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Your Pet, Our Passion.

Golden Retriever

Probably one of the most recognisable and best loved dogs, the Golden Retriever is outgoing, playful, and probably the perfect pet for just anyone. Their tolerant attitude and the fact that they’re intelligent and easy to train makes them excellent family dogs for either experienced or inexperienced owners. 

You won’t be able to count on a Golden Retriever to be a guard dog though, as they will try to befriend anyone who gets close to them. Plus, they love being the center of attention so they will thrive with a loving owner who can give them all the care and affection they need.  

Lifespan
10–12 years
Weight
27–34kg
Height
51–61cm
Colours
The Golden Retriever comes in various shades of gold from light to dark
Size
Large
Kennel Club group
Gundog
The need-to-know
  • Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
  • Extra training required
  • Need to be aware of potential health issues
  • Enjoys active walks
  • Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day
  • Large dog
  • Some drool
  • Requires grooming every other day
  • Quiet dog
  • Welcomes everyone happily
  • Generally friendly with other dogs
  • Gets along with other pets with training
  • Great family dog
  • Needs a large garden
  • Can live in semi-rural areas
  • Can be left occasionally with training
This breed may encounter health problems

As with many breeds, the Golden Retriever can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia 
- Elbow dysplasia
- Glaucoma which is a painful condition where the pressure in the eye builds up. 
- Multifocal retinal dysplasia which is an inherited eye condition that can seriously affect a dog's vision.
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.  
- Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy which is where deposits form in the eye and this can result in damage to the eye and blindness in dim light.
- Hereditary cataracts which is a condition where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and this can result in blindness. 
- Ichthyosis which is where the skin on the footpads become thickened, greasy and dry.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing: 
- Hip dysplasia screening scheme 
- Elbow dysplasia screening scheme 
- Eye screening scheme 
- Eye testing for pectinate ligament abnormality testing to look for signs that a dog is affected by glaucoma.

Golden Retriever Appearance 

The Golden Retriever is known for their lustrous, medium-length golden coat and ever-wagging tail. This large retriever has a friendly expression with perfect symmetry and superb, flowing movement covering the ground with long, powerful strides. As for the Golden Retriever colours, they can be various shades of gold from light to dark. 

Golden Retriever Personality 

The Golden Retriever is a gentle dog with a level disposition, and usually adapts well to family life. They love to be involved in all matters, whether indoors or outdoors. They are foremost a retriever and will attempt to drag, pull, or carry anything they can fit into their mouths. They also love water and care should be taken to ensure their safety when any form of water is nearby. Golden Retrievers are, however, worriers, and great care should be taken during training, ensuring sensitivity is maintained at all times. 

As long as they have been introduced to cats and other furries as a puppy, they will happily live with all other household animals. 

The Golden Retriever will suit an owner or family who are active and love the great outdoors, and who want a friendly, trainable large dog that needs lots of exercise and will join in with all activities with joy — and love everyone. 

What owners say about this breed...

Golden Retriever
Purina People

Meet Molly

"I knew that they like to swim but I never expected she would lie down in every puddle she finds. The muddier the better!"

Golden Retriever
Dog Owner

Meet Mac

"GRs really are the best family dog. They are kind, undemanding and affectionate."

Golden Retriever
Dog Owner

Meet Norman

"The amount they shed is unreal; make sure you invest in a good brush if you’re thinking of owning one."

Golden Retriever Fun Facts 

  • The Golden Retriever is one of the most versatile breeds and they can be found doing all kinds of jobs including, disability assistance, guiding, search and rescue, working trials, obedience, and agility. 
  • One Golden Retriever worth mentioning is Bear — the first dog on the scene after the World Trade Centre disaster. He and his handler John Gilkey worked at the site for three months trying to locate people buried in the rubble. 
  • Golden Retrievers are said to have extremely soft mouths, so soft in fact that they can carry a raw egg in their mouth without cracking the shell. 
  • Due to their high intelligence and willingness to please, Golden Retrievers are often used in films and TV shows, some famous ones include Buddy from Air Bud and Shadow from Homeward Bound. 
  • They are thought to be the 4th smartest dog breed in the world. 

FAQs 

Are Golden Retrievers lazy? 

No, Golden Retrievers are known to be high energy and very active so if there are signs of laziness, they might be experiencing medical issues or emotional distress. However, it’s best to always contact the vet if you notice anything unusual happening with your Golden Retriever. 

Do Golden Retrievers bark a lot? 

It’s unlike a Golden Retriever to be making a lot of noise as they won’t bark very often and will keep quiet most of the time. When they do bark, however, it mostly sounds like a friendly bark instead of a menacing one.  

Is a Golden Retriever good for beginners? 

Absolutely, Golden Retrievers make great pets for any potential owner, regardless of the experience they have with pets. They’re reliable, intelligent, and forgiving, so training them will be a breeze. 

How many times a day does a Golden Retriever need to be walked? 

Depending on age, a Golden Retriever would need between 15 minutes and 2 hours of daily exercise.