Everything To Know About American Golden Retrievers

These dogs have a hunting heritage and, ironically, have preserved it better than their European counterparts. American goldens also have a few critical distinctions in size, coat, and temperament from other golden retriever types.

Still, American golden retrievers have all the traits that make these dogs so sought-after, including intelligence, obedience, friendliness, and beautiful golden color.

American golden retriever is the optimal choice if you want to participate in local dog shows or simply like the classic golden retriever look.

Appearance

The American golden retriever breed standard outlines the dog’s appearance in great detail. Although all dogs have some deviations from the standard, the more a dog complies with it, the better.

Golden retriever males range from 23 to 24 inches in height and weigh 65-75 pounds, whereas females range from 21 to 22.5 inches in height and weigh 55-65 pounds. The overall build is athletic and powerful.

The body’s length to height ratio should be 12:11. The dog should be well-proportioned, with a wide chest and a straight back. American golden retrievers have elongated yet broad snouts and blocky heads.

The eyes are rounded, medium to dark brown, with an intelligent expression. The nose is black, but a lighter shade is possible in cold weather. Goldens always have drop ears set on the level with the eyes.

American golden retrievers have long, wavy or straight coats with a dense undercoat. Feathering on the back of the legs, chest, belly, tail, and ears should be prominent but neatly trimmed.

The American golden retriever standard allows all shades of gold, from light to dark. The feathering can be lighter than the rest of the coat. Extremely pale or dark predominant coat color is undesirable.

The American breed standard doesn’t mention the red color because it’s not accepted. However, red field goldens can participate in sporting events.

American goldens are heavy shedders and need regular grooming to maintain the health and beauty of their coats.

Temperament

American golden retrievers are even-tempered, intelligent, loyal, and friendly. They are very predictable, so even strangers and small kids feel safe with these dogs. Golden retrievers get along with everyone.

Because golden retrievers have a low prey drive and are very gentle, they make great dogs for multi-pet households and families with babies. However, they are also very energetic, so they need companions who can handle their exuberance.

Regardless of the type, golden retrievers are curious, outgoing, and sometimes goofy. They will never turn down an invitation to play.

Golden retrievers are some of the most intelligent dogs. They quickly memorize commands, are very obedient, and effectively communicate with people. For this reason, training a golden retriever is almost foolproof.

However, these brilliant dogs need plenty of mental stimulation and physical activity; otherwise, they may get bored and become mischievous.

Golden retrievers are perfect all-around dogs. They do equally well as family, service, protection, and hunting dogs. However, they are too gullible, friendly, and quiet to be guard dogs.

Health

The life expectancy of American golden retrievers is 10-12 years on average. The breed is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy, obesity, hypothyroidism, skin conditions, ear infections, and cancer.

Some of these health conditions can be avoided with genetic screening of the sire and dam, while others with a healthy lifestyle and care.

For example, golden retrievers receiving enough physical activity and eating a healthy diet are less likely to become obese.

However, don’t go overboard with exercise while your dog is still a puppy because too much activity can put a strain on joints and lead to hip dysplasia development.

Golden retrievers are prone to ear infections because of their anatomy and love for swimming. Fortunately, you can minimize the risk with regular ear cleaning that removes moisture trapped in the ear canal.

Skin conditions, too, can be prevented with proper grooming. Unfortunately, some diseases are impossible to predict, including epilepsy and progressive retinal atrophy. They manifest at an adult age and have no cure.

Cancer is the primary cause of concern with the breed, particularly with the American golden retriever type. According to studies, over 60% of American goldens and less than 40% of English goldens die from cancer.

Behavior Problems

Golden retrievers are some of the friendliest, easiest to train, and most intelligent dogs that are rarely stubborn or aggressive, yet they aren’t perfect. Golden retrievers form strong bonds with their owners and hate being alone.

