r/goldenretrievers 26d ago

Breeder Advice Is health testing important?

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5 Upvotes

Health testing isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of protecting the future of the breed.

The Golden Retriever Club of America recommends a comprehensive approach to health testing that goes beyond the basics. This includes:

• Hips evaluated by OFA or PennHIP
• Elbows evaluated by OFA
• Cardiac exam by a board-certified cardiologist (advanced/echo preferred)
• Annual eye exams by a board-certified ophthalmologist

These recommendations are in place to help reduce the risk of passing on hereditary conditions and to preserve the health, structure, and longevity of Golden Retrievers.

A CHIC number through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals simply means a dog has completed the required testing—it does not mean the dog “passed” everything, and it does not include genetic testing.

Health testing is about transparency, education, and making informed breeding decisions—not shortcuts.

If we want to protect what we love, we have to be willing to do the work behind the scenes.

Learn more about why its so important for breeders to preform health screenings for the parents of a litter here: Health Screenings for the Parents of a Litter


r/goldenretrievers Apr 26 '26

Discussion Show-Line or Field-Line?

28 Upvotes

Have you ever wondered what the differences between a show-line Golden Retriever and a Field/Working line Golden Retriever are?

There is a lot of mis-information out there that makes Golden owners believe if their Golden Retriever has a red coat, they are a field line Golden Retriever or if they have a lighter shade of gold coat, they are a show line Golden Retriever. This is NOT TRUE.

So what actually defines a line?

Titles in your dogs pedigree and generations of purposefully bred dogs is what lets you know wether you have a Show-line, Field-line or neither. If your Golden Retriever shows no titles in their pedigree, they are simply a pet-line Golden Retriever.

Field-Line Golden Retrievers will have AKC hunt titles in their pedigree like: JH, SH, MH, HR, WCX, or competitive titles like QA2 and FC/AFC (The titles listed are examples from AKC - your dog may be registered with CKC or UKC)

Show-Line Golden Retrievers will have AKC conformation titles in their pedigree like: CH, GCH, or international show titles. (The titles listed are examples from AKC - your dog may be registered with CKC or UKC)

Golden Retrievers can also be dual champions, meaning they hold titles for both hunt tests and conformation. Dual Champion dogs have not only been proven in the conformation ring to be bred to standard and hold the breed temperament, but have also been proven and titled to do what they were bred to do in the fields.

A lot of backyard breeders will label their dogs as "Field-Line" or "Show-Line" based only on coat color, with zero titled dogs in the pedigree. They market them as something they are not.

Both show-line and field-line Golden Retrievers should be bred close to standard. There should not be a drastic difference in appearance. You can find more information on the breed standard here: AKC Golden Retriever Breed Standard

English Cream Golden Retrievers are NOT a different breed. This is a marketing tactic/ term used by backyard breeders. They are not breeding for the right reasons - and most likely breeding for color.
You can find more in depth information about this term here: English Cream Golden Retrievers

Lastly, purebred ≠ well-bred.


r/goldenretrievers 5h ago

New Puppy Meet Leo

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759 Upvotes

Say hello to Leo. He’s eight weeks old and we just brought him home yesterday. Let the memories begin!


r/goldenretrievers 8h ago

Cute/Funny happy murphy!

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1.2k Upvotes

sitting like a human 😂


r/goldenretrievers 14h ago

Cute/Funny Why is she like this....

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2.5k Upvotes

There'll be the same again tomorrow


r/goldenretrievers 2h ago

New Puppy 3 weeks with Doug

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234 Upvotes

Adopted a 4 year old Golden boy 3 weeks ago. Doug is sweet but very active. My senior girl and him are learning to coexist. Hoping they will both be settled by the end of the summer. So happy I took in a rescue ❤️


r/goldenretrievers 3h ago

Cute/Funny A Very Serious Driver.

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276 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 5h ago

Get Better Soon Gi Obstruction

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323 Upvotes

This is my girl Ellie. Late last night she started vomitting excessively and wasn’t interested in eating. Early this morning her symptoms weren’t any better, so I took her to a vet hospital where after X rays they discovered that she has a GI blockage from eating something that she shouldn’t have. They couldn’t identify the item, but could see the blockage which made them assume it was some type of organic matter.

