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Introduction
The Golden Retriever is a beautiful, large and energetic dog. This breed is one of the world's best-known family dogs. They also are well known for bird hunting on land and in the water. They also serve as police helpers in narcotics detection, a guide for the blind, therapy dog, and service dog for the disabled.
Because of his great desire to please and capacity for love and learning, the Golden Retriever is one of the friendliest and most useful dogs in the world.
. Goldens rank #4 out of the 79 AKC recognized breeds, for Obedience/Working Intelligence. The ideal Golden is a calm, responsive, affectionate animal who can be utilized in almost any role (save guard dog...though they are outstanding watch dogs, their trusting and gentle nature makes it virtually impossible to train the "non-abused" Golden for this role).
The breed was first developed in the British Isles Lord Tweedmouth, of Inverness
Shire, Scotland, wanted to breed the perfect dog. The characteristics he wanted were a dog which was intelligent, loyal, attractive, perceptive, and (since as with many British nobels, Lord Tweedmouth was a hunter) was a powerfully-built, agile, hunting dog that could retrieve waterfowl under conditions of extreme wet and cold. The end result was the Golden Retriever.
Although there are many wonderful dogs in the world, the Golden Retriever is difficult to match in most areas.
The Beauty of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a beautiful, sturdy, well-proportioned dog with a feathered, medium-length, cream to golden-colored coat. (The coat is not suppose to be red.) Their outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is dense.
They have a strong, broad head with a tapering, but wide, powerful muzzle. It has a scissors bite and a clear frontal stop. They have a black nose, and soft, dark eyes that are brown with dark rims. Their ears are medium-sized and pendant. Its neck and thighs are muscular and the chest is broad. They have a long, straight tail.
The Character of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent dogs with a great charm. Loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding family dog. Golden Retrievers enjoy pleasing their masters, so obedience training can be fun. They excel in obedience competitions.
This breed needs to be around people to be happy. If isolated from human contact, or left alone for long periods of time, the Golden Retriever may become mischievous and tear things up around the house. They can be over-exuberant and distractible.
Because they care so much about their owners, they make tremendous companions and are among the easiest breeds of dog to train. Many schools training guide dogs for the blind choose Goldens as their preferred breed. A Golden Retriever puppy will be happy in close association with you and will benefit from and enjoy obedience training.
The Golden Retriever's Ideal Environment
This breed will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised, but they are large as they get older with wagging tails that tend to knock things over. They do best in a large yard where they have room to romp and play. They enjoy playing with balls and sticks, so exercising is fairly easy. They need to have exercise daily or they may have difficulty maintaining the "calm house pet" role expected by most owners.
The Golden Retriever's Companions
Golden retrievers are easily trained, and always patient and gentle with children. Although Goldens are exceptionally good with children, a young child should not be expected to assume the total responsibility of properly training any dog. A young puppy soon grows to his adult size. Though physically mature, he can be very rambunctious and quite a handful for the strongest and most patient adult.
Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. They are more likely to lick a stranger than growl at him and scare him away. They do, however, tend to bark as a form of greeting in a loud and intimidating fashion.
They do not do well away from the family, left in a kennel run or in a garage, and certainly not tied up outside. They are a people-oriented breed, and will want to spend time with you every day.
Grooming the Golden Retriever
Goldens are a luxuriously coated breed and shed a minimum of twice a year. Because of their coat, brushing every other day is to your advantage. If you require a meticulously clean house, don't get a Golden Retriever. You will always have dog hair around, especially on rugs, furniture, and clothes; one time I left a friend's house with leftovers only to discover a reminder of friendly pup in my food! They shed indiscriminately and they can't help it.
The smooth, medium-haired double coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, paying particular attention to the dense undercoat. Dry shampoo regularly, but bathe only when necessary.
The Golden Retriever's Health
Golden retrievers live an average life of about 14 years. They are prone to hip dysplasia. The term hip dysplasia means poor formation of the hip joint, and describes a developmental disease in young dogs of many different breeds. Unsound hip joints are a common problem in the larger breeds, and hip dysplasia can be a serious problem in any dog that is to be trained for a demanding activity. Hip dysplasia is an inherited defect which is believed to have a polygenic mode of inheritance.
Hereditary cataracts are a common eye problem in Golden Retrievers. ("Cataract" is defined as any opacity within the lens of the eye.) At least one type of hereditary cataract appears at an early age in affected Goldens, and while these may or may not interfere with the dog's vision, some do progress into severe or total loss of vision.
Skin allergies are also common in Golden Retrievers and require immediate veterinary attention. Some dogs also have a seizure if exposed to just a speck of chocolate. Remember this if you have small children in the house!
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