With its gentle personality, smiling face, smooth ears, and beautiful coat, the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, ranking fourth on the AKC list of popular breeds. These intelligent, friendly, and reliable dogs make perfect family animals and their intelligence makes them extremely efficient dogs. Would this be the right choice for you and your family?
History of the Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers was developed in Scotland, where they were once used as hunting dogs, bringing birds back to the water and land. The breed gained prominence in England and was recognized by The Kennel Club of England in 1911 as “Retriever – Yellow or Golden.” In 1920, the brand name was changed to Golden Retriever. A few years later, the golden were brought to the US as friends and hunting dogs. This species was officially recognized by the AKC in 1925.
Golden Retriever style
Shape
The average Gold Retriever weight is between 65 and 75 pounds for men and from 55 to 65 pounds for women. Golden Retriever males reach between 23 and 24 inches in height while females range in height from 21 to 22 inches. The Golden Retriever has a well-balanced body with a deep chest and a strong and wide head. The ears reside, hanging down the shaft.
The members of this species have a flat or horizontal waterproof coat, with feathers on the thighs, legs, neck, tail, and bottom. The coat comes in three different colours:
- Dark gold
- The Light of Gold
- Rima Gold
Character
The Golden Retriever temperament is pleasant, simple, and reliable. According to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), 85.60% of the Golden Retrievers that were tested passed the Temperament Test. These playful toys often get along well with children, other pets, and the uninitiated. They love to work and they want to have fun, which is why they are known as work dogs.
Golden Retrievers are not known for being aggressive and often lack vigilance, so they do not make good dogs.
Average life
The average life expectancy of Golden Retrievers is between 12 and 12 years, which are about the same as other dog breeds. The Chief Gold Retriever on record was Augier of Tennessee, who turned 20 and 11 months before his death in 2021. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death of this species. According to a study by the Morris Animal Foundation, 60 per cent of Golden is diagnosed with cancer, which is almost double the number of dogs.
The best way to extend the longevity of your Golden Retriever is with adequate care, regular veterinary visits, exercise, and diet.
Golden Retriever maintenance tips
Exercise
As with all breeds of dogs, dog training classes and initial interactions are recommended in order to help your Golden Retriever grow into a large and well-mannered dog golden wants to please their owners, which makes it much easier to train.
These strong dogs need a lot of exercise. If they don’t get the perfect experience, Golden Retrievers can develop negative traits. They make good friends with cycling and long-distance running, but they also enjoy field trials, hunting trips, and dog games such as listening, tracking, and agility. Sports are a great way to get your Gold mental and physical characteristics they need.
Eating
Golden Retriever babies grow faster between four months and seven months, which makes them more susceptible to bone damage. For this reason, they should be on a low-calorie diet that prevents them from growing as fast as a large baby food. Your Veterinarian is the best sauce for adding guidelines on a healthy diet for your Golden Retriever baby.
Golden Retriever Breeders are usually fed around 1.5 cups of dry dog food at meal time, twice a day. Being food-loving, these large dogs tend to overdo it. You should avoid free meals and offer plenty of flavours. Keep an eye on your dog’s collar diet and be sure to hold your vet if you notice weight gain. Your Vet will offer recommendations regarding diet and type of diet, exercise, and diet plans.
The diet of the Golden Retriever diet can vary depending on their size, age, stage of activity, and type of diet. You should always ask your veterinarian if you are unsure about the quality of the feed or the amount of your dog.
Required for washing
Typically, Golden Retrievers shed their thick folded coat in moderation and should be brushed once or twice a week to remove loose hair. During heavy shedding (during fall and spring or year-round in warmer climates), brushing should occur daily. Gold only needs to be periodically cleaned to keep it clean, as well as regular nail polish and toothpaste.
Staying with Golden Retriever
Gold is a very active dog. If regular exercise is given they can easily be adapted to any type of home, even a home. Being a bird of prey at heart, the golden love to swim and play a game of capture.
Common health problems for Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are a healthy breed but, as mentioned earlier, are at a much lower risk of cancer compared to other dogs. Other health conditions that affect this species include:
- Hip dysplasia, a form of joint that causes discomfort or loosening of the hip bones.
- Elbow dysplasia occurs when the bones that make up the elbow do not come together properly, resulting in painful forward movement.
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus, also known as bloat, is a life-threatening disorder characterized by abnormal bowel movements.
- Osteochondrosis, an inflammation of the cartilage that separates the cartilage from the bone.
- Hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder in dogs that occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones.
- Eye issues, such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts.