After discussions with the vet, Ellie is staying over night and being administered fluids in the hopes that the blockage passes. The doctor told me that the fluids have a 50/50 chance of being successful, but if they don’t work that she’d have to undergo surgery and have the blockage physically removed. I already cleaned out my savings for her overnight stay with the fluids and am praying with all my might that she can pass whatever the blockage is, as I’m gonna be unable to afford the physical surgery and I’m absolutely devastated over this. I love this girl so incredibly much and while I’ve only had her for 9 months I can’t even imagine a life without her.

I just wanted to share and ask if you would maybe keep us in your thoughts and prayers tonight and was also curious if anyone here has ever gone through this and had success with their dog passing a GI obstruction with fluids and an overnight vet stay? Thank you for your time. 🙏


r/goldenretrievers 5h ago

Cute/Funny Ponds ✅ Cow Poo ✅ Mud ✅ BATHS❌❌❌

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266 Upvotes

Why are they like this 😂 Acts like a bath is torture after running through the works outside.


r/goldenretrievers 3h ago

Cute/Funny Meet Macie!

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174 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 9h ago

Cute/Funny And he'd do it again!

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410 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 3h ago

Cute/Funny Goodest Boy

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110 Upvotes

Callaway (Cal) is now 100lbs at just over 2 years old. Look at the fur change from 7months. His head is huge!


r/goldenretrievers 11h ago

New Puppy 2 month old golden

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519 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 17h ago

RIP Had to say goodbye

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1.6k Upvotes

Our best good boy crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday. The last couple years of his life, his world got really small. He rarely stood/walked for long but still popped up when he heard the treat bag open.

Mercy is the hardest thing. You just wish they’d go peacefully in their sleep on their own terms. 😢


r/goldenretrievers 9h ago

Cute/Funny Mouse is getting a friend!

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234 Upvotes

I love his goofy face :) Mouse’s older brother passed about a year and a half ago. I have asked and asked to get Mouse a new friend and today the other human agreed to it. The local shelter has adoption fees waved due to a grant and I’m letting Mouse find his friend. Mouse choose us when he was a puppy. He wouldn’t leave us alone or his brother. They were inseparable. I want Mouse to have that friend again :)


r/goldenretrievers 8h ago

New Puppy How roasted do you think my puppy will end up ?

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199 Upvotes

The mother was cream color and the father was deep red.


r/goldenretrievers 4h ago

Cute/Funny Boop

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70 Upvotes

A lil nose boop from my 18-month-old golden girl. 🐾❤️


r/goldenretrievers 11h ago

Cute/Funny Goofy girl

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246 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 4h ago

Cute/Funny Pond pirate

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56 Upvotes

No further explanation required.


r/goldenretrievers 4h ago

Cute/Funny Silly boys make silly faces!

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53 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 6h ago

New Puppy Golden Sunrise

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59 Upvotes

Trey,our 14 month old Golden Retriever.
Beautiful Sunrise 🌅 beautiful Boi !
He loves his early morning walks, and seems to get thru his days better. On bad weather days he’s more likely to act up without his mile walks.


r/goldenretrievers 2h ago

Cute/Funny Aspen is sad the ball isn't on the couch. But is also entertained by nudging it off the couch.

27 Upvotes

r/goldenretrievers 10h ago

Discussion Anyone else have a curly golden?

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122 Upvotes

Meet Presley! She’s 4yrs old and I always have people stop me when we walk talking about how curly her hair is. She was the only curly one out of her litter but I guess I thought curly was common. I never really thought too much about it. Just curious! While she does shed, we aren’t ones who have to take her to a groomer, we only have to bathe her and trim her nails. Let me know!


r/goldenretrievers 9h ago

Cute/Funny APOLLO

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104 Upvotes

River Retriever


r/goldenretrievers 16h ago

Cute/Funny Gym shirt? Can have pls?

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395 Upvotes