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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+14
Dogs
# The Golden Retriever: temperament, price, health, and breeders
United Kingdom
A gentle, intelligent family dog, always ready to share everyday life.
Size LargeLife expectancy 12–14 yearsBudget ≈ €130/monthPuppy €1,200 – €1,800
[Find a breeder 294](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=golden-retriever)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Excellent
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Fair
First-time owners Good
Other pets Very good
Tolerance of being alone Limited
Guarding instinct Fair
Strengths and weaknesses
- Family temperament: He is gentle, patient and generally very pleasant with children when he is well trained.
- Great aptitude for training: His desire to cooperate and his sensitivity to rewards make learning easier.
- Sociability: He often cohabits very well with other dogs and readily accepts an active family life.
- Heavy shedding: Its dense coat requires regular brushing and leaves a lot of hair in the environment.
- Real need for activity: Even if it is known to be easy, it needs real outings and regular mental stimulation.
- Health predispositions: The joints and certain hereditary conditions require a particularly serious breeding choice.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active families: He likes sharing walks, games and regular human presence.
- Committed first-time adopters: His cooperative nature makes him easy to handle if daily needs are met.
- Households with children: His natural gentleness often makes him a very good companion for family life.
Not recommended for
- People who are often absent: It does not cope well with a life with few interactions and can get bored quickly.
- Households looking for a dog that makes little mess: Its fur, its wet returns from walks and its taste for water require maintenance.
- Very sedentary lifestyles: A lack of outings and activities quickly harms its behavioral balance.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
56 cmGolden Retriever
- Height at the withers
- 51–61 cm
- Weight
- 24–34 kg
- Coat
- Medium-long, dense
- FCI group
- 8
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Grooming
- High-maintenance coat
## Photos and videos
See the Golden Retriever in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Golden Retriever is a dog whose exact origins were long debated, but the breed took shape in Great Britain around retrieving work. It first appeared at a dog show in 1909, was registered in England in 1913 and then recognized as a pure breed in 1931. The first specimens arrived in France in 1925, but breeding really took off only after the war. Since the 1990s, the Golden Retriever has consistently ranked among the most popular breeds.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Golden Retriever is a large, harmonious and sturdy dog, well proportioned, with a broad head, a very pronounced stop and a black nose. Its dark brown eyes give a gentle expression, while its drooping ears are set at eye level. Its tail reaches the hock without curling. The coat ranges from cream white to dark golden, with long, feathered hair, wavy or flat, carried over a tight, thick and waterproof undercoat.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The Golden Retriever is a sociable, affectionate, loyal and docile dog, very attached to its family. Intelligent and self-confident, it combines everyday gentleness with real working abilities, which explains its versatility as a hunting dog, guide dog or search dog. It does not tolerate prolonged solitude well and readily seeks attention as well as the company of its owners.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Easy to train Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, the Golden Retriever is full of life, loves to play and particularly enjoys outings outdoors, especially near water. He needs to really let off steam, with about two periods of sustained activity per day, to channel his energy and stay balanced. Although he can live indoors in contact with his family, he is generally happier when he also has an outdoor space.
Training
## Training and socialization
The Golden Retriever is a sensitive breed that responds better to encouragement, patience, and consistency than to reprimands. It readily seeks to please its owner, but an overly harsh approach can make it shut down or bring out a form of stubbornness. Early socialization and positive, regular, and calm training are particularly important in this breed.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Golden Retriever
The price of a Golden Retriever varies mainly depending on the seriousness of the breeding kennel, the health tests carried out on the breeding dogs, the lineage and the support offered. A higher rate can be justified by rigorous selection and serious follow-up, whereas an abnormally low price should prompt caution.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/golden-retriever/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Golden Retriever is often described as a robust dog, but this sturdiness does not rule out several well-known points of vigilance in the breed. The ears are sensitive, the skin may show allergies or dermatitis, and certain lines show joint, ocular or tumoral predispositions. Regular veterinary follow-up, well-controlled weight and serious selection of breeding dogs remain essential.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/golden-retriever/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Golden Retriever needs a balanced, well-measured diet to support its muscle mass without promoting overweight. A complete, good-quality formula, given in two daily meals, generally suits this active and food-loving dog well. Quantities must always be adjusted according to the food’s energy density, activity level, and actual body condition.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/golden-retriever/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
An excellent swimmer and very versatile retriever, the Golden Retriever excels both in family life and in utility work, notably as a guide dog, in search or in rescue. The breed is also known to the general public thanks to Buddy, the dog from the Air Bud films, who largely contributed to its notoriety.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Golden Retriever
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Golden Retriever easy to train?
Yes, it is one of the most cooperative breeds for family training, provided that positive, regular, and consistent methods are used.
### Can it live in an apartment?
Yes, but only if its needs for outings, exercise, and stimulation are truly met every day. It does better in a home where it can easily expend its energy.
### Does it shed a lot?
Yes, the Golden Retriever sheds noticeably, with often pronounced shedding periods in spring and autumn. Regular brushing is essential to limit tangles and dead hair.
## Find a Golden Retriever breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Golden Retriever breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Golden Retriever breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine40](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Golden Retriever breeders in Hauts-de-France34](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/hauts-de-france) [Golden Retriever breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes33](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [Golden Retriever breeders in Brittany28](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/brittany) [Golden Retriever breeders in Grand Est27](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/grand-est) [Golden Retriever breeders in Pays de la Loire23](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/pays-de-la-loire) [Golden Retriever breeders in Occitanie23](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/occitanie) [Golden Retriever breeders in Normandy22](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/normandy)
### Golden Retriever breeders by country
[345 breeders of Golden Retriever in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/italy) [294 breeders of Golden Retriever in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever) [249 breeders of Golden Retriever in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/germany) [140 breeders of Golden Retriever in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/denmark) [115 breeders of Golden Retriever in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/united-kingdom) [101 breeders of Golden Retriever in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/netherlands) [44 breeders of Golden Retriever in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/austria) [35 breeders of Golden Retriever in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/spain) [21 breeders of Golden Retriever in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/finland) [5 breeders of Golden Retriever in Switzerland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever/switzerland)
[All breeders of Golden Retriever in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever)
## Ready to welcome a Golden Retriever?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-golden-retriever)
## Compare Golden Retriever with other breeds
- [Golden Retriever vs. Labrador Retriever](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/golden-retriever-vs-labrador-retriever)
- [Golden Retriever vs. Australian Shepherd](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/golden-retriever-vs-australian-shepherd)
## Discover other breeds
[Curly-Coated Retriever
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/curly-coated-retriever)
[Flat-Coated Retriever
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/flat-coated-retriever)
[Labrador Retriever
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/labrador-retriever)
[Chesapeake Bay Retriever
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/chesapeake-bay-retriever)
[Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever)
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