Golden Retriever: Your Complete Guide
Golden retrievers are popular family pets with their social and friendly personalities. They are loving dogs that accept everyone with open arms almost instantly after a quick interaction. The natural friendliness makes golden retrievers such a joy to have, making the breed suitable for a wide range of individuals and families.
However, golden retrievers are more than just sociable. Our article will guide you through everything about the golden retriever, touching on the breed’s history, physical features, temperament, intelligence, care needs, and more.
Continue reading to the end to know if the golden retriever is the right dog breed for you.
Quick Look at the Golden Retriever
Below is a quick look at the golden retriever. We’ll cover the characteristics of the breed in detail in the later parts of the article.
| Weight/Height | 55-75 pounds / 21-24 inches |
| Coat Type | Straight, medium-length with a thick undercoat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Friendly, outgoing, playful, affectionate |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits |  |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
What Is the History of Golden Retrievers?
The golden retriever’s development dates back to 19th century Scotland. Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, a Scottish politician, is the person behind the breed’s early development. Golden retrievers descend from regional flat-coated water spaniel dogs and other British dogs bred with tweed water spaniels selectively bred between 1840 and 1890s.
Through years of selective breeding, Sir Dudley Marjoribanks’ effort to have an ideal gun dog was coming to life, and he established a consistent line of hardworking dogs by the start of the 20th century.
The first golden retrievers arrived in the United States in the early 20th century but were initially known as flat-coated retrievers, with the golden color being a variety of the breed. The breed during this time didn’t gain much popularity but slowly became well-known by the end of the First World War.
The AKC recognized the golden retriever in 1925, but the breed’s popularity remained pretty much the same until the 1970s. After President Gerald Ford’s golden retriever, Liberty, became the public’s favorite, the popularity of the golden retriever skyrocketed.
Today, golden retrievers are mainly adopted as family pets. The breed’s eagerness to please and social skills also made the golden retriever a favorite for service animal work. In fact, golden retrievers are among the most common service dogs.
What Do Golden Retrievers Look Like?
There’s a reason golden retrievers are called golden retrievers. The only modern color variety of this breed is golden. Unlike many other breeds with similar colors, they don’t have any markings. A purebred golden retriever should be solid-colored, ranging from light to dark golden.
Since golden retrievers are outgoing dogs, they usually keep a friendly expression. Some also look goofy with their squishy cheeks, especially when something gets their attention unexpectedly.
What Size Is a Golden Retriever?
Golden retrievers are fairly large dogs that weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. On average, they stand 21 to 24 inches at the withers. Yet, some may grow up to become much larger, mostly topping around 26 inches. With the given range, some also consider the golden retriever to be a medium-to-large dog breed.
What Is a Golden Retriever’s Coat Type and Length?
Golden retrievers have straight, medium-length coats with a thick undercoat that sheds quite a bit, especially when seasons change. The coat is soft and silky throughout the body. The fur around the neck and chest tends to be longer than the rest, forming a pretty solid fluff.
Although golden retrievers shed heavily and have considerably long coats, maintaining the coat only takes about 20 minutes when brushed regularly, even during seasonal changes. We’ll cover the grooming needs of a golden retriever in detail down below.
What Is a Golden Retriever’s Temperament?
Golden retrievers are outgoing dogs that love friending anyone and everything they see. They are such sweet-natured dogs that get along well with strange dogs and unfamiliar people.
Golden retrievers are also playful dogs with a goofy side that will sure to get a laugh or two out of their owners. Once they start playing, golden retrievers may get excited and leave their thoughts behind – fully living in the moment.
While friendliness and a social disposition are at the forefront of the golden retriever’s temperament, there’s more to discuss about the personality of these dogs. Below, you’ll learn more about the temperament of this breed in regards to family life, aggression, barking habits, and more.
Are Golden Retrievers Good With Kids?
The golden retriever is one of the first breeds that come to mind when thinking about the perfect family dog – and for a good reason. These dogs get along well with children of all ages.
Golden retrievers have a special spot for kids and tend to act quite calm in their presence. However, they get full of energy when offered to play, making them the perfect companion for families with energetic children.
However, the tendency to get hyper when aroused requires golden retriever owners to supervise children and dogs during playtime. Since golden retrievers are fairly large, they may bump into children and hurt them without intention.
