Golden Retrievers are a large breed with even bigger hearts. They are full of endless love and devotion towards their owner, making them one of the most compassionate and loyal dog breeds to own.

Often forgetting their large stature, Golden Retrievers will try hard to be lap dogs, snuggling up close when you sit down after a long day. The breed has no fear of being the center of attention and will use their large physique to steal love from anyone in the room.

Size of Golden Retriever

Healthy male Golden Retrievers weigh between 65 to 75 pounds and grow up to 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are typically a bit smaller, weighing between 55 to 65 pounds and are 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall. The breed’s size does vary depending on the particular litter, but generally Golden’s fall somewhere around these measurements.

While Golden Retrievers are considered big dogs, in comparison to other breeds they don’t come near the height of breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernards. This makes them much more manageable family dogs, especially if you have children.

Since the breed is so gentle and playful, once properly trained you shouldn’t have a problem allowing your kid to hold the leash once in awhile. However, since they are full of energy and excitement, you want to make sure to keep a close watch.

How Long Does It Take For Golden Retrievers To Reach Their Full Size?

While maintaining the energy and personality of a puppy for their entire life, Golden Retrievers only take around one to two year to fully physically mature.

At this point, their bones will be fully grown, and they will require the same amount of physical exercise as an adult dog. Their mental maturity on the other hand, can take up to three years before being fully developed.

Golden Retrievers Exercise Needs

Since Goldens are considered a large dog breed they require a lot of physical exercise to stay healthy and obedient.

Golden Retrievers are known as an energetic breed due to their history of being retrievers for hunters, so they naturally enjoy the outdoors.

While some dog breeds are fine with an evening walk around the block, Golden Retrievers require a bit more attention.

This breed needs vigorous physical exercise including playing fetch, interacting with other dogs and going on long walks or runs daily. Without this sort of attention and exercise, Golden Retrievers tend to revert back to their puppy tendencies.

Meaning they start to do things like chew up furniture, bark more frequently and dig up the backyard. In addition, Goldens will quickly put on weight, which can lead to more serious health problems further down the road.

Common Health Problems in Obese Golden Retrievers

Since Goldens are such a large breed, you need to be careful when they start to carry extra weight. Their large size alone, plus the addition of extra pounds causes a lot of pressure on their joints.

This extra pressure can lead to the formation of sores and calluses, which will cause your dog to lose some of his mobility and lay down more frequently.

Unfortunately, this can lead to other health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and liver and kidney disease, all of which can take years off your dog’s life.

Despite these obesity health issues, with the right amount of attention and love from their owners, you shouldn’t have to stress about keeping your Golden physically fit and happy.

Goldens crave companionship and are easily entertained, which makes them one of the best workout partners to have.

Are Golden Retrievers Obedient?

One thing that owners fear most with large breeds is that they will naturally be more difficult to physically control. However, Golden Retrievers are actually one of the most obedient dog breeds, which makes them less likely to be dominant and aggressive. The breed typically strives to be a submissive companion, craving praise and love from their owner.

Despite the Golden Retriever’s natural tendency to be obedient, the breed still requires proper training and socialization with other dogs to get to this stage. Check out these top ten dog training tips to make sure you get the right handle on the training process from the start.