Golden Border Retriever Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & More

If you’re on the hunt for a beautiful medium to a large-sized dog that’s intelligent and fun to own, a Golden Border Retriever may be just what you’re looking for. This is a hybrid mix that comes from the Border Collie and the Golden Retriever which are two intelligent companion dogs. The appearance of a Golden Border Retriever can vary but many have the regal looks of the Border Collie along with the wavy coat of the Golden Retriever.

Breed Overview

A Golden Border Retriever is not only gorgeous to look at but this dog is also fun to have around. It’s an active and loving dog that will gladly join you on any adventures you decide to take. This is not a dog for you if you’re inactive and live in an apartment as a Golden Border Retriever needs lots of exercise and room to roam.

Golden Border Retriever Characteristics

Golden Border Retriever Puppies

If you’re fortunate enough to spend some time with a litter of Golden Border Retriever puppies, you’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven! A Golden Border Retriever puppy is as cute as a button and full of energy. These puppies are highly sought after because they make wonderful family pets. However, you shouldn’t take a Golden Border Retriever puppy home with you unless you’re 100% certain you can provide the puppy with lots of exercise opportunities.

A Golden Border Retriever puppy is a good choice for an active family with kids. This breed loves children and enjoys nothing more than running and romping with kids in the yard. If you have a fenced yard a dog can run around in, a Golden Border Retriever puppy would be a good dog for you, as long as you’re willing to take your dog on long walks and all types of adventures outside the yard. This way, the puppy would get the exercise and mental stimulation he needs to grow into a healthy, well-rounded adult dog.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Golden Border Retriever

The Golden Border Retriever is a very smart and highly active dog. This dog loves being around people and it’s as loyal as it can be. It’s not the best guard dog in the world because it’s likely to welcome a stranger into the yard rather than bark and warn the owners about the possible intruder.

This dog loves kids just as much as it loves adults and it gets along well with other dogs and family pets. Of course, this dog has to trust another dog before being overly friendly toward it but that doesn’t typically take long with this breed that’s inquisitive and friendly. A Golden Border Retriever enjoys learning new things and loves receiving praise. These characteristics make this breed a good candidate for agility training and coursework.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

A Golden Border Retriever makes an awesome family dog, even if you have toddlers at home. This dog has lots of patience but due to its size, it can knock over a small child purely by accident. If you have small kids at home, teach your children how to play safely with your Golden Border Retriever and remind them that the dog can knock them over if they’re running and playing with the dog.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

If you have another dog at home and are thinking of getting a Golden Border Retriever, you shouldn’t worry about the two dogs not getting along. Golden Border Retrievers are equally as friendly to other dogs as they are to humans. This hybrid dog also gets along well with cats, and especially cats living in the same house. Of course, a Golden Border Retriever may chase a cat it doesn’t know just for the fun of it! It’s not a good idea to leave a Golden Border Retriever alone around a small pet like a loose rabbit, hamster, or gerbil as it may look at the small animal as something to hunt down and catch.

Things to Know When Owning a Golden Border Retriever

Being the owner of a Golden Border Retrieve comes with many responsibilities both in terms of time and money. Before you commit to getting one of these dogs, you should be aware of a few important things.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Golden Border Retrievers are active dogs that can quickly burn off calories if they’re provided with lots of opportunities to exercise. If you fail to walk your dog and let it run free now and then, it may get fat as Golden Border Retrievers are prone to being overweight. You should plan on feeding a Golden Border Retriever top-quality dog food that’s full of healthy nutrients. It’s not a good idea to feed this dog lots of table scraps and other ‘people food’ because it may decide not to eat its dog food. Choose a high-protein kibble that’s appropriate for your dog’s size and age.

Exercise 🐕

At the very least, a Golden Border Retriever needs at least two long walks a day with each walk lasting about 45 minutes. Optimally, this breed should be allowed to freely run and romp for hours in a safe enclosure to release all its pent-up energy. If your Golden Border Retriever doesn’t get enough exercise, he could become depressed and even resort to chewing destructively on items around your home.

