Golden Retrievers are a very popular breed as they are fun, active, and make great pets. They are perfect for first time owners as they are easy to train due to their intelligence. Although the breed needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, they generally have a calm nature, making them a great family pet.
Golden Retriever Breed Highlights
- Golden Retrievers are an adorable breed. They are fun to be around as they are so playful and remain very puppy-like as they age.
- The breed is very intelligent and eager to please their owners. This makes then perfect for first time dog owners. They are also good with children and other pets and are often used as working dogs. Many Golden Retrievers are used as guide dogs, assistance dogs for those with disabilities, or as search and rescue dogs.
- Golden Retrievers are a very social breed by nature. They will get on well with everyone, including children, strangers, other dogs, and smaller pets.
- Member of the Sporting Dog family.
- There are slight differences when comparing American vs English Golden Retrievers.
Average Height and Weight
Golden Retrievers are a large, powerful breed of dog. The males are slightly bigger and heavier than the females. In general, males measure between 56 and 61 centimeters to the withers, while females are slightly small at between 51 and 56 centimeters. Males weigh between 29 and 34 kg, and females weigh in at between 25 and 29 kg.
Average Life Span
Golden Retrievers don’t live as long as some other breeds. On average, their lifespan tends to be between ten and twelve years.
Shedding
Golden Retrievers have a lovely coat that is thick and luxurious. They also have a lot of feathering on their bodies, tails, and legs, which means they do shed, particularly in the Spring and Fall. You’ll therefore need to get your dog used to grooming from a young age. Teaching your puppy to enjoy a grooming session will help make things easier and more relaxed for you both.
It’s a good idea to brush your Golden Retriever’s coat daily as this will help to keep the fur and skin in top condition. It will also help you to keep on top of the shedding. Golden Retrievers are a breed that loves the water. They are likely to get wet and muddy on walks and will require to be bathed regularly with a good quality dog shampoo.
You may also like to trim the fur between your dog’s feet, especially between the toes and paw pads. Sometimes fur can ball up with mud and make it hard for Golden Retrievers to walk. You should also trim the fur inside your Golden Retriever’s ears. Always ensure that their ears are kept clean and dry, which will help reduce the risk of infection.
Golden Retriever Upkeep Requirements
Golden Retrievers are very active and require enough daily exercise to ensure that they stay fit and healthy. You’ll need to walk your Golden Retriever twice a day for at least thirty minutes each time. They can also play active games such as fetch or frisbee. It’s also a good idea to keep your pet mentally stimulated as Golden Retrievers are very smart. You could do advanced obedience or agility training or by providing toys that require a puzzle to be solved.
Golden Retrievers also need to be fed a well-balanced diet. Choose a good quality dog food brand that’s suitable for large active dogs and that meets all their nutritional requirements. Your dog should also be wormed regularly from a young age.
How to Keep Your Golden Retriever from Smelling
Golden Retriever Breed History
It’s believed that Golden Retrievers were originally bred by Lord Tweedmouth, who wanted to create a gundog that was capable of retrieving game from water, land, and marshlands. At the time, Yellow Retrievers existed and were used as working dogs in the field. It was Lord Tweedmouth who bred the Golden Retrievers as we know the breed today.
Golden Retrievers ancestors were first noted by Tweedmouth, during a performance in the Russian Circus. Lord Tweedmouth first saw the dogs when the circus came to visit Brighton in the UK during the mid-1800s. Lord Tweedmouth liked the look of these dogs so much, as well as their apparent intelligence and ability to retrieve. He bought the dogs from the circus and took them to his estate in Scotland, where he began a breeding program and used his dogs while hunting deer.
Golden Retriever Temperament
Golden Retrievers are very loving, gentle, and extremely intelligent. They are a good family pet as they are always keen to please their owner. This means they are also easy to train. They are a sociable breed and like playing with other dogs. As the breed is considered kind, they may not make the best guard dog or watchdog. They have a confident, laid back nature.
Golden Retriever Health Concerns
Golden Retrievers are generally considered to be healthy and robust dogs. However, there are some genetic health problems that are common to the breed. As a large breed, Golden Retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia as well as elbow dysplasia, tests are available from your vet, and all dogs used for breeding should be hip scored.
Many Golden Retrievers also suffer from eye issues, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and cataracts. They can also develop allergies that are triggered by environmental factors such as grasses, mold, and dust mites. Allergies can be challenging to clear up.
Golden Retrievers tend to enjoy their food and can easily gain weight if they aren’t fed the correct diet or are given too many treats. This can lead to other obesity related health problems, which could shorten their life.
Why Golden Retrievers are Great
Golden Retrievers are often considered to be gentle giants; they are very loyal and affectionate and would make a great pet for an active family. They love going for walks, running, swimming, and playing active games such as frisbee or fetch.
When buying a Golden Retriever puppy, it’s essential to get it from a responsible breeder and ask questions about the parent’s health. Golden Retrievers are prone to genetic conditions that responsible breeders will test for and take steps to avoid.
Golden Retrievers are very smart and need to be kept mentally as well as physically stimulated.