Quick Take
- Reaching a 20-year lifespan requires surviving a disease that affects 60% of the population.
- The 5-cup feeding limit prevents a metabolic crisis linked to hypothyroidism and obesity.
- Despite their gundog status, these canines are surprisingly unsuitable for protection and guarding duties.
- Baron Tweedmouth initiated a breeding project to solve retrieval failures on rugged Scottish terrain.
Originating from the serene and picturesque hills of the Scottish Highlands, the golden retriever is the very epitome of loyalty and affection. The first major breeder was Dudley Marjoribanks, the Baron of Tweedmouth, who created the golden retriever in the 19th century by crossing a yellow retriever with the now-extinct tweed water spaniel, plus a mix of the bloodhound and Irish Setter. He intended for the breed to be a superior hunting dog that could retrieve dead game from all kinds of rugged terrain on land or water. The technical term for this type of retriever or hunter is a gundog.
The result is a hardy dog breed with an impeccable and lustrous double coat of orange, golden, or light-colored fur that can tolerate cold water during hunting months and also deal with felled fowl.
These beloved pups are great for families with kids and other animals. You will also commonly see them utilized as service animals and search and rescue dogs. There really is no end to their capability! According to the American Kennel Club, it is one of the most popular breeds in the country.
The Different Types of Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever Mixes
There are quite a few Golden Retriever crossbreeds, including:
- Beago: The Beago is a blend of a beagle and a golden retriever. They have many of the great characteristics of their parents, including being great swimmers like their retriever parent.
- Golden Saint: Golden Saints are one of the breeds with the absolute best names. They, as you might have guessed, come from golden retriever and Saint Bernard parents. When they have puppies, the young ones come out with all types of unpredictable, colored, and patterned fur.
- Golden Doodle: The Golden Doodle is a very popular “designer breed” that combines golden retrievers with poodles. The result is a very smart and family-oriented pup with shaggy hair.
- Golden Shepherd: The Golden Shepherd breed is a great combination of German shepherds and golden retrievers. Their puppies have the sweetness and gentleness of the retriever but also have the athleticism and work dog mentality of the shepherd.
- Golden Pyrenees: The Golden Pyrenees is another interesting breed. They come from breeding a golden retriever with a Great Pyrenees. Typically, they carry over the huge size of the Pyrenees and the gentle nature of the retriever.
Owning a Golden Retriever: 3 Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A sweet breed Let’s face it, Golden Retrievers are just generally a sweet breed of dogs. They’re just generally good-natured and work well with families. | This playful mate needs EXERCISE Goldens aren’t a breed that’s content to lie around an apartment all day. They require daily exercise, and if you’re lacking, they can get restless and begin causing havoc in small spaces. |
| Easy to train Some dogs can be challenging to train. However, the intelligence of Goldens makes them one of the easier breeds to train. The breed can adapt to fairly complex tricks, so don’t be afraid to push the envelope. | Shed, shed, shed Like many retrievers, Goldens will shed… But they tend to shed a lot. The biggest shedding seasons come in spring and fall, but be prepared for hair… everywhere. |
| A playful mate Goldens are a playful breed. They need a lot of physical activity and can be especially energetic in their first four (or so) years of life. | Some health concerns Goldens are very active, especially when young. This comes with some health conditions, especially a propensity for hip dysplasia. In addition, Goldens are prone to many health ailments, which we’ve listed below. |
Size
The pure-breed golden retriever, as opposed to a mix, is a medium-to-large-sized dog with a strong and muscular frame. The typical member of this breed stands up to 2 feet high and weighs between 55 and 75 pounds. Males are slightly larger than females, but otherwise, they are similar in appearance. Due to the exact breeding standards, the golden retriever adheres to a very narrow range of sizes.
| Height (Male) | 23 to 24 inches |
|---|---|
| Height (Female) | 21.5 to 22.5 inches |
| Weight (Male) | 65 to 75 pounds |
| Weight (Female) | 55 to 65 pounds |
Common Health Issues
Due to various genetic factors, the golden retriever, unfortunately, comes with several health problems, the most significant of which is cancer. Golden Retrievers are among the most cancer-prone dog breeds, with studies indicating that around 60-65% of them in the United States may eventually die from cancer.
The breed is also susceptible to eye disease, skin diseases, ear infections, hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones), heart disease, and hip and elbow dysplasia (a genetic developmental abnormality in which parts of the joint grow somewhat out of alignment with each other, potentially hobbling the dog). If you intend to purchase a golden retriever, then you should be aware of the common signs of distress or illness. For instance, infections and skin allergies, which can be caused by pollens, food, and fleas, generally appear as red skin and excessive itching. For dysplasia, you may notice a limp.
To reduce the possibility of long-term health problems, you can request medical records from the breeder, store, or adoption agency from which you purchased the dog. You should also ensure that your dog has an annual checkup to catch health problems as soon as possible.
Temperament
Golden retrievers seem to positively radiate a friendly, trusting, and affable personality with their warm and cheerful expressions. For this reason, they are sometimes held up as an example of the quintessential dog breed. Their keen intelligence and playful behavior make them very easy for all kinds of people to interact with, as they are always looking for ways to please people and meet new friends.
This has allowed them to thrive as good companions and hunting dogs but perhaps not so much as guard dogs. In modern society, this devoted and exuberant personality makes them well-suited for rescue work, therapy, some law enforcement work, and guides for the blind.
Check out some incredible facts about Golden Retrievers.
Golden retrievers seem to positively radiate a friendly, trusting, and affable personality with their warm and cheerful expressions.