Are Golden Retrievers Good With Other Animals?
Golden retrievers can get along well with pretty much any animal. This breed almost always approaches unfamiliar dogs with a wagging tail and gets along well with cats, even if not raised together. Golden retrievers also tend to display submissive behavior to let other dogs know they want nothing but friendly play.
Unlike many other retriever dogs, golden retrievers have a pretty low prey drive. This makes the breed ideal for individuals and families with prey animals like Guinea pigs and rabbits. The low prey drive also makes golden retrievers less likely to pull on the leash in an attempt to chase small animals they see during walks.
Are Golden Retrievers Aggressive?
Golden retrievers are sweet-hearted dogs that generally don’t display aggression. These dogs aren’t prone to developing behavioral issues like food aggression or being overly territorial without a reason.
Golden retrievers are naturally friendly dogs that are extremely easy to socialize, but like any breed, they may show signs of aggression. This mainly happens due to a lack of socialization and not addressing behavioral issues they may develop early on.
That said, golden retrievers aren’t inherently aggressive. As long as they interact with an adequate number of strange dogs and people at a young age, you won’t need to worry about any hostile behavior towards others, whether human or animal.
Do Golden Retrievers Bark?
Golden retrievers don’t resort to barking every time they want attention or after spotting something – one of the reasons they are great large dogs for apartment dwellers. These dogs typically bark to alert their owners, so you should listen to them when it happens.
However, this doesn’t mean that all golden retrievers are low-barking dogs. Dogs bark for various reasons, and a golden retriever experiencing anxiety, boredom, loneliness, or medical problems may bark more than usual.
If a golden retriever starts barking more all of a sudden, it should be taken seriously. In these cases, golden retriever owners should consult their veterinarian to check their dog’s health or an animal behaviorist upon confirming that their dogs are physically healthy.
Are Golden Retrievers Affectionate?
Golden retrievers, without a doubt, are one of the most affectionate dog breeds. They are the lovey-dovey type that enjoys receiving attention from their owners and strangers. The large size makes them perfect cuddle buddies, but golden retrievers may not always be aware of their size and attempt to get on your lap as if they are small dogs.
The loving side of the golden retriever is for everyone. These dogs warm up to strangers quickly and often initiate play with unfamiliar people and animals.
The friendliness and outgoing nature make socializing golden retrievers effortless. Taking them out for regular walks and letting them interact with new dogs and strangers is enough to make them well-rounded dogs.
Are Golden Retrievers Intelligent?
Golden retrievers are one of the most intelligent dog breeds. The breed ranks 4th in the 1994 book, The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren.
As expected, golden retrievers are curious dogs that understand what’s happening around them. They also adapt to different environments and changes in their life pretty well, making them suitable for various living arrangements.
With all these, the golden retriever is an excellent dog breed for first-time dog owners. They are highly trainable and can learn various commands quickly – more on the exact trainability of this breed below.
Are Golden Retrievers Energetic?
Golden retrievers are energetic dogs that require daily walks of at least an hour. You can divide this into three separate walks averaging about 20 minutes to make it more manageable for you and help your golden retriever get sufficient exercise.
However, golden retrievers are also intelligent dogs that may experience boredom with simple daily walks. A golden retriever may get bored if they don’t see enough variation in their life, even when they walk enough throughout the day.
Golden retriever owners should incorporate various activities that will engage them both physically and mentally to ensure their dogs are happy. Swimming, dog puzzles, scent work, and training are excellent ways to provide a golden retriever with enough physical exercise and the crucial mental stimulation they need.
Are Golden Retrievers Easy to Train?
The golden retriever is an intelligent dog breed with a big drive to please their owner. Training one of these dogs doesn’t take much time and effort. You can go through basic obedience training with a golden retriever in just a few weeks and teach them all the essential commands like sit, stay, come, and leave it.
You can then vary things and teach a golden retriever more complex tricks, like off-leash walking and advanced recall. The high trainability of the golden retriever makes the breed suitable for various types of employment, from detection work to assisting individuals with a disability.
Are Golden Retrievers Good Watchdogs?
Whether or not a golden retriever will be a good watchdog depends on individual temperament. Most golden retrievers are too friendly to become a watchdog. While they may bark to alert after spotting something suspicious, golden retrievers usually prioritize befriending strangers entering their space rather than confronting them.
