Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever will cheer you up, get you moving, entertain you and make you laugh by following your daily routine and copying your movements and gestures. This dog will become a member of your family in no time.

Height 53 to 61 cm
Weight 25 to 36 kg
Life expectancy 10 to 12 years
Hair Loss High
Excercise Need Medium
Home country United Kingdom (UK)

Index

Personality Appearance Characteristics Price Breeders Pictures Tips Health History

Quick Overview of the Golden Retriever

Temperament

  • Loyal
  • Gentle and friendly
  • Intelligent and docile
  • Sometimes exuberant
  • Beggar and scavenger

Appearance

  • Well proportioned and balanced
  • Strong and robust
  • From cream-colored to red-haired
  • Double coat

Health

Unfortunately, this breed may suffer from many common diseases. Being one of the most popular dog breed in the world, the Golden Retriever’s health profile has been extensively researched.

Temperament of the Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is sociable, active and very playful

His great intelligence, affectionate behaviour and inexhaustible tolerance make the Golden Retriever an excellent pet. In a nursery school, a rehabilitation centre or any other place, this dog is very funny and well suited for zootherapy.

Relaxed and calm, the Golden Retriever is rather pacific and will seek peace rather than discord. Rarely aggressive and very playful, he will seek to protect his territory by simply barking and will not display aggressive behaviour such as showing his teeth and growling. He remains calm in all situations. He is also very tolerable of other animals and strangers.

Being an excellent family pet, this breed has a tendency to remain young at heart for a very long time. Sometimes, he may not obey orders the first time around.

The Golden Retriever is sometimes used as a guide dos for the blind and other people in need of assistance. His legendary calm behaviour makes him an excellent choice for children affected by autism or other handicaps.

Originally used as a hunting dog, this animal was turned into a nanny for children, an escort for elderly, a clown to entertain people and in general an extraordinary companion for humankind.

This tall dog requires large areas of open space and regular exercise. He is very tolerant to the young and the old so the Golden Retriever is an amazing family member that is very gentle with all.

Golden Retriever

Breed Appearance

golden retriever

The Golden Retriever is robust and very powerful

Height

Between 58 and 61 cm (22.83 to 24.02 inches) for the male
Between 53 and 58 cm (20.87 to 22.83 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 29 and 36 kg (63.93 to 79.37 pounds) for the male
Between 25 and 32 kg (55.12 to 70.55 pounds) for the female

Color

The Golden Retriever’s coat varies between cream and red colors. Many people believe that this breed is related to the Labrador but it is not the case. The only similarity between the Golden Retriever and the Labrador is that they both belong to the retriever family but similarities end there.

Hair

The Golden Retriever has two layers of fur coat. The first layer is impermeable and consists of short hair while the second layer consists of long hair and protects against debris, dirt and UV rays.

Morphology

The Golden Retriever has a large and light skull. His nose is black and quite large. He has webbed feet and moves easily in the water. Ideally, his eyes are dark brown. His ears are medium-sized and floppy.

Read our article about the growth and weight of the Golden Retriever

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 8, section 1 and is #111

Characteristics of the Golden Retriever

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Golden Retriever is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

That will take you less than 3 minutes!

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Golden Retriever puppy: between 500 € / $ 1 / £1 and 1200 € / $ 1 / £1
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Golden Retriever: 120 € / $ 1 / £1
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Golden Retriever puppies near me

Golden Retriever pictures

Tips About this breed

Considering the numerous pathologies associated with this breed, it is judicious to ensure that the breeder you are considering adopting from is of the highest quality. To do so, make sure that he is registered with an organization that is recognized in your country.

Also, verify that the place you are planning to buy from is clean and trustworthy. Moreover, ask for proof that the puppy was examined by a veterinarian and that the various screening tests were performed. Ideally, check that his family members (parents, grand-parents, brothers and sisters) are in good health.

Do not adopt a Golden Retriever if you cannot offer him affection and attention on a daily basis. This dog is not meant to spend the day alone in an enclosure as this will make him very unhappy.

He needs to participate in daily activities. Every day, you will need to devote time to stimulate him physically and mentally. Therefore, your family must be present and active to consider adopting a Golden Retriever. If this is not the case, there are many other dog breeds that would be better suited to your lifestyle.

Health of the Golden Retriever

As is the case with many large dogs, hip and elbow dysplasia symptoms must be monitored. His ears are very prone to scabies. One must be vigilant and regularly wash them. Weekly examination will reduce the risk of infection and complications.

Other problems have also been linked to this breed, including eye disease, dermatology disorders, epilepsy and aortic stenosis. The Golden Retriever is also prone to various types of cancer including lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, mastocytoma and osteosarcoma.

Regular exercise and proper diet are generally the best protection against health issues in Golden Retrievers. Genetics is a very important factor to consider when acquiring a puppy. It is important to ensure that the puppy’s parents are healthy.

GROOMING

Regular brushing is necessary in order to ensure that your dog’s coat is free of knots and his skin is healthy. Brushing should be done 2 to 3 times per week, except during shedding season when brushing should be done on a daily basis.

Some recommend bathing the dog every 2 to 3 months whereas others recommend doing this every 6 months in order to avoid damaging his sensitive skin. After bathing, it is important to properly dry the base of the tail to reduce the risk of limber tail.

History of this breed

Originally from Great-Britain, the Golden Retriever was officially recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1913. This cross between the Irish Setter and the Flat-Coated Retriever resulted in a magnificient long-haired dog.

As is the case for the Labrador, the Golden Retriever belongs to the Retriever family. He is very popular thanks to his exceptional temperament and gentleness.

Anglo-Saxons are very fond of their Golden Retrievers. Originally bred for hunting, the Golden Retriever later became one of the best pet dogs. His gentle temperament has taken over his hunting instinct.

Learn more about the history and origin of the Golden Retriever

Related Breeds

Irish Setter Irish Setter
labrador retriever Labrador Retriever
berger belge Belgian Shepherd
samoyed Samoyed
Shetland shepherd Shetland Sheepdog
English Setter English Setter
setter gordon Gordon Setter
Dutch shepherd Dutch Shepherd
Last Updated: 12/08/2021

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