©Donamen/Shutterstock.com
How to Take Care of Golden Retrievers
Because of their frequent need for exercise and grooming, golden retrievers require a large amount of work and effort to maintain. It is a good idea to ensure that there’s a constant human presence in the house to keep the dog company and take care of its needs. If the dog begins to show early signs of health problems, such as dysplasia, then you should take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The average Golden Retriever lifespan is 10 to 12 years; sadly, studies show their lifespan has been trending down. The oldest Golden on record was named Augie and lived 20 years and 11 months.
The Best Dog Food
Golden retrievers require high-quality food for medium or large dogs to support an active lifestyle. You can also feed the dog treats judiciously from time to time, but don’t overdo it. Because of the tendency to overeat, golden retrievers are sometimes prone to obesity. Hypothyroidism is a particularly worrying accelerator of weight gain. This can lead to long-term health problems, including heart disease and arthritis.
A general rule is that you should limit adults to no more than 5 cups of food per day. You should feed a puppy no more than 3 cups per day. You should also avoid feeding the dog too many scraps from human food. If you notice that the dog is gaining weight, then you should immediately reduce the amount of food you are giving it.
Maintenance and Grooming
With its rich fur coat, the golden retriever is notorious for its semi-frequent shedding. You should therefore endeavor to groom the dog at least once per week, maybe more. In addition, when the dog is heavily shedding its double coat about once or twice a year, it may require almost daily brushes to stay clean and healthy.
The brushing can be preceded by a very rigorous bath to loosen some of the fur, but make sure the dog is dry before attempting to groom it. The nails should be trimmed on a regular basis as well. And if possible, you should regularly clean out the ears to reduce the chances of an infection.
Training
One of the breed’s most appealing traits is the ease with which these dogs can be trained to perform tricks or tasks. Golden retrievers will want to do what they’re told, but the dog also needs a focused training regime or it could become distracted easily. If socialized and trained from an early age, meaning up to around four months, then they can be seamlessly integrated into the family with much less of a tendency to nibble or bark. But even adult dogs are trusting and friendly toward almost anyone it encounters and therefore might take easily to training. Since this breed is so loyal and eager to place, training often comes naturally and effortlessly.
The golden retriever is a good athlete and working dog, so it excels when given an objective to complete. The breed is especially proficient at sports and agility competitions.
Since this breed is so loyal and eager to place, training often comes naturally and effortlessly.
©iStock.com/Eva Blanco
Exercise
The golden retriever is an active breed of dog that requires an outlet for all of that pent-up energy. It is therefore a good idea to give your dog as much as 45 minutes of exercise throughout the day, plus additional mental and physical stimulation.
You should also try to keep the dog frequently entertained with toys and chewing items. If it does not receive an adequate level of activity, then it might engage in destructive behavior around the home. Before buying this breed, make sure you have plenty of indoor and outdoor space for activity. You can also take this breed with you on your walk, run, or bicycling.
Puppies
A golden retriever puppy is very eager to work and play but lacks a lot of discipline. If you obtain the dog as a puppy, then you should immediately put it through training to form a strong bond with your dog and teach it the basics. Exposing the dog to many different people and situations early may make it better adjusted as an adult. It is also a good idea to take the dog to a vet and have it examined for possible joint problems, which can develop early in life.
Golden Retriever puppies should be socialized from a young age.
©BIGANDT.COM/Shutterstock.com
With Children
Because of its friendly and kind personality, the golden retriever is one of the most popular breeds to keep around children. It will tolerate a lot of rough and playful behavior with immense patience and its good, loyal personality even around toddlers and adolescents.
This also provides a constant source of companionship and teaches kids a sense of responsibility. The American Kennel Club lists the golden retriever as one of the best dog breeds for kids.
Because of its friendly and kind personality, the golden retriever is one of the most popular breeds to keep around children.
©iStock.com/Bicho_raro
Similar Dogs
The golden retriever is just one of many breeds that qualifies as a retriever. Besides some mix breeds like the goldendoodle and golden Aussie, here are some of the most similar dog breeds:
- Labrador Retriever: Originating from Newfoundland in the 1600s, this breed is similar in most respects to the golden retriever, including its friendly and easy-going nature, its trainability, and its dedication to tasks. Like its golden variant, the Labrador retriever is incredibly popular both in the home and for work purposes.
- Flat Coat Retriever: This breed is similar to the Labrador retriever, but as the name suggests, it has a flatter coat of fur with a long head and a leaner appearance. This coat is well-adapted to harsher weather conditions.
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Originating from the Maryland area in the 1800s, this breed is characterized by its wavy tan or brown hair, which is similar to the flat coat retriever. It is generally larger than the golden retriever with some individuals weighing up to 100 pounds.
Famous Golden Retrievers
- Air Bud: How could any list of “famous” Golden Retrievers not begin with Air Bud? The franchise began in 1997 with a movie about ‘Buddy’, the basketball-dunking dog, and has continued forward. As of this writing, the most recent entry in the series was Air Bud: Spikes Back, which featured Buddy as a volleyball player.
- Duke: The Golden Retriever in ‘Bush’s Baked Beans’ commercials became a celebrity. He passed away in 2018.
- Gracie: One of Oprah Winfrey’s dogs. Unfortunately, Grace died at a young age after choking on a plastic ball.
Golden Retriever Pictures
View all of our Golden Retriever pictures in the gallery.
Volodymyr Burdiak/Shutterstock.com
Sources
- David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife / Accessed November 10, 2008
- Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books The World Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 10, 2008
- David Burnie, Kingfisher The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia / Accessed November 10, 2008
- Richard Mackay, University of California Press The Atlas Of Endangered Species / Accessed November 10, 2008
- David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 10, 2008
- Dorling Kindersley Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 10, 2008
- American Kennel Club / Accessed October 17, 2020
- Chewy / Accessed October 17, 2020
- AKC / Accessed October 17, 2020
- Rover / Accessed October 17, 2020
