WHAT ARE BLACK GOLDEN RETRIEVERS?
Black Golden Retrievers are a variety of Golden Retriever dogs. They have all of the same characteristics of a Golden but come in a midnight shade.
Black Golden Retrievers do exist. They can even be purebred! They are likely black because of genetic diversity that was added to the bloodline in the development of the breed.
Many people believe that a purebred black Golden is the result of a Flat-Coated Retriever used in the breeding process to develop Golden Retrievers. That black color simply became a recessive gene that showed up in later litter.
It is not uncommon for Flat-Coated Retrievers to be confused for Black Goldens.
However, the Flat-Coated is an entirely different breed that is not as suitable for first-time owners.
In contrast, the Black Golden will be easy to train, relaxed, and will stick by your family. They won’t roam far if they are off-leash and will relax happily with enough exercise.
There are physical differences between the two breeds as well. Although the Flat-Coated also has a long, wavy coat, it is nowhere near as thick as the Golden’s.
This makes grooming low maintenance because the coat does not require as much brushing.
Interestingly enough, although Black Goldens can be purebred, they cannot perform in show rings. This is because the Canadian, British, and American Kennel Club are strict in their coloration requirements.
Can a Golden Retriever Be Black?
A purebred Golden Retriever can’t be black. The genes that define their fur color are red and yellow, so if you breed purebred Golden Retrievers, you will never get a black dog. Unless another dog breed is in the mix (which takes away the purebred status), Golden Retrievers will always be a shade of gold.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the coloring options for the Golden Retriever and explore why a purebred Golden Retriever can never be black.
There are different genes that are going to help determine what color a dog can be.
Golden Retrievers are going to have two recessive genes that they will be able to showcase to the world, either yellow or red.
Even if they have some black ancestry somewhere in the line, a purebred Golden Retriever is never going to be completely black at all.
There needs to be another breed that is added into the mix, and that takes away the purebred status of this dog.
There are some dogs that will look like a Golden Retriever but will have black fur.
These can still be perfectly healthy dogs that will have a lot of fun around your home.
There will be some other mixture in there that gives the dog the black fur that you see.
Their fur may fade to white as they get older, but this is unrelated to their genes.
It is important to know who the other parent is in case you would like to breed or so you can watch out for some of the potential health issues that could show up.
Flatties Have Different Physical Characteristics
Other than their coat colors, Flat-Coated Retrievers and Golden Retrievers look very similar, which is probably why it’s so difficult for many people to tell the two breeds apart.
However, there are some physical differences that you can be on the lookout for.
For starters, Golden Retrievers have thick, wavy fur that is a shade of red, yellow, or golden. Their heads tend to be boxy with wide muzzles and strong jaws.
On the other hand, Flat-Coated Retrievers have shiny coats that lay flat against their backs (hence their name). While their coats are usually black, they can also be liver-colored.
Their heads tend to be narrower and more elegant than the Golden Retrievers, with a long muzzle and muscular jaw.
The two breeds are very similar in size and weight. The Flat-Coated Retriever tends to be slightly bigger, but only by a little. So, it’s mainly their fur texture and head shapes that set them apart.