If you have a Golden Retriever or are thinking about adopting one, you are probably wondering how long do Golden Retrievers live.
Golden Retrievers are an extremely popular dog.
According to the American Kennel Club, they are ranked 3rd in popularity, beaten by only the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd.
No doubt, this popularity comes from the fact that they are extremely suitable pets.
They’re friendly, intelligent, and extremely devoted to their owners.
However, one of the first things you should find out before potentially adopting a new pet is their lifespan.
After all, your pet will depend on your for care its whole life, and you must be sure that you can actually provide care for the animal for the whole time it is alive.
In this article, we’ll answer the question, “How long do Golden Retrievers live?” and discuss what factors affect a Golden Retriever’s lifespan.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?
Today, the average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is between 10 and 12 years.
However, only decades ago Golden Retrievers lived to be much older, usually around 16 to 17 years.
For a long time, scientists were baffled at why the Golden Retriever lifespan was dropping so quickly without an apparent cause.
To find out why Golden Retrievers have begun to die sooner than they did only mere decades ago, scientists designed a survey that takes into account environmental factors, genes, and health conditions that might affect a Golden Retriever’s lifespan.
We will discuss this survey and the implications later in our article.
For now, let’s look at how specifically cancer affects the Golden Retriever lifespan.
Golden Retriever Life Expectancy and Cancer
Golden Retrievers die from bone cancer, lymphoma, and blood cancer more than any other breed.
And no one knows why.
Golden Retrievers are also more prone to other types of cancer, even at an early age.
For example, one Golden Retriever was diagnosed with uterine carcinoma, or cancer of the uterus, at only 10 months old!
This is the youngest instance of this type of cancer every reported.
Some factors have been tied to this increased cancer risk.
According to one study, the early neutering of Golden Retrievers led to an increased occurrence of certain cancers and hip problems.
However, research on the factors that contribute to Golden Retriever’s short attention span is early and inconclusive.
We don’t know exactly why Golden Retrievers are suddenly dying earlier than they were only decades ago.
There is a study though, that is seeking to change that.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live Study
This study is being undertaken by the Morris Animal Foundation and just kicked off in 2015.
This study is looking at a number of factors, from heavy metals found in water to the pet’s routine and even physical traits, to discover if there is any correlation between these factors and cancer.
The main goal, according to Veterinary News, is to create a comprehensive database of over 3,000 purebred Golden Retrievers.
This database will then be used to assess whether there are any conditions and lifestyles that correlate with an occurrence of cancer.
Though the survey is far from over and will probably take another decade to complete, scientists are hopeful that they will discover the cause behind these beloved dogs’ rising cancer rate and quickly dropping lifespan.
In the meantime, it is likely that Golden Retriever lifespans will continue to drop.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live Other Factors
Of course, there are other factors that also contribute to the Golden Retriever lifespan.
Golden Retrievers are prone to hip and joint problems.
While these will probably not cause the death of a Golden Retriever, joint and hip pain can greatly reduce their quality of life.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to increase your Golden Retriever’s likely lifespan.
Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can decrease their risk for joint and hip problems, and might even decrease their risk for cancer as well.
Choosing a Golden Retriever puppy that is not genetically disposed to health problems can also help.
While it is sometimes difficult to identify dogs with healthy genes, you should always check on the health of a puppy’s recent ancestors to ensure that they do not have hip problems.
A puppy whose parents have bad hips is more likely to have bad hips itself.
Oldest Living Golden Retriever
The oldest ever living Golden Retriever was 20 years old when he passed away.
How Long Can a Golden Retriever Live?
Most Golden Retrievers live to be between 10 and 12 years old.
Genetic factors play a large role in how long a particular canine lives.
Genetic factors likely play a role in a pet’s susceptibility to cancer, which can decrease their lifespan considerably.
Hip and bone problems can also factor into a dog’s quality of life as they age.
Genetic factors also play a role in these disorders, though being overweight is also a big factor.
Do you have a Golden Retriever?
The Perfect Companion For Life With A New Puppy
Let us know how old they are in the comments below!
References and Further Reading
“FAQ.” Goldheart Golden Retrievers.
Smith, Gail. “Evaluation of risk factors for degenerative joint disease associated with hip dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Rottweilers.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2001.
“Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals.” Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.
Vogelsang, Jessica. “Golden retriever study confronts heartbreak of cancer with unparalleled veterinary research effort.” Veterinary News. 2014.
