Golden Retriever Puppies:
One of the most popular dog breeds in the US is the Golden Retriever. The kind, accepting nature of the breed makes them excellent family companions, and their intellect makes them excellent working dogs.
These dogs are quite simple to teach and get along with most people and families. They get along well with children and are very loyal to their owners. Consider bringing one of these pups into your group if you’re looking for a devoted, caring, and intelligent friend.
For hunters, tracking, detecting out illegal goods for law enforcement, and serving as therapy and service dogs, golden retrievers are excellent. They excel in canine sports like agility and competitive obedience because they are also naturally gifted athletes..
See below for a list of Golden Retriever characteristics and facts!
More about Golden Retriever breed
The Golden Retriever is among the top ten most popular dogs in the United States, which should come as no surprise. Everything is OK with the Golden; he is brilliant, social, attractive, and dependable. He is also animated. The Golden is a slow-maturing breed that, up until the age of 3 to 4, still exhibits the funny, playful demeanor of a puppy. This trait may be both endearing and frustrating. Many people continue to act like puppies well into old life.
The Golden needs daily activity, whether it be a walk or jog, some free time in the yard, a run beside a lake or the beach (Goldens love water), or a game of fetch. They were originally developed for the physically hard duty of retrieving ducks and other game for hunters. They also require a task to complete, such as getting the paper, waking up family members, or participating in dog sports, much like other clever breeds that were designed to work. A Golden who is sleepy behaves nicely.
You should be ready to incorporate your Golden Retriever in family events in addition to offering him mental and physical activity. The Golden Retriever needs to be with his “pack” since he is a family dog. If you’re not ready to have your Golden underfoot every day in the house, don’t even think about acquiring one. He is certainly not a watchdog, which is one further possible disadvantage of the breed. When outsiders approach, he might bark, but don’t bank on it. He’ll probably wag his tail and smile his characteristic Golden smile.
Highlights
- Especially in the spring and fall, golden retrievers shed a lot. Daily brushing can help remove some of the coat’s stray hair and prevent it from landing on your clothes and throughout your home. But you’ll have to get used to dog fur if you live with a Golden.
- Golden retrievers are family dogs; they must reside indoors with their human “pack,” and they shouldn’t be left outside by themselves for extended periods of time.
- Golden retrievers are energetic dogs who require 40 to 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. They like agility training, obedience training, and other canine pursuits, which are excellent ways to engage your dog in both physical and mental activity.
- Golden retrievers are lively, huge dogs who can unintentionally knock over a young child, despite the fact that they are kind and dependable with children.
- Goldens enjoy eating and will easily gain weight if overfed. Instead of leaving food available all the time, limit treats, measure your dog’s daily kibble, and feed him in regular portions.
- Due to the popularity of the Golden Retriever, many people who breed Goldens are more interested with making money off of the demand for pups than they are with raising happy, healthy dogs. Never purchase a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, a puppy mill, or a pet shop if you want a healthy dog. Find a reliable breeder that checks her breeding dogs to ensure that they are healthy and free of hereditary illnesses that they may pass on to the puppies.
Golden Retriever Personality
The golden retriever is loving, perceptive, and calm. With youngsters, golden retrievers are lively yet friendly, and they typically get along with both other animals and strangers. Because of their eagerness to please people, these dogs make excellent assistance dogs and react well to obedience training. They like working, whether it’s bringing back their guardian’s shoes or going bird hunting.
The breed is known by its gentle, calm temperament. The Golden is eager to please his owner and was raised to work with people. Although bred with a kind nature, the Golden must be reared and educated properly to make the most of his lineage, just like all dogs. The Golden needs early socialization, or exposure to a variety of people, sights, noises, and experiences when they’re young, just like any other dog. In order to guarantee that your Golden puppy develops into a well-rounded dog, socialization is important. You shouldn’t rely on golden retrievers to be reliable watchdogs because they don’t frequently bark and don’t have guard instincts. Some golden retrievers, nevertheless, will alert you if a stranger approaches.
Golden Retriever Temperament
The majority of the time, golden retrievers are kind, playful, and gentle. They are also committed, smart, and friendly. The medical director of Frey Pet Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ryan Steen, DVM, argues that golden retrievers are unique because they make the ideal family dog. From a personality standpoint, it would be difficult to find a more devoted, gregarious, and eager-to-please friend. They are ideal for backyard play with children while they are young. Most golden retrievers mature into calm, placid dogs.
