Stunning Golden Shades

from GRREAT Times Winter 2021

by Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Education And Training, Inc

Beach House Raffle

Stunning Shades:

Golden Retrievers Come In So Many Different Colors

Golden Retriever colors in pictures

Golden Retrievers are a very special breed of dog. They are very smart, loving, kind, and silly. However, they also come in different shades and this is due to purely genetics.

Just like us humans, Golden Retrievers have different complexions due to genetics and pigmentation that determines the tone and shade of their fur.

The color of a dog is determined by genes that control the production of melanin named Phaeomelanin. However, there is no exact science to know what color a golden retriever puppy will grow into.

Like we stated a dog’s fur color depends on genetics and genetic inheritance that the animal gets from both parents. The foundations of inheritance were laid by Johann Mendel with the idea of an individual inheritance. This theory tells us that during reproduction it is not the trait that is transmitted to the offspring but the particles within the cell that control that trait; these particles retain their identity and separateness and are passed down from generation to generation in an unchanged and constant form. So, the expression (phenotype) of a certain trait depends on the genes, on the dominant and recessive genes, and their combination.

So even though we are used to seeing one particular color in Goldens it is completely normal for them to be a different color, for example black, or to have black specks all over. People don’t realize that Goldens still carry the “instructions” to produce other colors, like black and brindle.

Now enough with the science, let’s dive into all the different colors of a Golden Retriever’s fur. To fully appreciate the diverse and beautiful range of Golden Retriever colors, it sure helps to see pictures of each color from very light to dark golden!

Dark Golden Retrievers

Dark gold might be one of the most striking colors on a Golden Retriever.

Light Golden Retrievers

The light golden coat color is darker than cream but lighter than the traditional gold coat this dog is so well known for.

Cream Golden Retrievers

Right now, the Golden Retriever cream color spectrum is particularly popular. These Golden Retrievers are sometimes called “English” Golden Retrievers. Since the pale cream color is much more popular and prevalent in the UK than it is in America. The cream Golden Retriever also has some subtle yet notable differences in overall appearance. For example, the cream Golden Retriever tends to be slimmer and sleeker in appearance. They have a level back and tail, ears that are more forward-set, with a wide and deep muzzle and more overall variability in height and weight between male and female dogs.

Red Golden Retrievers

The red Golden Retriever has a particularly striking and memorable coat! Their coat overall tends to be shorter and straighter with less feathering on the limbs and tail. This working dog’s body also typically looks more compact and streamlined.

White Golden Retrievers

The white Golden retrievers coat color is not actually a pure white. It’s rather an extremely pale shade of cream that will look pure white under some lighting conditions. It is a very popular coat color among pet owners. The white Golden Retriever may appear very close to pure white during puppyhood. With maturity, you may see subtle tinges of gold or cream appearing in the coat. The white Golden Retriever is just as healthy as a Golden Retriever displaying any other coat color.

Black Golden Retrievers

The black golden retriever is one of the traditional breeds of a golden retriever. The dogs have the same characteristics as other dogs. The glamorous black color makes them strikingly different than other golden retrievers. In fact, some consider them to be a different breed. These dogs are not as common as compared to another golden retriever. In contrast, black golden retrievers make the perfect pet friends. They are easy to train and have a calmer

demeanor.

Black Freckle

Hurray! We are finally After months of pausing events due to COVID “Out & About” again restrictions, we were finally able to go out and spread a little golden cheer yesterday. Lucy, Finnegan, Finn, Harley, Chloe, Bruno, Callie and Pogo (and their parents of course) visited the residents at The Chesapeake retirement community in Newport News. It was a beautiful day and we all had a GRREAT time.