- Golden retrievers were bred for use by Scottish and English hunters of water birds. Their dogs were bred to have a good enough nose to help find shot birds, even if they landed in the water. They can find a scent and zero in towards it. Unlike many other kinds of dogs, golden retrievers are bred to not eat the game they find, but to bring it back to their people.
- Because they are bred to be active hunting dogs, golden retrievers are high-energy dogs that can get easily bored. They need to be kept busy. This is one reason why golden retrievers are so popular as police dogs, search and rescue dogs and assistance dogs. According to "Dog Heroes of September 11th," at least eight of the rescue dogs who went to the Word Trade Center were golden retrievers.
- Golden retrievers are classified by the AKC as medium-sized dogs. They weigh an average of 55 to 60 pounds, although some males can get as heavy as 85 pounds, according to the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. They average about two feet in height at the shoulder, but females are often a few inches smaller.
- Golden retrievers have a medium-long coat in various shades of golden yellow, often described as a "feathered" coat. The dog has short, soft hair on the head, but much longer fur below, the longest being on the back of the legs, tail, chest and belly. The fur does not grow long enough to mat easily, but the dog ideally should be brushed twice a week.
- According to the ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs, golden retrievers are prone to hyperactivity, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, vision problems, lymphoma and allergies. With luck, they will live an average of 12 years, but individuals have been known to live until 16.
