There is only one true type of a pure-bred Golden Retriever, over time however dog fanciers have made up catchphrases and sumptuous names to categorize their dogs and to make them sound more prestigious and desirable, but the truth is it’s all fluff. Golden Retrievers are a breed that originated as a hunting dog meant to retrieve waterfowl such as ducks for the hunter, they excelled at this job among other things. Their eagerness to work and please their owners and good looks is why the breed grew in popularity so fast and still to this day is one of the most popular breeds in the US.

So why do so many Golden Retrievers look different from one another? Goldens come in a spectrum of colors recognized as the breed standard, from dark gold to light gold they are all Golden. Over the years breeders have made parings of dogs for color and temperament to reach a specific goal, so what people call English Cream is actually the result of years of breeding like colored Goldens. The term Field Golden Retriever on the other hand was coined as dogs that are bred and trained more for performance and to match their traditional hunting characteristics, so in a way, these dogs are more correct per the history of the breed.

No matter what type of Golden you desire, it’s important to make sure the breeder has the best intentions for the dog in mind, and less about reaching a specific look. For example, Goldens are a large breed, but tend to be correct as more of a medium weight, 65lbs to 75lbs, if a breeder claims to breed large 100lb Golden Retrievers this could be a red flag as it’s not correct; such dogs are too heavy for their bone structure and could end up with orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia. When selecting a breeder look for breeders who focus on proper health clearances and temperament over made-up fancy names.