The Golden Retriever: A Guide for Owners (Tips, FAQs & More)

A Guide to One of the World's Most Popular Dog Breeds

Around the globe, few dogs can match the intelligence, playfulness, and affectionate qualities of the Golden Retriever. Although first bred in the 1800s for hunting, this Scottish breed is now considered one of the most popular in the world due to their companionship and family-friendly traits.

This article examines the Golden Retriever and provides an in-depth analysis of the dog’s behavioral patterns, temperament, and general characteristics. In reading this, I hope that you will have a better understanding (and appreciation) of this remarkable breed.

In This Article

• History of the Golden Retriever
• Scientific Classification
• Is a Golden Retriever Right for You?
• Are Golden Retrievers Good With Children?
• How Smart Are Golden Retrievers?
• What Type of Home Is Good for the Golden Retriever?
• Are Golden Retrievers Good With Other Pets?
• Are Golden Retrievers Good Guard Dogs?
• Nutritional Needs
• Appearance
• Health Concerns: Recommended Testing and Evaluations
• Famous Golden Retrievers

History of the Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever was first recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1925. They are believed to have originated in Scotland and England around the 19th century.

Why Is It Called a "Retriever"?

The Golden Retriever was initially bred by hunters to pursue game birds. It is not by sheer chance that the dog was bred during the advent of breech-loaded shotguns, as the new technology provided hunters with an efficient way to hunt smaller game.

To keep pace during hunting excursions, sportsmen needed an intelligent breed of dog that could track, locate, and fetch downed birds at a quick rate—hence, the arrival of the Golden Retriever in the mid-1800s.

Origins of the Golden Retriever

All Golden Retrievers are thought to share a common ancestry with the Wavy-Coated Retriever (now known as the Flat-Coated Retriever), which was, in turn, bred from the St. John's Dog, spaniels, and various setters.

According to historical records, Lord Tweedmouth is credited with breeding the first Golden Retriever in 1864. Although information is limited, it's believed that he bred the animal through the crossing of black Wavy-Coated Retrievers and a Tweed Water Spaniel, affectionately named "Belle."

Following his success, it wasn't long before the newly bred Golden Retriever gained popularity as both a working dog and companion to humans. Through importation, the breed soon spread beyond the boundaries of England into the rest of Europe and, most notably, North America. Today, the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in the United States.

Bred for Intelligence and Companionability

Because the Golden Retriever was initially developed for hunting and retrieving purposes, a high degree of intelligence and good temperament were essential, as the dog was required to work closely with its owners (as well as other dogs). Stamina was also crucial for the breed, as hunting excursions could prove exhausting and taxing to the animal's body.

By crossing a mixture of spaniels and setters, breeders were able to recreate each of these characteristics with remarkable success, including a soft-mouth trait that allowed the dog to retrieve game without damaging it. For these reasons, modern-day Golden Retrievers are renowned for their gentleness, affection, and intelligence.

Scientific Classification

• Common Name: Golden Retriever
• Binomial Name: Canis Lupus Familiaris
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Canidae
• Genus: Canis
• Species: Canis Lupus
• Subspecies: Canis Lupus Familiaris
• Other Name(s): Goldie; Golden Yellow

Is a Golden Retriever Right for You?

If you're looking to welcome a Golden into your home, here's a little more information to help you decide if they're the right fit.

General Characteristics

• Energy Level: 3/5
• Exercise Needs: 4/5
• Playfulness: 5/5
• Affection Toward Owners: 5/5
• Friendliness Toward Other Animals: 5/5
• Training Difficulty: 1/5
• Grooming Level: 3/5

Note: Scale of 1 to 5 (1 = lowest, 5 = highest)

Temperament

Golden Retrievers are well known for their companionship and affectionate qualities. Due to the animal's initial role as a working dog, however, it should be noted that the retriever is naturally athletic and extremely active (especially in their puppy years of development). For this reason, prospective owners should be aware that this breed requires extensive exercise (and attention) to feel happy and loved.

