Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever: BREED BOX Country: Great Britain Size: 60-80lb(27-36kg),20-24in(51-56cm) Temperament: Fun-loving, active Grooming: Brushing once a week Recognition: FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC, KC(UK), NZKC

Introduction

The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world today. Loyal, affectionate, beautiful and very smart, these dogs make devoted family dogs and wonderful pets. The breed is also well-known for their versatility. They frequently work as guide dogs, therapy dogs, and search and rescue dogs. If you’re looking for a great, all-around dog, the Golden Retriever may be the dog for you.

Breed History

The Golden Retriever is not a very old breed. They were developed by Lord Tweedmouth in the late 19th century on his estate. He bred his “Yellow Retriever” with the Tweed Water Spaniel that was found on his estate at that time, which has since become extinct. The result was an early version of the Golden Retriever. Later dogs such as the Irish Setter, the Bloodhound and more of the Tweed Water Spaniel would be added to create the dogs we known today. The Tweed Spaniel was particularly known for his intelligence, courage and abilities and he contributed greatly to the Golden Retriever we have today.

Lord Tweedmouth and his gamekeeper bred the dogs from 1835 to about 1890 at the estate in the Scottish Highlands. These early Golden Retrievers became popular in England at the end of the 19th century and they were first exhibited at a dog show in 1908. The Golden Retriever Club (of England) was formed in 1913. Golden Retrievers first arrived in the United States in the 1920s and were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925. They were initially very popular as hunting and retrieving dogs though, as time went by, they have become more and more popular as family pets.

Appearance

The Golden Retriever has a recognizable retriever silhouette. They are a powerful, active, medium-large dog with a distinctive golden coat. In fact, the breed’s coat can range from a rich golden honey color to very pale. The breed standard does not specify any preference about shade except to say that extremely pale or extremely dark dogs are undesirable. A dog’s feathering may be lighter than his body coat.

The dog’s coat can be thick and lush and it does need to be brushed regularly to prevent any matting and to prevent excessive shedding.

Golden Retrievers should have a kindly expression and an eager personality. They should be alert and self-confident. The eyes are friendly and intelligent and they should be dark. Ears should hang down low but they are rather short compared to Spaniels or Setters.

Golden Retrievers stand about 23-24 inches tall at the withers for males; 21 1/2-22 1/2 inches tall at the withers for females. They weigh between 55 and 75 pounds.

In The Home

In the home the Golden Retriever is a thoroughly pleasant dog with which to live. They are devoted to their families and they love children. They make great companions for families who have kids. They are active dogs and they do require regular exercise but they are happy to do whatever the family is doing.

Since Golden Retrievers are so intelligent they can learn anything you want to teach them. They will learn more tricks than the average dog, for instance. They are great at retrieving balls and playing Frisbee. They love water sports. They also make good hiking companions. If you or your family have an active lifestyle and you would like to include your dog in your activities, the Golden Retriever makes an excellent choice.

They are also outstanding at all kinds of dog sports, such as agility, rally and obedience, not to mention hunting (both retrieving on land and with waterfowl).

Because of their intelligence and good nature, Golden Retrievers are often used for more advanced work such as being guide dogs for the blind, assistance dogs for the disabled, and search and rescue dogs. They also make great therapy dogs if you would like to work on this certification with your dog so the two of you can visit kids in schools and nursing homes together.

Care

The Golden Retriever does need regular grooming to keep his coat looking nice. He has a double-coat when can be thick and lush. It needs brushing a couple of times per week to keep it from matting and to prevent too much shedding in the house. You will also need to clean your Golden’s ears regularly to prevent ear infections and trim his nails regularly.

Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer, however they also live to advanced ages, so the cancer may not show up until the dog is very old. Hip dysplasia is a problem with some Golden Retrievers. Von Willebrand’s disease (a bleeding disorder) is found in some dogs. Heart problems and congenital eye defects are also possible. Golden Retrievers can also be subject to skin allergies.

If you are considering getting a Golden Retriever you should talk to breeders about these health issues to find out what kind of health testing they have done on the parents of their dogs. Health testing can often help control some genetic diseases, though not all.

Where To Find A Golden Retriever

In the United States Golden Retrievers are registered with the American Kennel Club. Look for AKC Golden Retrievers. Seek out breeders who have a good reputation and who do health testing on their dogs.

The parent club for Golden Retrievers is the Golden Retriever Club of America. They can put you in touch with breeders who belong to their club. These breeders have agreed to abide by certain ethical standards and you may have a better chance of finding a good puppy or dog from them.

There is a Golden Retriever National Rescue Foundation as well as numerous local Golden Retriever rescue groups. You may want to consider getting a Golden Retriever from one of these sources. As always, you should make every effort to find out why the dog is in rescue and make sure that the dog will fit your situation.

Golden Retrievers may occasionally end up in shelters but rescue groups make every effort to get these dogs out of shelters as quickly as possible so they won’t be put to sleep. You can check shelters for a Golden but your best bet is to try rescue.

• Ideal Owners: Golden Retrievers are the ideal family pets. They are a bundle of joy, full of energy so although they can adapt to apartment life they need to be given plenty of exercise daily.
• Life Expectancy: 13 years
• Coat Color: Cream-Yellow, Gold
• Other Names: Golden

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