Originally designed to be the ultimate hunting dog, nowadays the Golden Retriever’s eager-to-please temperament and intelligence make them perfect for just about anyone…
The Golden Retriever (nicknamed the “Goldie” or “Golden”) is a medium-sized dog that has an eager-to-please attitude and is historically known for their hunting ability. The breed has origins dating back to the late 1800s in Scotland, and they were initially raised for the primary goal of being the ultimate hunting dog.
A small number of their more identifiable traits are their friendly, obedient and active nature as well as a soft mouth for retrieving game – which in essence make the Golden Retriever a fitting option for families and hunters as well as for assisting people with disabilities. Below are a few fast Golden Retriever facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is known to have originated in Scotland during the late 1800s and was created by Lord Tweedmouth for the intention of acting as a hunting dog that was suited to the Scottish landscape – this came about largely due to an improvement in firearms which meant that birds needed to be retrieved by a dog over greater distances and more difficult terrain.
They are the result of cross-breeding a yellow-colored Retriever and the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel and later on the Irish Setter, Bloodhound and the St. John’s Water Dog were introduced into the breeding program to fulfill Lord Tweedmouth’s vision of creating the ultimate hunting dog – one that was powerful, but also gentle and trainable.
Average Size Of The Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are classified as a medium-sized dog. The recommended standard size for the Golden Retriever male is 23-24 inches tall from paw to shoulder and a weight of 65-75 pounds, whereas the suggested size for female Golden Retrievers is 21.5-22.5 inches tall from paw to shoulder with a weight of 55-65 pounds.
Temperament Of The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is legendary for their friendly and confident character. They are generally trusting and gentle with unfamiliar people, which can mean they are not very suitable as a guard dog. The Golden Retriever is also known to be highly intelligent – placing 4th compared to other dogs based on their ability to be trained obedience directives.
They are also recognized to be patient with kids – meaning they are highly suitable as a family pet. The Golden Retriever is extremely compatible with other animals such as other dogs, cats or livestock and is commonly known to act as a surrogate mother to other animals such as kittens or even tiger cubs in zoos.
Grooming Requirements Of The Golden Retriever
Grooming the Golden Retriever is a reasonably undemanding process. They require a moderate amount of brushing each few days and proper grooming every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain a natural look. The system for properly grooming the Golden Retriever can be described as:
- Cut the tips of their nails and file away any rough edges.
- Apply liquid cleaner to a cotton ball to remove dirt and wax from inside the ears.
- Brush the coat to remove any dead or matted hair.
- Bathe them with shampoo and rinse them thoroughly.
- Dry them off with a towel and then finish with a dryer while brushing the coat.
- Use scissors to trim the hair from the bottom of the feet between the pads, around the edge and on the underside of the paw to give it a rounded look.
- Remove any excess hair from the back of the legs to even it up.
- Trim the hair around the ear flaps to allow them to hang close by the head and neaten up the edges with blending shears.
- Hold the tail towards the rear legs and trim the hair so that it only just touches.
- Carefully trim any hair around the rear end.
Living Requirements For The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever loves to have a medium to large fenced yard to provide them with enough space, but they are suitable for living in an apartment provided they are walked on a regular basis.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The Golden Retriever
Similar to a large number of medium-sized dog breeds, the Golden Retriever is normally longer-lived having a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. The biggest health concern for Golden Retrievers is generally known as cancer, which is officially recognized as the breed’s biggest killer. In 1998 over 60% of surveyed Golden Retrievers in the United States died of cancer and another survey in the UK during 2004 found the number to be almost 40%.
They are also prone to conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia in approximately 20% of dogs, eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma as well as heart and joint diseases. Golden Retrievers are also commonly known to experience skin allergies and can gain weight easily – so be careful about overfeeding them.
Exercise Needs For The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is made happy with pursuits like swimming and retrieving balls or other toys. They possess a medium to high degree of energy and this necessitates exercise each day in the shape of long walks or jogs to prevent excessive weight gain and hyperactivity.
Who Should Own The Golden Retriever?
The Golden Retriever can be the right dog for just about anybody. They are suitable for anyone that is ready to perform a moderate amount of grooming and take time to give them consistent training and mental challenges as well as take them for long daily walks and give them a high quantity of love and devotion. Though they may be a bit unsuitable for a guard dog, if you are capable of giving them a high level of exercise and human interaction then the Golden Retriever may be the perfect breed of dog for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on November 16, 2011