Fun Golden Retriever Facts For Kids

If you are a dog fanatic, then you must be familiar with the Golden Retriever breed. A Golden Retriever dog is originally a medium-sized breed of gun dogs. These hunting dogs were bred to collect hunted birds such as ducks. The word 'retriever' in its name refers to the capability of the dog to collect these hunted birds without causing any damage to them, thanks to their soft mouth.

This breed has been recognized by the American Kennel Club. This dog breed is believed to be a descendent of Russian sheepdogs and the dog breed was also bred in Scotland in the 19th century as search and rescue dogs. They soon became popular, and now this dog breed can be seen all over the world. In this article, we will tell you all the best facts about this beautiful golden dog breed. So, without squandering any time, let's begin exploring the best Golden Retriever facts. After reading these facts about Goldens, do check out our other articles on the pocket pitbull and the Chow Lab mix.

What type of animal is a Golden Retriever?

A Golden Retriever is a gundog breed, originally bred in the country of Scotland. The dog is well known for its ability to catch hunted birds and bring them back to their owners without causing any further damage to the bird. It is one of the most popular breeds in the American Kennel Club.

What class of animal does a Golden Retriever belong to?

A Golden Retriever belongs to the Mammalia class of animals. The gestation period of the dog is 57-63 days long and after the gestation period is over, a female can give birth to eight Golden Retriever puppies.

How many Golden Retrievers are there in the world?

The Golden Retriever is known as a popular dog breed and its estimated population is more than  78 million! In the United States of America, there are 5,00,000-750,000 registered Golden Retrievers. So, we can say that their population is huge.

Where does a Golden Retriever live?

Nowadays, a Golden Retriever is usually kept as a pet dog, so it lives in areas with human populations.  Goldens are suitable for almost all types of climates, so a Golden Retriever can easily reside in most homes. However, they are not suited to extremely cold weather.

What is a Golden Retriever's habitat?

A Golden Retriever, as mentioned earlier, can survive well in almost all types of climates. Goldens do not have any specific temperature or climate requirements so these dogs can easily reside in homes, shelters, and gardens.

Who do Golden Retrievers live with?

If a Golden Retriever is kept as a pet, then it will be found living with its owner and other pet dogs. Golden Retrievers are very comfortable around children and adults alike.

How long does a Golden Retriever live?

Dogs usually don't have a very long life span. The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is between 10-12 years. So, for at least 10 years you will be lucky enough to have this dog at your side as your companion!

How do they reproduce?

Dogs reproduce through sexual reproduction. In this, the male and female mate with each other and produce a litter of puppies. The gestation period of a dog is 57-63 days long and once the gestation period is over, Goldens can give birth to up to eight Golden Retriever puppies in one litter.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of a Golden Retriever dog is Least Concern. The dog breed is not a rare breed and can be commonly found in all parts of the world. In fact, its estimated population is more than 78 million. In the USA, there are between 5,00,000 to 750,000 registered Golden Retrievers.

What do Golden Retrievers look like?

Golden Retrievers are medium-large-sized dogs with a strong, muscular built and a shiny golden double coat that is water repellant. Their board forehead, shiny eyes, short ears, and muzzles are the hallmarks of this dog breed. The Golden Retriever is a well-built muscular dog with long and golden hair which gives the breed its name. Golden Retrievers shed their hair seasonally and their health must be taken care of by owners. With a sweet and calm temperament, this breed looks like a bug cuddly toy! Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs. Though they generally have a good temperament, like all dogs, a Golden Retriever puppy must be well-raised and well-trained to make the most of its natural abilities. Since they are intelligent, it is easy to train them as well, and this can be seen in the breed's agile and adorable appearance.

How cute are they?

Golden Retriever dogs are very cute and are popular pets for humans across the globe. Their cute face and golden coat make them look so adorable and cute! Moreover, their sweetness and calm nature are more great traits of the breed. Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager to please family dogs. Their sweet nature makes them look even more adorable.

