Overview: The Golden Retriever is a very friendly and energetic breed that loves to play and will get along with virtually any person and any animal that doesn't appear to be a threat to it or its owner. This breed can be a very good watchdog and can be dependable for protection if trained correctly. The Golden Retriever’s coat can resist both the cold and the heat however it does need some grooming and exercise.

Temperament: This dog is known to be very obedient and loyal to its owner and a great friend. This breed needs daily exercise in both body and mind otherwise it could start getting restless and become destructive. The Golden Retriever gets distracted very easily as it is full of energy and wants to play with everything and everyone.

History: Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland noticed there was an increase in demand for gentle yet efficient retriever dogs during the 19th century, so he bred his dog, a yellow wavy coated retriever, with a Tweed water spaniel and produced four puppies that seemed to show signs of being superior retrievers. This breeding experiment continued with other dogs until the Golden Retriever was formally separated from the rest of the retrievers in the early 20th century. This breed became popular quickly and is still considered one of the most popular in the United States. Today, it is still used in hunting as a retriever, but also is used for assistance purposes and participates in obedience competitions and retriever field trials.

Names: The Golden Retriever is also known as the Yellow Retriever.

Groups: The Golden Retriever was formally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 and assigned to the Sporting Group.

Physical Characteristics: The average adult Golden Retriever can have a height of 20 to 24 inches and can weigh 60 to 70 lb. The under coat of this breed is thick and water resistant as well as being weather resistant with the outer coat being firm and pleasant, not being rough or smooth. The outer coat may be straight or it may have a waved texture. The coat of this dog comes in varying shades of yellow and gold. Currently, one of the most sought after colors is a very light yellow called English Creme.

Care: This dog needs daily exercise and loving interaction with people. It needs to be challenged with games and lessons or it will get bored. The Golden Retriever lives best inside where there are people to be around with access to the outdoors for fun and exercise. The coat ought to be brushed about twice a week.