Breed Description: Golden Retrievers are hardy, well-built dogs with a wavy golden coat and gentle loyal nature. This breed of highly-trainable sporting dogs is confident, alert, and eager to please. Their scenting ability and responsiveness in the field makes them superior hunting dogs, while their gentle, loving nature make them good family dogs.
Group: Sporting Group.
Purpose of Breed: Retrieving birds
Country of Origin: English-Scottish Border
Average Size: Golden Retrievers range from 20 inches to 24 inches and from 60-70 pounds depending on sex.
Color(s): Any shade of gold or cream.
Coat Type: This breed has a dense, water-repellent coat that is either flat or wavy.
Grooming: The Golden Retriever is an average shedder. Their coat needs to be groomed at least twice-weekly to stay in top form. This breed requires standard care for eyes, ears, pads, and nails.
Exercise Needs: Golden Retrievers are active dogs that need daily outdoor exercise and human contact. This large, energetic breed needs daily outdoor exercise to maintain its physical and mental health. They especially enjoy games involving retrieving. Golden retrievers are not suited to apartment living.
Temperament: The Golden Retriever is gentle and easy to train and makes an excellent family dog. They are patient and gentle, making them wonderful companions for children. Golden retrievers are superb hunting dogs and are happiest when spending time with their family or when fetching and caring for their master. They also make excellent guard dogs.
Common Ailments: Susceptible to skin allergies, thyroid problems, eye problems, and hip dysplasia.
Life Expectancy: Averages 10-13 years.
Trivia: The first three dogs of any breed to win the title of AKC Obedience Champion, were all Golden Retrievers.
More Information: Golden Retriever Club of America
Hannah is 5 and is a Samoyed/Golden Retriever, Kona is 2 and is a Golden Retriever. Both beauties are rescued from animal shelters, using Petfinder.com. We adopted Hannah when she was 6 months old, and we adopted Kona when she was 1 1/2 years old.
Sara is an 8-1/2 year old Golden Retriever. We rescued her from an unscrupulous breeder who was using her as a puppy factory. Chewing sticks and going for walks are her favorite activities.
Shannon is our 9 year old Golden Retriever. We got Shannon a year ago, the owners split up and had to find a home for her.
Duchess is a 2 and a half year old Golden Retriever, that we bought in Poulsbo, WA. She likes to roll in the snow. She is a very kind dog that we got for 350 dollars.
Sweetie Mae is a 5 month old Golden Retriever. She was a Mother's Day present.
Bobbie is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. One day we were just walking through the on post vet clinic where the strays are kept and as soon as we saw her we knew she was for us. So we adopted her in May 2002.
Chase is a Golden Retriever and is now 4 1/2 months old. He was named Chase (Utley) after a Philadelphia Phillies baseball player. We brought Chase home from the breeder on Aug 1.
Brandy is 5 years old and is a Golden Retriever. We bought her as a puppy for our grandchildren. Brandy likes to fetch sticks and balls, eat, and, of course, swim in the family pool with her kids.
Emma (Golden Retriever) and Houdini (Chicken). Emma is our 6 year old Golden Retriever, a lover of all except our cranky cat, Peterbilt.
Shiloh is our 9 month old Golden Retriever. He was a wedding gift from my husband. We got married on June 19, 2005
