Golden Retriever: what to look for
A Golden’s coat does most of the talking, but the head and tail matter too. Add a photo above to see which breeds Petus finds closest, then compare the details below.
Also known as: Golden, Goldie
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About the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever was developed in the Scottish Highlands in the second half of the nineteenth century, when Lord Tweedmouth crossed a yellow wavy-coated retriever with the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. Bred to retrieve shot game over land and water, it is an FCI group 8 gundog and a favourite family dog worldwide. Goldens are gentle, eager to please and happiest with something in their mouth. Show lines tend to be paler and more heavily coated; working lines are often darker gold or red, leaner, with less coat.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 25–34 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- High
How to recognise a Golden Retriever
- Medium-length double coat, flat or wavy, with feathering on the backs of the legs, under the tail, on the chest and on the ears.
- Any shade of gold or cream, from very pale to deep reddish gold. Goldens are never black, brown or patched; only a few white chest hairs are allowed.
- Broad skull, well-defined stop and a deep muzzle about as long as the skull, with dark brown eyes and a black nose for a soft, kind expression.
- Medium-sized ears set about level with the eyes, hanging close to the cheeks and covered in wavy fringes.
- Thick, well-feathered tail carried level with the back or slightly above, with a gentle upward curve; it never curls over.
- Balanced, muscular body, a little longer than tall, with a level topline and a deep chest.
Photo tip. Show the whole dog side-on in good light. The feathering on the backs of the legs and under the tail separates a Golden from a yellow Lab more reliably than colour does.
Golden Retriever or look-alike?
Labrador Retriever
A yellow Lab can be exactly the same colour, but its coat is short and dense all over, with no feathering, and its tail is a thick, round otter tail.
Flat-Coated Retriever
Same feathered outline, but a flat-coat is normally solid black or liver, with a longer, narrower head and very little stop between skull and muzzle.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Smaller and foxier, red to orange with white on the face, chest, feet or tail tip. A Golden is evenly coloured, with no white blaze or white feet.
Goldendoodle
A doodle’s coat is wavy to curly all over, face included, often with a beard and eyebrows. A Golden has a smooth face, with feathering only on the ears and body.
Golden Retriever mixes
The Golden is a favourite partner in designer crosses: Goldendoodles with Poodles, Goldadors with Labradors, and Golden crosses with Bernese, Huskies and Border Collies. The feathering on the legs and tail survives surprisingly often, as do the soft expression and the drop ears. The golden colour is recessive, so a cross with a black dog frequently produces black or dark puppies that still carry Golden fringes. On a photo, the identifier usually lists Golden Retriever alongside the other parent, or a feathered look-alike such as the flat-coat. Only DNA gives the proportions.
Health and care
- Hip and elbow dysplasia are known in the breed; ask for official hip and elbow scores on both parents, plus a heart examination by a cardiologist for subaortic stenosis.
- Goldens have an elevated cancer risk, notably hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma. Regular check-ups, and running your hands over the body for new lumps, are worthwhile habits through adult life.
- Ask for a current eye examination on the parents and their NCL DNA result. Skin allergies, hot spots and an underactive thyroid also turn up in the breed.
- Keep them lean: Goldens gain weight easily, especially after neutering. A large-breed puppy food during growth and measured meals in adulthood both help the joints.
- Brush two or three times a week, more during moults, and check the feathered ears often, since their shape and coat hold moisture.