Due to their super sweet personalities, serious smarts, and adorable, toothy grins, golden retrievers are a hugely popular breed in the United States. In fact, golden retrievers have snagged the third spot for most popular dogs in the United States for the last several years!

These pooches are on the larger side (females range between 55 and 70 pounds, while males weigh in between 65 and 75 pounds) and require lots of exercise, which may make some families shy away. But don't let their size—or high energy—deter you. Golden retrievers are highly intelligent, easy to train (compared to other breeds of dogs), and incredibly friendly.

Whether you're already a golden puppy parent or considering adding one to the family, read on to learn some fun facts (and see some seriously cute photos!) of one of the world's most popular breeds.