Everything To Know About Canadian Golden Retrievers

As you may have guessed, Canadian golden retrievers originate in Canada, but this doesn’t mean they are limited to the region. Canadian golden retrievers are pretty widespread in the U.S.

Many American goldens have Canadian heritage, so the difference in their appearance, temperament, health, and behavior is subtle.

When picking the golden retriever type, focus on the look. All goldens make excellent family dogs, regardless of the type, so you cannot go wrong with this breed.

Appearance

The Canadian golden retriever standard outlines how dogs of the breed should look in detail. The general appearance should be muscular and well proportioned. Males typically reach 23-24 inches in height and females 21.5-22.5 inches.

A healthy adult male golden should weigh 65-75 pounds and female 55-65 pounds. The coat should be long, either straight or wavy, with a dense undercoat.

Canadian golden retriever coat is typically shorter than the American or English golden coat.

The Canadian golden retriever breed standard accepts all shades of lustrous golden, from cream to darkest gold. Most Canadian goldens have a darker color with lighter feathering on the back of the legs, belly, chest, tail, and ears.

The red color isn’t mentioned in the breed standard, so show-type Canadian golden retrievers cannot be red or mahogany. However, field stock can be of any color.

The head should be broad, with an elongated muzzle and black nose. The eyes are friendly and intelligent, medium to dark brown. Ears are short, attached just above the eye and reaching the jaw.

White markings, deviation from the standard height by over an inch, and a pink nose without pigmentation are considered serious faults.

Temperament

The Canadian golden retriever’s temperament isn’t much different from any other golden retriever. These dogs are intelligent, eager to please, obedient, and easy to train. They are perfect all-around hunting dogs.

According to Stanley Coren’s working dog intelligence study, golden retrievers are the fourth most intelligent dog breed among 138 participants. They have an excellent memory and are highly obedient and empathetic.

Golden retrievers are also ideal service dogs because they can perform complex tasks and don’t pose a threat to strangers.

Goldens are the friendliest dogs that are rarely aggressive and get along with everyone, including people, dogs, and smaller pets.

Despite their large size, Canadian golden retrievers are gentle and patient with kids. They make wonderful nannies for babies and playmates for older children, but supervision is always necessary because of their exuberant nature.

Like all goldens, Canadian golden retrievers are outgoing, curious, confident, and fearless. They are alert and protective of their owners but make poor guard dogs because they are very people-oriented.

Golden retrievers retain their puppy goofiness at an adult age despite their intelligence and are always up to play. They are perfect family dogs.

Compared to other goldens, Canadian golden retrievers typically have a higher prey drive and more energy. However, this also depends on a particular dog’s personality.

Health

Canadian golden retriever lifespan is 10-12 years on average. Overall, they are healthy dogs, but like all golden retrievers, they are susceptible to some inherited and acquired medical conditions.

One of such conditions is hip and elbow dysplasia, common in all large dogs. Hip dysplasia affects the dog’s mobility and results from excessive exercise in puppyhood, so owners should be mindful of their puppy’s walk duration.

Golden retrievers are also prone to progressive retinal atrophy, which can cause partial or complete blindness. The condition cannot be predicted or prevented.

Epilepsy is pretty common among golden retrievers and usually manifests in adulthood. There is no way to predict epilepsy.

Fortunately, some Canadian golden retriever health problems can be avoided with a healthy lifestyle and proper care.

For example, goldens are prone to obesity, but the issue is unlikely in dogs that exercise enough and eat a healthy diet. Golden retrievers are also at high risk of ear infections because of their anatomy and love for swimming.

Water trapped in the ear canal creates a beneficial environment for bacteria growth. Regular ear cleaning resolves the problem. Grooming prevents skin condition development.

The primary concern with all golden retrievers is cancer, and Canadian goldens aren’t an exception. About 60% of all golden retrievers die from cancer.

