wins Archives - Health Mettler Institute

April 20, 2023

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever: Who Wins?

Few dog breeds have more fans than Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers. These two hunting retrievers are historically the most popular household pets in the country, holding the No. 1 and 3 spots respectively on the American Kennel Club’s Most Popular Dog Breeds list for decades. (The German Shepherd usually clocked in at No. 2, and the French bulldog dethroned the Lab in 2022, ending the Lab’s 31-year streak.) So which retriever makes a better hunting dog: the golden or the Labrador? In this showdown of the golden retriever vs Labrador retriever, we break down each breed’s strengths and weaknesses.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever: The Upshot

Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are similar dog breeds. In general, both are known and valued for their flushing and retrieving abilities, making them both a great choice for upland bird hunters and waterfowlers alike. Neither breed is known for pointing birds, so if you’re looking to hunt over a pointing dog, go with a pointer or a setter. (Pointing Labradors do exist, though they’re a niche and sometimes controversial retriever.)

Show Dogs and Field Dogs

Labs and goldens are also similar in that they have long been bred for two purposes: as conformation dogs (also known as show dogs), or as working field dogs. According to amateur handler and longtime hunting retriever owner Kari Laufenberg, conformation retrievers are usually bred for their looks and stocky stature. They are meant to meet breed standards in a show setting. Field dogs, on the other hand, are bred to perform in field trials and hunt tests. They’re often sleeker, their coats shed water faster, and they’re more utilitarian. But those long-standing divisions are fading.

kari laufenberg with golden retrievers — Laufenberg poses with two conformation-line Golden retrievers, Reggie (left) and Riggs, after a Working Certificate hunt test. *Courtesy of Kari Laufenberg*

“I hunt and train with the more conformation-bred dogs, but the two worlds are starting to come together,” she explains. “In the past, it might have been thought that a conformation-bred golden retriever or Lab would not have the drive to hunt and do field work, whereas the field-bred dogs had high drive. But now these conformation breeders are seeing the value of breeding some of that into their lines.”

That value includes creating a more well-rounded and versatile dog that appeals to a wider population of owners, from hardcore hunters to young families.

But Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers have a few distinct differences that bird hunters should take into consideration when picking which one to bring into their life.

Get a Golden Retriever If…

You’re spending more time on dry land than water. Golden retrievers take longer to dry off and can develop hot spots, or acute moist dermatitis, if water gets trapped in their coats, Laufenberg explains. Goldens tend to require more grooming attention in general.
You’re looking for a pet that can make a good teammate. Golden retrievers are generally great with small children, in hospital settings, and any other circumstances that require extra gentleness. They are well-suited for being considered pets first and hunting dogs second.
You want your dog to enjoy downtime with you. As a breed, golden retrievers are slightly lower-energy and less task-oriented than Labs, although there are lots of exceptions, Lauenberg points out.
You need a quiet dog. According to the AKC, goldens tend to bark less than Labs. But again, there are exceptions.
You don’t need a watchdog. Goldens are known for their affectionate personalities—not their protective nature. They have little instinct for guarding homes or being suspicious of strangers.

Get a Labrador Retriever If…

You’re spending more time on water than dry land. Field-bred Labs have sleek, short coats that look almost waterproof. They dry quickly and aren’t as prone to hot spots as goldens. They also don’t require as much grooming.
You’re looking for a teammate that can make a good pet. Labs are just slightly more intense and less reserved than goldens, although they were America’s favorite dog breed for a long time.
You want to play fetch with your dog for hours on end. Labs tend to have a bit more energy than goldens, and might be more prone to playing than snuggling.
You don’t mind a little barking or whining. Labs can be a bit louder than goldens.
You want a watchdog. Labradors also have friendly personalities, but they tend to be more protective of their homes and handlers, according to the AKC.

How Are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers Similar?

golden retriever and yellow lab puppy — The golden retriever and the Labrador retriever have long held top-five positions on the AKC’s Most Popular Dog Breeds list. *Ben Gabbe / Getty Images*

When it comes to size and demeanor, these two breeds are more similar than they are different.

