What’s not to love about a golden retriever?!

Their silly antics, adorable smiles, and loyalty are just a few of the reasons they are one of the most popular dog breeds in America.

Families and individuals have fallen for the versatile breed that loves to swim and play fetch. However, some are better at retrieving than returning. Golden retrievers excel as therapy dogs, search and rescue, and in agility, but all they really want is to be with their family.

Even though goldens are well-loved, many still end up in shelters around the country. Some arrive as strays, others are seniors, and there are even some rescued from puppy mills.

If you want an intelligent, playful, and loving dog, consider adding a rescued golden retriever to your pack.

Are you wondering where to begin your search or what it takes to care for a golden retriever? Well, look no further.

FAQ About Golden Retrievers

What is the lifespan of a golden retriever?

Golden retrievers have a life span of 10-12 years. They are generally healthy dogs who require daily teeth brushing and weekly ear checks for infection.

How much exercise does a golden retriever need?

Goldens are energetic dogs that need 40-60 minutes of rigorous exercise a day. They make great running or biking partners and will spend hours playing fetch. If they don’t receive enough physical and mental exercise, they may engage in undesirable behavior.

Are golden retrievers easy to train?

Yes, they excel in agility and obedience. The devoted dogs aim to please and are usually food motivated, which makes them very easy to train.

Where can I adopt a golden retriever puppy?

Many rescues offer puppies for adoption but most will require a puppy class to ensure the transition is a smooth one.

While puppies are irresistible, don’t overlook the adult and senior dogs that are already house-trained and know basic commands.

Check out 10 rescues below dedicated to helping golden retrievers find forever homes. Adopting not only saves the life of the dog you adopt, but allows the rescue to take in another.

Golden Retriever Rescue Alliance

Golden Retriever Rescue Alliance (GRRALL) is an all-volunteer non-profit foster-based animal rescue organization based in Fort Worth, Texas. Their mission is to save golden retrievers and retriever mixes, no matter their age or health condition, throughout North Texas.

They’re always looking for fosters, adopter, and volunteers.

Check out all their adoptable dogs here.

Website:https://grralliance.org/
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/GRRALL/
Email: grralliance@gmail.com

Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue, LLC

This 501(c)(3) dog rescue helps goldens in seven different states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Eastern New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, & Vermont) find loving homes. The rescue take in golden retrievers abandoned, abused or relinquished by their owners. Just like many small dog rescues, Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue (SGRR) does not have a shelter and relies on foster homes to save dogs.

Apply to foster or volunteer on their website.

Learn more about the dogs available through SGRR here.

Website: https://sunshinegoldenrescue.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sunshine-Golden-Retriever-Rescue-190661490997339
Email: sunshinegoldens@gmail.com

Golden Huggs Rescue Inc

This foster-based rescue made up of a small group of volunteers works to save displaced, abandoned, or stray dogs with golden personalities. They work with many southern shelters to reduce the amount of dogs euthanized and help them find loving homes.

Give one of these rescue dogs a second chance.

Website: https://www.goldenhuggs.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/60293711779/
Email: info@goldenhuggs.org

Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue

This dog rescue is run entirely by volunteers and works to rescue and re-home retrievers. The rescue is based in Southern California but also works with a rescue group in Turkey to find homes for dogs in the US.

Check out the available rescue dogs here.

Website: https://www.fetchinretrieversrescue.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FetchinRetrieversRescue/
Email: info@fetchinretrieversrescue.org.

Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary

This all volunteer rescue in California rescues golden retrievers and golden mixes regardless of age and health. They also provide lifetime sanctuary to goldens that cannot be adopted.

Meet the available dogs!

https://www.facebook.com/HomewardBoundGoldens/posts/4082251491790482

Website: https://homewardboundgoldens.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomewardBoundGoldens
Email: admin@homewardboundgoldens.org

Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit, started in 1993, has successfully placed over 5,700 Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles into new homes throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. They depend on the support of volunteers, fosters, adopters, and generous donations to rescue and place dogs in their forever homes.

Click here to see dogs waiting for a family of their own.

Website: https://www.dvgrr.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DVGRR
Email: info@dvgrr.org

Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue

Another all-volunteer rescue that has saved over 4,000 dogs since it was founded in 1999 in Houston, Texas. They focus on helping unwanted goldens find loving families. “What appears to be the end, may really be a Golden Beginning.”

Check out the special needs dogs and many others that are in need of a home.

Website: https://gbgrr.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gbgrrhouston/
Email: info@gbgrr.org

Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest

The volunteer-based nonprofit helps golden retrievers and mixes find homes in five states (Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and western Wisconsin). Since 1985, the rescue has re-homed over 9,000 goldens, but their work if far from over.

See all the adoptable dogs here.

Website: https://ragom.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RetrieveAGoldenOfTheMidwest/
Email: rescue@ragom.org

Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies

The 501(c)(3) organization helps rescue, rehab, and place unwanted, abandoned or surrendered golden retrievers into loving forever homes. They re-home an estimated 300 dogs each year.

While most of the rescue dogs find their people before making it onto the rescue’s site, they still encourage adopters to apply.

Website: https://www.goldenrescue.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GRRRrescue/
Email: info@goldenrescue.com

As Good as Gold – Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois

As Good as Gold – Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois is dedicated to rescuing golden retrievers and educating the public about the importance of spaying/neutering and positive reinforcement training. They have helped thousands of dogs find loving families, but couldn’t have done it without their amazing volunteers and fosters.

View the adoptable goldens here.

Website: https://www.asgoodasgold.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASGOODASGOLD.ILGOLDENRESCUE/
Email: info@asgoodasgold.org