Golden Retriever

Unique Physical Features

While “Golden” is in the name, Golden Retrievers come in quite a range of colors, from a very light cream to more yellow and gold, and even dark red.

The Golden Retriever breed is often categorized into three different groups: American, Canadian, and British. These are all purebred Golden Retrievers, but have different physical characteristics based on the historical use of the breed geographically and the resulting bloodlines:

• British Golden Retrievers are often stockier than their counterparts across the Atlantic, with deeper chests, shorter legs, and wider, “blockier” heads with shorter muzzles.


• Canadian Goldens are the more athletic of the three variations, with longer legs and leaner bodies that lend themselves to fieldwork. They also tend to have thinner coats in darker colors than their American counterparts.


• American Golden Retrievers tend to be in-between the Canadian and British Golden Retrievers, less stocky and longer legged than the British variation, but with a thicker coat and often more feathering than the Canadian Golden.


• The Golden Retriever breed can get what’s called “Snow Nose,” where their dark nose loses its pigmentation and becomes a pink or brown color. While Snow Nose isn’t always a cause for concern, there are other reasons a dog’s nose might change color, such as contact dermatitis, an autoimmune disorder, or even an underlying thyroid condition. Check with your veterinarian if your Golden’s nose changes color.

Unique Personality

When describing a Golden Retriever, the word “versatile” fits perfectly. Not only are they fantastic sporting dogs, but they excel in many other activities. Goldens are often used as service dogs for the blind or mobility-impaired and are ideal in search-and-rescue roles due to their toughness in the field and an excellent sense of smell. The Golden Retriever is loyal and eager to please, paired with a happy-go-lucky and playful personality. The one thing they aren’t particularly good at is guarding the home. They’re more likely to seek a pat on the head from an intruder than to chase them off.

History of the Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is seen as a quintessential American breed due to its popularity in the United States, so it might come as a surprise that the Golden was actually developed in Scotland in the mid-1800s. Unhappy with the retrieving breeds available at the time and wanting a retriever able to work both on land and in water for waterfowl retrieving, Baron Tweedmouth began to develop the Golden Retriever by crossing water spaniels with retrievers.

He first crossed a retriever with the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel breed, and later included the Irish Setter, St. John’s water dog (also extinct), the Bloodhound and other retrievers to eventually create what we now consider a purebred Golden Retriever.

U.S. History of the Golden Retriever Over Time

Officially recognized by the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom in 1911, the American Kennel Club followed suit 14 years later in 1925. Since then, Golden Retrievers have consistently ranked as one of the most popular breeds in the United States based on AKC registrations.

Golden Retriever Behavior and Training

Golden Retrievers are known for being one of the easier breeds to train, as they love working with their humans and having a job to do (plus, they’ll do anything for food!). Lifelong training is important for this breed as they are intelligent and need an outlet for their energy and desire to work. If you don’t give them appropriate activities, especially Golden puppies who like to put everything in their mouth, they’re likely to follow their nose and find something to do on their own, which might be more fun for them than it is for you.

Plays Well with Others?

• While Goldens are known as a very social breed, proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy is essential for their socialization skills.

• Golden Retrievers are known to do well with children due to their outgoing personality and ability to cope with more physical handling. Make sure they have been properly introduced and socialized with children as a young puppy to set them up for success. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.


• Goldens can enjoy the companionship of other animals in the home, as long as they have been properly socialized and introduced. They’ve been known to take on the role of “mother” to abandoned puppies and other animals — a Golden named Lilly helped raise three Wild African dogs at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Exercise Requirements

Daily exercise is so important for this sporting breed. Golden Retrievers benefit from physical exercise beyond a daily walk around the block. They love to play fetch and swim (thanks to their webbed toes), which are great options to help them stay in shape. They also make excellent jogging or hiking partners, once they are fully grown, due to their medium size and endurance level.

Speak with your veterinarian about appropriate exercise for a Golden Retriever puppy. Until they are full-grown (bone growth plates typically all close by around 12 to 18 months of age), avoid strenuous or repetitive activities like jogging or running, as this can increase their risk of damage to the growing bone and cartilage, and cause pain and future joint issues.

Mental Enrichment Needs

Mental enrichment is important for this fun and energetic breed! You can work their brains by teaching new tricks, attending obedience classes, joining a dog sport, and providing dog puzzles and interactive toys. These activities are a wonderful outlet for the seemingly endless puppy energy.

A Golden’s nose is an amazing thing! Working their sniffer uses a lot of brain power, making sniffing a powerful tool for mental enrichment. Provide your Golden with lots of sniffing opportunities on walks or hikes, or play a fun nosework game indoors on a rainy day.

Common Behavioral Issues

Due to their love of companionship and social nature, Goldens need positive exposure to alone time from puppyhood, to prevent or minimize any separation anxiety issues as they get older. It’s much easier to prevent than to treat once it’s started. Make alone time a positive and relaxing experience for your Golden Retriever.

Golden Retrievers are known for using their mouths to pick up everything — those retrieving genes are strong! To prevent unwanted chewing and to keep them safe, spend lots of time teaching Leave It, Drop It, and providing appropriate toys to chew on or carry around.

Fun Activities the Golden Retriever Enjoys

Golden Retrievers enjoy a variety of dog sports and activities:

• Dock Diving


• Nosework


• Tracking


• Therapy Work


• Service Animal Training


• Search and Rescue

Golden Retriever Coat Type

Golden Retrievers have a double-coat, with a soft and dense undercoat to keep them warm, and a water-resistant long and flat topcoat.

Goldens should get a minimum of twice-weekly brushing, if not daily. Goldens are known to “blow coat” or shed excessively twice a year, usually in spring and fall, as their coat changes in preparation for hotter or colder weather. Brushing should be done frequently to prevent matting during these times. Intermittent professional grooming is usually needed for feather trimming and mat prevention. Introducing your Golden Retriever puppy to positive and calm grooming experiences from a young age will help them enjoy lifelong grooming.

Since Golden Retrievers love the water so much, it’s important to dry their coat and clean their ears after swimming fully. This will help prevent matting, hot spots, and other skin issues and minimize ear infections (which this breed tends to get).

Best Brush for Golden Retrievers: Pin comb, Slicker brush

Famous Owners of the Golden Retriever

• Betty White (Actress)


• Oprah Winfrey (OPRAH)


• Conan O’Brien (Comedian)


• Bruno Mars (Musician)


• Jennifer Aniston (Actor)


• Elizabeth Warren (Politician)


• President Ronald Reagan (Politician)


• Shakira (Musician)


• George Clooney (Actor)


• Marilyn Monroe (Actor)

Famous Golden Retrievers

Kira (2019), a female English Golden Retriever, became a hero and instant global sensation, when on her own accord, she twice assisted her owner in breaking through the ice and rescuing two dogs stranded separately in a frozen lake, rounding up each animal and guiding them safely to shore. The video of the rescue vent viral and gained over 100 million views in just under one week.

Golden Retrievers in Books, Movies and TV

• Air Bud


• Comet on Full House and Cosmo on Fuller House


• Brinkley from You've Got Mail


• Bailey from A Dog’s Purpose (Book and Movie)


• Chance from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

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Common Health Conditions for the Golden Retriever Breed

Use the chart of Trupanion claims data below to find out what health conditions happen most frequently for Golden Retrievers. Every Golden Retriever is unique, but understanding what health conditions are likelier to occur can help you be a more prepared pet owner.