Behavior Problems

Although golden retrievers may seem perfect, they can have behavior problems like any other dog. Canadian golden retriever behavior issues usually result from a lack of socialization, exercise, or mental stimulation.

Under-socialized Canadian golden retrievers can suffer from separation anxiety. The problem is characterized by attempts to escape the house, potty accidents, destructive behavior, and excessive vocalization.

A puppy that has never encountered people other than the owner and never left home may grow anxious about anything new. Noise phobias are relatively common in golden retrievers.

A lack of mental stimulation and physical activity can make a golden retriever mischievous, chewing things, digging, barking, and running around the house.

These dogs are rarely stubborn but can disobey commands if they are bored or under-stimulated. Many golden retrievers pull on the leash and jump on people in puppyhood because of their exuberant, curious nature.

Fortunately, owners can combat these annoying habits with timely training. Canadian golden retrievers need discipline because of their intelligence. Otherwise, they might outsmart the owner.

Formal Recognition

Canadian golden retrievers are typically registered in the Canadian Kennel Club. The papers simply say “golden retriever” without specifying the type because golden retriever types are rather subjective.

Furthermore, goldens from the Canadian Kennel Club can breed with dogs from the American Kennel Club. Many American or Canadian golden retrievers are a mix of two types.

There is no prohibition on mixing golden retrievers of different types because they are still the same breed, and some breeders do it to reinforce specific appearance or temperament traits.

However, such puppies cannot be registered with the American Kennel Club but only with the Canadian Kennel Club. One cannot show a golden retriever with Canadian registration papers on exhibitions in the U.S.

The sole reason for this is the registration and not the type. Canadian goldens have a chance of winning U.S. dog shows if they are re-registered with the American Kennel Club.

The difference in the Canadian vs. American golden retriever standard isn’t significant. Still, judges at dog shows use the local standard when evaluating a dog’s conformity.

Price

Canadian golden retriever prices in the U.S. start at $500 and can exceed $3,000 for a show-quality puppy. Some puppies with champion bloodlines can even be priced at over $6,000.

Rescue Canadian golden retrievers can cost as little as $200. Generally, the older the dog, the lower its price. Some breeders sell their adult dogs for lower prices, so there’s a golden retriever for every budget.

The more a puppy complies with the breed standard, the more expensive it is. The lineage also plays a role because the puppy is likely to excel if its parents are champions.

Another factor affecting the price is the breeder’s experience and location. Renowned breeders with experience charge higher prices. Canadian goldens tend to be pricier in states with a higher cost of living.

Rarity

Golden retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. According to American Kennel Club; there are over 750,000 registered goldens. However, we cannot determine how many of them are the Canadian type.

Naturally, Canadian golden retrievers are more widespread in Canada, but because they are often mixed with American goldens, they aren’t rare in the U.S. either, unlike English golden retrievers.

The rarest golden retriever type is the red Canadian golden retriever because red dogs come from field stock. Although the color isn’t recognized by the breed’s standard, it’s in high demand and usually costs more.

How Are Canadian Golden Retrievers Different from Other Types?

The primary difference between golden retriever types is appearance. Canadian golden retrievers are the tallest, while English goldens are the shortest. American golden retrievers are the middle ground height-wise.

Canadian golden retrievers are also leaner than their American and English counterparts. They have better preserved their hunting heritage and are more suited for field work than English goldens that are bred with a focus on appearance.

Canadian golden retriever coat is shorter and not as dense as that of English and American golden retrievers. It’s also the darkest – the American golden retriever standard favors lustrous mid-gold color, while the English standard favors cream shades.

The difference in American vs. Canadian golden retriever temperament isn’t significant, but English golden retrievers are typically calmer than their American and Canadian counterparts.

European breeders focus on the traits that make a great family dog, such as patience, gentleness, and obedience. On the other hand, American and Canadian breeders strive to preserve golden retriever hunting heritage.

However, these distinctions may not be noticeable for an inexperienced person. Plus, many breeders mix different golden retriever types.

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