Are White Golden Retrievers a Marketing Scam?
Rocky Kanaka
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Like clothing, media, and food trends, dog breeds go in and out of fashion periodically. In the past few decades, dog owners have shown an increased interest in designer mixed breeds like Doodle dogs. While purebreds like the French Bulldog and Labrador Retriever remain the most popular breeds in the country, dog owners are now demanding more of their purebred dogs—they want them to be rare.
People are on the hunt for unique coat patterns, rare colors, and exclusivity, so it’s no surprise that the English Cream Golden Retriever is getting some attention. A purebred Golden Retriever in white fur rather than golden, the English Cream White Retriever dog is otherwise genetically identical to other Golden Retrievers. So have English Cream Retriever puppies become so popular compared to other standard colors?
The truth is that money-hungry breeders have misled dog lovers with their advertising. By creating fictitious stories of an exclusive line of “European” Golden Retrievers that come in pure white, unethical breeders have been able to charge exorbitant prices for their “English White Golden Retrievers.”
So what’s the real story? Are English Cream Retrievers rare, or is this just a marketing ploy? Where do they truly originate? And why are dog lovers willing to pay such high prices for the chance to own a white Retriever puppy?
Meet 5 White Golden Retrievers from Instagram
If you’ve never seen an English Cream Golden Retriever in person, prepare to be amazed by their gorgeous platinum blonde fur! Let’s meet a handful of white Golden Retrievers who have a bigger Instagram following than most humans.
1. Luca
Luca is an almost one-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever whose number one love in life is food! Always ready for a snack, Luca won’t say no to an adventure with his humans, either.
2. Arlo
Hailing from sunny Arizona, Arlo is a handsome one-year-old white Golden Retriever who loves to be outside. Whether they’re going to the beach, the park, or just for a walk around the block, Arlo is always happy to tag along.
3. Exxo
This two-year-old professional napper is Exxo, an English Cream Golden Retriever from the United Arab Emirates! Other than getting his beauty rest, Exxo’s favorite things include snacks, treats, and playing tug of war.
4. Arnold
Arnold is a goofy, mischievous English Cream Golden Retriever from Orange County, California where he enjoys playing in the pool, going to the dog park, and going on pack walks with more than 20 other pups.
5. Carlos
Meet four-year-old full-time beach bum Carlos, a beautiful English Cream Golden Retriever from Kuwait! Carlos goes to play in the sand and surf almost every day and he can’t get enough of chasing waves.
Fact or Fiction: White Golden Retrievers Are Rare
False! White Golden Retrievers—also called English Cream Golden Retrievers, White European Golden Retrievers, and Platinum Retrievers—are not rare. The name English Cream is a misnomer and has nothing to do with where the dog originates or its genetic history.
According to the American Kennel Club and other well-respected breed registries, Golden Retrievers come in three official colors,
- Light Golden
- Golden
- Dark Golden or red
As you can see, very light cream Golden Retrievers fit within the standard deviation of colors accepted in the breed. It is common to see light golden Golden Retrievers that appear cream in breeding programs around the world, and these dogs do not vary in genetic history from their darker cousins. All Golden Retrievers originate in Scotland, and it is false to claim that English Creams are somehow “more European” than other colors of the breed.
Some breeders have even gone so far as to claim that English Cream Retrievers are healthier than other Goldens. This is also categorically false, and there is zero evidence to suggest that cream Golden Retrievers might be healthier than darker Goldens.
TLDR: Don’t fall for the hype—English Cream Golden Retrievers are just regular Golden Retrievers with a fancy name!
English Cream Golden Retriever Basic Info
English Cream Golden Retrievers are no different from other Golden Retrievers—they just have a lighter-colored coat! You can expect white English Retriever puppies to behave in the same way as their peers, grow at the same rate, and have the same basic health concerns. With this in mind, here’s what you should know about owning a Golden Retriever.
White Golden Retriever Temperament
If you want a dog that loves everyone, get a Golden Retriever! This breed is super social and affectionate and rarely holds back when dishing out snuggles and kisses. Friendly and attentive, Golden Retrievers make excellent service animals and therapy dogs and love to serve and please their humans. Intelligent and easy to train, Golden Retrievers have mid to high levels of energy and are often playful and athletic.