“Golden Retriever Lifetime Study.” Morris Animal Foundation.
Riva, Gretel. “Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers.” PLOS One. 2013.
Cave. “Uterine carcinoma in a 10‐month‐old golden retriever.” Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2006.
“Why are Golden retrievers more likely to die of cancer than any other breed?” Daily Mail. 2015.
“Golden Retriever.” American Kennel Club.
Angele says
My first Golden (Emma) lived only to 8.5 years old. She had brain cancer or strioke which caused her to suddenly lose function on her left side and have seizures.
Our second Golden (Cassidy) passed 6 days shy of his 9th bday. He had lymphoma and leukaemia. We tried a few chemo sessions but had to do the humane thing as the chemo was not helping.
Now we have Eddie (who will be 10 next month yet acts like a puppy other than his arthritis – which doesn’t slow him down now that it’s treated) and Murphy who is 6. Both have a great bill of health. I tend to walk on eggshells as I haven’t had a Golden make it to “double digits” as yet (Jan 21/19 Eddie will be 10)
Debby says
My boy Jake will be 13 January 9th. Very healthy, very active.
Elizabeth Springall says
My 4th Goldie is now 12 She is happy and healthy…I dont thnk of her age as she doesnt seem old. She has always been fed a raw diet and never any preservatives of processed food. This was the diet she was on when she came to us as a rescue at 20 months. It has been great.
My first Goldie died aged 8 the vet diagnosed Lupus after many many tests. My second died aged 14 in poor health and wirth a skin complaint. I made the decision then I would always make a decision when they my future dogs got sick as I had delayed being responsible for selfish reasons. My third goldie died aged 14 after suffering seizures . She was so scared and disorientated that after her third seizure I made the decision and hugged and told her how loved she was as she passed. Goldies are magnificent dogs .
Shelly says
My sweet girl is 11.5 years old. She lost her vision (cataracts) a year ago and has become a lot less active since then. When she was less than a year old we had a lump removed under her ear that we never had tested for cancer. She has had a few more lumps appear over the last 6 years that have not seemed to bother her or slow her down. After losing her eyesight though she has started to show her age. We recently got a lab puppy who is now 6 months old. She loved playing with him the first few months but now just lays down all day and growls any time he comes near her. She must be tired and weak but still loves walks and attention from her humans.
Traci says
My golden turned 12 in Sept. As a pup he had 3 different personalities one different for each grandchild. In the past 2 months 2 unexpected trips to the vet. He has a almost white face now. Has some good days and bad. When he leaves us it will be hard to handle. He is truly my baby.
D says
My Golden Retriever is 15 years old Nov 2018. She’s a sweet old girl who walks like a drunk due to a bout of Vestibular Disease in 2016. She came from a small family breeder in Massachusetts. Her Dad an AKC Grand Champion. She’s prone to skin issues but is still going strong. She loves her food and tries to be involved in everything although sleep is her best friend these days. She’s a gentle giant at 90 pounds. Not a mean bone in her body. Her food is grain free. She can’t do stairs anymore or get into cars sadly. Car rides were always a favorite activity for her. I don’t question how much longer we have with her and I pray she goes comfortably in her sleep one day. I simply consider each day with her a gift. She seems to thrive on the attentions of the 4 other dogs she’s been raised with. Her bestie is my big boy Bichon who’s 15.8 years old. He is oblivious of his age and still does everything he always did. Running, jumping, and acting like a pup. His only deficit is vision that is fading. He takes care of his girl grooming her tenderly. I’ve truly been blessed by these little souls and all they give.
