Golden Retriever - Dog Breed Information

Information about Golden Retrievers

Golden Retriever breed information
Should I get a Golden Retriever?
Golden Retriever personality
Taking care of a Golden Retriever
Commonly claimed health conditions for a Golden Retriever
The cost of insuring a Golden Retriever
Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?
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Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds worldwide. With their beautiful coat, loyal personality and family-friendly temperament, these dogs have made their way into our hearts.

Want to know whether a Golden is the right dog for you? Read our breed guide to see if Retrievers are the pet for you.

Golden Retriever breed information

If you’d like to get to know the breed a little more closely, here are a few key traits and facts about the Golden Retriever:

How long do Golden Retrievers live?

Golden Retrievers typically live to be about 10–12 years old.

How big do Golden Retrievers get?

Golden Retrievers are large dogs at maturity. Golden Retriever males stand at around 60cm tall and usually weigh around 30kgs. Females stand at around 55cm tall and usually weigh about 27kgs.

Do Golden Retrievers shed?

Golden Retrievers frequently shed large amounts of fur, so they need routine brushing. Thanks to their ancestry as hunting and waterfowl-retrieving hounds in the Scottish Highlands, their exterior coat is thick and repels water.

They also have a dense undercoat. Their coats can vary in texture from wavy to straight. Heavy feathering appears on their chest, the rears of their legs, and their tail.

Should I get a Golden Retriever?

Golden Retrievers generally suit owners and families who have an active lifestyle. They are often friendly and have a soft temperament with kids and other pets.

They usually need lots of exercise and attention, thriving while around people. Although large homes with yards are ideal, a Golden Retriever can adapt to smaller homes so long as they have their own space to move around.

Golden Retriever personality

Golden Retrievers are usually even-tempered, intelligent, and tender. They tend to be gentle with kids and get on well with other pets and strangers.

These canines are eager to please, which likely explains why they respond so well to obedience training and are such popular service dogs. They are often happy to work, whether it involves hunting or fetching items.

Taking care of a Golden Retriever

Grooming

Golden Retrievers usually shed moderately in the winter and summer and heavily in the spring and fall. Daily brushing is ideal for preventing clumping and tangling in the dog’s fur. Regular brushing removes any dead hair before it gets annoying and ends up on your floors. Monthly baths help keep this dog breed looking neat and clean, but remember to dry their fur before brushing to prevent snags.

Exercise

Exercise is an essential part of a Golden Retriever's day. They generally enjoy hunting expeditions, field trials, swimming, hiking, and jogs, as well as other canine sports like agility, obedience, and tracking.

A Golden that does not get enough exercise is likely to display undesirable demeanours like digging and biting. Mental challenges, such as learning tricks and playing with puzzle toys, appeal to Goldens, but it shouldn't replace physical exercise. Take it easy with exercise in a Golden Retriever's first two years of life, as their growth plates are still forming. Long, vigorous runs or hikes are preferred once the canine is completely grown.

Diet

Goldens tend to be overweight. Help your Golden Retriever avoid becoming overweight by ensuring that you follow the recommended feeding guides on the food appropriate to your pet's size.

A calorie restricted diet could be a good choice if your Golden Retriever is overweight. A joint protecting supplement may make a good addition to their regular feeding schedule as your Golden Retriever ages because they might be susceptible to developing arthritis.

Commonly claimed health conditions for a Golden Retriever

Just like us, our pets can be affected by different illnesses, health conditions and unexpected accidental injuries. Here are some of the more commonly claimed conditions^{^} that a Golden Retriever can experience.

Conditions	Symptoms can include^~	Highest cost for a single treatment^>>
Skin conditions (including infections and allergies)	Scratching, biting, or rubbing the skin Signs of irritation including red skin, scabs, bleeding, pustules, or weeping Hair loss, flaky skin, texture changes, lumps or an unusual or unpleasant smell	$8,770
Ear conditions (including infections and allergies)	Scratching, rubbing, or pawing at one or both ears Head shaking Odour or discharge from the ears Ears may be red or warm to the touch	$6,581
Gastrointestinal tract condition	Diarrhoea, vomiting or constipation Blood or mucus in stool/vomit Increased frequency/urgency passing stool Weight loss Loss of appetite and interest in food May seem more tired than usual	$9,863
Arthritis	Lameness or limping on affected limb(s) Stiffness on rising Reluctance to jump, use stairs Swelling on legs	$7,959
Ingestion of foreign item or toxin	Vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite Abdominal pain, frequent stretching, vocalising or sensitive to touch Lethargy Drooling	$12,002

The cost of insuring a Golden Retriever

If you’re thinking about getting pet insurance for your Golden Retriever, factors like age and location could affect the cost of your premium. Everyday Pet Insurance offers Basic, Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive Plus cover that helps protect you and your furry friend. Check what each insurance cover includes.

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Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?

Comprehensive Plus annual limit.#

Claim up to $30,000 a year.

Claim up to 80% back.*

Get up to 80% back on eligible vet bills.

Lifetime cover.‡

Your pet is covered from 8 weeks old for life.

Introducing GapOnly.®

Claim your benefit on the spot and only pay the gap on eligible claims.⁼

Important Information

text

^{^} Pre-existing conditions and certain illnesses may be excluded. Policy terms, conditions, exclusions, limits, benefit limits, sub-limits, annual condition limits and excess may apply. For details, please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

^~ Symptoms listed are indicative only, others can apply.

^>> As at 31/12/2023 based on the previous 12 months of PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd claims data.

text: ^#Policy Terms and Conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Benefit limit amounts vary by level of cover.

text: * Limits, waiting periods, exclusions and excesses may apply.

text: ^‡ Cover is available for the life of your pet provided you renew your policy each year without any break, lapse or change in the level of Cover. This means once your pet is insured with us and as long as we continue to offer the product, you will be able to renew your policy for that pet for life and your cover level will not be reduced as your pet ages provided you continuously maintain the cover. Cover is subject to the terms and conditions of your renewing policy. See details in your PDS.

text: = The gap is defined as the difference between the vet's invoice and the claim benefit under your policy. Policy terms and conditions apply. GapOnly^® is only available at participating Vets. Please visit GapOnly^® to search for GapOnly^® enabled vets. GapOnly^® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure) (ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183).

text: Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time prior to 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard), arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by Hollard’s Authorised Representative (AR) Woolworths Group Limited ABN 88 000 014 675, AR 245476 (Woolworths). Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time on or after 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s AR, Woolworths. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at insurance.everyday.com.au/pet-insurance.

Golden Retriever dog breed information