Good with children and comfortable meeting strangers, entering new situations, and socializing with new dogs, Golden Retrievers are adaptable and easygoing. Unlike some intelligent breeds whose independence makes them somewhat aloof, the Golden Retriever is so social they sometimes suffer from the opposite issue and can develop separation anxiety.
White Golden Retriever Size
White Cream Golden Retrievers are genetically the same as all other Goldens and should grow to be the same standard size expected of the breed. Typically, adult English Cream Golden Retrievers stand around 21.5–24 inches tall and weigh around 55–75 pounds.
White Golden Retriever Health
When you purchase a Golden Retriever from a reputable breeder, they should perform comprehensive genetic and health testing on their breeding pairs to ensure they don’t pass on genetic illness. Similarly, responsible breeders endeavor to choose the healthiest and most temperamentally sound dogs to breed together, so it’s important to find a breeder who is committed to the health of their dogs.
Of course, even the most well-bred dog can have health issues. If you own a Golden Retriever, be aware that some of these health conditions could impact them:
- Ear infections
- Joint issues (e.g. hip and elbow dysplasia)
- Eye and vision issues (e.g. cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy)
- Heart disease (e.g. subvalvular aortic stenosis)
- Neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5)
Where To Find English Cream Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale
Ethical breeders of Golden Retrievers typically do not advertise that their puppies all come in one color, since this would be a genetic impossibility. If you want to try to find English Cream puppies, you’ll likely need to search instead for reputable Golden Retriever breeders in general.
You might find some results by Googling “white Golden Retriever puppies for sale near me,” but the best bet for finding a good breeder is to consult a reputable database. For example, The Golden Retriever Club of America has an approved Golden Retriever club map to help connect you to quality breeders in your area.
Remember, white Golden Retriever puppies for sale shouldn’t be more expensive than Golden Retriever puppies in darker shades. A Golden Retriever in white is not rare or more difficult to breed, so don’t fall for false hype!
White Golden Retriever FAQ
Explore the most common questions about English Cream Golden Retrievers and bust a few myths while you’re at it.
What is the difference between an English Cream and an albino Golden Retriever?
An English Cream Golden Retriever is a Golden Retriever with very light pigment in their fur. They will have dark brown or almost black eyes, a dark nose, and light fur. Albino Golden Retrievers have zero pigment in their fur, and albinism also affects the pigment in their eyes and their skin. Often, albino dogs have pink noses and red or pink eyes.
Albino Golden Retrievers are exceedingly rare, so if you see a white Golden Retriever you can probably assume it’s an English Cream.
What is the average price for white Golden Retriever puppies?
An English Cream Golden Retriever for sale can go for as much as $3,000–$5,000 in some circles, but this is far too expensive. A far more reasonable English Cream Golden Retriever price should fall in the average range of around $1,500—$3,000, about the same price as any other well-bred Golden Retriever.
Remember that if you see English Golden Retriever puppies for sale under that specific name, the breeder may not be reputable or perform the appropriate health and genetic testing. Most reputable breeders will label their puppies “light golden” rather than English Cream or white.
Are white English Golden Retriever puppies rare?
No! You’ll find that you can almost always find a white English Golden Retriever for sale in your area no matter where you live, since the breeding of light-colored Golden Retrievers is common around the world.
Are white Retrievers calmer than dark blonde Golden Retrievers?
No. There is no personality difference between English Cream Golden Retrievers and Golden Retrievers in standard colors.
Do white Golden Retrievers live longer than regular Goldens?
No. The idea that English Cream Golden Retrievers are healthier or longer lived than standard Golden Retrievers is a marketing ploy created by unethical breeders.
Do white cream Golden Retrievers bark a lot?
No. Golden Retrievers are not a breed that is typically very vocal, and you likely won’t hear your Golden bark for more than a few seconds at a time unless they are experiencing abnormal frustration.
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- Hypoallergenic or Not? Navigating Allergies with Your Golden Retriever
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- 200 Rescues Specializing in Golden Retriever Adoption
