Golden dog breeds have beautiful fur, but despite their popularity it actually comes from a rather unusual gene! Selective breeding for this pale cream coat doesn’t seem to have done any harm however. Some of the healthiest, friendliest and best family pets sport a fabulous golden coat.
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Some of the smaller golden dog breeds are better suited to life in town or appartments. But there are some smaller breeds with high energy levels too. Before we start looking at individual golden dog breeds, let’s take a look at how dogs can get a beautiful golden coat color. And why we can sometimes be surprised with puppies of a different color!
Golden Dog Coat Genetics
The two pigments that can contribute to a dog’s coat color are eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin appears black, brown or gray.
The Golden Pigment
Pheomelanin appears red, gold, or yellow. Pheomelanin production is controlled by the ‘e’ gene (which, rather oddly, stands for ‘extension’).
Every dog has two ‘e’ genes, in one of three possible combinations: EE, Ee and ee.
The e gene comes in two forms. Big E which is dominant, and little e, which is recessive. Big E, switches off the yellow coat color if it is present. Whereas little e, allows it to shine through! Because big E switches little e off, if it is present, only the third combination – the double little e at the bottom of that list, will give you a yellow or golden coat.
So, in order to be golden, dogs need to inherit little e from both their mom and dad in order to produce pheomelanin. And this ‘recessive’ nature of the ‘e’ gene is why the color can be carried and passed on from generation to generation undetected in black dogs. This is why, for example, two black labradors could have a litter containing yellow puppies, if both parents carried the ‘e’ gene
What Caused Shades Of Yellow?
The tone, or shade of gold in your dog’s coat is determined by C genes, which control the depth of pigmentation.
Dogs which carry the dominant C version have a dark red coat. Dogs which have two copies of the recessive c version of the gene have a light gold coat.
Are Gold Dogs Rare?
Since gold coats rely upon inheriting two sets of recessive genes, you might expect them to be unusual! But they remain widespread, because breeders have intentionally fixed those genes into some breeding lines (or entire breeds) and eliminated the dominant genes which could mask them.
Top 20 Golden Dog Breeds
It’s important to remember that coat color alone won’t determine how suitable a dog breed is for your family.
Golden Retriever
If you’re asked to name a golden dog breed, my bet is this one is first on your list. It’s not just there in the name, but this glorious coated sporting dog is also one of the most popular family pets. They tend to be active, healthy and relatively easy to mix into the average family home.
They’ll take up a fair bit of space, and despite wonderful grooming regimes will absolutely leave your couch covered in fluff, but it’s worth it.
The Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker has a shorter head, smaller body, and thicker coat than its English equivalent. These dogs are gentle, intelligent, and a generally happy breed.
American Cocker Spaniels will make great dogs for families who have small children and other pets. But, they need to be socialized well as puppies to avoid any potential aggression.
These dogs also need plenty of daily exercise, regular grooming and lots of mental stimulation.
English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is very similar to its American cousin, and also comes in a beautiful golden shade.
English Cockers are intelligent, friendly, and active dogs that require plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
The English Cocker Spaniel splits into two strains – working and show. These to strains are somewhat different in appearance and temperament.
This dog won’t be suitable for families who spend lots of time apart from their dogs, as Cockers can be prone to separation anxiety. Being left alone for too long can result in anxiousness, barking, and destructive behaviors.
This breed can also have a strong prey drive, and very high energy levels in the working strain. So lots of exercise, mental stimulation and obedience training are vital. English Cockers from show lines tend to be more laid back and relaxed.
Boerboel
The Boerboel is one of the larger golden dog breeds on our list. This dog actually comes from South Africa, and is often used by farmers to protect livestock. They need plenty of socialization and obedience training to minimise the potential for aggression towards strangers and other animals.
Boerboels can reach up to 27 inches at the shoulder, weighing up to 200 pounds! Unfortunately, large dogs like this have some health problems associated with their size, so it’s important to learn about these if you’re considering bringing a Boerboel home.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle breeds. Because they are a mixed breed, predicting their traits is actually very hard. They could inherit any mixture of characteristics from their two parent dogs. So, you might not be able to tell what your Goldendoodle will be like until you meet your puppy.
Generally, this dog has golden, curly fur. They are usually intelligent, friendly, and confident dogs, especially when well socialized.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a smaller gold dog breed, that has a long back and short legs due to a condition called chondrodysplasia.
Even though Corgis are small, growing up to 12 inches tall, they can weigh up to 30 pounds! They can have strong herding instincts that can complicate living with children and other pets.
