Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers used to commonly be bred as working dogs for hunting. As their name suggests, it’s in their instinct to retrieve items. Today, they’re more commonly bred as family pets or assistance and guide dogs.

Every dog is different, but Labradors are often known to have slightly higher energy levels compared to Golden Retrievers. Both breeds are large and require lots of exercise, mental stimulation, and training into their adult years. Another difference between the two breeds is the coat length. Labradors have fairly flat coats, whereas Golden Retrievers have longer coats.

Usually, Golden Retrievers live for over 10 years.

They’re known as being great with children of all ages and can be trained to adapt easily to different environments. Children can help with their training, but it’s worth teaching them how to safely interact with dogs before doing so.

Generally, no. They tend to be a fairly relaxed breed with a calm temperament. If you notice your Golden Retriever barking a lot, it could be a sign of a problem, like separation anxiety. Seek advice from your vet if you have any concerns.

Typically, it takes a Golden Retriever until the age of 2 years old to be considered a fully-grown adult. They usually reach full height at around 9 to 12 months of age, but it can take longer to get to their adult weight and size.

No. Golden Retrievers are not hypoallergenic, they do shed their coat and require regular grooming. Some have longer coat lengths than others, depending on their genetic makeup.

Known as a calm breed, Golden Retrievers are usually not aggressive dogs. If you notice your Golden Retriever showing any aggressive behaviour, seek advice from your vet as it could be a sign of an underlying problem.

Golden Retrievers are golden yellow in colour, hence their name. The shade can vary from light to dark yellow. The breed should never be any other colour such as red or chocolate.

They’re a high energy breed, so require over 2 hours of exercise each day. This doesn’t have to just be walking. Running, training, and brain stimulation games all count towards their daily exercise allowance.

Generally, they’re an easy-to-train breed and they tend to pick things up quickly and with ease. Check out our training guides on specific training topics, such as teaching your dog recall and lead walking.

As with most dogs, it’s best to start their training from a young age if you can, or as soon as they come home to you. Take a look at our training guides for advice on how to train your dog, from crate training, to teaching them to sit, lie down and wait.

At full adult size, a Golden Retrievers typically weigh between 25kg and 34kg. However, this can vary based on their gender, genetics, diet, exercise levels, and general health.

Yes, they do shed their coat and therefore require regular grooming.

They'll ideally need to be brushed once or twice a week, depending on the season. You may find that they lose more of their coat during warmer months. You'll also need to factor in nail clipping, teeth brushing and more. Our grooming guide goes into more detail about how to groom your dog from head to tail.

They might need an occasional trim of their coat and require regular grooming to remove dead fur and prevent matting. Find a reputable groomer who can let you know how regularly your dog might need clipping or trimming.