What is the oldest a golden retriever can live

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated January 15, 2025

Contributions sourced from

Meet the Worlds Oldest Golden Retriever

Before we talk about the oldest Golden to ever live, lets look at their average age. Typically, Golden Retrievers live 10-12 years. While this may seem short, its pretty standard for any medium to large dog breed.

Goldens have potentially experienced a shortening of their average life. For Dr. Michael Lappin, a veterinarian from Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, it appears that the average age has decreased from 16-17 years to the current 10-12 years. While the science isnt exactly clear why yet, it appears that it is due to higher levels of diseases like bone cancer, lymphoma, and cancer of the blood vessels. In fact, Goldens die from those three diseases more than any other breed in the country.

These increases in deadly diseases may be due to a lack of breed diversity or dietary problems, but the data isnt clear. Still, a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and responsible breeding practices are easy ways to ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life.

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Meet The Oldest Golden Retriever: 20-Year-Old Augie

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At 20 years old, Augie is the oldest golden retriever in history!

There are many accounts of 17 or 18-year-old goldens, and even a few stories about 19-year-old goldens, but Augie is the first golden retriever to ever reach the big two-oh.

In this article, well dive into Augies story a little bit more, cover how old golden retrievers normally live to be, and talk about how you can help your golden live a long happy life.

Lets go!

Meet Augie

On April 24, 2000, August (affectionately known as Augie) was born.

After being rehomed twice (due to no fault of her own), she eventually landed with Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt of Oakland, Tennessee, and its still unclear who the lucky ones are here.

Jennifer and Steve, who were active in their local golden retriever rescue organization when they got Augie, adopted her when she was 14 years old.

They figured that most people wouldnt want such an elderly golden, but they had no idea of the upcoming journey they would be on with Augie.

Theyve taken her on RV trips all around the country, shes got several canine and feline siblings, and she gets to play fetch in the pool.

On the other hand, Jennifer and Steve have been rewarded with over six years of love and loyalty from this wonderful (and now record-holding) golden.

The 20-Year-Old Golden Retriever

So how does a 20-year-old golden retriever celebrate her record-setting birthday?

With a dog-friendly carrot cake and some quality time with her golden retriever siblings, Sherman, Belle, and Bruce!

Her owner, Jennifer, says shes surprisingly healthy.

She can still move around well (although shes a bit shaky when she first gets up) and enjoys daily walks around the yard.

Since she was diagnosed with some kidney issues when she was 14, she now eats a mixture of wet and dry Hills Prescription Diet k/d, and takes some supplements for her kidneys and joints.

She also gets SQ fluids twice a week, which has helped her perk up quite a bit.

How Long Do Golden Retrievers Normally Live?

Augie is a very special girl, and shes definitely not the norm.

Most golden retrievers live to about 10-12 years old.

Of course, many goldens live to 13, 14, or 15 years old, and, unfortunately, many live shorter than the average.

Now lets talk about how to help your golden retriever live to that upper part of the spectrum.

5 Tips For Helping Your Golden Retriever Live A Long Life

Here are some tips to help your golden retriever live a long life like Augie.

1. Listen to your veterinarian.

This is probably the most important tip.

Your vet will know your dog, and have the best recommendations and action plan to keep them healthy.

This includes flea, tick, and heartworm medicines, food and exercise advice, and much more.

2. Listen to your dog.

When Oliver was a puppy, we spent countless hours researching what the best food for golden retriever puppies was.

Well, guess what?

After a few weeks of us feeding him the best food for golden retriever puppies, he stopped eating and became more lethargic.

We listened to what he was trying to tell us, we talked with our vet about it, and we decided to switch foods.

Right away he loved the new food, started eating more, and started getting his normal, crazy energy back.

Just because something is popular for many dogs, doesnt necessarily mean that itll be good for your dog, so pay attention to them and how theyre feeling so you can work with your vet to keep them happy and healthy.

3. Feed your dog a quality dog food.

Yes, Walmart brand food may be cheaper at first, but youll probably end up paying more in vet bills down the road.

Not to mention, with a quality dog food, your dog will probably be happier and healthier for it.

Talk to your veterinarian, do your research, and feed your pup a quality food.

4. Groom your golden retriever regularly.

Keeping their nails, paws, coat, teeth, and ears clean will keep them looking their best, while also keeping them healthy.

Grooming them regularly can prevent ear infections, gum or teeth issues, or skin issues, which could all snowball into something worse if not taken care of.

5. Exercise your golden retriever regularly.

Most goldens are inclined to become obese, so regular exercise can prevent that, as well as keep their heart and muscles strong.

Even Augie gets regular exercise, and as Jennifer says, Motion is lotion! for those old bones.

How You Can Help Senior Golden Retrievers

One thing that amazes me is that Jennifer adopted Augie when she was 14 years old!

Most people dont want to adopt an older golden retriever, fearing that their time here is limited, but that doesnt mean these dogs cant be wonderful companions for you.

Golden retriever puppies are tough, and there are many sweet senior goldens out there like Augie that need good, loving homes, so consider stepping up to the plate and adopting a golden, fostering goldens, or volunteering or donating to your local golden retriever rescue.

Below is a list of golden retriever rescues in every state, but also dont forget to look at rescues in states nearby if youre looking to rescue a golden.

Heres a list of golden retriever rescues in every state.

Conclusion

Huge congratulations to Augie for being the worlds oldest golden retriever!

At 20 years old, shes just about doubled the expected lifespan for golden retrievers and shes still kicking.

Shes lived so long largely because shes got great genetics, but also her owner, Jennifer, has done a great job of taking care of her and ensuring that they have a good relationship with Augies vet.

