Golden Retriever

Not to be confused with Labrador Retriever.

Goldens are playful and love fetching (retrieving) things

Golden Retrievers are a very popular kind of dog. When the breed was first created, they were used for hunting. Now, they are popular pets because they are so friendly and playful (though some people still use them for hunting). People also like them because their face looks like they are smiling

Because they are so friendly, Golden Retrievers cannot be used as guard dogs, but they are good as drug dogs at airports and very good as service dogs for blind people.

Because they like people so much, Golden Retrievers can get sad if left alone for too long.

Temperament

Golden Retrievers are well-known for their friendliness. They are very good family dogs because they are extremely sweet and gentle with young children and do not bark very much. They are known for having a "soft mouth," and some have even been seen carrying raw eggs in their mouth without breaking them.

Goldens are reliable, outgoing, intelligent, energetic, playful, and loving, especially when socialized well from a young age. This makes them popular family pets. They are generally trainable, loyal, eager to please, and easy-going. This makes them good candidates for working dog roles.

Many Goldens can do jobs that involve swimming, hunting, doing search and rescue, finding bombs, being therapy dogs, guiding blind people, or being service dogs. They enjoy the water.

Characteristics

Golden Retrievers are very active dogs and need a lot of exercise. They make wonderful pets, but they must exercise regularly to prevent weight gain and improve overall health. They require a great deal of grooming, as they shed hair daily. Goldens also enjoy the cool water.

Look

Golden Retriever relaxing

A healthy Golden Retriever has a strong body and a long coat that is mainly yellow or gold. Their fur even stops water because it has two special layers, one short and one long. When they get old, their face turns white. Goldens always have brown eyes and can show a lot of emotions with them.

A normal male dog weighs 29-34 kilograms (65-75 pounds) and a normal female dog weighs 25-29 kilograms (55-65 pounds). From their front paws to their upper back, they are about 56-61 centimetres (22-24 inches) tall.

Coat

Goldens come in all shades of gold, from light cream to almost red. Unlike Labradors, which have three very distinct colors, Goldens tend to stay within a limited spectrum.

They are generally classified into one of three types of gold. These include light golden (including cream-colored), golden, and dark golden (but not red).

This spectrum is strict for show dogs. If a Golden falls outside of this color range, it will not be registered with the American Kennel Club or it cannot compete in a dog show.

Kinds

There are two different kinds of Golden Retrievers: show dogs and field dogs. Show dogs have very long hair and a lighter color, but field dogs have a lot more differences. They have short hair and can have any shade of hair. Because they have shorter hair, it is easier to brush them because they do not get as many things caught in it.

Working Goldens

A Golden serving as a guide dog

Goldens love to catch and fetch things (this is why they are called retrievers).

They often work as service dogs. Some Goldens are guides for blind people; others assist people who have seizures or cannot hear.

They are good at hunting because their sense of smell is so strong. They are also used for obedience trials.

Health

Like a lot of purebred dogs, Goldens can have bad health. A big problem for Goldens is hip dysplasia, which makes the dog's bones hurt at its hips.

Also, a lot of Goldens have skin allergies, so owners have to avoiding washing them too much, but must also make sure they do not get fleas. It is also important to clean a Golden's ears regularly because their long ears do not give the ear canal a chance to breathe.

Goldens sometimes have problems with their eyes, though this usually happens when they get older.

It is important when purchasing a new Golden Retriever puppy to review the medical history of their parents. Oftentimes "backyard breeders" have been known to over breed or breed dogs with health problems. A reputable breeder should be able to supply the most current health records for the dogs which they are breeding.

Goldens became so popular that they were shipped from Scotland to North America

History

Golden Retrievers were developed by Lord Tweedmouth in Scotland. He bred a yellow dog and another dog called a Tweed Water Spaniel, which is a dog that does not exist anymore. All Golden Retrievers are related to these two dogs.

People bred Golden Retrievers to be stronger than other retrievers, but gentler with people so they could be trained easily. Because of their popularity, the breed was shipped to the United States and Canada. There, they were evolved further, leading to cosmetic differences in the breed. Each country developed them to their liking.

In 1903, the breed was added to the list of the Kennel Club of England. The Golden Retriever became the most popular breed in the U.S. In 1925, Golden Retrievers were first registered by the American Kennel Club and in 1927, they were recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club. A little later, in 1938, the Golden Retriever Club of America was founded.

Popular Golden Retrievers

A Golden Retriever called 'Liberty' belonged to United States President Gerald R. Ford.

Goldens have featured in many films and TV series, including:

• Air Bud
• Air Bud: Golden Receiver
• Full House
• Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
• Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
• Fluke
• Napoleon
• Up
• Pushing Daisies
• The Drew Carey Show
• The Fox and the Hound 2 (this dog was a mix of a Golden and another breed)

Other websites

• Golden Retriever France "Hubac de Gaget" Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
• The absolute Golden Retriever guide Archived 2013-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
• Golden retriever puppies information

• Golden Retriever History Archived 2018-05-04 at the Wayback Machine