Some goldens suffer from separation anxiety manifesting with destructive behavior, attempts to escape the house, potty accidents, and excessive vocalization. Usually, separation anxiety occurs in under-socialized dogs.

Under-socialized golden retrievers can also be anxious about new environments, dogs, and people. Some goldens have a noise phobia.

Many golden retrievers pull on the leash and jump on people, particularly puppies, but owners can combat these habits with training.

Golden retrievers are energetic dogs that need plenty of physical activity. Otherwise, they can become mischievous, chewing on things, running around the house, and barking.

A lack of mental stimulation can also lead to destructive behavior because of boredom. Remember that a tired dog is an obedient dog.

Formal Recognition

Many misconceptions surround golden retriever types. For instance, many think that American golden retrievers are a different breed and cannot participate in European dog shows because they aren’t recognized by European dog clubs.

However, all golden retrievers are the same breed, whether American, English, or Canadian. They are registered as golden retrievers without specifying the type and can participate in foreign dog shows.

But here’s the catch – a dog can only participate in shows organized by its federation. So, an American golden retriever cannot participate in European exhibitions, not because of its type but because it isn’t registered with the World Canine Organization.

Furthermore, the European golden retriever standard slightly differs from the American, so an American-type golden retriever is unlikely to be favored by European judges.

American golden retrievers are registered in American kennel clubs, such as AKC and ADF. However, some European clubs allow foreign registration.

Price

American golden retriever puppy price starts at $700 and can exceed $4,000 for show-quality dogs. The cost of a golden retriever depends on many factors, including its personality, appearance, color, lineage, breeder’s reputation, and location.

The more a puppy complies with the breed standard, the more it costs because it has higher odds of winning dog shows. Champion lineage also raises the price because the puppy is likely to inherit the traits that made its ancestors excel.

Experienced breeders typically charge more than newcomers, like in any industry. However, a lack o experience isn’t always an indicator of a low quality. Most importantly, the breeder should provide you with a complete document package and health clearances.

Puppies in rare colors cost more than mid-gold dogs that are common in the U.S. Expect to pay more for a cream or red golden retriever, even if these colors are undesirable by the American standard.

Puppy prices are higher in states with a higher cost of living. Fortunately, there’s a golden retriever for every budget – if you cannot pay several thousand for a puppy, consider rescue goldens that typically cost under $600.

Still, don’t neglect the yearly costs of owning a golden retriever, which can exceed $2,000. The expenses include food, miscellaneous items, vet bills, and professional grooming.

Rarity

American golden retrievers are widespread in the U.S. they are significantly easier to find than English or Canadian-type golden retrievers.

Overall, golden retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. They consistently rank in the top five, along with Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and French bulldogs.

How Are American Golden Retrievers Different from Other Types?

The difference between golden retriever types lies in appearance, temperament, formal recognition, and rarity.

English golden retrievers are shorter and stockier, and Canadian goldens are taller and leaner. American golden retrievers are the middle ground in terms of size.

English goldens also have blockier heads, whereas Canadian goldens have wedge-shaped heads.

English golden retriever standard favors cream coat color and explicitly excludes red and mahogany. The American standard states that an extremely pale coat is undesirable, so local judges prefer lustrous medium gold tones.

Canadian golden retrievers are the darkest, ranging from medium to dark gold. They have the shortest and least dense coats, whereas English golden retrievers have fuzzy, long coats. Yet again, the American type is the golden mean.

English golden retrievers are less suitable for hunting because they have a lower prey drive and tend to be calmer.

European breeders focus on the appearance and traits that make a great family dog, whereas American goldens have retained their hunting qualities.

Because English and Canadian golden retrievers are rarer in the U.S. than American goldens, they may cost more.

However, the wording “rare exclusive white golden retrievers” is just a marketing trick to sell English goldens that are common outside the U.S.

At the end of the day, all golden retrievers make equally good family dogs and will ring you with a lot of love and affection. The type primarily matters appearance-wise.

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