Golden Retriever Colors: Rarest to Most Common

The golden retriever is one of the most easily recognized dog breeds in the world. With their stunning gold fur and wavy locks, this pup is absolutely glorious. But did you know that golden retrievers come in more colors than just one?

The golden retriever can be found in five gorgeous colors, so let’s introduce you to each of them below!

The golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world for a reason. Goldens are incredibly friendly and loyal, making them one of the best companion dogs around. They were initially bred to be the ultimate duck retrieving dogs to bring along on a hunt, but their loving nature was impossible to ignore. It didn’t take long for the golden retriever to become the well-known family dog we know and love today!

Not only are these pups a wonderful addition to any family, but they are great candidates for a variety of important working roles. Golden retrievers are often used in search and rescue tasks, service dog roles, and even as police K9s. The golden retriever is a pup unlike any other!

The golden retriever can be found in five beautiful shades. Let’s break down each golden retriever coat color below!

1. Red or Mahogany

Mahogany or red golden retrievers are considered the rarest among their other golden retriever friends. The red hue in their coat is believed to have originated from when they were first bred with Irish Setters. This no longer happens today, but the color variation can still be found in some goldens.

The redness of their coat can range from a subtle ginger to a deep mahogany. Golden retrievers with a deep red coat are considered the rarest, which means they are more sought after. Some breeders now focus on breeding goldens with the red coat, and these pups will typically cost more than the standard golden retriever coat colors.

2. Cream Golden Retrievers

Cream golden retrievers are the second rarest golden retrievers on the list. These goldens can range in color from a pale to dark cream, with some pale creams appearing almost white in certain lighting. Cream goldens are also believed to have a thinner coat than other goldens.

Cream golden retrievers are much more common in the U.K., which is why they are often referred to as the English golden retriever. The cream golden is on the rise in the U.S., so we will likely see more of these stunning pups in the years to come!

3. Light Golden Retrievers

The light golden retriever is one of the most common goldens you see throughout the world. Their coat color is a bit lighter than the standard golden, but it can be so subtle that you may not even notice a difference between the two. The light golden retriever falls between the standard golden and the cream golden on the coat color scale.

4. Dark Golden Retrievers

Dark golden retrievers are one of the most popular shades of golden retrievers. Their coat color closely resembles the red golden, just without the amber hues. This coat color is often pure golden in nature, and their coat may even appear slightly copper in the sun.

The dark golden retriever is often lighter when they are born, only for their coat to darken over time. You may notice that their ears are darker than the rest of their body when they are puppies, and the rest of their coat will eventually follow suit.

5. Standard Golden Retrievers

Standard golden retrievers are the most common of all the goldens. The standard golden is likely what comes to mind when you picture a golden retriever! They may not be as rare as their mahogany friends, but they are still just as beautiful!

Which Golden Retriever Colors Are AKC Recognized?

Only three of the five golden retriever coat colors we discussed above are recognized by the American Kennel Club. The following golden retriever coat colors are considered ‘standard’ golden colors:

• Dark golden retriever
• Standard golden retriever
• Light golden retriever

The red golden retriever and the cream golden retriever are not officially recognized by the AKC. However, as long as you do not plan to enter your red or cream golden into any dog shows or competitions, this does not matter!

Final Thoughts

There are five golden retriever colors you may come across, and all are beautiful in their own way! Be sure to review the information we discussed above to determine which golden you are most interested in!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © archimede/Shutterstock.com