Q&A for How to Identify a Golden Retriever

What you consider brown is likely a deep golden brown color. Golden Retrievers may be any shade of gold, including darker gold that resembles brown and even reddish brown gold. If you believe your dog is a non-golden shade of brown, however, such as chocolate, it may not be a purebred Golden Retriever.

Yes, it is possible for the feathering on a Golden Retriever's legs to reach the feet.

Most golden retrievers are roughly medium in size, being between 20-25 inches or so in height. If your golden retriever is somewhere within this range and resembles a golden retriever otherwise, she is probably a purebred. However, if she's smaller than this but still resembles a golden retriever, it's possible that she may be a "mini golden retriever", which is a newer mixed breed comprised of golden retriever and another breed, typically cocker spaniel or poodle, if not both, to be a smaller version of a golden retriever.

Yes. Generally, a golden retriever's fur color changes and becomes more pronounced as the dog grows. It is said that the shade of the dog's ears as a puppy is usually close to the color they will be when fully grown.