Jodi says
I got to experience the unconditional love, and brightness my golden retriever, Angus, brought to my Family and I for almost 9 years. My husband and I got him at exactly 8 weeks old. We had him to ourselves for 2 years and we then had our daughter Angus was a a very emotionally intelligent and attuned animal. His presence was calming and he was so gentle. Especially with children. Angus also an exceptionally handsome Golden very thick wavy golden fur with a big square head. I took My boy to the vet on October 29 because he had a slight limp which I assumed may be arthritis. Nothing major. Vet did an exam felt an enlarged spleen did a blood test. Called me the next day to tell me the Angus’s has acute lymphocytic anemia and has a week to live and we would neee tobdecide when to put him to sleep.bMy hsuband, 6 yr old and I were completely devastated. My daughter doesn’t know life without Angus. There was no viable treatment options. We used the week to say good bye. Of course the morning of Angus decided to eat and is able to have a short stop at the park then he was wagging his tail inside vet right till the end. I wanted to reechedule the appt but my husband reminded me that we were warned soMething traumatic like a bleed or seizure could happen. He could just die on the floor we didn’t want him to risk having to go through that experience as it would’ve scared Angus. So We gathered around our precious golden love and let him as he fell asleep on November 08. It was one of the hardest if not the hardest things if ever done. It has been a week now and my heart still aches for him. My house feels empty I see Angus everywhere arouud our home and the parks I took him to. Everyone says we did the thing for Angus as he didn’t suffer and they say the pain fades. But I’m really struggling and it isn’t fading. Angus was a truly exceptional dog and my best friend thank you for saving us my good boy. And thnk you for always being happy and always loving us back. You will never be forgotten.
Tim Charest says
Golden Retrievers are the purity and epitome of what love is supposed to be!
We adopted our Scooter almost 10 years ago from our elderly neighbor that could no longer care for him. He was welcomed into our home and the other dogs welcomed him into their pack. He showed everyone affection all of the time, with each person having something different that Scooter did just for/with them.
On November 5th we had to let him cross over the rainbow bridge to be with our lab Sandy that had passed a year before. Scooter was playing like normal the week before he passed. He had a bit of an upset stomach on Friday night, but Saturday morning he appeared fine. Ate normally Saturday evening but progressivly went down hill. He would be walking and stumble over, then the moaning started….I was up all night with him doing whatever I could to comfort, but he would pace aimlessly around the house and yard. I could tell he had a fever as his normally wet nose was warm and dry. Although he wanted water he couldn’t learn over to drink, and every time he did poor guy would stumble over. Knowing that it was dire, I rushed him to the emergency vet. Blood work..normal, parasite..negative, toxin screen….negative, x-ray.. nothing abnormal, ultrasound…normal. While we were there he had a series of seizures, no outward reason for it. Monitored him through Sunday morning, he seemed a bit better, fever had came down, they suggested I take him home and return if he exhibited any other strange behavior, and ofcourse follow up with our regular vet. Just a week before was his yearly checkup and everything was… normal. He was greeted at the door by his buddies, my 15 y/o lab Toby, and our 3 y/o Australian Shephard Sadie, all adopted by the way, as he was happy to be home. After a little nap, the moaning started again, and we witnessed several seizures so off to the Emergency vet we went. He had the worst seizure in my truck on the way back to the vet, and as I carried him in and put him into the exam table my thoughts were torn. They gave 2 rounds of phenobarbital over the course of the night, as it had to be neurological. With no call throughout the night we were hopeful for a good report. The vet told me that Scooter had not regained consciousness and there was not much response pupillary, pain, or stimulus. It had to be a brain tumor! They surmised it had to be in the hypothalamus region as it is what regulates temperature and could explain the uncharacteristic behavior. We made the heart wrenching decision, and I brought his buddies to see him at the vet. Toby, Scooter’s best Good friend, was licking his face as soon as he saw him. Granted, I had to put him up in a chair, as he is 15 and can’t get on his hind legs any longer. When we were ready the vet came in, and as she was administering the drugs, Toby was still licking his friend until the last breath which Scooter would take on this side was exhaled. Toby turned away and layed down exactly as he did when their girl, Sandy, our 15 y/o lab was put to rest a year earlier at our home.
When we took him to be cremated we told them what had happened and we suspected a brain tumor. The person operating the crematorium chamer itself said that tumors have a different smell to them. When he smelled it, he opened the window to see a tennis ball sized tumor at his head area. How ironic because Scooter, as does every Golden Retriever absolutely loved tennis balls. As we have went over different things looking back since last week, there were truly no signs until the last 2 days were had him here. Golden’s give all of their love every day, and I believe that they don’t want us to worry how bad off they are until it’s too late and they can’t control it. It is truly a Golden’s life mission to please their family, and please us they do, until the moment the rainbow bridge calls them home.
Elizabeth Springall says
This is exactly what happened to my beautiful Sophie. We too had to make the decision after her third seizure,.She was so scard and bewildered. Its a hard decision but we cannot let them be scared and in pain .