Both have historically been bred for long days sitting in a duck blind, working a field, or slipping through the timber.
Both breeds weigh, on average, in the 55- to 80-pound range and stand at about 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder, depending on sex. Some Labs might get heavier and taller than some goldens. Conformation retrievers tend to be heavier and have thicker coats than field retrievers.
Both Labs and goldens make great companions for families of all ages. While the lower-energy golden might let your toddler sleep on it or pull its tail, the higher-energy Lab will lick the peanut butter off your toddler’s face and keep them entertained.
Both goldens and Labs are good-natured. Since the personalities of individual dogs vary, nitpicking the personality differences between the two breeds is like splitting hairs. Both breeds are so primed for obedience training, Laufenberg explains, that a solid obedience foundation can help mold them into the perfect dog for your exact situation.

Do Golden Retrievers Make Good Hunting Dogs?

golden retriever with bird — Golden retrievers have strong prey drives and excellent noses. *John Hafner*

The phrase “hunting dog” might bring a Lab, setter, or spaniel to mind. But field-bred golden retrievers have serious prey drive and unmatched noses, which puts them squarely among the top hunting dog breeds. The first golden retrievers were born in England in the late 1860s, from a litter between a golden, “wavy-coated dog” named Nous and a Tweed water spaniel named Belle. (Tweed water spaniels are now extinct.) Belle belonged to a wealthy member of Parliament named Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, and Nous belonged to a cobbler who received him as payment for a debt.

“It was an inspired combination, crossing a retriever to a water spaniel to create a robust hunter capable of navigating both land and water to hunt grouse, partridge and even red deer,” an AKC article reads. “Marjoribanks’ famous 1868 litter contained the … puppies who are considered the world’s first Golden Retrievers.”

Today, goldens especially rise to the top when it comes to conformation-bred retrievers doing field work.

“The pros will notice that, when working with a conformation-bred golden retriever versus a conformation-bred Lab, the golden retriever does a little more on the thinking side,” Laufenberg says. “That’s not to say Labs are stupid, because they are not. But it’s kind of the joke in that world—the Labs will just go do something, but we have to think hard about the training with the golden retrievers.”

golden retrievers with geese — The right golden retriever bloodlines can make for hard-working bird dogs. Golden retrievers range in color from deep bronze to light sand. *Courtesy of Shawn Skipper*

A golden’s propensity to think more before acting shines through in its calmer, more deliberate demeanor.

“In general, a golden retriever is going to be a little more laid back,” she explains. “Once they retire from field work, they [might] go do therapy work. They have a real soft presentation about them and they just want to be next to you. They’re a good sponge. That’s not to say a Lab couldn’t do it, but it’s just more common in the golden retrievers.”

Still, there’s no denying that golden retrievers are far less common hunting dogs than the ever-popular Labrador retriever. Labs are more versatile when it comes to hunting land or water, and duck hunters might even pick a Chesapeake Bay retriever over a golden when given the choice. And while many goldens have respectable prey drive, it doesn’t meet that of the field-bred American Lab.

Why Are Labrador Retrievers Good Hunting Dogs?

Black Lab with mallard — Labrador retrievers are marked by a very high prey drive and a love for water. *Bill Buckley*

If golden retrievers have sharper minds for field work, Labrador retrievers tend to have bodies built for bird country. Water rolls right off their backs. They slither through tight brush and glide through rivers and lakes. Their seemingly endless energy gives them the power to tackle long days effectively. And when those days are done, their shorter coats are extremely low-maintenance.

“Grooming comes into play. A lot of the [Lab] guys I train with look at my dogs, and say they love how my dogs work but they’d never want the responsibility after,” Laufenberg chuckles. “A lot of guys will go with the Lab because the maintenance is easier.”

Read Next: Why British Labs Just Might Take Over American Bird Hunting

Labrador retrievers originated in Newfoundland from the packs of dogs that ran around the capital city of St. John, according to the AKC. Originally, a “land race” of St. John’s dogs emerged, and eventually the Labrador retriever evolved from that breed. They spent a lot of time in the water near the fisheries and were known to retrieve any cod that spat a hook, as well as nets and lines. All modern British retrievers were born from St. John’s dogs.

The Labrador retriever’s hunting instincts are obvious when you watch a retriever field trial. These competitions involve retrievers following their handler’s commands to find a duck or bumper (both known as a “mark”) hundreds of yards away without any knowledge of where it landed. Field trials are generally more taxing on a dog’s memory and endurance than hunt tests, which are shorter-range and test retrieving skills, Laufenberg explains.

