Retriever (Golden)

The first Lord Tweedmouth is credited as the founder of the breed with a yellow dog bred from black Wavy Coated Retrievers crossed with the Tweed Water Spaniel. This mating produced four yellow puppies. Later additions to the root stock included the Bloodhound and the Irish Setter and the resultant yellow Retrievers became popular in the Border Counties. Eventually the breed was recognised by The Kennel Club as a “yellow” or “golden” Retriever in 1913. When the Golden Retriever Club was established in 1920 the official bred name was changed to the Golden Retriever.

Lord Tweedmouth and his Guisachan Retrievers are still remembered today and the Guisachan estate is occasionally used as a location for Golden Retriever shows, and is revered by breed enthusiasts as the home of the breed.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Gundog breed group

Dogs that were originally trained to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This group is divided into four categories - Retrievers, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve, Pointers and Setters - although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same work as the other sub-groups. They make good companions, their temperament making them ideal all-round family dogs.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Cream
Gold
Golden

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a Golden Retriever puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. That's why we've teamed up with Weatherbys Scientific, a leading DNA testing lab, to create our breed specific packages.

To support your health testing journey, we provide our tailored Retriever (Golden) Breed-Specific DNA Package. Giving you the information you need about potential health risks, this package includes Ichthyosis (ICT-A), Progressive retinal atrophy (GR_PRA1), Progressive retinal atrophy (GR_PRA2), DNA Profile (SNP - ISAG 2020).

4 essential tests valued at £235 for just £150, that screen for multiple conditions at once, saving you time and providing vital health information.

More about health

We advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
Elbow dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS) Find results for the pre 2020 MRD open register. This only lists dogs that were diagnosed as 'affected by MRD'. MRD results published after 31 Dec 2019 can be found in their Health Test Results Finder entry
Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

Bitches under 18 months not to produce a litter
Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12-month period
Check inbreeding calculators

Other health schemes and tests available

DNA test - GR-PRA1 - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
DNA test - GR-PRA2 - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
DNA test - ICT-A - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs

*The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

ICT-A (Icthyosis)
GR-PRA1 (Progressive retinal atrophy)
GR-PRA2 (Progressive retinal atrophy)
DNA profile (SNP ISAG 2020)

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about our DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email The Kennel Club Health.

Breed watch

Category 2

Particular points of concern for individual breeds may include features not specifically highlighted in the breed standard including current issues. In some breeds, features may be listed which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future.