Top 10 Interesting Facts About Golden Retrievers

The Golden Retriever is my absolute favorite breed of dog. Both the temperament and the appearance of these dogs are wonderful. Plus, there’s an amazing amount of interesting facts about Goldens, and I’ve put together a list of my 10 personal favorites here. I hope you enjoy it!

1. Of all the AKC registered breeds, Goldens are the second most popular. The only breed that outnumbers the Golden is the Labrador Retriever.
2. The first dog to win the AKC Obedience General Championship was . . . You guessed it – a Golden Retriever. This prestigious title was awarded to a female from Ch. Moreland’s Golden Tonka in July 1977. But wait, there’s more: the next two dogs to win the title were also Goldens!
3. Golden Retrievers are believed to be one of the MOST intelligent breeds. Some studies rank them as the third smartest (after Border Collies and Poodles).
4. Despite its strong jaws and sharp teeth, the Golden Retriever’s mouth is actually very soft. They can retrieve and transport various different objects (including living things) without harming them.
5. Golden Retrievers’ bread tolerance is high, higher than that of many other dogs. This makes them well-suited for potentially dangerous roles such as police work, rescue work, and hunting helpers.
6. Although Golden Retrievers are fully mature at 2 years of age, they can behave like puppies until they are around 3 years old (and some display puppy behaviors for life!).
7. This breed is considered by most to be the best breed to be a service dog – drum roll please, The Golden Retriever!
8. Golden Retrievers are “crepuscular”. Do you need the dictionary? – This refers to animals that are more active at dawn and dusk, rather than in the middle of the day.
9. Golden Retrievers are some of the best swimmers among all dog breeds. They were bred to navigate across different terrains (including water) to retrieve animals and birds.
10. As puppies, Golden Retrievers are much lighter than they will be as adults (see appearance). The color of a puppy’s ear fur is a good indicator of its adult coloration.

For more interesting facts that didn’t make my top 10 list, but are pretty amazing, go to More Interesting Facts