15 Facts About Golden Retrievers You Will Enjoy

Who doesn’t love Golden Retrievers?

From their friendly demeanor to their intelligence, we’re going to take a deep dive into 15 amazing facts about everyone’s favorite dog breed.

Get ready to know more about man’s best friend as we share some interesting tidbits that celebrate the golden moments of these wonderful dogs.

Facts About Golden Retrievers

1. They’re SUPER Popular

Golden Retrievers have been in America’s top 5 most popular dog breeds for decades. As of 2022, Goldies are sitting in 3rd place behind Labrador Retrievers and French Bulldogs and have remained near the top of the leaderboard for 30 years.

2. They Were Recognized As A Breed In 1925

The American Kennel Club only officially recognized Golden Retrievers as a breed in 1925, though they had already been recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1911.

3. Golden Retrievers Originated In Scotland

Though it was originally thought that Golden Retrievers originated from Russian circus dogs, the records of “Lord Tweedmouth of Inverness” revealed that they originated in Scotland in the late 1800s.

Apparently, in 1864, Lord Tweedmouth bred his “yellow retriever” Nous to Belle, a Tweed Water Spaniel, which is a now-extinct breed of hunting dog. The Golden Retrievers that we have today most likely originated from Nous and Belle, which is really cool!

4. They Were Bred As Gun Dogs

A gun dog is a breed whose job it is to go and retrieve hunted animals, typically waterfowl, during hunting and shooting parties. They were designed to be fast, responsive, and able to swim in case the game needed to be retrieved from the water.

5. They Have Very Gentle Mouths

Another trait that this breed is known for is having a very gentle mouth. You may have seen videos of Goldens holding eggs in their mouths without breaking them, and this can be traced back to their gun dog days.

A retriever is no good if it destroys the game that it’s retrieving, so Golden Retrievers were bred to have gentle mouths, a trait that continues today.

6. They Like To Have Something In Their Mouths

Just because they have gentle mouths doesn’t mean that they don’t want to use them.

Similar to other Retriever breeds, Goldens love to hold things in their mouths and carry things around.

This could be sticks or a favorite toy, but whatever it is, you’ll probably notice that they want it to come everywhere with them.

7. Golden Retrievers Are Highly Intelligent

According to several studies, Golden Retrievers often come about fourth when rating the intelligence of different dog breeds. These dogs are said to be as smart as toddlers, able to comprehend complex instructions and a wide variety of words.

8. Goldies Are Very Easy To Train

Because of their loyal nature and intelligence, these dogs are actually very easy to train.

They’re not just able to learn complex tricks; they want to be taught. They will listen to your voice, and so long as you’re consistent with your training schedule and reward positive behavior, you should start to see their training come into action in no time.

Facts About Golden Retrievers

9. They Need A Lot Of Exercise

If you’re looking for a dog that will be a couch potato with you, then you need to consider a different breed. Golden Retrievers require a lot of exercise and are always ready for action.

Be it a game of fetch, going swimming, or accompanying you on a hike, Goldens are natural athletes. Which brings us to our next fact:

10. Golden Retrievers Can Run As Fast As Wolves

Not only are these dogs one of the most popular and most intelligent, but they’re also one of the fastest dog breeds out there.

Typically, a healthy adult Golden Retriever can run up to 35 miles per hour in a short burst, which is about how fast wild wolves go. If required to run long distances, they’re more likely to average 12 miles per hour.

11. They Have An Outstanding Sense Of Smell

One of the reasons why Golden Retrievers are so often used as medical alert dogs or as drug detection dogs is because of their amazing sense of smell. They can detect someone’s blood sugar dropping or if they’re hiding illicit substances with ease.

12. They Will Eat Anything

Golden Retrievers will eat, or at least attempt to eat, anything and everything in sight. Whether it’s a couch, slippers, newspaper, or your dinner, Golden Retrievers who go without proper training or who are bored and frustrated will take this out on your things.

For some homemade treats to keep your golden occupied, take a look here.

13. They’re Suited To A Wide Variety of Jobs

A Golden Retriever’s temperament, loyalty, patience, and intelligence make them fantastic workers.

Their jobs include search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, therapy dogs, medical alert dogs, drug detection dogs, and more. They are very quick learners and are able to master the skills they need.

14. They’re Incredibly Affectionate

Another one of the reasons that they make such great service and therapy dogs is because of the unconditional love that they share with most people that they come across.

From young children to older patients, Golden Retrievers are incredibly empathetic and are known to soothe and calm people around them.

15. Golden Retrievers Have a Two-Layer Coat

Thanks to their breeding to make them better at swimming, Golden Retrievers have a water-resistance, wavy topcoat, and a soft undercoat that helps them to regulate their body temperature. This means that they do shed a lot, and should be groomed often in order to keep on top of it.

You may also like: What are the different Golden Retriever colors you can get?

The Final Woof

Golden Retrievers are intelligent and emotional creatures with a lot of love to give.

Though there are definitely some issues that you’ll need to consider, such as wanting to eat everything that isn’t nailed down, there’s no denying that this is an attractive dog for any family.

Jade Miller
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