Red Retriever VS Golden Retriever

Red and mahogany are natural variations of golden retriever color. These rich shades inevitably draw the attention of passersby and make red goldens highly desirable among golden retriever enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, many people fascinated by the color neglect the differences in red retriever vs. golden retriever personalities.

Red and golden retrievers are the same breed and have a lot in common, but even subtle distinctions can have a significant impact.

While you should be aware of the differences between golden retriever types, don’t overthink it. You can’t go wrong with this wonderful breed, regardless of the color.

General Appearance

Although red golden retrievers are still golden retrievers, most of them come from field stock, meaning that they were bred for hunting.

Light gold to dark golden retrievers are also suitable for hunting, but they typically come from conformation stock.

Consequently, there’s a subtle difference in field vs. show golden retriever appearance. Show goldens tend to be taller, stockier, and have longer coats. The coats can be wavy or straight.

Field red golden retrievers are smaller, leaner, and more athletic. They have darker and shorter coats with thinner undercoats, making them slightly easier to groom.

Show goldens have more boxy heads with broader muzzles, whereas red retrievers tend to have longer noses.

Even a person who knows nothing about dogs will spot a golden retriever in a red retriever, but professionals will see the difference.

Formal Recognition

The most significant difference between red golden retriever vs. golden retriever (apart from color, of course) is the formal recognition.

Although red retrievers are purebred golden retrievers and registered as such, they are typically excluded from participation in shows.

According to the American golden retriever breed standard, the coat color should be “rich, lustrous gold of varying shades.” An overly light or dark color is undesirable. The standard doesn’t mention mahogany shades at all.

The British golden retriever breed standard explicitly states that the coat color should be light to dark gold, neither mahogany nor red. Judges at British dog shows typically prefer cream goldens.

Although Canadian golden retrievers tend to be darker than American and English goldens, the breed standard also doesn’t mention red color.

So, while red golden retrievers are gorgeous and have all the traits that make these dogs so popular, they aren’t a good choice for people wishing to participate in dog shows.

Price

The difference in red retriever vs. gold retriever price is surprising, given that field goldens cannot participate in shows. One would think that conformation-type dogs would always be pricier, but it’s the opposite.

The average price of a golden retriever puppy from a reputable breeder is about $1,500, although some puppies are available for as little as $800. Show-quality puppies may cost well over $3,500.

Red goldens range from $1,200 to $3,000 with an average of about $2,000 because they aren’t as widespread. Many people don’t care about dog shows and find the mahogany color beautiful, so red golden retrievers are in high demand.

Breeders in the U.S. struggle to meet the demand, which results in a price increase. However, one can find rescue red golden retrievers in shelters for $500 or less.

Temperament

Red golden retrievers have the same ancestry as their gold counterparts, so they share many temperament traits. Both are friendly, outgoing, confident, curious, courageous, and playful.

All golden retrievers, regardless of the coat color, are lovely dogs that love cuddles and won’t hurt a fly. They are very loyal and attached to their owners. Some goldens retain their puppy goofiness until old age.

However, there’s a subtle difference in red retriever vs. golden retriever temperament. Because red goldens are typically field type, they have a higher prey drive, stamina, and energy levels.

For this reason, red golden retrievers may be a little rougher and more exuberant. They need more exercise than show goldens and may behave mischievously if under-stimulated.

Golden retrievers tend to be more sociable and make better service or therapy dogs.

Suitability for Families with Kids

Both red retrievers and golden retrievers are some of the best dogs for families with kids. They are gentle and patient, so they don’t mind crying babies and are unlikely to be aggressive.

All golden retrievers are affectionate dogs that love to cuddle with their little owners – the coat color can’t change that. However, red golden retrievers may be too energetic for young kids and accidentally knock them over during play.

For this reason, they make better companions for school-aged kids who can handle the dog’s energy and can understand when the game is getting out of hand.

Remember that supervision is always necessary when a child interacts with a large dog. All golden retrievers have a hunting heritage and can be over the top for young kids.

Suitability for Households with Multiple Pets

All golden retrievers get along well with other dogs. They are unlikely to confront another dog first and will never turn down an invitation to play.

However, golden retrievers may be jealous of the owner’s attention, so the owner should ensure all pets in the house feel equally loved. Tension may arise between two intact male or female dogs, but this doesn’t depend on the color.

What does depend on the color, or, more specifically, on the stock type, is the prey drive. Red golden retrievers typically have a higher prey drive than show goldens. Small pets like rodents and birds can trigger their hunting instincts.

For this reason, golden retrievers make better companions for cats and small pets than red retrievers. However, how a dog behaves with other pets largely depends on training and socialization.

Suitability for Hunting

Golden retrievers were historically used to retrieve waterfowl. Sir Marjoribanks, the man behind all golden retrievers, wanted to create an obedient, intelligent, and friendly dog with excellent swimming skills and work ethics.

However, breeders became more focused on appearance than hunting skills over time. As a result, show golden retrievers have lost some of their prey drive, stamina, and athleticism. Instead, they became calmer and more affectionate.

In contrast, field goldens are still being bred for their initial purpose and have retained all the traits of a great hunting dog. They are excellent all-around gundogs but truly excel in tracking and retrieving.

Red golden retrievers are packed with energy and can run miles non-stop. They are eager to please the owner and will never disobey their commands. Show goldens can be trained to hunt, too, but field goldens undoubtedly excel.

Popularity

Another significant difference between red retrievers and golden retrievers is their popularity. According to a survey of 600 golden retriever owners, over 83% of retrievers are light gold or mid-gold and only 16% are red.

Perhaps, red goldens aren’t as widespread because their color results from a recessive gene. It’s not that people don’t want to buy red golden retrievers but that they are hard to get.

However, the inability of red retrievers to participate in shows and their exuberant nature is also a factor in their relative rarity.

Health Issues

There’s no difference in red retriever vs. golden retriever health problems. All golden retrievers, regardless of the color and type, are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, sub-aortic stenosis, progressive retinal atrophy, and seizures.

Golden retrievers often develop skin conditions and contract parasitic infections without proper grooming. Goldens that love swimming may have chronic ear infections because of their ear anatomy, so owners must establish an ear grooming routine.

Red goldens used for hunting are at a higher risk of ear infections and parasites, but that’s a matter of lifestyle rather than color. Cancer is the most common cause of death in all golden retrievers – it affects over 60% of goldens.

Responsible breeders conduct genetic tests for all puppies, sires, and dams to rule out inherited conditions. Provided you’re buying a puppy from a reputable kennel, hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, and other genetic diseases shouldn’t be a problem.

However, many of these conditions occur because of an unhealthy lifestyle, so exercise and diet are crucial in their prevention. Unfortunately, some diseases can affect any dog regardless of its lifestyle and genetics.

Behavior Problems

All golden retrievers are prone to separation anxiety because they are very attached to their owners and can’t stand being alone. Under-socialized golden retrievers may have phobias.

Anxiety in golden retrievers manifests with destructive behavior such as chewing and digging, potty accidents, and excessive vocalization.

Jumping on people out of excitement and pulling on the leash because of curiosity are common golden retriever behavior problems that should be discouraged from an early age.

Red golden retrievers are more prone to hyperactivity and destructive habits than golden retrievers because they have higher energy levels, and many owners fail to meet their exercise needs.

Remember that a tired dog is an obedient dog, so the best way to avoid golden retriever behavior problems is to provide it with enough physical activity and mental stimulation.

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