Golden Retriever
intelligent / friendly / devoted
An affectionate companion who loves being part of everyday family life. Goldens thrive with regular activity, training, and plenty of human company.
Photo: Shayna Douglas · Unsplash License. Resized and cropped. Photo details
Long feathered coat; distinct from the short-coated Labrador Retriever. Also documented as: Golden.
The breed at a glance
- Official name
- Golden Retriever
- Origin / registry attribution
- Great Britain
- AKC origin attribution
- Scotland
- Group
- Sporting Group
- Original purpose
- Retrieving game for hunters
- Height
- 23-24 inches (male), 21.5-22.5 inches (female)
- Weight
- 65-75 pounds (male), 55-65 pounds (female)
- Typical lifespan
- 10-12 years
- Coat type
- Double
- Coat length
- Medium
- Shedding
- High
- Drooling
- Low
- Barking
- Very low
- Grooming
- Low
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Mental stimulation
- High
- Trainability
- Very high
- Children
- Very high
- Other dogs
- Very high
- Cats / small pets
- Individual assessment required; breed suitability unknown
- Apartment adaptability (editorial)
- Low
- First-owner suitability (editorial)
- Very high
- Climate
- Unknown; individual veterinary advice recommended
Measurements, coat facts, and trait ratings: AKC Golden Retriever breed guide. Origin classifications can differ between registries; both attributions are retained where available. Apartment and first-owner ratings are editorial planning estimates.
Temperament & lifestyle fit
intelligent / friendly / devoted. These are general breed tendencies; upbringing, age, health and the individual dog matter.
- Energy and exercise
- Moderate
- Grooming needs
- Low
- Trainability
- Very high
- Family compatibility: children
- Very high
- Apartment adaptability (editorial)
- Low
Use these ratings to plan your routine, rather than to predict an individual dog’s behavior. Children need supervision and introductions to other pets need individual assessment.
Find breeds that fit your home, activity and care preferences · Understand our source ratings and editorial estimates
A history that shapes daily life
Developed in the Scottish Highlands during the nineteenth century, the Golden Retriever was selected for retrieving work in wet terrain. Its working heritage helps explain the breed’s interest in shared outdoor activity and carrying objects.
History and breed background: AKC Golden Retriever breed guide.
Coat care & everyday routines
Plan for daily exercise, regular brushing, and plenty of shedding.
Reported coat colors: Dark Golden, Golden, Light Golden. Color listings reflect the source registry and do not establish health, temperament, or show eligibility.
Plan daily activity and age-appropriate enrichment, a comfortable resting area, gradual alone-time training, and regular preventive care. Choose a routine you can maintain throughout the year.
Coat and care source: AKC Golden Retriever breed guide.
Health conversations worth having
Discuss hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, and heart disease screening with a veterinarian and responsible breeder.
Screening listed by the source breed club
- Hip Evaluation
- Elbow Evaluation
- Cardiac Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (Golden Retriever) (NCL, NCL5) - DNA Test
Health screening does not guarantee an individual dog will be free of disease. These lists are not a diagnosis or an exhaustive account of possible conditions.
Health source: AKC Golden Retriever breed guide · Parent breed-club health statement.
A realistic monthly care budget
$165–$330 USD per month · adult-dog planning estimate.
- Food
- $55–$100
- Routine veterinary reserve
- $60–$125
- Parasite prevention
- $20–$40
- Grooming & coat supplies
- $10–$25
- Treats, toys & replacement supplies
- $20–$40
Editorial U.S. adult-dog planning ranges, reviewed October 1, 2026. Routine veterinary care is averaged across the year. Local prices and individual health needs vary. Excludes purchase or adoption, initial supplies, insurance, emergency and specialist care, boarding, daycare, training classes, and pet rent. Sources inform care categories; these breed estimates are not supplier quotes.
AKC: lifetime dog-care costsASPCA: planning for pet-care costs
Sources & research status
- FCI breed nomenclature: Golden Retriever · checked 2026-10-01
- AKC Golden Retriever breed guide · checked 2026-10-01
- FCI official breed standard
- Data coverage, editorial estimates, and matching methodology
General breed tendencies do not guarantee individual behavior. Children need supervision; existing pets need careful introductions. Meet the dog and discuss individual health and care needs.
Breed comparisons
Get to know Golden Retriever.
Photo: Janneke Vreugdenhil; derivative by Anka Friedrich · Public domain. Resized and cropped. Photo details
