I have been thinking about getting a golden retriver
Thats great!, I own 5 of them, Mine are well suited to pretty much all suburban or country environments. We have moved around quite a bit lol. 
How big do they get?
Well most of them grow to around 3 feet tall and weigh about 60 pounds usually But ive seen bigger ones, 
That is pretty big im not sure my apartment can handle that
coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels water. Golden retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. They shed copiously, particularly at the change of seasons, and require fairly regular grooming. The Golden Retriever was originally bred in Scotland in the mid-19th century.
The breed is a prominent participant in conformation shows for purebred dogs. The Golden Retriever is popular as a disability assistance dog, such as being a guide dog for the blind and a hearing dog for the deaf. In addition, they
came up with its title. Wilson said:I liked the idea that bows and arrows are pretty useless on their own but when you get them together, they can be quite formidable. A bit like us lot, really. I love being in a band. It's daft to think you can do it alone. It's about not being afraid of emotion. It can be the strongest weapon we have. What's wrong with a load of blokes admitting they need each other? [It's] a sliver