The
Golden Retriever is a beautiful, sturdy,
well-proportioned dog with a feathered,
medium-length, cream to golden-colored coat.
(The coat is not suppose to be red.) The
outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat
is dense. The head is broad, with a tapering,
but wide, powerful muzzle. It has a
scissors bite and a clear frontal stop.
The nose is black and the kindly eyes are
brown with dark rims. The ears are medium-sized
and pendant. Its neck and thighs are muscular
and the chest is broad. The tail is long,
but never curled.
Temperament
These
are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent
dogs with a great charm. They are easily
trained, and always patient and gentle with
children. Loyal, confident, sweet and eager
to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding
family dog. Golden Retrievers enjoy
pleasing their masters, so obedience training
can be fun. They excel in obedience competitions.
Friendly with everyone, including other
dogs, the Golden Retriever 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 to
be happy. If isolated from human contact,
or left alone for long periods of time,
the Golden Retriever may become mischievous.
They can be over-exuberant and distractible.
Some of the Golden's talents are hunting,
tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection,
agility, competitive obedience, and performing
tricks. These dogs also love to swim.
Prone
to hip dysplasia and congenital eye defects.
OFA and CERF certification are important
from both parents. Parents should also
be checked for Von Willebrand's disease
and heart problems. Skin allergies are common
in Golden Retrievers and require immediate
veterinary attention.
Living
Conditions
This
breed 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.
Exercise
The
Golden Retriever needs to be taken on a
daily, brisk, long walk, jog orrun
alongside you when you bicycle. In
addition, they like to retrieve balls and
other toys. Be sure to exercise this dog
well and do not overfeed, as he tends to
put on weight.
Life
Expectancy
About
10-12 years
Grooming
The
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.
Origin
The
Golden Retriever was first developed in
the British Isles, probably from crosses
between a yellow Flat-Coated Retriever,
light-coated Tweed Water Spaniels, other
spaniels, setters and even the Newfoundland
and possibly the Bloodhound. In fact the
breed was first shown as a Golden Flat-Coat.
The Golden is one of the world's foremost
family companion dogs. Many of the top obedience
competition dogs in the country are Golden
retrievers. The Golden is also a fine bird
dog on both land and in the water. He has
an excellent nose and has been used not
only for hunting and tracking, but also
for narcotics detection. Because of his
great desire to please and capacity for
love and learning, the Golden Retriever
is also used as a guide for the blind, therapy
dog, and service dog for the disabled.