How do they communicate?

These dogs use various vocalizations and gestures to communicate. A Golden Retriever can bark, whimper, howl, growl, and cry in order to express itself. Apart from these vocalizations, the Golden Retriever can make various gestures to express itself, such as nodding, turning away or wagging its tail.

How big is a Golden Retriever?

A Golden Retriever is not too tall and not too short when it comes to its size. The Golden Retriever has a well-built, strong body and the average height of a Golden Retriever is 22-24 in (cm), which makes it almost two and a half times bigger than a Chihuahua dog!

How fast can a Golden Retriever run?

Golden Retrievers are good runners. Goldens have a well built strong muscular body which helps them to keep running fast for long durations. The top speed recorded of a Golden Retriever is 35 mph (56 kph). If they are running for a longer duration, then slowly their running speed will come down to 10-12 mph (16-19 kph). Proper training, exercise, and grooming will help to improve their stamina further.

How much does a Golden Retriever weigh?

A Golden Retriever is a little bit heavy when it comes to its weight. A male Golden Retriever dog's average weight is 65-75 lb (29-34 kg), and the average weight of a Golden Retriever female is 55-65 lb (25-29 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

As the Golden Retriever belongs to the Canidae family, their male species is known as a 'dog', and the female species is known as a 'bitch'.

What would you call a baby Golden Retriever?

A baby Golden Retriever is known as a puppy. A female Golden Retriever can give birth to between six and eight puppies at once. They are extremely popular dogs that are adopted as pets by people all over the world.

What do they eat?

Golden Retrievers are omnivores. They can eat rabbits, birds, mice, and other meat (such as chicken), but Goldens can also eat dairy products, vegetables, bread, and even some fruits.

Are they slobbery?

Yes, these wavy coated dogs are a little bit slobbery. A Golden Retriever drools moderately, so your house will not be covered in its drool. Their drooling issues are not very severe and can easily be managed with help of training.

Would they make a good pet?

Of course, a Golden Retriever can make a very good pet. This wavy-coated dog is a very sweet and calm-natured breed, and moreover, as family pets, they are very loyal, courageous, and affectionate towards their owners. Goldens are also easy to train. For this reason, these pets are also one of the most popular therapy and service dogs. So, if you want to have a dog as a pet then you can consider having a Golden Retriever. It is important to remember that regular exercise and grooming are very important for these dogs.

Did you know...

Golden Retrievers are well-known for their love of water. They are crazy about swimming and Goldens are always ready to dive into the water whenever they see a lake or a pond.

Golden Retrievers are good search and rescue dogs as these Goldens have a very sharp sense of smell and have excellent tracking abilities. Thanks to these tracking abilities, this breed is also used as a search dog.

Golden Retrievers are awarded the title of the fourth smartest dog, after Border Collies, Poodles, and the German Shepherd breed.

Golden Retrievers shed their shiny double coat seasonally. In order to protect your dog's coat, it is important to brush them regularly.

A Golden Retriever won the American Kennel Club (AKC) National Obedience Championship in 2018. Moreover, these dogs have been recognized as an official AKC national breed.

Golden Retrievers are highly social and affectionate dogs. These dogs can take care of even a cat! So, if you already have a cat and want to own a dog as well, a Golden Retriever could be well suited for you.

Golden Retrievers are social dogs who like to spend lots of time with their owners. These puppies don’t like spending time alone and if you leave them alone, then these dogs are likely to become sad and may suffer from separation anxiety. Dog experts strictly advise owners not to leave this dog alone for more than seven hours.

Golden Retrievers can prove to be very good watchdogs as dogs of this breed are alert and smart enough to fill the role. However, when it comes to guarding, they can cause problems as they bark a lot and can be very loud. Whenever Goldens see a stranger, they are likely to start barking, but once dogs of this breed start to interact with that person, they become friendly very quickly.

