Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a friendly, devoted, and highly intelligent breed of Scottish origin, consistently ranked among the world's most popular dogs. They are gentle, easy to train, and get along exceptionally well with children and other pets. The breed is widely used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and service animals.
Weight
25–34 kg
Height at withers
51–61 cm
Life expectancy
10–12 years
Size
large
Activity
high
Shedding
high
Barking tendency
moderate
Apartment friendly
Not ideal for apartment living due to their large size and high exercise needs, but can adapt if provided with at least 1–2 hours of vigorous daily exercise and regular outdoor activity.
Care
Brush the coat 2–3 times per week (daily during shedding season). Provide at least 1–2 hours of vigorous daily exercise. Feed a high-quality large-breed formula twice a day and avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity. Clean ears regularly to prevent infections. Schedule routine vet checkups including joint evaluation and cancer screening.
Health
Cancer (lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma — affects ~60% of the breed), hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, skin allergies and hot spots, ear infections, subaortic stenosis (SAS), cataracts, obesity
Coat
Long, wavy
Travel
Visit the vet 10 days before travel and obtain a health certificate. Exercise the dog well before departure to reduce anxiety. In the car, use a harness seatbelt or a secured crate. For flights, book direct routes and notify the airline in advance about cargo pet transport. Bring a familiar toy and your dog's usual food.
Carrier size
Golden Retrievers are too large for standard in-cabin airline carriers. For cargo travel, an IATA-approved hard-sided crate size XL (e.g., ~106×71×76 cm) is required, allowing the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down fully.
Harness size
Harness size L or XL (chest girth typically 70–90 cm). A no-pull front-clip harness is recommended for better control of this large, energetic breed.
Leash
A sturdy 1.5–2 m nylon or leather leash. A long training lead (10–15 m) works well for recall practice. Retractable leashes are not recommended due to the breed's size and energy.
Airline cabin travel
usually not
This breed guide is always at hand in the Hani Walk app — along with the walk tracker, digital pet passport and vaccination reminders.
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