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Owners should also plan to invest a substantial amount of time into training, as the dog's remarkable intelligence makes them prone to boredom if not mentally stimulated daily. If not corrected, this can lead to destructive behaviors, such as chewing and restlessness.

Grooming Requirements

As a relatively long-haired dog, the Golden Retriever requires regular brushing to prevent matting and excessive shedding. Regular grooming is also crucial for maintaining proper hygiene and preventing a variety of pests (most notably ticks) from sticking to the Golden Retriever’s coat.

Retrievers typically shed their coats twice a year. Regular baths can aid in the shedding process, as soap and water help to loosen dead hairs. Nails should also be trimmed regularly to prevent scratching or injuries to the dog’s paws.

Note: Owners should pay particular attention to their Retriever’s grooming needs in the summer, as failure to brush away excess fur can result in overheating for their pets.

Training

Like most dog breeds, the Golden Retriever does best when trained at an early stage (puppy years). Early socialization with a variety of animals, people, and places (between 7 weeks and 4 months old) will help the Retriever tremendously in its overall development. Puppy and obedience training can also correct bad behaviors before they become habits.

Owners will find that obedience training is a relatively easy endeavor with this breed, as Golden Retrievers are eager to please their owners. Simply repeating a task or action (and rewarding them with a yummy treat) will go a long way toward winning their love, respect, and admiration.

Are Golden Retrievers Good With Children?

Yes! In fact, the Golden Retriever is often considered one of the best family dogs in the world due to their gentle and playful demeanor.

The Golden Retriever often develops deep-rooted attachments to children because of its energetic nature (as well as its love for games and various toys). These friendships often last a lifetime due to the dog’s unwavering affection and devotion to their owners.

How Smart Are Golden Retrievers?

Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent and consistently rank among the top 10 smartest dog breeds due to their ability to learn and adapt to new situations quickly. Experts have discovered that the Golden Retriever is capable of learning new commands with less than five repetitions of an action.

Unlike other breeds, the Golden Retriever's intelligence is also classified as "adaptive." This means the animal can learn without the assistance of an owner or instructor. Like humans, the Golden Retriever often learns by making mistakes, which it then seeks to correct (until perfection).

Current research suggests that the Golden Retriever is capable of learning upwards of 200 commands in their lifetime; an impressive feat for the canine world.

Do Golden Retrievers Know When You're Sad?

The Golden Retriever is also remarkable in that it is capable of understanding human emotions to a large degree. The dog is known to actively cuddle or "kiss" (signs of affection) when they sense that their owners are sad or depressed.

The Retriever also responds well to positive emotions and actively seeks playtime with their owner when the occasion arises. (Unsurprisingly, this makes them extremely popular service dogs!)

What Type of Home Is Good for the Golden Retriever?

The best type of home for a Golden Retriever is in rural/country areas where they can run freely. Although the Retriever can be just as happy in the city, urban life offers unique challenges to owners, as space and exercise options are limited. This is problematic for the Golden Retriever, as they require regular exercise to channel their natural energy.

For city dwellers, regular visits to the park (or maintaining a well-fenced yard) should be a priority for owners of Golden Retrievers.

Are Golden Retrievers Good With Other Pets?

Yes! The Golden Retriever’s lovable and friendly demeanor extends well beyond people and includes a variety of pets and animals.

Although Golden Retriever puppies can be a little too rough and rowdy for smaller pets in your household (with a tendency to carry smaller pets in their mouth), early socialization with other animals will go a long way toward correcting these bad behaviors before they become permanent personality traits.

Unlike many breeds, the Golden Retriever is also great with cats and is known to exhibit close attachments to their feline companions over time.

"Once someone has had the good fortune to share a true love affair with a Golden Retriever, one's life and one's outlook is never quite the same."

— Betty White

Are Golden Retrievers Good Guard Dogs?

No. Due to their size and build, many individuals assume the Golden Retriever is perfect for guardianship roles. However, because of their friendly demeanor, the Golden Retriever is far more likely to greet intruders with affectionate "kisses" and tail-wagging rather than barking or growling.

