Golden Retriever

Like every breed, the Golden Retriever is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Use positive, reward-based training, and keep it sensitive to build their confidence.
• Socialise them well from a young age so they are confident with new people and situations.
• Teach puppies gently that mouthing and play biting is not a fun game, as puppies are often mouthy, especially while teething.
• Use retrieving games to give their natural instincts an outlet.

• Children

  Often good with children, with supervision.

• Other dogs

  Usually sociable with other dogs.

• Cats and small pets

  Often lives with cats when introduced carefully.

• Flats and smaller homes

  Usually needs a roomy home.

• Being left alone

  Usually copes only with short periods alone.

• First-time owners

  Often suits first-time owners.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

• Hip dysplasia

  The hip joint does not fit together properly, which eventually leads to arthritis. The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip scoring under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.

• Elbow dysplasia

  The elbow joint does not fit together properly, which eventually leads to arthritis. The Royal Kennel Club recommends elbow testing under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

  Inherited conditions that slowly lead to blindness over months or years. The Royal Kennel Club recommends DNA tests for two forms seen in the breed, GR_PRA1 and GR_PRA2.

• Glaucoma

  High pressure inside the eye, causing pain and loss of vision. Eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme includes gonioscopy, which checks for pectinate ligament abnormality linked to glaucoma.

• Other eye conditions

  PDSA also lists cataracts, where the lens becomes cloudy; multifocal retinal dysplasia, an abnormal development of the retina; and retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (RPED), which causes loss of vision. Yearly eye screening is advised, especially for breeding dogs.

• Ichthyosis

  A skin disease that thickens the footpads and makes other areas of skin rough and covered in thick, greasy flakes. A DNA test (ICT-A) is available, and the Royal Kennel Club recommends it as best practice.

• Bloat and stomach problems

  Purina notes that Golden Retrievers are prone to bloating and stomach problems.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Golden Retriever home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Golden Retriever home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 10 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Golden Retriever suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Golden Retrievers do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.