Bred by a lord
The breed was created in the 1860s by Lord Tweedmouth at his estate in the Highlands, to fetch shot birds from land and water.
Big dogs · A lot of time and space
Golden retriever
Gundog · from the Scottish Highlands
A big, gentle dog with a long, wavy coat of gold or cream, feathered legs and a plumed tail.
- Size
- 51 to 61cm at the shoulder; 25 to 34kg
- Lives for
- 10 to 12 years
- Suits
- Families who like walking, and do not mind hair
Lopes after you, tail waving like a flag. Move your pointer and see.
Good to know
Six things about the golden retriever
It loves to carry
A golden is happiest with something in its mouth: a toy, a slipper, a stick, or all three.
Feathers
The long hair on the legs, chest and tail is called feathering. It collects mud and burrs.
A swimmer
Like the Labrador it has a water-resistant coat and will go into any pond it finds.
A working dog still
Goldens work as guide dogs, hearing dogs, search dogs and therapy dogs.
A long puppyhood
They stay playful and puppyish for three or four years, which is charming and tiring.
The real thing
Photos of the golden retriever
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Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
Looking after one
It needs two good walks a day and a thorough brush several times a week. Check ears and feathering for knots and grass seeds after walks.
Before you get one
Goldens are patient with children and eager to learn. They shed heavily twice a year and lightly all the rest of it.
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