Maureen says
I’m so very sad we just lost our beloved golden, Jeter on Tuesday, Nov 6. He was only 9. He wasn’t eating for over a week and I took him to the vet and they were running tests and then he died the next day at home. My last one died at 9 also, of cancer. I love my Golden’s, but I can’t handle losing them so early. 💔😢
Teresa says
My sweet Gracie turned 13 in September. Monday, November 5, my heart broke as I made the decision to let her go to sleep. She had severe arthritis in her spine and it rendered her unable to walk. I miss her loving companionship.
James says
My golden was just diagnosed with Blastomycosis. Vet gives him 50/50 chance of recovery. He is only six, my second golden after I lost my first to cancer at the age of 10. I’m not sure I can go through this yet again. I am so afraid for him and not can’t conceive my world without him. Please keep Coooer in your prayers for me.
Cathy says
My Golden is 11. She got sick yesterday with a high fever and swelling under her neck. She is home with antibiotics but goes Friday for another check. Praying she doesn’t have cancer. She is the best furbaby anyone could ask for. I love her more than life itself.
Jonna says
Our golden, Sandy, turns 13 this week. He started limping before the age of 7, with the cause eventually diagnosed as osteosarcoma. After amputation and chemo, he has been cancer-free! We are grateful that he has been with us so long after bone cancer.
Bhuvaneswari says
It is true. We realized that on 16th October 2018. My Benny passed away due to irresponsible veterinarians and our carelessness.
Valerie says
My sweet boy just died at age 14.5. Started aging rapidy in the last year. Found a Bleed behind the eyes after he had a stroke or siezure in my arms. I had to make the heavy decision to let him go. He was my best friend and my heart is broken. He was my shadow. Literally by my side from room to room for 14.5 years. I miss him so much i cant stop grieving. I want him back. No pet has ever or will ever be as wonderful as he was to me. My sweet boy.
Jim says
Valerie
My heart goes out to you.my own sweet boy wilf is lying across me now and i dred that awful day.But as my third Golden i know given time move on and love another and give him the best life you can.
Jim
Alex says
My sincerest aympathiy on your loss. We lost our golden on the 28th of October 2018. This was our second golden. Our first one crossed over at the age of 8. Our second was two months shy of 10. She crossed over in her sleep. We weren’t with her when she departed.
I know how you must be feeling as I am also feeling the loss of my best companion.
I am thankful for the joy, love, loyalty and companionship that our golden shared with us during her short stay.
Lisa says
My Golden retriever Has just turned 14 , she is showing signs of old age now . She is very slow on walks and her legs give way a lot . Will be a very sad day when it comes . She has given us all so much joy over the years 🐾❤️
Laura says
My 2nd to last Golden Alex died in 2004 at 17. We had to make the final decision when his back legs would no longer carry him. My last golden i had to have euthanized on Monday. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and due to age and health reasons he was not a candidate for surgery or treatment. He was 12 years, 11 months. I am bereft.
Jennifer says
I’m so sorry. I have a 3 year old Golden and he’s my sweet heart. I’m sorry for your loss.
Tammy Riggs says
My golden retriever is 13 years old and I pray we have for many more years to come. I can’t imagine our family without her 💝
Rebecca says
My golden is 14.5 and still with a spring in her step! She was identified as having hip dysplasia when she was spayed as a puppy, so I’ve given her glucosamine and chondroitin all her life. Her weight was 52 at last checkup.
Pam says
My Golden is 15.5 and still goes on walks of 2 to 4 miles a day
His weight is 95 pds very big boy
Biljana says
My golden sweetheart is 11,5. years old. He is in good sbape and ery joyful
Jamie says
My sweet golden was diagnosed with Lymphoma at the age of 21 months. His cancer was very aggressive and non responsive to chemo. We lost him at 25 months of age in June 2018. I can’t even begin to describe the heartache of losing him.
Pippa Mattinson says
How terribly sad – very sorry for your loss Jamie
Crystal says
My golden retriever is 13 and still healthy. She is small though, 55 lbs and has always been at a good weight. I’m hoping she lives like they used to a decade ago!!
Deborah Cizmar says
My female golden just turned 13 August 20, her weight is good 52 pounds. Still playful. I hope I have her for awhile. I love her so much..
Terri L Slotta says
Hi Deborah,
Our baby girl Molly just turned 13 yesterday. She had been ours since she was 8 weeks old. She still like to play and cuddle. We are praying she will be with a few more birthdays.