Golden Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever

The Golden Retriever personality is naturally outgoing and eager to please. Although individual personalities can vary, most Goldens love people and social outings, thriving in homes with lively environments.

Generally, Goldens are born to mingle and see everyone as a potential new best friend. Whenever they meet someone new, they seem to say, “Hi! I am so glad we met. Do you have a ball to throw for me now that we’re friends?”

That friendly demeanor, coupled with their moderate weight and height, make Golden Retrievers excellent dogs for families with young children. However, not all Goldens are without challenges. When bringing a Golden home, cautiously introduce them to household members, especially smaller ones like children and cats, and be sure to teach small children how to behave and interact with dogs as well.

Goldens are also intelligent; they’re quick learners and easy to train. They were and are bred to be gundogs, retrieving waterfowl with their soft mouths, a characteristic that allows them to carry delicate items without applying excessive pressure. They often serve as guide dogs, therapy dogs and search-and-rescue dogs. For optimal health, Golden Retrievers need ample mental and physical exercise.

Keep in mind, though, that even the best-trained Goldens can be mischievous. So be prepared for occasional capers and learn to laugh with your dog as they “help” you unload the laundry basket.

If you were to take the head of your high school’s pep squad and magically transform them into a dog, paws down you’d get a Flat-Coated Retriever. Known for being friendly and outgoing, their happy-go-lucky temperament will rub off on you whether you’re going for a walk, playing a game of fetch or heading off on another adventure with your new best friend. Three cheers for that!

The Flat-Coated Retriever breed is very family-oriented, highly social and not known to be aggressive. But while the Flat-Coated Retriever doesn’t rank high on biting tendencies, these dogs can act like puppies even into adulthood, so some mouthing and playful biting might occur.

They are the epitome of the social butterfly and love meeting new people. (They’re always looking for new recruits to the Homecoming committee!) Their family comes first, though—they bond strongly to their people and get along well with kids, dogs and cats.

This high-energy breed is happiest outside where they can run and romp. Bred to be sporting dogs, the Flat-Coated Retriever will be happy to retrieve game for you, but the breed is also well-suited for sports like agility, tracking and scentwork.