The Golden Retriever is the third most popular dog on Instagram!

Grooming, exercise, and training are essential aspects of the health of these dogs. These therapy dogs make for great companions after proper training.

Health problems can be an issue with these dogs but the majority of these can easily be managed with exercise and obedience training as well as guidance from your vet. A Golden Retriever can suffer from various health issues such as hip dysplasia, which is a common health issue reported in the Golden Retriever breed. This can later take the form of arthritis which causes significant pain in their joints. Golden Retrievers are also known to face various chest problems such as subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), a disease in which the vessels carrying oxygenated blood around their body become narrowed. Another major health problem faced by the Golden Retriever dog breed is Von Willebrand disease. This is a disease in which Goldens' blood cannot clot, which can result in serious bruises and bleeding gums. Patellar luxation is another condition in which the dog's knee cap can be misplaced as its knees become loose. Goldens are also known to suffer from various thyroid problems like hyperthyroidism which causes laziness, a change in coat color, excessive weight gain, mental dullness, and difficulty in exercising. Most of these health issues can be effectively managed through care from a vet, obedience training, and exercise.

What are the three types of Golden Retrievers?

The Golden Retriever dog breed actually has three different types: the English Golden Retriever, the Canadian Golden Retriever, and the American Golden Retriever. There are some major differences between the three types, which are mentioned below:

Canadian Golden Retrievers possess a taller and leaner physique than England Goldens. Canadian Golden Retrievers are also a bit different in their coat color. Dogs of this breed usually have a thinner coat that is darker in color than American Golden Retrievers.

American Golden Retrievers are often slimmer and less sturdy than the English Golden Retriever. These Goldens have a dense waterproof outer coat in various shades of shiny gold.

English Golden Retrievers are wide, and the breed has a short muzzle and a blockier forehead. They have short legs, tails, and a chest which is normally deeper than that of other breeds. The English Golden Retriever is also usually heavier than other breeds such as the American and Canadian Golden Retriever breeds.

Are Golden Retrievers good family dogs?

Yes, Golden Retrievers make for a very good family pet thanks to their sweet and loving temperament. Goldens love to spend time with their owners, and don't mind living with a big family. They are also very good with kids and are wildly popular amongst families for this reason. Dogs of this breed are really smart and caring dogs who can adjust well to other animals as well. Golden Retrievers are highly social and affectionate dogs.

Golden-coated Retriever dogs are genuinely friendly and affectionate dogs and they are full of joy when they have a toy to fetch and retrieve, such as a ball or a cuddly toy. A Golden Retriever puppy is quite expensive and can cost you somewhere between $1000-$2000. It is important to consult an expert breeder and ask for valid health certificates of both parents, before buying a puppy. These young Golden-coated Retriever dogs grow very quickly in their first four to seven months, making them sensitive to bone disorders. So, until your puppy is at least two years old and his joints are fully grown it is important not to let him run and play for long periods of time on very hard exteriors. Normal play is great though, and so are puppy training classes and obedience training at home.

Golden Retrievers are quite active dogs with an eager-to-please temperament. If you want to walk or run, your Golden Retriever puppy will be there to accompany you! And if you like tossing a ball, this breed will be quite happy to join you as, as seen in their name, Golden Retrievers love retrieving things. Training Golden Retrievers is important and they require approximately 25 minutes of energetic exercise a couple of times a day. This exercise will keep your eager-to-please pooch calm and sweet around the home, as a lack of exercise can cause behavior problems in this pet breed.

If you are looking to have a pet dog, then these facts about the Golden Retriever breed have shown why a Golden Retriever could be a very good choice for you. It doesn't matter if you live alone or with a large family, a Golden Retriever can be the ideal dog for lots of different people, that's why this dog breed is immensely popular and is now found almost all over the globe!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the Pitbull Chihuahua mix, or the Cheagle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Golden Retriever head coloring pages.