LEGO Reviews Icons11384

Golden Retriever Puppy

Name: LEGO Golden Retriever Puppy 11384
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 11384
Rating: 4.8 (131 reviews)

70 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB20262,098 pcsHigh agreement · 89%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

131

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"A BrickScore of 70.4 and an owner rating of 4.8 out of 5 tell a consistent story: this is a well-executed, emotionally appealing animal build that earns its Recommended tier, with the main caveat being a $139.99 price tag that not every buyer will find proportionate to the experience."

Reviewers across the board describe the Golden Retriever Puppy as a charming, emotionally resonant build filled with clever interior details and playful hidden features. The poseable elements, tongue storage compartment, and expressive face changes drew consistent praise from owners who often connected the model to their own dogs. With a BrickScore of 70.4 and an owner average of 4.8 out of 5 across 131 ratings, casual buyers are more enthusiastic than the expert consensus suggests. The 73% would-recommend figure from LEGO signals some reservation, likely tied to the value-for-money aspect score of 47.5 at $139.99.

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LOVED (6)

01Hidden interior details including a shopping list inside the tummy that multiple owners called surprisingly accurate
02Poseable features that allow different expressions and poses
03Tongue storage in the back so accessories do not get lost
04Emotional connection to real dogs, with many owners naming the model after their own pets
05Rewarding build length that felt satisfying without becoming tedious
06Fun variety in construction techniques that avoided repetition, especially across the four legs

CRITICIZED (4)

01Price of $139.99 at $0.067 per piece is a recurring sticking point; value-for-money consensus score of 47.5 is the weakest aspect
02The tongue element described by at least one owner as too large or gaudy
03Some minor difficulty reported with the eye assembly
04Occasional missing piece reports, though LEGO customer service handled replacements

What reviewers are saying

"I was a little dismissive of 11384 Golden Retriever Puppy as it felt like just another life-sized LEGO Pet/Animal model, but after building it and spending some time with this adorable 2,102-piece LEGO puppy, I was very …"

Jay's Brick Blog

"Animals have become an increasingly essential feature of the LEGO range lately, as the greater selection of curved slopes and other new pieces allows opportunities to construct more organic shapes."

Brickset Reviews

"thank you LEGO for sending this for review"

Tiago Catarino

Ecosystem

21349 Tuxedo Cat — The Golden Retriever Puppy is not a rehash of the Tuxedo Cat but a fresh take with different building techniques and aesthetic. It stands out with heavy reliance on textures compared to the very sleek Tuxedo Cat. The Golden Retriever earns its LEGO Icons badge as a wholly new and fresh approach, though the Tuxedo Cat has a more stylised, borderline cartoony look that the reviewer prefers aesthetically.

43269 101 Dalmatians Puppy — It's not just a rehash of the 101 Dalmatians Puppy but a fresh take on canine-building with advanced build techniques. The 101 Dalmatians Puppy is more cartoonish in appearance. The Golden Retriever does earn its LEGO Icons badge as a wholly new and fresh approach. The reviewer prefers the more cartoonish look of the 101 Dalmatians Puppy aesthetically.

43247 Young Simba the Lion King — It's not just a rehash of Young Simba but represents a fresh approach to lifelike LEGO animal building with different techniques.

31382 Cute Animals: Playful Puppy Dog — The Golden Retriever Puppy stands out as a more sophisticated LEGO Icons approach compared to the Creator-line Playful Puppy Dog, emphasizing textures and advanced techniques.

IconsTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 3

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Jay's Brick Blog

Editorial Source

BUY

Key Pros

✓Phenomenal and technical build experience with advanced techniques and fresh geometric approach
✓Entirely stickerless construction
✓Numerous Easter eggs and fun surprises throughout build (homework, hidden bone, rainbow colors)

Key Cons

✕Studded aesthetic may not appeal to all adult builders who prefer sleeker models
✕Weak areas visible from certain angles, particularly the back and hind legs which expose internal structure gaps

READ FULL REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

"Animals have become an increasingly essential feature of the LEGO range lately, as the greater selection of curved slopes and other new pieces allows opportunities to construct more organic shapes."

Key Pros

✓Very charming and cute appearance
✓Lots of personality through articulation and expressions
✓Clever use of texture with mix of studded surfaces and curved slopes

Key Cons

✕Occasional unsightly colours and gaps, particularly visible green pieces on the collar
✕Yellow tag instead of pearl gold is inappropriate for a realistic model

READ FULL REVIEW

Tiago Catarino

Expert Video Source

SKIP

"thank you LEGO for sending this for review"

Key Pros

✓Enjoyable building process
✓Multiple poseable features (head, jaw, ears, tail, leg)
✓Expressive printed eyes and cute overall appearance

Key Cons

✕Excessive non-tan colored patches compromise the visual appearance
✕Extensive use of studded texture makes the model look less fluffy and more generic

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (1)

Exclusivity

Jay's Brick Blog: LEGO Icons theme; limited appeal but niche market for dog breed enthusiasts

Brickset Reviews: Wide retail availability (LEGO.com and general retail)

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Unclear. The reviewer expresses doubt about this set's success compared to the Tuxedo Cat, which is widely seen online. Unlikely to have the same collectibility despite being part of the same animal product line.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

printed motorcycle helmet pieces for eyes
For the puppy's eyes, I was also intrigued to discover that they were printed on motorcycle helmets. The shape is rounder and more bulbous than the eyes used for the Tuxedo cat which are flatter, and this use of printed helmets are a great solution to get the beady little eyes correct.
round 2×2 tile with dog collar tag and bone print
The only other printed element apart from the motorcycle helmet eyes is this round 2×2 tile with a dog collar tag that has a bone printed on it.
Technic axle slots for leg positioning
Advanced technique allowing poseable front legs to swap between default and extended positions
motorcycle helmets used as eyes
Decorated with brown and white highlights as reflections; critical to capturing the correct expression
1x1 half round tiles
Used for toes and paw pads to create realistic detailing and curvature
curved slopes and tiles
Mix of studded and smooth surfaces to create texture on legs and body

What Owners Say · summarized from 50 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners overwhelmingly praise the Golden Retriever Puppy for its clever design, engaging build experience, and adorable finished product, though some report durability issues and pose limitations that contradict box imagery.

COMMON PRAISE