Black Labrador retriever in field — Field trials are frequently dominated by black Labs, Laufenberg says. *Willee Cole / Adobe Stock*

“In [field trials], you’ll mostly see black Labs—very few yellow or chocolate Labs. And you almost never see a conformation-bred golden retriever there. They’re logical thinkers, so they’ll say ‘This is not reality, we will never be out hunting and do a 300-yard mark, so why are we doing this?’ Whereas the field-bred Labs will fly out there and do it because they love it.”

That prey drive in Labs shines through in the last seven decades straight of National Championships for Retrieving results: a golden retriever hasn’t won since 1951.

Golden Retriever vs Labrador Retriever: Training Tips

golden retriever puppy in field — Laying a base of obedience training is important for a young pup. *John Hafner*

Once you settle the golden retriever vs Labrador retriever debate and bring a dog into your life, the best thing you can do for them is lay a foundation for training, Laufenberg says. The training approach is the same for both breeds, and obedience training should come first.

Read Next: The Best Hunting Dog Names

“When they’re puppies, we’re working on pulling out their [prey] drive and getting them exposed to birds. But I’m always making sure that their obedience is good,” she explains. “No matter what you do with your dog, obedience has value. That’s whether you’re walking down the street with your dog, if you’re hunting with your dog, if you’re doing agility with your dog, obedience is in everything. It just makes for a great relationship with the dog, and it’s also a safety factor.”

Final Thoughts on Goldens vs Labs

black lab close-up — Labrador retrievers are hard to beat in the bird hunting world. *Alex Robinson*

Lots of people prefer golden retrievers for their demeanor, but you can’t argue with the field-bred Lab’s prey drive on land and in the water, their longtime position at the top of the AKC Most Popular Breeds list, or even their short, fast-drying coat. Based on factors like versatility, ease of care, general popularity, and seven straight decades of NRC wins, in the match up of Golden retriever vs Labrador, Labs take the title.

April 3, 2023

When healthcare is decided by algorithms, who wins?

I’m starting this with a individual tale. My mom was a New York Metropolis community faculty trainer for numerous several years. When she joined the university system, portion of the deal was that, when she retired, lots of of the expenses of her standard Medicare ideas would be subsidized by her union and by the town. So considerably, so excellent. Nevertheless, now the town, in get to preserve income, is going all its retirees, such as the community school academics, to a Medicare Advantage system.

(If you don’t know what Medicare is, or the big difference concerning conventional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, really do not stress about it — a great deal of people really don’t. I’ll demonstrate in a minute.)

Retired NYC employees are getting switched to a Medicare Advantage system — and numerous aren’t delighted about it.

Graphic: Erik McGregor/LightRocket by using Getty Illustrations or photos

A lot of metropolis retirees are not joyful about this swap — and, in point, have been combating this in court for the last couple of a long time. Why? Due to the fact, between other points, Gain designs give wellbeing insurance coverage firms a lot extra electrical power to deny protection — and those people denials are becoming primarily based on predictive algorithmic tools somewhat than professional medical staff.

So what is Medicare?

To realize Medicare Advantage, it may well support to know a bit of background. (Adhere with me this is stuff you ideally will have to have to know about finally.) Medicare started off out as a authorities-operate wellbeing insurance coverage software that was proven in 1965 to enable fund treatment for men and women over 65 who have been no lengthier becoming coated by employers and were generally viewed as as well much of a chance by personal insurers. It was funded by taxes pulled from employees’ paychecks and matched by employers. And with today’s atmospheric increases in the price tag of health care, it has develop into a necessity for most of today’s more mature people today.

Like all govt systems, Medicare is, to say the least, complex. You assume you have hassle undertaking your once-a-year taxes? Try out figuring out how to offer with Medicare. There’s Medicare A, which handles hospitalization, Medicare B, which handles payments to medical practitioners (and which has an annual rate), Medicare D, which handles prescription drugs (and is also not free of charge) and several other for-pay back alphabetical Medicare plans. But even with all the complications and added costs, Medicare implies that, if you are fortunate sufficient to previous past 65, you really should be equipped to pay for to go to a health care provider and get treatment.

