A Scottish gundog bred to retrieve waterfowl over rough Highland terrain, the Golden Retriever has become one of the most widely kept family and assistance dogs in the world.
The breed was developed at Guisachan, the Highland estate of Dudley Marjoribanks, first Baron Tweedmouth, between 1868 and the 1890s. His stud books — preserved and later published — record the foundation cross of a yellow retriever named Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel bitch, Belle, and subsequent additions of Irish Setter, Bloodhound and further Tweed Water Spaniel.2
The Kennel Club recognised the breed as "Retriever — Yellow or Golden" in 1913 and settled on Golden Retriever in 1920.2 The AKC granted recognition in 1925.1 The breed's combination of soft mouth, biddability and tolerance made it a natural fit for guide-dog, detection and therapy work as those fields professionalised in the twentieth century.
The name is descriptive on both counts: the dog retrieves shot game to hand, and its coat ranges across shades of gold. The colour term was formally adopted to distinguish the variety from the Flat-Coated and Labrador Retrievers with which it shared early registration classes.2
| Life expectancy | 10–12 years |
|---|---|
| Height — male | 23–24 in (58–61 cm) |
| Height — female | 21.5–22.5 in (55–57 cm) |
| Weight — male | 65–75 lb (29–34 kg) |
| Weight — female | 55–65 lb (25–29 kg) |
| Coat type & colors | Dense water-repellent double coat with feathering; shades of gold from cream to dark |
| Shedding | Heavy, with seasonal peaks |
| Exercise needs | High — retrieving, swimming, daily walks |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| AKC group | Sporting Group (AKC) |
| Prestige Breed size class | Large Breed · Over 60 lbs |
The AKC lists the breed as intelligent, friendly and devoted.1 Goldens were selected for cooperative work with a handler and for a genuinely soft mouth, and the resulting temperament is unusually tolerant — of children, of other dogs, and of handling.
The breed is slow to mature and remains playful well into adulthood. Goldens are strongly motivated by food and by carrying objects in the mouth, both of which make training straightforward. They are poor guard dogs and generally unhappy when isolated from the household.
Lord Tweedmouth's kennel records were rediscovered and published in 1952, giving the Golden Retriever one of the most completely documented origins of any breed.2
Golden Retrievers have a notably high lifetime incidence of cancer, particularly haemangiosarcoma and lymphoma. The Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is tracking the causes; regular veterinary examination matters.4
The breed gains weight easily, and excess weight compounds hip, elbow and joint problems. Measure meals rather than free-feeding.
The dense undercoat mats behind the ears, in the trousers and under the tail. A slicker plus an undercoat rake, weekly, prevents it.
Retrieving, carrying and scent games satisfy a hardwired need. Goldens denied it often become mouthy or destructive with household objects.
This guide is educational and is not veterinary advice. Breed standards, measurements and health information are drawn from the sources listed above; consult your veterinarian for guidance specific to your dog.
Prestige Breed makes a large breed multivitamin designed for breeds like the Golden Retriever — see the Golden Retriever Multivitamin.