Show golden retrievers are bred with a focus on appearance. They differ drastically from their ancestors used for hunting.
Most golden retriever puppies you will come across nowadays are show-type, but that doesn’t mean all are show quality.
A golden retriever must comply with the breed standard and be obedient to win at dog shows. However, a show golden retriever doesn’t necessarily have to make a sporting career.
Show golden retrievers make perfect family dogs and can assist people with special needs in performing daily tasks. They are intelligent, friendly, loyal companions.
Although show golden retrievers have many pros, they aren’t low-maintenance dogs and need a lot of upkeep and attention.
Appearance
Show golden retrievers must comply with the breed standard to have a chance to win the competition.
According to the golden retriever standard published by American Kennel Club, these dogs must be symmetrical, powerful, and active, with a kindly expression.
Male golden retrievers should be 23-24 inches tall and weigh 65-75 pounds, whereas females are 21.5-22.5 inches tall and weigh 55-65 pounds. Deviation from the standard by over an inch is considered a fault.
The coat color ranges from cream to darkest gold, neither red nor mahogany. Red golden retrievers can only be of the field type. The undercoat should be dense and the overcoat firm and resilient.
The standard also outlines how the dog’s head and body should look. Additionally, it outlines severe faults that prevent a dog from participating in the show, such as white markings or an undershot bite.
Note that there are three golden retriever types – American, English, and Canadian, and the standard differs slightly by country. The primary differences between golden retriever types are size and coat color.
English golden retrievers are shorter and stockier, whereas Canadian goldens are taller and leaner. English golden retrievers have the lightest color ranging from cream to mid-gold, and Canadian goldens tend to have dark gold coats.
If you want to participate in U.S. dog shows, look for an American golden retriever with a medium-gold coat. You can compare pictures of show winners from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. to better understand the difference.
Temperament
Show golden retrievers are bred with an emphasis on appearance and temperament traits desirable for a family rather than a hunting dog.
In other words, modern show-type golden retrievers differ noticeably in personality from their ancestors bred for hunting.
All golden retrievers are confident, curious, loyal, friendly, exuberant, playful dogs that can be goofy yet very intelligent. These dogs have an excellent memory and problem-solving skills and are eager to please.
Show golden retrievers are highly obedient. In fact, they are ranked fourth among 138 breeds in Stanley Coren’s working dog intelligence study.
The primary difference between field and show golden retrievers is prey drive and energy levels.
Show golden retrievers are typically calmer and have a low prey drive. They need about one hour of exercise daily compared to two hours of field goldens.
Still, a show golden retriever isn’t a “couch potato,” and a lack of physical activity can lead to behavioral and health problems.
Show golden retrievers aren’t barky and get along with nearly anyone, including other dogs, cats, ferrets, and strangers.
Are Show Golden Retrievers Good for Kids?
Golden retrievers are gentle giants that get along with kids of all ages. They make perfect nannies for babies and playmates for older children.
Because show golden retrievers have a low prey drive and aren’t as energetic as field goldens, they are ideal for families with kids. Still, supervision is crucial when a large, active dog interacts with a child.
A golden retriever is unlikely to hurt a child intentionally because these dogs are patient and rarely aggressive. However, they can sometimes be goofy and overly energetic, so they can knock over a kid.
Show golden retrievers typically form strong bonds with their young owners and are very protective. A golden retriever will never let someone harm their little friend and never let down an invitation to play.
Do Show Golden Retrievers Make Good Service Dogs?
All golden retrievers are intelligent, obedient dogs that can make excellent companions for people needing assistance with daily tasks.
Because show golden retrievers are even-tempered and friendly, they don’t pose a threat to strangers in public spaces.
Furthermore, golden retrievers have the perfect size to assist people with mobility issues. They are large enough to push a wheelchair or carry grocery bags but compact enough to travel without a crate with some airlines.
Due to their high energy levels and stamina, golden retrievers can walk around the town all day without getting exhausted. And since they have excellent memory and problem-solving skills, they can perform the most complex tasks.
For these reasons, golden retrievers are among the best service dog breeds. A dog’s appearance doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a service dog, but show-type goldens are favored for this purpose because of their temperament.
Do Show Golden Retrievers Make Good Guard Dogs?
Show golden retrievers are perfect all-around dogs – they are suitable for multi-pet households and families with kids and can assist people with disabilities. Perhaps, the only job they aren’t good at is hoarding property.
Golden retrievers are loyal and fearless, so they make good protection dogs. However, they are too credulous, friendly, and quiet to serve as guard dogs.
A show golden retriever is more likely to let a stranger pet it than bark at it. Furthermore, golden retrievers are people-oriented and must live at home, surrounded by love and affection, rather than on the street.
Can You Train a Show Golden Retriever to Hunt?
Golden retrievers were originally hunting dogs, but modern show-type goldens are very different from their ancestors, so you may wonder – do show golden retrievers make good hunting dogs?
One can train a show golden retriever to hunt because they have high energy levels and stamina and are very obedient.
However, they have lower prey drive than field golden retrievers and thus are best suitable for retrieving but not chasing.
Grooming
Show golden retriever breeders place great importance on coat quality – it must be medium or long, with a dense undercoat. Consequently, show golden retrievers are heavy shedders and need regular grooming.
The good news is that golden retriever grooming is straightforward. You can learn to do it at home and only see a professional groomer before shows or once in a while for better upkeep.
Golden retrievers need daily brushing with a slicker brush. During seasonal shedding periods, they also need brushing with a de-shedding tool to remove loose fur stuck in the undercoat.
How often to bathe a golden retriever depends on the dog’s lifestyle, but the general recommendation is once in four to six weeks. Golden retrievers don’t need haircuts but will benefit from feather trimming.
Documents
When choosing a show golden retriever puppy, you should ensure it has the complete document package including registration papers, pedigree, health check certificate, and contract of sale.
Only licensed breeders can obtain registration papers that contain essential information about the puppy, such as name, sex, and breed.
The pedigree serves as proof that a puppy is purebred and provides you with information about its ancestors.
You should read the pedigree left to right. It includes all important titles of a puppy’s ancestors as well as some health information and colors. A pedigree lets you ensure a puppy wasn’t inbred.
The contract of sale should outline your and the breeder’s rights and responsibilities and your options in the event something happens with the dog at the breeder’s fault.
Ensure that you have health clearances for the sire, dam, and puppy to rule out the possibility of inherited medical conditions.
Price
Golden retriever puppy price ranges from $700 to over $4,000. Such a wide range results from different quality and color of puppies, their lineage, breeder’s reputation, and numerous other factors.
Although any show golden retriever can participate in sporting events, not every puppy has a chance to win. If you’re looking for a winning show-quality dog, expect to pay at least $3,000.
Rare colors like cream and red are typically more expensive, but mid-gold dogs have higher odds of winning local shows.
How to Pick a Show-Quality Puppy
Learn how to pick a show golden retriever puppy to avoid disappointment. First, ensure that the breeder is reputable. You can find a list of trustworthy breeders in your area on your local golden retriever club’s website.
Make a list of questions to ask the breeder, such as how long they’ve been breeding dogs and whether they do vaccinations for the puppies.
Ask to see the sire and dam because the puppy is likely to look and behave like them in the future. Learn the breed standard to evaluate how well the dogs comply with it.
Interact with each puppy from the litter to see with which one you have a connection.
Be aware of the red flags when choosing a puppy. Avoid breeders that don’t provide you with registration papers or health certificates and those that don’t let you see the puppy’s living environment or meet their parents.