These dogs need families who can satisfy their high exercise needs, and give them plenty of mental stimulation to prevent them from becoming bored.
Chow Chow
Chow Chows can grow up to 21 inches tall, weighing between 44 and 70 pounds on average.
These dogs are intelligent, independent, and can be quite aloof. So, they won’t suit owners who want a dog they can cuddle all day.
They are loyal with family, but can be wary of strangers, so socialization is important.
This golden dog breed has a stubborn streak that can make training quite hard.
This might not be the best breed for a first time owner.
Chow Chows need regular exercise, but are prone to overheating thanks to their thick fur. So, make sure you don’t overdo it!
Afghan Hound
This gold dog breed has beautiful, long, sleek fur that falls around their face like human hair.
Afghan Hounds do not shed much at all, but they require a lot of grooming.
Grooming their coat will help to avoid any tangles and knots in their fur that could cause discomfort.
These dogs need lots of exercise, but you also need to take care to maintain a regular feeding programme.
They are lean dogs, but be careful they don’t become underweight.
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is a gold dog breed that will love playing with you just as much as they love curling up on your lap!
Cairn Terriers are fearless, curious, and cheerful dogs. But, these dogs can be impatient towards young children who tend to be a little rough in their play.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that is gold mixed with very dark blue. Yorkies will grow up to 9 inches tall, weighing only 5 – 6 pounds as an adult. But, their small size contains a huge personality!
They are known for being bold, confident, and stubborn.
As small dogs, Yorkies don’t need a huge amount of exercise, but it can help to prevent boredom and keep them healthy.
Carolina Dog
The Carolina dog is a gold dog breed known for its independence. But, it can also be very loving and affectionate towards its close family.
Loyal dogs like this can be very protective and territorial around their family, so socialize them well from a young age to minimise any potential aggression.
Carolina dogs need plenty of exercise every day, and will be a perfect choice for an active family. If you’re looking for a lazy lap dog, this isn’t the breed for you!
They are also very intelligent, so can take well to doggy sports like canine agility.
Carolina dogs have short golden fur that doesn’t require very much grooming.
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is another small gold dog breed that is also extremely fluffy! These little pups grow up to 7 inches tall, weighing from 3 to 7 pounds.
Pomeranians are known for looking very fox-like. They have triangular ears, a pointed nose, and fluffy golden bodies!
These dogs are confident, energetic, and intelligent.
But this means they can get bored easily. So keep training sessions short and interesting, and invest in some interesting toys!
Poms need lots of social interaction and at least one walk a day. But other than that, they can suit most homes.
Shar Pei
Shar Peis are one of the medium sized gold dog breeds, that is often recognized for their heavily wrinkled skin. They are loyal, confident, and protective.
Like some of the other golden dog breeds on this list, loyalty to their family can be coupled with aggression or wariness around strangers.
So, it’s important to socialize Shar Peis well from a young age.
Shar Pei training is usually very easy. In fact, these dogs have been known to house train themselves in some cases, as they are very clean dogs.
Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier is another gold and black dog breed. They grow up to 23 inches tall, weighing between 50 and 70 pounds when fully grown.
In general they are intelligent, energetic and independent dogs. They are also known for being vocal, and herding people.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois coat is golden with black flecks. These dogs grow up to 26 inches tall, weighing 40 to 80 pounds as an average when fully grown. They are energetic, protective, and loyal.
Socialization from a young age is important to stop loyalty from turning into aggression.
Plus, thanks to this breed’s high intelligence, they can become bored easily.
So, make sure to provide plenty of social interaction and exercise to keep this dog happy and satisfied.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffies are strong, friendly, and affectionate, especially towards their families.
But, unfortunately, people have taken advantage of their strength in the past to use them as fighting dogs. But, if well socialized, this dog will be a loving addition to any home.
Staffies need plenty of exercise and social interaction every day. Otherwise, they can become quite bored!
Barbet
Barbets need regular grooming to keep their coat from getting dirty or knotted. Plus, they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
These dogs were originally used for hunting water game, so they will love going for a swim! But, they could retain a strong chase instinct.
Make sure to socialize your Barbet from an early age and practice great recall and obedience training.
Australian Terrier
This breed is intelligent, brave, and affectionate. But, they come in a very small package! They have a weatherproof double coat that needs brushing weekly to keep it clean and free of any tangles. They also need plenty of exercise.
Chihuahua
The last of our gold dog breeds is the tiny Chihuahua! They are fiercely loyal yet nervous of strangers and new experiences.
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