The 3 Official Golden Retriever Colors (With Pictures!)

Golden Retrievers are the ultimate family friendly dog. They are great for first time dog owners. While they came from Scotland to hunt birds, today, they're seen as a soft domesticated breed.

The gentle and pleasing nature of these heart melting large sized dogs never gets old.

If you own one, you'll be blessed with a playful friend and a loving companion. It's safe to say Golden Retrievers are amazing to be around for both adults and children.

But their personality isn't the only thing that makes them special. The Golden Retriever's coat is impressive too. Keep reading to know more!

The Ideal Golden Retriever Owner

Don't be too dependent on selecting a Golden Retriever based on its coat alone. It's important to see if their personality fits in with your lifestyle. Luckily, Golden Retrievers are happy-go-lucky dogs who can adapt to many situations.

The only major factor you'll have to consider is the size of your accommodation. This beautiful dog breed is large size, so it'll need a garden or backyard to stretch its legs. Moreover, they need around two hours a day of exercise, so you must have time to help with that.

Golden Retrievers also thrive off company; they are friendly and social. This means they are a breed that needs a lot of attention and interaction from their owner. So you must enjoy spending time with dogs and love to give them cuddles!

These gorgeous canines have an eager to please nature; they love to learn. So anyone planning to own one must have time to dedicate to teaching them tricks and new skills.

Because they're a dog with a long double coat, you must have the time to take them to the groomers every 4-6 weeks. You must brush them also once a day. This will make your life slightly easier, reducing the amount of hair falling from their coat.

Official Golden Retriever Colors According to the American Kennel Club

According to the AKC, there are three main types of Golden Retrievers:

Cream or Light Golden

Let's kick off this list with a controversial color. Cream Golden Retrievers are not the typical dog that springs to anyone's mind. But the cream colored golden is truly beautiful. To describe their color, they look more like an off-white than a light cream.

One unique point about a Cream colored Golden is that they're highly popular in England. You may hear them as English Cream Golden Retrievers in the dog world.

Cream colored Golden Retrievers; also differ in texture! Their coats are often thinner than those with darker coats. Rumors have it that they're healthier and more patient than other Goldens. Yet there's no scientific information to support this!

Top tip: Be careful if you're looking to buy a cream colored Golden Retriever! They can sometimes be expensive. There are breeders who use buzzwords to market them, like rare or platinum, so if you see these words, be careful.

Golden

If you're acquainted with the Golden Retriever, then you'll be familiar with this color. It's the most popular coat for the Golden Retriever breed is bright and rich in gold. It's the perfect balance of dark and light. Apart from this color, there's no change to their temperament.

Dark Golden

Out of all the Golden Retriever colors, this one is the darkest you'll find. They're often seen near a mahogany color. This Golden Retriever is truly beautiful due to their rich dark color. This coat has subtle red highlights and amber shades. It's thought that the Dark Golden Retriever originates from Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Most Common Golden Retriever Color?

The standard Golden Retriever, is the most popular of all the Golden Retriever colors. This color is a golden color that’s bright and rich. You'll commonly see this color in movies, tv shows, and on your neighbor's dog.

What Is The Rarest Golden Retriever Color?

To be honest, there's no real “rare” Golden Retriever coat color. Out of many, the cream color is mistaken for being rare. Many unethical breeders market it as white or platinum. They often try to exploit money from others when they're not actually rare.

Is There A Black Golden Retriever?

No, only Golden Retrievers have a golden color coat. If you find one with a black coat, then it's most likely their parents are a black labrador or another black breed.

Do Golden Retrievers Change Color?

Yes, Golden Retrievers can change their color as they age. When this happens, it's usually from a light color to a darker coat. Moreover, when they become older, they tend to have their fur turn white around their eyes and muzzle.

How Much Does a Golden Retriever Cost?

If you're looking to buy a purebred Golden Retriever, they can cost between $1000-$3500. The pricing varies depending on their bloodline, breeder's reputation, location, and health.

Final Thoughts

Overall, there are three recognized Golden Retriever colors being golden, light golden, and dark golden. None of these are rare and only differ due to their appearance. Regardless of coat colors, they still have loving, charming, and pleasing personalities.

Their gentle nature makes them a breed that's ideal for first time owners and families. As long as you have time to give them affection, walks and entertain them, you can't go wrong with a Golden Retriever.