As Jennifer says, We care for them as long as we have them, and love them forever.

Do you have any questions about Augie, or about golden retriever lifespans?

Let us know in the comments below!

And please share this with your fellow golden retriever lovers!

P.S. If you liked this article, youll love our complete guide to golden retrievers.

7 Crazy Facts About Golden Retriever Lifespans (And 7 Tips To Increase It)

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you.

Want to know how long golden retrievers live?

In this post, youll learn the average lifespan for golden retrievers.

And not only that, but Im also going to share with you 7 tips to help your golden live a long and happy life and hopefully increase that life expectancy!

Ready to give your golden the longest, healthiest life possible?

Lets dive in!

Fact #1: Golden Retrievers Live An Average Of 10-12 Years

The average golden retriever lifespan is 10-12 years, which is about the same as other breeds of dogs their size.

For comparison, German shepherds live between 7-10 years, and labradors live between 10-12 years.

Smaller breeds typically live longer lives (Yorkies live an average of 11-15 years), while larger breeds typically live shorter lives (Great Danes live an average of 7-10 years).

Of course, these are just averages, and many dogs live longer or shorter lives than these ranges.

Fact #2: The Oldest Golden Retriever Is 20 Years Old

Augie, a golden retriever who lives in Tennessee, is currently the oldest golden retriever at 20 years old.

She was born on April 24, 2000.

Learn more about Augie here.

Fact #3: 60% Of Golden Retrievers Are Impacted By Cancer

One of the biggest causes of death for golden retrievers is cancer.

According to the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, 60% of golden retrievers are impacted by cancer.

This is about double the rate of any other breed of dog.

Fact #4: 3,000 Golden Retrievers Are Participating In A Study To Help Increase Golden Retriever Health

The Morris Animal Foundation launched the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study in 2012.

Together with veterinarians and the participating golden retrievers and their owners, theyre collecting data about their health, environment, and behavior to find potential risk factors for cancer and other diseases.

Fact #5: Golden Retrievers Suffer From These Health Issues Most Commonly

Here are some of the most common golden retriever health issues:

Hip and elbow dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Sub-aortic stenosis (SAS)
Eye disorders
Mast cell tumors
Seizures
Lymphoma
Osteosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma
Skin problems

Dont worry, in the next section, well show you how to prevent these!

Fact #6: Golden Retrievers Are Puppies For Life

Most golden retriever owners say their goldens are puppies for life.

Their playful puppy attitudes often last well past their puppy years, so if you have a golden at home be ready for a lifetime of fun!

Fact #7: Golden Retrievers Faces Turn Gray Or White As They Age

Whenever you see a gray-faced golden retriever its fun to think about how many smiles theyve sparked, or how many happy faces theyve licked.

Although a gray face may give one indication of a goldens age, their playful demeanor usually says otherwise.

7 Tips To Increase Your Golden Retrievers Lifespan

This next section will cover seven tips to help increase your golden retrievers life expectancy.

Of course, they arent foolproof, but they will give your dog the best shot possible at having a long and healthy life.

Tip #1: To Have A Healthy Dog, Start With Healthy Parents

The best way for you to get a healthy dog is to purchase one from a good breeder.

Yes, you may pay more for a high-quality puppy, but it will be worth it.

Do your research on breeders, ask about their dogs health histories, their temperaments, and what theyre bred for.

Unfortunately, many people are breeding dogs with money as their #1 priority, not their puppies health.

Tip #2: Feed Your Dog A Quality Dog Food

Like choosing a breeder, dog food is definitely not something you want to go cheap on.

Plus, if you pay a little more upfront for food, youll likely save down the line in vet bills.

When trying to decide which food to feed your golden retriever, check out this article about puppy food and this article about adult food.

And read this to learn more about how much it costs to feed golden retrievers.

Tip #3: Groom Your Golden Regularly

Maintaining your golden retrievers coat, nails, paws, teeth, and ears can not only keep them looking sharp, but also keep them healthy.

By not brushing their teeth, they can be at a greater risk to develop dental diseases, and by not cleaning their ears, they can develop ear infections.

Grooming them also gives you a chance to check them for lumps or painful spots.

Tip #4: Exercise Your Golden Retriever Regularly

Like people, dogs benefit from regular exercise.

It keeps their bones, muscles, and heart strong, as well as keeps their potty habits regular.

Good forms of exercise include walks, swimming, playing fetch, and playing with other dogs.

It also helps a lot with tip #5

Tip #5: Keep Your Golden Retrievers Weight Under Control

Golden retrievers love to eat, so they do have a tendency to become overweight if theyre overfed.

Since theyre already susceptible to joint and heart issues, you definitely dont want them to gain too much weight.

To keep their weight under control make sure that they get enough exercise and are fed the proper amount.

For males, golden retrievers should weigh between 65-75 pounds, and for females, they should weigh between 55-65 pounds.

Tip #6: Have A Good Relationship With Your Vet

Having a relationship where you talk about whats going on in your dogs life will help them get to know your dog and care for them the best they can.

Theyll be able to tell you whats best for your pup so that theyre living up to their healthiest potential.

Tip #7: Fix Your Dog, But Not Too Early

According to this research article, dogs that are fixed may live longer than those who are not.

And, according to this article, dogs that are fixed a little later in life (after their first heat cycle for females and between 12-24 months for males) may be better off than dogs who are fixed too early (usually around 6 months old).

Interestingly enough, theres also evidence that suggests fixed men may live longer than intact men, if were using canine terms here.

Ill let you decide how you want to process that information!