Golden Retriever
About the Golden Retriever
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 21-24" |
| Weight | 55-75 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$3,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,600/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Golden Retrievers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Golden Retriever
The story behind the Golden Retriever
The breed traces to the Scottish Highlands estate of Guisachan, where Dudley Marjoribanks, later Lord Tweedmouth, kept detailed breeding records through the middle and later nineteenth century. He crossed a yellow retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel, a now-extinct regional type, and later added Irish Setter, bloodhound and further water spaniel blood, aiming for a dog able to retrieve on rough Highland ground and in cold water. The resulting yellow retrievers were shown and registered in Britain in the early twentieth century, initially grouped with flat-coats before gaining separate status. Export to North America and Australia followed, and divergent show and field types developed over time. The Golden Retriever is now among the most widely kept breeds in the English-speaking world and works extensively in assistance, detection and search roles.
Originally bred for: Gundog, Waterfowl and upland retriever, Companion. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Golden Retriever
Weight control is the practical priority, since this breed will eat far past appetite and gains readily. Choose a complete food suited to large adults, measure rather than eyeball portions, hold puppy growth at a moderate rate, and count every biscuit given in training.
Watch for: Itchy skin, recurring ear trouble and hot spots are frequently reported, sometimes connected to particular proteins and often to environmental allergens instead. Because the two look alike, work with a veterinarian on diagnosis and let them supervise any elimination diet rather than improvising.
Start with the Golden Retriever feeding guide, then compare our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Golden Retriever
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.