In the last few decades Golden Retrievers have soared in popularity to become
one of the favorite family dog breeds in the world. You don't have to dig very
deep to see why.
Goldens are highly intelligent, friendly, eager to please and beautiful
to look at. Originally bred in the British Isles as gun dogs to retrieve
waterfowl and game, their prime attributes have always been a soft mouth and
an instictive love of water. With their patience and famously compliant
nature, these days Goldens are as likely to be trained in search and rescue,
drug detection and as guide dogs, as hunting and retrieving.
The Golden Retriever's coat, for which he is named, is dense and
waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat
against the belly. According to the AKC the ideal color is a "rich, lustrous
golden of various shades", neither extremely light nor extremely dark. As your
Golden ages his coat can become darker or lighter, along with some whitening
of the fur on and around the muzzle. A golden's coat should never be too long,
a potential hinderance when retrieving game.
Their amiable, trusting nature combined with a love of work and
eagerness to please makes Goldens highly trainable. Harsh methods are never
necessary. Obedience Training for Your Golden Retriever
But Goldens do require a bit more care and attention than some other
breeds. Anyone considering one of these magnificent animals should think
carefully. An adult Golden Retriever is a large, athletic dog. He requires
daily exercise and will become restless and prone to obesity if he doesn't get
it. This is not a sedentary house pet.
Your Golden's beautiful coat should be groomed at least once a week, and
every day during heavy shedding, which happens twice a year. While shedding is
unavoidable with Goldens Retrievers, regular grooming greatly reduces the
amount of hair shed by the animal. Severe shedding resulting in bald patches
can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever. Along with
regular grooming a bi-monthly bath will be in order, weekly toenail trimming
and similar maintenance activities are an ongoing chore. Goldens who swim
frequently also need to have their ears cleaned regularly to avert possible
ear infections. Be prepared to spend time on this in order to keep a healthy
and happy dog.
Golden Retrievers are loyal and become very attached to their owners.
Leaving them alone can cause them to become very sad and distressed. They go
through lots of chew toys as they like to always have something in their
mouth, and they enjoy carrying things around. If you can devote some time and
attention to this wonderful creature he will make an ideal family pet.
The average life span for a Golden is 10-13 years. It is important to
know where your dog has come from. Breeding Golden Retrievers has become
highly profitable for puppy mills and backyard breeders. As a result of
careless breeding for profit, as well as deliberate in-breeding to produce
maximum desirable characteristics for show dogs, Goldens are very prone to
genetic disorders and weaknesses which can lead to a higher incidence of
disease later on. Hip dysplasia is top of the list... a degenerative condition
which will lead to much pain and suffering, and will severely curtail your
dog's life. Make sure your Golden has papers and that the papers are
legitimate.
Goldens are also prone to certain skin problems. They can readily get
'hot spots' from itching due to allergic reactions, flea bites and other
causes. They also have a tendency as they mature, to develop tumors and
cancers. Cancer is the cause of death for over 60% of Golden Retrievers, which
must lead you to the consideration of increased vet bills as time goes on. As
with humans, diet is a large factor in maintaining good health and minimizing
physical problems. Wheat and corn sensitivity is relatively common in Golden
Retrievers who, like all dogs, are carnivores. A balanced diet high in meat
protein will work well.
Since Goldens are so active they need lots of exercise; but because they
are so social, they prefer not to run around on their own. If left outside
alone to play, your Golden Retriever will tend to simply lie down. You must
interact with him on a regular basis. Fetch, running, rope tug and other games
are perfect for your Golden. But those all require your participation. Be sure
you have adequate time for this breed.
Vaccinations is an area of some controversy among Golden owners, as it
is with other breeds. Most professionals agree that a series of vaccinations
is best early in life. How long that should be continued, past the first two
years, is a matter for ongoing debate. Some argue that regular vaccinations
represents 'playing it safe', others that shots are unnecessary and risky.
Antibodies do remain in the system for several years and the issue is still
under investigation.
It's true that Golden Retrievers, like all dogs, require time and effort
to train and care for properly. A happy healthy dog doesn't happen by magic,
it happens because you are involved and because you care. Any Golden Retriever
owner will tell you that the rewards are immense. These beautiful, loving
animals will give back tenfold all the attention they receive. Your Golden's
famous smile will let you know how you're doing.