Golden Retriever

Origin

United Kingdom

Attractive to:

Most people. With looks, brains and a fabulous personality, the Golden Retriever is a complete package.

Not the best for:

People who don't like 'wet dog' smell in their car. The Golden was developed with a good dollop of Tweed Water Spaniel and unsurprisingly they love the wet stuff. Wherever they are, they'll find water – even if it's just a muddy puddle they can lie down in! On the plus side, dirt falls off from the coat easily once dry.

Aliases:

Goldie, Golden

Cross between:

None

Size:

Medium-Large
Big, but will still fit in a small car.

Exercise Needs:

High (Two hours or more)
Without sufficient mental and physical exercise will probably do the wall of death around the living room!

Coat:

Jacket and skinny trousers
Any feathering can get knotty. Some coats self-clean by depositing mud all over the kitchen floor.

Shedding:

Moderate shedding
All canines drop some hair, think of it as dog glitter!

Life expectancy:

12 years

Good first dog?:

Yes