Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds worldwide. With their beautiful coat, loyal personality and family-friendly temperament, these dogs have made their way into our hearts.
Want to know whether a Golden is the right dog for you? Read our breed guide to see if Retrievers are the pet for you.
If you’d like to get to know the breed a little more closely, here are a few key traits and facts about the Golden Retriever:
Golden Retrievers typically live to be about 10–12 years old.
Golden Retrievers are large dogs at maturity. Golden Retriever males stand at around 60cm tall and usually weigh around 30kgs. Females stand at around 55cm tall and usually weigh about 27kgs.
Golden Retrievers frequently shed large amounts of fur, so they need routine brushing. Thanks to their ancestry as hunting and waterfowl-retrieving hounds in the Scottish Highlands, their exterior coat is thick and repels water.
They also have a dense undercoat. Their coats can vary in texture from wavy to straight. Heavy feathering appears on their chest, the rears of their legs, and their tail.
Golden Retrievers generally suit owners and families who have an active lifestyle. They are often friendly and have a soft temperament with kids and other pets.
They usually need lots of exercise and attention, thriving while around people. Although large homes with yards are ideal, a Golden Retriever can adapt to smaller homes so long as they have their own space to move around.
Golden Retrievers are usually even-tempered, intelligent, and tender. They tend to be gentle with kids and get on well with other pets and strangers.
These canines are eager to please, which likely explains why they respond so well to obedience training and are such popular service dogs. They are often happy to work, whether it involves hunting or fetching items.
Golden Retrievers usually shed moderately in the winter and summer and heavily in the spring and fall. Daily brushing is ideal for preventing clumping and tangling in the dog’s fur. Regular brushing removes any dead hair before it gets annoying and ends up on your floors. Monthly baths help keep this dog breed looking neat and clean, but remember to dry their fur before brushing to prevent snags.
Exercise is an essential part of a Golden Retriever's day. They generally enjoy hunting expeditions, field trials, swimming, hiking, and jogs, as well as other canine sports like agility, obedience, and tracking.
A Golden that does not get enough exercise is likely to display undesirable demeanours like digging and biting. Mental challenges, such as learning tricks and playing with puzzle toys, appeal to Goldens, but it shouldn't replace physical exercise. Take it easy with exercise in a Golden Retriever's first two years of life, as their growth plates are still forming. Long, vigorous runs or hikes are preferred once the canine is completely grown.
Goldens tend to be overweight. Help your Golden Retriever avoid becoming overweight by ensuring that you follow the recommended feeding guides on the food appropriate to your pet's size.
A calorie restricted diet could be a good choice if your Golden Retriever is overweight. A joint protecting supplement may make a good addition to their regular feeding schedule as your Golden Retriever ages because they might be susceptible to developing arthritis.
Hip dysplasia is a hereditary skeletal condition seen in medium to large dog breeds. The condition creates a deformity in a dog’s hips as they grow, leading to reduced mobility and range of motion. Golden Retrievers can have a higher chance of developing hip dysplasia because of their genes. Early signs of hip dysplasia in a dog can be limping, abnormal walking patterns, and loss of muscle in the hind legs.
Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease, more commonly known as arthritis, is a progressive and chronic inflammation of the joints. Cartilage in the joint deteriorates so that cushioning that once protected the joint is no longer able to do its job. The resultant joint instability encourages the growth of osteophytes, or bone spurs in the joint. It generally affects knees, elbows, shoulders, and hip joints, but any joint can be affected.
If you’re thinking about getting pet insurance for your Golden Retriever, factors like age and location could affect the cost of your premium. Everyday Pet Insurance offers Basic, Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus cover that helps protect you and your furry friend. Check what each insurance cover includes.
Claim up to $30,000 a year
Get up to 80% back on eligible vet bills
Your pet is covered from 8 weeks old for life
Claim your benefit on the spot and only pay the gap on eligible claims=
# Policy Terms and Conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Benefit limit amounts vary by level of cover.
* Exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply.
‡ Cover is available for the life of your pet provided you renew your policy each year without any break, lapse or change in the level of Cover. This means once your pet is insured with us and as long as we continue to offer the product, you will be able to renew your policy for that pet for life provided you continuously maintain the cover. Cover is subject to the terms and conditions of your renewing policy. See details in your PDS.
= The gap is defined as the difference between the vet's invoice and the claim benefit under your policy. Policy terms and conditions apply. GapOnly® is only available at participating Vets. Please visit GapOnly® to search for GapOnly® enabled vets. GapOnly® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure) (ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183).
Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time prior to 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard), arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by Hollard’s Authorised Representative (AR) Woolworths Group Limited ABN 88 000 014 675, AR 245476 (Woolworths). Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time on or after 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s AR, Woolworths. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at insurance.everyday.com.au/pet-insurance.
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