aggressive, and the idea was to mix the American Bulldog with the Catahoula Leopard Dog. This brought about the Catahoula Bulldog which has been in existence for some 100 years.

The Catahoula Bulldog became known for its stamina and strength and in 1951 the breed registry started. As a hybrid, the Catahoula Bulldog isn’t officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Introduced as a designer dog, the Goldador is beautiful – a mix between Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, two of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

The dog was specifically bred to be an excellent working dog, and in fact today he makes the most wonderful guide-, rescue- and therapy dog.

Known also as Golden Labradors, the Goldador is a dog that has many capabilities, one of which is to make a wonderful family pet. As a designer breed, the dog isn’t recognized as a standardized breed by any of the major kennel clubs.

The Catahoula Bulldog is a strong-looking, medium- sized dog of 55-66cm in height and weighing in at 34-46kg. He has a short, smooth, water-repellent coat. The coat can be in a number of colors – white, brown, black or grey or he can be bi-colored such as in brown and black or white and black.

The dog appeals to a lot of people because it sheds very little. The ears of the Catahoula Bulldog are somewhat floppy and the long tail is mostly docked. The dog has unusual eyes and these can be brown, but also in shades of blue or green or even a combination of these colors.

Temperament:

This is a relaxed dog breed but having said that, he is also a protective breed, and then his fearless qualities come out. He becomes alert to strange noises. He is loyal and intelligent and loves to spend time with his human family. He is somewhat stubborn and independent, and early training and socialization should be provided. This ensures he is even more amicable around children in the home as well as around pets.

The Goldador is a large muscular dog standing at between 56 – 61cm in height at the withers and weighing between 27 – 36kg in weight.

His double coat is short and smooth but in can also be longer. It comes in shades of gold or yellow with hints of red, but it can be liver or black too. Goldadors are well-balanced dogs, and just the look in their kind brown eyes makes you realize that this beautiful dog can make a wonderful pet.

He has a well proportioned head with medium length floppy ears, a black nose and a long tail.

Temperament:

Loving, intelligent, loyal and playful, the Goldador is the kind of dog that gets on well with everyone. It’s why he isn’t a particularly good watchdog as he is just too friendly with strangers. You have to be careful though – his rambunctious nature, his energy and playfulness can see him being a bit rough around small children or the elderly. It is why socialization and training are so important for him as then he becomes obedient and more relaxed around everyone.

He loves his human family and never wants to be left on his own for too long. Intelligent and alert, he is an easy dog to train as he makes it easier by being a dog that wants to please.

The Catahoula Bulldog is such an all-round dog breed – he loves to work and be active but he also loves to be with his human family. He is smart, active, loving and devoted and makes a splendid working dog or human companion, though he will always need to be kept busy.

He is a healthy dog breed too, and is actually low maintenance which is just one of the many advantages of keeping him as a pet.

For all that he offers you, it is up to you as a responsible dog owner to provide him with a loving and nurturing environment so that he can continue to live up to the high standards this dog breed is known for.

Goldadors are intelligent dogs and they’ve been used extensively for guide- and therapy dogs, loving to be useful and busy. Its the kind of dog that thrives in a loving, active family – one that counts him in as a family member.

He makes an exceptional family pet and companion and you can rely on him to be a loyal, loving pet.It’s why the Goldador is becoming such a sought after pet – he simply ticks all the right boxes.

The Catahoula Bulldog is known to be a robust dog breed, full of energy. With good care – healthy diet, clean, fresh water and love and attention – he can live up to be between 10 and 16 years of age.

However, with every dog breed there will be some common dog ailments to watch for and these include hip dysplasia, some eye disorders and congenital heart defects. Some Catahoula Bulldogs can become deaf in one ear, or blind in one eye.

Goldadors luckily don’t have many health issues, and as a hybrid, he has fewer health issues than pure breds.

You can say with confidence that a nutritious diet, regular exercise, good grooming, lots of love and attention and visits to the vet if your pet is ill are key aspects for maintaining good health.

There are always going to be some common health problems that your Goldie could get -

Ear Infections:

You’ll need to be checking your Labrador Retriever's floppy ears. They don’t get as much air in them as a dog with erect ears. A dog like the Goldador with floppy ears will need to have his ears cleaned for bacteria. Be very careful how you clean your pet’s ears as you can damage them if you probe too deeply.

Spaying and neutering:

Did you know that by spaying or neutering your Goldador can save them from getting some serious illnesses later on? Speak to your vet about it when your pet reaches 9 months to a year of age.

Obesity:

Goldadors can easily put on weight if they aren’t given enough daily exercise to burn off the calories. Some put on weight after being spayed or neutered and it's important to watch their weight after these procedures. Being overweight puts a lot of extra strain on a dog’s internal organs.

Exercise:

The energy levels of the Catahoula Bulldog are high and he is going to need ongoing mental- and physical stimulation. He wants to be part of all the activities in the family and you will need to take him for walks or take him with you when you go cycling or jogging. He’ll love to join in with all kinds of ball games.

The best kind of environment for the Catahoula Bulldog is a country home with lots of fields to run in, but if you keep him in the city, he can do well provided you make sure to include plenty of daily exercise activities for him.

Grooming:

The short, smooth coat of the Catahoula Bulldog won’t require much grooming, so a good brush twice a week will be excellent for this dog who will just love the interaction this activity brings.

Diet:

Ensure that your Catahoula and Bulldog mix has food which is full of vitamins and minerals as he is an energetic dog. If you make use of a commercially manufactured product, make sure it is one of the top quality ones guaranteed to ensure good health.

Don’t just put a bowl of dog pellets in front of your dog day after day, but make it interesting and nutritious for your pet by adding in raw meat, rice, vegetables and some cooked meat from time to time. An adult dog can be fed once or twice a day.

Always ensure fresh, cool water is constantly available to your pet.

Grooming:

Goom your Goldador regularly. He can either have short- or long hair, but he is a fairly low maintenance dog so a good brush twice a week to remove loose hairs will be good for him.

Diet:

Diet is everything, and by giving your Goldador nutritional food, you can actually lengthen his life. If you’re going to be giving him commercially manufactured food, follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging. Remember there are foods that cater specifically for a dogs age and his energy levels.

Try and give him some home-made food from time to time such as cooked rice, vegetables and chicken as well as some raw meat occasionally as this can ensure his skin and coat remain healthy.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water, especially seeing that he will be thirsty after a long walk or other exercise. Dehydration in a dog can be fatal.

Shelter:

Provide your Goldador with a warm, dry place to sleep. Make sure that it offers shelter from the sun and rain and also provides shade.