Golden retrievers wary of strangers may act differently and keep a vigilant eye. It mainly comes down to the individual temperament of the dog. Still, most golden retrievers aren’t that great at keeping a given property safe from intruders or invasive animals.
Are Golden Retrievers Good Service Dogs?
The golden retriever’s high trainability, intelligence, and social skills are perfect for service animal work. As mentioned above, golden retrievers are a common breed in this space.
You’ll see many golden retrievers working as service animals alongside their handler, upholding various duties, from psychiatric service animal work to mobility assistance.
Additionally, the affectionate nature of the golden retriever can comfort individuals with a psychiatric condition, making them perfect emotional support and therapy animals.
How to Care for a Golden Retriever?
You can consider the golden retriever to be a high-maintenance dog breed. These dogs require a lot of daily exercise and mental stimulation, along with some grooming. Like every dog, golden retrievers also need sufficient socialization to ensure they grow up to become well-rounded adults.
Training should start the moment you bring home a golden retriever and continue throughout their early adult life. As they are intelligent dogs, utilizing training as a means of exercise is a great way to keep golden retrievers engaged and happy.
Besides these care needs of a golden retriever, here’s more on what it takes to look after this breed.
Do You Need to Groom a Golden Retriever?
Golden retrievers have average grooming needs, but the owners of these dogs may benefit from frequent brushing when shedding gets intense to manage it. For the most part, brushing the coat one to two times a week is enough.
Although these dogs don’t need full haircuts like longer-coated dog breeds like the poodle or Maltese terrier, the fur around the legs, feet, and private areas should be trimmed to keep a tidy appearance. You can do this at home with a pair of grooming shears or take your golden retriever to a professional groomer.
Other than coat care, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental care should be a part of their regular grooming routine, as well as flea prevention.
Do Golden Retrievers Shed?
Golden retrievers shed a little year-round and quite extensively during seasonal changes. Because these dogs descend from various water dogs, the coat prepares for the next season during seasonal changes, during which they shed heavily.
If you have pet allergies, golden retrievers may not be the best breed for you. F1b goldendoodles can be an excellent pick for those who want to get a golden retriever but are intimidated by them due to allergies. They are a mix between the golden retriever and the poodle – backcrossed with a poodle to ensure a hypoallergenic coat.
What Health Problems Do Golden Retrievers Have?
Golden retrievers are generally healthy dogs with a handful of canine diseases prone to develop. As golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds, there’s a lot of research on their health that points to health problems this breed may develop.
Here’s a quick list of health conditions golden retrievers may inherit genetically.
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Hip Dysplasia
- Heart Problems
- Vision Problems
- Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5
When getting a golden retriever, it’s essential to work with a breeder who screens their breeding stock for the diseases the breed may inherit. During adoption, ask the necessary questions to ensure you’re getting a dog from a responsible breeder or shelter.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?
Golden retrievers have a fairly long lifespan, between 10 and 12 years. However, many factors may impact a dog’s lifespan, from the care provided and environment to genetics and diet. It’s important to note all these that may affect how long a golden retriever may live.
What Should a Golden Retriever Eat?
Golden retrievers should eat high-quality commercial dog food appropriate for their age, activity levels, and size. The amount should be between two and three and a half cups.
A homemade and raw diet is also an option, but it should be carefully formulated and balanced by a licensed vet to ensure they are nourished. For all these, you can ask your vet for recommendations on what to feed a golden retriever.
Is a Golden Retriever the Right Dog for Me?
The golden retriever is an outgoing dog breed ideal for a wide range of individuals and families, including first-time dog owners. The breed’s adaptability makes them suitable for different living arrangements, including apartments.
The major points to consider are their exercise, mental stimulation, and grooming needs. If you think you can provide them with enough daily input and maintain their coat, the golden retriever will make an excellent companion.
With all their care needs, golden retrievers can be fairly high maintenance, but having one can add such joy to your life. While puppies are beyond adorable, consider adopting from your local shelter as an option.
There are countless golden retrievers in shelters waiting for a forever home. It can be just as rewarding to adopt a golden retriever from a shelter as joyful it is to have one of these dogs around.