The Golden Retriever is extremely popular among dog owners, especially in the United States.  This dog breed is currently listed as the number two most popular registered dog with the AKC. This is not surprising, however, due to the fact that the Golden Retriever maintains the following qualities: high affection levels, friendliness towards strange people and other foreign animals, very easy to train, and always playful.

Golden Retrievers were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1927.  Initially valued for its hunting abilities, it soon became  an extremely popular household pet, obedience competitor, and show dog winner.

This dog is known as “everyone's friend” and is widely appreciated for its companionship towards family. Golden Retrievers are highly physical animals and have been known to lead towards behavior problems when there is a lack of activity.  In fact, poor breeding practices have produced Golden Retrievers who are overly boisterous and excitable when left in house.  However, a properly bred Retriever is one that will remain calm when trained, yet energetic when given the opportunity to play outside.

This breed is considered to be the ideal dog for the whole family. He is endearing, playful, trustworthy, and eager to please. Golden Retrievers are used as hunters, as competition obedience dogs, as guide and service dogs, as search-and-rescue dogs, and as film and tv stars. Their popularity comes from their intelligence and their great devotion to humans. Golden Retrievers are athletic dogs and need at least an hour of exercise everyday. They make excellent family pets and love the endless attention from children. They love to retrieve and will enjoy carrying a newspaper home. Golden Retrievers are also quite accepting of strangers, quickly warming up to anyone or any dog. Because of this, they do not always make good guard dogs because they will rather lick a trespasser to death. Because of their happy and sociable nature, they are not the most loyal dogs and will wander off with anyone. Get a Golden Retriever bred for show and not for field work, unless you intend to hunt with the dog on a regular basis. A field-bred dog will be filled with nervous energy.

A Golden Retriever can be overly playful and will constantly desire your attention and love. This can be annoying for an owner who wants his own space. Obedience training is crucial for this breed. His goofy, playful mind-set can get annoying after a while, so it is important to teach him to think instead of just react. Some Golden Retrievers can be aggressive, most of them with the reddish coat. This is an unpredictable type of aggression that appears to be hereditary rather than learned. Once he becomes aggressive, it is nearly impossible to turn the dog around. Some of these aggressive dogs have a hypoactive thyroid condition, which may be a contributing factor. This problem is due to inconsistent, careless breeding. Get a Golden Retriever from a responsible breeder who breeds for temperament first, and make sure you see the parents and the rest of the litter.

Description: The Golden Retriever stands approximately 22 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 and 80 pounds. He has a strong, robust, athletic body. His reddish to blond shedding coat is of medium length and requires regular brushing at least every other day. The color ranges from red to tan to light blond.

History and origin: The Golden Retriever was developed in mid 19th century England. It is believed that Water Spaniel, Newfoundland, and Irish Setter bloodlines were used to arrive at the present day breed.

Upkeep And Maintenance

Upkeep of the Golden Retriever must include daily physical exercise.  Runs through the sand, long walks on the leash, and of course retrieving games are all highly recommended to keep this animal happy.  Human interaction and social events are also desired by the Golden Retriever. 

This dog can live both indoors and outdoors.  However, indoor living is what best suits the Golden Retriever.  Because of its need for human interaction and companionship, it is best to make room for your Retriever inside the house so that he can love and be loved by the rest of family as much as possible.

Ideal home: A house with a fenced yard works best with this breed. Goldens are active dogs that do not do well in an apartment. They get along very well with children, and are normally friendly to everyone. However, they can be pushy with their affection, so the owner of a Golden must start obedience training early on and must not spoil the dog. Because of their happy nature and sound temperament, Golden Retrievers are not the best guard dogs.

Health Information

If you own a Golden Retriever or plan on raising one from puppyhood, major health concerns that you should know about are various skin problems (such as hot spots, ear infections, and allergies), CHD, lymphoma, and hemangiosarcoma.  Minor issues include hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, potential eye disorders, mast cell tumors, and seizures.

Golden Retrievers have a lifespan of up to 13 years when living a life of good health.  Veterinarians suggest that these dogs be specifically tested for thyroid, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cardiac issues, and potential eye problems.

Feeding: Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal parts or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry dog food.