7 Curiosities About Golden Retrievers

Written and verified by the biologist Cesar Paul Gonzalez Gonzalez

Last update: 02 April, 2023

The Golden Retriever is a popular dog breed because it combines an imposing size with a tender and endearing appearance. It’s one of the most popular dogs with their owners, although there are still plenty of unknown curiosities about Golden Retrievers that we’d like to tell you about.

This breed has been with humans for a long time and has established a deep bond with them. However, the long relationship has caused some interesting aspects of their lineage to be overlooked. Continue reading this space and discover some curiosities about Golden Retrievers.

Little-known curiosities about Golden Retrievers

The Golden Retriever is a loving, gentle, faithful, and calm dog that stands out for its great ease of socializing with the family. However, its lineage hides some secrets that its owners aren’t always aware of. Discover them below.

1. It’s originally from Scotland

According to the American Kennel Club, the first Golden Retriever emerged in 1908 as the product of a personal breeding project by Dudley Marjoribanks. Initially, this new breed was the product of a cross between a Retriever with a yellow coat and the extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. However, over time, the lineage was combined with breeds such as the Bloodhound and Irish Setter.

2. It has a strong affinity for water

The Golden Retriever’s extinct ancestor, the tweed water spaniel, was classified as part of the water dog group. This means that they had a dense coat with some waterproofing ability that allowed them to perform better in aquatic environments. This coat has remained in their lineage, so its resistance to water is higher.

The dense, long coat, which sometimes hangs down the sides of the dogs’ bodies, is perhaps the most obvious sign of their affinity for water. In some cases, it’s possible to see the water dogs’ typical curly hair at the end of their coat. This gives away their ancestry and explains their attraction to water.

3. They have a powerful sense of smell

The Golden Retriever has a long list of activities in which it can be useful to humans. This is mainly due to their ability to smell and their excellent physical condition. Therefore, it is normal that it excels in such things as:

• Retrieving prey
• Search and rescue activities
• Detection of prohibited substances
• Assistance to people with chronic diseases

4. They eat a lot!

As happens with some types of medium or large breeds, the Golden Retriever’s body has a metabolism adapted to physical wear and tear and constant work. While it’s true that nowadays not all Golden Retrievers serve as service or working dogs, the high metabolic rate is still maintained due to the breed’s physiology.

All of the above, together with the exercise that Golden Retrievers usually need, causes them to need to eat a little more than other breeds. Of course, this can sometimes cause problems with their weight, so one must be careful with their diet and size of portions.

5. It has remained one of the most popular breeds in the world

According to the statistical data of the American Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever has remained among the top 4 in the popularity rankings since 2013. This only shows the great affection most people have for it.

6. It’s considered one of the breeds with the least reported aggressive behaviors

A study published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports analyzed the factors that affect aggressive behavior in purebred canines. Among their findings, the scientists revealed that the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever are the two breeds with the least reported aggressive behavior. This was revealed by analyzing data recorded from more than 9,000 dogs.

7. They have paws with interdigital membranes (webbed paws)

This is one of the curiosities about Golden Retrievers that is easily overlooked, as attention isn’t always paid to the dog’s paws.

Although it may seem hard to believe, this breed has interdigital membranes that join each of its toes. Thanks to this feature, their paws serve as “fins”, which facilitates their movements when swimming in bodies of water.

As you can see, the Golden Retriever is a fabulous breed with several interesting curiosities about its lineage. Apart from its beautiful golden coat and cuddly appearance, it attracts the attention of its owners with some unexpected secrets. These characteristics help us to understand why it’s such a popular breed all over the world.