The Golden Retriever is widely known and there are some differences between the British type and the American one. The first one has got shorter legs, a deeper chest and even a shorter tail. Generally, a male is between 56 – 61 centimeters while the female is a little shorter and it can measure up to 51 – 56 centimeters. When talking about this breed, the UK standard does not mention any average weight. At a first look one can easily differentiate the European Golden Retriever from the American one by looking at their eyes. The eyes of the first one are remarked for being round and dark while the American counterparts are noted for their triangular and slanted composition. When talking about the color of the coat, the breed is popular for the beautiful shades of gold and even cream. Note that red or mahogany are not permissible colors.

         On the other hand, the American Golden is more compact and ganglier than the European type. The dimensions should stand between 58 – 61 centimeters at a male and a female should measure between 55 – 57 centimeters. When talking about their weight the is not a big difference between a male and a female: 65 – 75 lb for the first one and 55 – 65 for the last one. The color of the coat can vary from gold to any shades of it, it is dense and water repellent as well.
What both the British and the American Golden Retriever have in the common is the temperament. Generally they can be described as being kind, friendly and confident.

         Having all these personality features they cannot be referred to as “one man dogs” because they are friendly to both strangers and those who are familiar to them. Taking all these into account, one cannot make such a dog a good guard dog. But, despite this, the dog is extremely calm, naturally intelligent and biddable. The intelligence and obedience of the Golden Retriever are the main features of the breed and due to them, this breed occupies the fourth rank in Stanley Coren` s The Intelligence of Dogs. In addition, these dogs are widely known for the patience with which they treat children and adults as well as other dogs, cats and every living creatures. Because of their high level of sociability towards people, calmness and willingness to learn they make perfect guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs and last but not least search and rescue dogs.

         The moment they reach their maturity, one will realize that they love hard working and they love to be focused on different tasks; but you should not overwhelm them. Another characteristic is their agility in competitions and performance events.

         You should also be aware of the fact that in spite of all these features that make this dog perfect for any family, you should at your turn give them affection and take good care of it. This breed is prone to genetic disorders and other diseases. For example, hip and elbow dysplasia, skin diseases with allergies, eyes diseases including cataracts, glaucoma, and so on.

Golden Retriever Dog Pictures Gallery