Eyes glazing over however? Wait — now we’re heading to get into Medicare Benefit and its algorithms.

As you may well imagine, health insurance policies businesses are not fond of standard Medicare. Despite the fact that they manage some of the for-spend aspects of the software, they are constrained by governmental restrictions and principles as to how a lot they can cost for providers and how substantially electric power they have about doctors’ tips for treatment. So in 1997, Medicare Benefit (also recognized as Medicare Component C) was made.

Medicare Benefit means that a personal coverage business is handed command of all parts of your Medicare advantages — the medical center part, the health care provider aspect, the drug element, and all the other components. Benefit has, nicely, positive aspects, at minimum at very first — it charges a lot less to you than the government plans, is easier to offer with (because it’s a one entity), and there are all individuals definitely interesting ads showing lively, carefree grey-haired folks golfing, vacationing, hugging their grandkids — oh so delighted that they handed over the accountability for their healthcare to Big Health and fitness Coverage, Inc.

Having said that, simply because an insurance firm running your Medicare Advantage method has much more manage around payments, it can need that you — and your medical professionals — get advance acceptance for fairly considerably anything at all brief of a checkup. And due to the fact the much less methods it has to pay out for, the additional income it can maintain, there’s a solid incentive to deny as a lot of methods as feasible.

Who decides what treatment you want?

In accordance to a recent report by the professional medical journal Stat, coverage corporations have been applying these algorithmic resources — instead than health professionals or other medically educated people today — to ascertain regardless of whether patients who are enrolled in their Medicare Benefit plans are worthy of treatment. These applications are staying employed, in accordance to the report, “to pinpoint the exact second when they can shut off payment for a patient’s cure. The denials that comply with are setting off heated disputes involving doctors and insurers, often delaying remedy of very seriously sick patients who are neither aware of the algorithms, nor capable to dilemma their calculations.” Considering the fact that appeals hard these denials can acquire months or even decades to wind their way by the a variety of steps essential, some of individuals appeals can very last longer than the individual. Which undoubtedly saves funds.

And the advertisements for these applications are not shy about what they are intended to do. A pamphlet for nH Forecast, one of the products and solutions made use of for this reason, states, “Using the nH Forecast resource, circumstance professionals now figure out to start with if lower degrees of care can fulfill patients’ medical desires, and then endorse better levels of treatment on an specific foundation when medically vital.”

Nonetheless, it now appears that the case supervisors outlined in that estimate are evidently conserving time by passing on the “individual basis” aspect and getting the tool’s tips at experience worth. Very last yr, the Middle for Medicare Advocacy issued a unique report that mentioned, “Although most AI-powered selection-generating resources declare to offer you only suggestions that are not intended to substitute for clinical or healthcare judgment or for Medicare legislation, in the Center’s experience, consumers usually apply the tools’ tips without the need of any crucial evaluation of their impression on clients.”

In other words, if your medical professional feels you require a technique to, say, stop you from possessing a stroke, and your insurance company’s algorithmic device pops up expressing that you do not need to have that treatment (and so the insurance enterprise can deny payment for it), you have a pair of options. You can pay for the method, go into major debt, and hope that you and your medical professional can effectively challenge individuals denials. Or if you can not afford to pay on your own, you can wait around and hope that your appeals will occur by just before you have that stroke.

Or there’s constantly GoFundMe.

It is not quick to be the caretaker for an more mature grownup or father or mother. It’s heading to get a whole lot worse if, when my mother wants medical treatment in the potential, I (and her health care provider) will have to fight an algorithm as to no matter if she deserves the approved treatment. I’m not hunting forward to it. And I’m not the only a single dealing with this issue. There are quite a few, lots of persons whose mother and father are in Gain plans and who may possibly a single day be knowledgeable that, according to the judgment of an unnamed statistical instrument, the treatment method that their parents’ medical doctor says is vital — is not.

Correction April 3rd, 2023, 8:40AM ET: This tale formerly stated that standard Medicare B is administered by personal insurance businesses. It is not it is a government application. We regret the mistake.

March 14, 2023

Elon University / Today at Elon / Shefali Christopher wins Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Research Award

Christopher, an assistant professor of physical remedy, been given the award at the American Actual physical Therapy Put together Sections Conference.

Tag: wins