While it is certainly possible to train a retriever for guard dog roles, owners should be aware that this sort of training goes directly against the nature and personality of this particular breed. For this reason, owners who desire extra protection should consider more suitable guard breeds (such as a Doberman or German Shepherd).

Does This Mean That a Golden Retriever Won't Defend Their Family?

No! In fact, Retrievers are known to protect their owners (especially children) when danger arises. However, owners who expect their Retrievers to actively guard their house when they are away (i.e., at work, school, etc.) should not expect positive results. This is due, in part, to the dog's natural responsiveness to their owner's emotions.

When a Retriever senses fear from their owner, their protective instinct prompts the dog to guard them from danger (e.g., an intruder). Without their family present, however, the Golden Retriever won't sense the natural fear expressed by their owner in times of intrusion, thus prompting the dog to display its natural love and friendliness to would-be burglars (which it perceives as friends).

Nutritional Needs

High-quality dog food is appropriate for all stages of the Golden Retriever's life, including their puppy, adult, and senior years. Careful monitoring of the Retriever's diet is also necessary, as this particular breed is prone to obesity due to excessive calorie consumption (and its natural love for eating).

The Golden Retriever also loves a variety of dog treats, which can be extremely useful during training exercises. To prevent over-consumption, however, owners should exercise restraint with treats and keep rewards at a minimum.

Although many owners allow their Retrievers to eat table scraps following large meals, these should always be checked for contaminants that could harm their dogs. Cooked bones and fatty substances should also be discarded, as they present a choking hazard and could lead to heart complications down the road (a health concern for many Golden Retrievers).

The 10 Worst Foods for Dogs

• Chocolate
• Fatty meats
• Foods with high levels of sodium (salt)
• Dairy products (such as milk or ice cream)
• Raw meats, eggs, or fish
• Candy
• Grapes and raisins
• Garlic or onions
• Foods with high levels of sugar
• Avocados

How Much Food Should a Golden Retriever Eat per Day?

Dietary needs vary significantly for Golden Retrievers and are dependent upon several factors. This includes the age, size, and activity level of your pet. Puppies (over the age of two months) should be fed approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cups of dry dog food around three times a day.

Adult Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, require greater levels of food due to their active lifestyle. Experts suggest 2–3 cups of high-quality dog food a day. Owners should work closely with their veterinarian, however, in determining the proper diet and dog food to purchase for their pet.

Appearance

While most people are familiar with the classic Golden Retriever look, here's a more in-depth description of this breed's appearance and traits.

Height

Overall appearance varies significantly between male and female Golden Retrievers. Adult males reach approximately 23 to 24 inches in height, whereas females are slightly smaller at 21 to 22.5 inches (AKC, 109).

Overall length follows similar measurements for both the males and females and usually deviates no more than an inch.

Weight

As a medium-sized breed, owners can expect their Golden Retrievers to reach a maximum weight of 65 to 75 pounds, with females reaching 65 pounds at maturity.

Note: Dogs that exceed these measurements should begin treatment for obesity immediately, as excessive weight can cause a variety of health conditions for this breed, including heart, bone, and joint problems.

Head

The Golden Retriever possesses a broad head that is "arched laterally and longitudinally." Joining their head is a well-defined muzzle that is straight all the way to the tip, along with a set of medium-sized eyes (dark) that are set deep within their sockets.

Completing the Golden Retriever's head is a set of relatively short ears that droop to the dog's neck. These resemble hound-like characteristics.

Forequarters

The forequarters of a retriever are considered muscular and "well-coordinated" with the dog's hindquarters, with the shoulder blades and upper arms appearing roughly the same length. In contrast, the lower legs are considered "straight with good bone" (AKC, 111).

Following this pattern, the Golden Retriever's paws are considered medium in size and follow a rounded (yet compact) shape. Their paws also have thick padding and prominent knuckles, which are covered with thick strands of fur.

Hindquarters

Similar to the dog's forequarters, the hindquarters are also considered extremely broad and muscular, with feet and legs similar to the front regions.

The only major difference for the Golden Retriever's hindquarters is the relative straightness of the dog's legs (particularly when viewed from behind).

