Golden Retriever

Your Golden Retriever is a relatively modern sporting dog breed. Fortunately for us dog lovers Golden Retrievers were developed in Scotland in the late 1800′s by Dudley Majoribanks. They were initially bred to be superior hunters – to this day they still love to retrieve.

Your Golden Retriever is the perfect pet for anyone who enjoys an overly affectionate and well-mannered dog companion. They have a lovely warm gentle expression, are athletic, muscular and have a smooth fluid gait. Your Golden Retriever will greet you with his head held high and tail wagging furiously. One of the most distinctive features of the “Goldies” is their beautiful coat which is weatherproof and they do shed!

Size

Golden Retrievers are a powerful well proportioned dog, males grow to 22-24 inches tall at the withers and weigh in at between 60-80 pounds. Females are 20-22 inches tall and weigh in at 55-70 pounds.

The easy to handle and very trainable nature of the Golden Retriever has seen them utilized in many “canine jobs”. Their love of human company and patience has made them ideally suited as guide dogs for the blind, service dogs and also as drugs detection dogs.

Temperament

Anyone who has had the pleasure of living with a properly socialized and trained Goldie will agree that their temperament is what makes them so special. Golden Retrievers absolutely crave and thrive on human attention. They are happiest when involved in all family activities – they are not an outside dog. Therefore if you are away from home for long periods a Golden Retriever puppy is probably not the right option for you. Separation anxiety can be a real problem with Goldies who are left alone and bored for hours on end.

Your Golden Retriever will enjoy pleasing you, so obedience training can be very rewarding. They excel in competitions. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the “Goldie” has very little, if any, guarding instincts. While unlikely to attack, Goldens make good watchdogs, loudly signaling a stranger’s approach. This breed needs to be around people who display leadership to be happy.

Health

Your Golden Retriever breeders play a crucial role in the future of the breed. A concientious and reputable breeder will do all they can to protect the health of the breed going forward. All of their breeding stock will be screened accordingly and all litters will be carefully planned.
It’s an unfortunate fact that there are many unscrupulous and opportunistic Golden Retriever breeders out there cashing in on the vast popularity and money making potential of the breed. They have little or no regard for the mental and physical wellbeing of the Golden Retriever puppies they produce. This has led to a disturbing increase in Golden Retriever puppies with unstable temperaments.

Generally Golden Retriever’s are a pretty sturdy and healthy breed but there are a few main problems to look out for:

1. Hip dysplasia is a common problem in Golden Retrievers – as it is with many of the larger dog breeds. It’s an inherited defect which means that the hip joint is unsound. Your Golden Retriever breeder should be able to show you hip clearance x-rays of all of their breeding stock.

2. Elbow dysplasia is also prevalent in Goldies – similar to hip dysplasia.

3. Eye Disease can be a problem in your Goldie. Hereditary cataracts are fairly common and Central
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) is also common. Once again checking the parents and grand parents of your puppy is your best guide.

4. Hereditary heart disease and epilepsy are other health problems that Goldies can be susceptible to.

5. Skin alergies are also common in Golden Retrievers, therefore it is very important to choose proper diet and good quality coat care products. When confronted with skin allergies, first, check for flea bites. Dogs are very sensitive to them and often mutilate their bodies by chewing the area, trying to get some relief.

If you want a healthy, well socialized Golden Retriever puppy the best place to start is by locating a good Golden Retriever breeder – they are your valuable ally.

Living Conditions

Your Golden Retriever will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least a medium to large yard. I personally walk my Goldie at least 45 minutes a day and if I have time we can easily stay outdoors double the time.

Grooming

Your Golden Retriever smooth, medium-haired double coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, paying particular attention to the dense undercoat. Dry shampoo regularly, but bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.