Golden Retriever

Good to know

• Natural swimmers: a dense, water-repellent double coat and webbed toes make them strong, keen swimmers.
• A "soft mouth": bred to bring back game without damaging it, they carry things gently, and many love carrying shoes, toys or sticks around just to have a job.
• Seasonal shedding: they shed moderately all year, then "blow" their thick undercoat once or twice a year, when they need brushing every day.
• Slow to mature: they keep a goofy, puppy-like playfulness well into adulthood.
• Gift-giving greetings: thanks to the retrieving instinct, many meet you at the door with a toy or a blanket in their mouth.

Getting out with a Golden Retriever

They need daily exercise beyond a stroll: longer trails, games of fetch and time to run at the park.

Common health considerations

Inherited conditions to ask your vet about

• Hip/elbow dysplasia
• Cancer (hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma)
• Heart disease

Common issues

• Obesity
• Ear infections
• Skin allergies

Bloat (GDV) risk: moderate. A swollen belly with retching but nothing coming up is an emergency: go to a vet straight away.

Not every Golden Retriever will have these. Good breeders screen for inherited conditions, and your vet can advise on testing and check-ups.

Explore more breeds in the Sporting group