Family-friendly:5/5Exercise needs:5/5Easy to train:5/5Tolerates being alone:1/5Likes other pets:5/5Energy level:5/5Grooming needs:4/5Shedding:5/5

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.

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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.

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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...

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!"

Read Molly's story

Meet Mac

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

Read Mac's story

Meet Norman

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

Read Norman's story

Read more stories

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Exercise needs:	5/5
Easy to train:	5/5
Tolerates being alone:	1/5
Likes other pets:	5/5
Energy level:	5/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	5/5

History and Origins

Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth) took a liking to the yellow colour of the retriever and acquired a dog called 'Nous' from Brighton, England, in 1865 and used him on a Tweed Water Spaniel bitch, which was a liver-coloured retrieving dog. In 20 years of further breeding, and bringing in Labrador Retrievers, Red Setters and possibly a Bloodhound or two to improve scenting and add bone, the Golden Retriever dog breed was developed. In 1908, it was registered and shown as Golden Flatcoats until 1913 when the listing was changed to Golden or Yellow Retrievers until finally, in 1920, they took the name they bear today.

Ideal Owner

Ideal Golden Retriever owners understand that this breed only becomes a loveable, cuddly best friend if trained and socialised well and given plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. It takes a few years for them to mature into sensible adult dogs, so you’ll be prepared to carefully manage their behaviour whilst they learn and settle down. Long walks in mud and rain are part of the joy of the Goldie, cleaning up muddy pawprints and vacuuming shed hair will need to be also!

Exercise Needs

Adult Golden Retrievers require a reasonable amount of exercise to keep them in peak condition. As puppies, do ensure they are not over-exercised or bone/joint problems may develop. A couple of hours of daily exercise should be sufficient for a fit adult, though this dog will happily accept more if you can offer it!

Like many gundogs, they can easily become overweight if not given enough exercise - especially as they love their food!

Space Requirements

At heart, this is a country dog that loves the great outdoors and long walks in the countryside. Plus, given the Golden Retriever size, they will most likely feel more comfortable with access to a large backyard. However, they can adapt to smaller spaces as long as they have a garden and plenty of daily exercise.

Nutrition and Feeding

Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. The Golden Retriever is prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. When they’re provided with proper care and nutrition, the Golden Retriever lifespan can extend to 12 years.

Grooming Golden Retrievers

Because of the density of the coat, the Golden Retriever grooming process has to be done regularly. The undercoat, because of its water-repellent nature, is extremely thick and must not be allowed to mat, causing unnecessary suffering to the animal. Whilst the length of the coat attracts water and mud, this is easily cleaned off once the coat has dried.

Training Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are great dogs to train — whether in obedience or more traditional gundog work— bas they are smart and enjoy pleasing their owners. They need sensitive reward-based training to help them gain confidence and excel. As well as walking exercise, they excel in any games that use their natural retrieving abilities and love working with their owners.

Are Golden Retrievers Good Family Dogs?

The Golden Retriever is an ideal dog for families as they love everyone, are gentle, and enjoy being involved in all activities. They’ll happily come along for car rides and go visiting as they’re highly social.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

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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.