The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl, such as ducks and upland game birds, during hunting and shooting parties. The name came from their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged.

Despite its seemingly iconic appearance, the Golden Retriever actually has differing body dimensions and characteristics between countries, but with still similar breed standards. The British type prevalent throughout much of Europe and Australia has a broader skull and more muscular forequarters, with rounder eyes and lighter coat colours. The American-type is lankier and less muscular, with more slanted eyes and darker coat colours. The Canadian Golden Retriever stands taller than the other types and has a thinner coat, while also being darker than the British-type.

Golden Retrievers are friendly dogs, and are thus not suited as guard dogs, but are popular both as pets and disability assistance dogs. By registration, they are the third-most popular breed in the United States, the fifth-most popular in Brazil and Australia, and the eighth-most popular in the United Kingdom.

See also

• canine
• dog