Tail

Retrievers are well known for their thick and relatively long tails. Set on a muscular base, the tail typically follows "the natural line of the croup," with bones in the tail that extend to the point of the hock.

Note: Although a slightly upward curve in the tail is normal for this breed, extensive curvature is considered a deformity for the Golden Retriever and should be examined by a veterinarian immediately.

Coat and Coloration

The Golden Retriever's coat can be best described as dense, firm, and resilient. Known for its waterproof properties, the dog's coat is "neither coarse nor silky" and typically lies close to the animal's body.

The coat can be either wavy or straight (depending on grooming preferences) and is well known for its golden coloration that varies between light and dark.

Health Concerns: Recommended Testing and Evaluations

Recommended medical tests and evaluations for the Golden Retriever are as follows:

• Elbow evaluation
• Hip evaluation
• Ophthalmologist exam
• Cardiac (heart) exam

As a larger breed, the Golden Retriever is prone to a variety of health issues involving the joints. Hip and elbow dysplasia are common concerns, along with various skin issues and heart problems. Mast cell tumors and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) are also common with the Golden Retriever.

To prevent these issues from occurring (or to prolong their progression in some cases), owners should take their Retrievers to a qualified veterinarian on a regular basis. Preventive care is available for the Golden Retriever and will go a long way in making your pet's life better and more comfortable.

How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?

With proper care and nutrition, owners can expect a healthy Golden Retriever to live upwards of 10 to 12 years. However, it's not uncommon for dogs to live several years beyond this range.

Famous Golden Retrievers

• Liberty (former President Gerald R. Ford’s prized pet)
• Victory (former President Ronald Reagan’s pet)
• Kira (Rescued two dogs that had fallen through the ice into a frozen lake)
• Orca (Awarded the PDSA Gold Medal for bravery)

World's Greatest Pet?

In closing, the Golden Retriever is a remarkable animal and pet due to their intelligence, companionship, and gentle nature. Because they are good with children and other animals, the Retriever is an ideal pet for most individuals and families, as they are highly adaptable to a variety of environments and situations.

Although the Golden Retriever requires extensive attention and care from their owners, the companionship and friendship offered by this dog make all of the extra work a worthy endeavor. For these reasons, the Golden Retriever will likely remain one of the most popular pets in the United States—and the world—for the foreseeable future.

Works Cited

• American Kennel Club. The New Complete Dog Book 22^nd Edition. Mount Joy, Pennsylvania: Fox Chapel Publishing, 2017.
• Coile, Caroline. The Dog Breed Bible: Descriptions and Photos of Every Breed Recognized by the AKC. Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 2007.
• Dennis-Bryan, Kim. The Complete Dog Breed Book. New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2014.
• Mehus-Roe, Kristin. Dog Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Dog. Irvine, California: I-5 Press, 2009.
• O’Neill, Amanda. What Dog? A Guide to Help New Owners Select the Right Breed for their Lifestyle. Hauppauge, New York: Interpret Publishing Ltd., 2006.
• Slawson, Larry. “The Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds.” (PetHelpful). 2019.
• Slawson, Larry. “The 10 Best Dogs for Children.” (PetHelpful). 2019.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Larry Slawson

Comments

Larry Slawson (author) from North Carolina on February 08, 2020:

Thank you, Lorna! So glad you enjoyed. What a great story! Sounds like he was a really great dog! I completely agree about Golden Retrievers. My wife and I are actually planning to get one ourselves.

Lorna Lamon on February 07, 2020:

I think this very informative article would encourage anyone to rush out and buy that beautiful puppy. They are a wonderful breed and great with kids. We had a Retriever when I was a child and I have fond memories of him jumping into the lake to retrieve his ball when we went to the park. He was also very tuned in to our emotions and a wonderful friend. I still miss him - we called him Nero. A very enjoyable read Larry.

Larry Slawson (author) from North Carolina on February 06, 2020:

Thank you, Pamela. So glad you enjoyed. Golden Retrievers are definitely among my favorites as well.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on February 06, 2020:

Golden Retrievers have always been one of my favorite breeds of dogs. I really liked your article and I learned some new facts about this breed also.