There is no such thing to finding the perfect dog. However, the option of choosing a Golden retriever for your family could be very appealing.
We are now going to look at the pros and cons of the Golden Retriever and discuss its health as well.

Pros

Why Golden retrievers are the best?

• They are very good pets for first-time owners.

• The golden breed is extremely good-natured. It is calm, sweet and nice showing that the happy-go-lucky image of a Golden is not an empty stereotype.

• They are also smart and easy to train. Their agility, size, speed and intelligence make them a fun dog to train. Not only are they good at tricks, but they also have service-specific skills for the limited-ability companions.

• Golden Retrievers love small kids and large families. They love being part of a family.

• Goldens make a perfect pet sibling. They adapt well to other non-dog house pets, like cats and rabbits with a more-the-merrier mentality.

• The puppy loves to skip and play about. They are certainly very energetic during their first 3-4 years of their life.

• They are totally dreamy, well behaved and not aggressive. Retrievers also do not bite or bark anyhow.

• Golden retrievers are easy to train and easy to please.

Cons

What are some disadvantages?

• Golden retrievers are huge and get hungry more often. This breed grows to about 55 to 75 pounds and they can get bigger when they are overfed.
• They need a lot of intense exercises. It is a must for them to workout daily for 40 to 60 minutes. Without their exercise, they become chewy, overweight and restless. If this lifestyle is not for you, it is a good thing to be aware of this fact ahead of time.
• Twice every year, Golden retrievers shed big-time, especially during spring and fall. There will always be hair everywhere. Having this dog requires having lint brushes.
• They do not do well alone in the apartment all day. Goldens love two things the most: companionship and plenty of space where they can play. Especially, they will not be happy when they are left with the TV on all day while you are at work.
• They are susceptible to some health problems. The most common being dysplasia. Goldens also have the following health problems at a fairly substantial rate: allergies, cataracts, Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (bloating), Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Epilepsy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, Osteosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma and Hypothyroidism. Health insurance is, therefore, a must for this breed. Also, make sure
• you ask for health clearance paperwork if you are going through a breeder.
• Golden retrievers cannot make good guard dogs no matter how hard you may try. It is in their nature to be friendly with everyone, even total strangers. They go into depression if you force them to become aggressive.
• Also, they are a very costly dog.
• These dogs are not suitable for small homes or apartments because they are energetic and playful.
• They face trouble in hot and humid areas. They have a problem adjusting to the hot weather.

How much does a Golden Retriever weight ?

Golden retriever weight:

Normally, male Golden Retrievers weigh 65 to 75 pounds and females weigh 55 to 65 pounds.

How tall does a Golden retriever get?

Golden retriever height:

Males are about 23 to 24 inches tall and female Golden retrievers are generally 22 to 23 inches tall. To reach their full height and weight, it will take one year and two years respectively.

How long do Golden Retrievers live?

Golden retriever male and female lifespan

The normal average lifespan of a Golden Retriever up to date is between 10 and 12 years. Some decades ago, golden retrievers have lived to be much older reaching 16 to 17 years. The oldest ever living Golden retriever reached 20 years when he passed away.

For a long time, scientists wondered why the lifespan of Golden retrievers dropped so quickly without any reasonable cause. One of the main reason is attributed to health concerns.

What kind of health problems do Golden retrievers have?

Golden retrievers are generally healthy, but prone to certain health problems. It is important to know that not all Goldens will have all or any of these diseases, but be aware of them when you are considering this breed.

If you want to buy a puppy, get a good breeder that will show you
detailed health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. This step is important because it is proof that the puppy has been tested and cleared of a peculiar condition.

8 common Golden retriever diseases

When it concerns Golden retrievers, confirm their health clearances by going to the OFA website (offa.org). Moreover, insist on health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia and Von Willebrand’s disease from
Auburn University for thrombopathia. To check for normal eyes, you can get the health clearance from Canine Eye Registry Foundation. In addition, these common diseases are briefly discussed below:

Hip Dysplasia

Dogs with this condition should not be bred. It is a heritable disorder in which the thighbone does not fit with the hip joint. It is characterized by lameness and pain in one or both rear legs.

Elbow Dysplasia

This is also a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. It leads to painful lameness. Surgery may be recommended to control the pain or to fix the problem.

Cataracts

Cataracts is Characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens. Sometimes, they can grow with time and develop at any age causing severe vision loss. They can be surgically removed with good results.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

PRA involves slow deterioration of the Retina. It can cause night-blindness in the early stages and progresses to affect day-time vision too. Goldens can adapt to this if their surroundings remain the same.

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis is a heart condition caused by a narrow connection between the aorta and the left ventricle leading to fainting and death. A vet can detect it and prescribe the proper treatment.

Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)

OCD can be noticed in Goldens as early as 4-9 months of age. It leads to painful stiffening of joints. Overfeeding of high-protein foods or ‘growth formula’ contributes to this condition.

Allergies:

Goldens can be allergic to some foods or even pollen. Take it to the vet if you notice frequent licking of paws or rubbing of the face.

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus is a life-threatening condition that mostly occurs if Goldens are fed one large meal a day, eat speedily, drink a lot of water or even exercise intensely after eating.

Bloating will make the dog unable to belch or vomit to get rid of excess gas in the stomach.

Blood pressure drops as a result of insufficient blood flow to the heart and eventually goes into shock. Without prompt medical attention, the dog can die.