Training 🎾

A Golden Border Retriever is highly intelligent and eager to please. This dog is sensitive to its owner’s cues and enjoys training sessions as long as he’s given lots of loving praise. It’s best to start training a Golden Border Retriever when it is young to get the dog socialized early in life so ongoing training as he grows will be easier. Be sure to use positive training techniques while speaking in a clear voice and always be kind yet firm so your dog knows who’s the boss.

Grooming ✂️

With its long wavy coat, a Golden Border Retriever is a moderate shedder. This dog should be brushed once a day with a firm bristled brush to keep up with the loose hair. You should bathe a Golden Border Retriever only when necessary, as too much bathing will deplete the natural oils from his coat. Use a good quality dog shampoo and be sure to rinse the dog well after lathering to remove all traces of shampoo.

A Golden Border Retriever, like all dogs, needs its nails trimmed regularly. If you don’t feel comfortable clipping your dog’s nails, visit a groomer or your vet to get the job done. You should also clean your dog’s ears on a monthly basis using a warm cloth or a dampened cotton ball. Teeth cleaning is another job that should be done every couple of days. Use a dog toothbrush to get the job done right. Start brushing your dog’s teeth when he’s young so it becomes routine.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Golden Border Retrievers are generally healthy dogs but they are susceptible to some health conditions which you should be on the lookout for.

Male vs Female

If you’re excited about getting a Golden Border Retriever but are not sure what gender to get, remember that all dogs are individuals. Even if you choose a gender for a specific characteristic, there’s no guarantee that the dog you get will have that characteristic. With that being said, male Golden Border Retrievers are usually larger than females both in height and weight. The females of this breed tend to be easier to housebreak and train but can be more demanding of your attention.

If you want a smaller dog that’s easier to housebreak and train, get a female, otherwise buy a male Golden Border Retriever that will be bigger, more challenging to train, and a bit less needy.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Golden Border Retriever

1. This Breed’s Past is Unknown

Unlike most hybrid mixes, there’s little to no documentation regarding this breed’s history. In other words, nobody knows for sure if this dog was bred intentionally or if the breed developed purely by accident. An owner of a Golden Border Retriever will have to do their own research into the respective histories of both parents to understand their dog better. While it’s unfortunate that we don’t know the history of this majestic breed, its murky background doesn’t take away from the fact that these are very nice dogs with great temperaments.

• You may be interested in: History of the Golden Retriever: Info, Origins & More

2. This Dog Can Get Fat

Like the Golden Retriever and Border Collie, a Golden Border Retriever is prone to weight gain. To prevent your Golden Border Retriever from getting fat, provide your dog with high-quality dog food and watch how much he eats! If your dog loves eating and eats very fast, it’s a good idea not to leave his food bowl full of kibble all the time. Instead, feed your dog three times a day and follow the instructions on the dog food regarding how much to give your pooch. You’ll also have to exercise your Golden Border Retriever well to help keep him lean, fit, and healthy.

3. The Golden Border Retriever Can Get Big

A cute little Golden Border Retriever puppy that weighs just a few pounds can grow into a large dog that tips the scales at around 70 pounds. There are Golden Border Retrievers that only weigh around 45 pounds, so this breed’s weight can vary considerably. The only way to estimate with any accuracy how big a Golden Border Retriever puppy will get is to look at both parents. If both parents are around 45 pounds, the chances are good that their puppies will weigh about the same amount. If both parents weigh 65-70 pounds, their puppies will likely be just as big.

Final Thoughts

The Golden Border Retriever is an active, loving, intelligent, and loyal dog. This is a popular breed that offers the best of the Border Collie and Golden Retriever. It’s a social dog that loves spending time with people and enjoys going on all types of adventures from walks through the city to hikes in the countryside.

If you’re looking for a beautiful and smart medium to large-sized dog that’s friendly and eager to please, you can’t go wrong with a Golden Border Retriever. Just remember that this dog needs lots of exercise every day to keep it healthy and happy. This hybrid dog breed is a great choice for an individual or family with an active lifestyle.

We have lots of other Golden Retriever Mixes for you to explore!

Featured Image Credit: Erik Lam, Shutterstock