Golden Retriever colors, from cream to dark gold

What colors does the standard allow?

A Golden should be a rich, shiny gold in any of its shades. The feathering can be lighter than the body, a coat that is extremely pale or extremely dark isn't wanted, and any noticeable patch of black or another color is a serious fault. White is allowed only as a few white hairs on the chest, apart from the graying that comes with age.

Goldens are registered in the United States as light golden, golden or dark golden. In the UK any shade of gold or cream is allowed, and red and mahogany are ruled out, so a deep red coat runs against the UK standard and toward the dark end the American standard doesn't want. Our red Golden Retriever guide goes further into that dark end of the range.

Will a Golden puppy's color change?

A Golden puppy's color can change, and that's expected. A light puppy's color often deepens as it grows up, and graying comes much later.

Littermates can differ a good deal too, because light and dark shades can turn up in the same litter, with full brothers and sisters ranging from very light cream to a rich gold. A puppy's photo is a starting point, and its mama and papa give you a good idea of where its coat is headed.

What is an English cream Golden?

An English cream is a light cream Golden Retriever, and the name is marketing more than history. There is only one Golden Retriever breed, and cream has always been part of its colors. English is the wrong name too, since the breed began in Scotland, and most cream Goldens are bred in North America or come from dogs brought over from Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand and Australia.

The more important point is about value, because color never decides a Golden's temperament, health or how long it lives, and a light cream is no more valuable or healthier than a darker Golden.

Which colors do we raise?

Our Goldens run from cream through gold. Each pairing is one we choose on purpose.

With Goldens the shade within a litter still varies, and a breeder who chases one color alone narrows the breed's gene pool. So we can tell you what a pairing tends toward, without promising you an exact shade.

Can I reserve a Golden by color?

Yes, and it works the same way as with our Labs, by gender and color at birth, with your final choice at 4 to 5 weeks once the puppies' coats and personalities are easier to judge. If your heart is set on a light cream, a deeper gold or a red, tell us when you apply and we'll let you know which litters are likely to suit. Every puppy on our Golden Retriever page is shown with its parents, so you can see the grown coats behind it.