Goldens have a lot of energy and need a lot of action because they were bred to be working retrievers. They thrive in a home where someone is home throughout the day to spend time with them and are best suited for owners that lead an active lifestyle. They are extremely attached to their people and struggle when left alone at home.
Golden Retriever Size
Males are 65 to 75 pounds in weight and 23 to 24 inches tall. The average female is between 55 and 65 pounds and 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall. Golden retrievers typically attain their adult weight and height by the time they are one year old.
Living With
This breed enjoys physical activity. Because they are essentially bird dogs, golden retrievers like swimming or playing fetch. Golden retrievers may adapt to any type of household, even an apartment in the city, if regular exercise is offered. Golden retrievers are thought to shed on average. To maintain a good coat, brush it once a week or so.
Living Needs
A golden retriever must reside indoors, close to the people he cherishes the most. They need to be treated as family since that is how they feel themselves. Fortunately, goldens are not concerned by movement, noise, or disturbance, making them tolerant to kids. If you don’t have much outdoor space or you live in an apartment, make sure you take your golden retriever outside frequently. A golden retriever would thrive in a sizable, fenced-in yard. The more dogs you have in the house, the better, according to golden retrievers. Goldens may be trusted among other dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals with the right introductions and training.
Golden Retriever Health
Although goldens are mostly healthy, they are susceptible to some health issues like other breeds. Even while not all Goldens will contract one or more of these illnesses, it’s still vital to be aware of them if you’re thinking about getting one.
Find a reputable breeder that will provide you with the health clearances for both of your dog’s parents if you are purchasing a puppy. Health certifications attest to a dog’s having undergone testing and been declared free of a certain ailment.
You should anticipate seeing health certificates for von Willebrand’s disease, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and Thrombopathia from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), Thrombopathia from Auburn University, and normal eyes from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) in Goldens. You can visit the OFA website to check health clearances (offa.org).
Hip Dysplasia: A heritable disorder known as hip dysplasia causes the thighbone to not fit tightly into the hip joint. Some dogs exhibit pain and lameness in one or both of their hind legs, but a dog with hip dysplasia may not exhibit any indications of discomfort. Arthritis may appear as the dog aged. The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals both provide X-ray screening for hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia in dogs should prevent breeding. Ask the breeder for documentation showing the parents have had hip dysplasia testing and have been found to be healthy if you are purchasing a puppy.
Elbow Dysplasia: It is a heritable disease that strikes large-breed dogs often. The three bones that make up the dog’s elbow have three separate growth rates, which results in joint laxity. Painful lameness may result from this. Your veterinarian can advise surgery to fix the issue or painkillers to lessen the discomfort.
Cataracts: Canine cataracts are characterized by foggy areas on the eye lens that may enlarge with time, much like in humans. They can appear at any age and, while occasionally leading to serious vision loss, they frequently do not affect vision. Breeding dogs must have a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist’s examination to be declared clear of inherited eye disease before mating. Typically, cataracts may be successfully removed surgically.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): The progressive retinal degeneration associated with PRA is a family of eye conditions. Early on in the illness, dogs develop night blindness. They also lose their ability to see throughout the day as the illness worsens. As long as their circumstances don’t change, many dogs adjust to partial or total visual loss fairly well.
Sub valvular Aortic Stenosis: The left ventricle’s (outflow) limited link to the aorta is the root of this cardiac condition. It may result in dizziness or possibly abrupt death. Your veterinarian can spot it and recommend the right course of action.
Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD): This Orthopaedic disorder, which is brought on by abnormal cartilage formation in the joints, often affects the elbows but has also been observed in the shoulders. The dog’s elbow becomes painfully stiffened to the point of being unable to bend. As young as four to nine months old, dogs can already show signs of the condition. High-protein diets or overfeeding of “growth formula” puppy food may hasten its development.
Allergies: Golden retrievers can have allergies to a wide range of things, including pollen and food. Have your Golden checked out by your vet if he is excessively licking his paws or touching his face.
Disease of Von Willebrand: This is a hereditary blood condition that prevents blood from clotting. Excessive bleeding following an accident or surgery is the prominent sign. Other signs include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and stomach or intestinal bleeding. There is presently no cure, and the sole therapy is a blood transfusion using blood from healthy dogs. New therapies, including medicine, are the subject of ongoing research. With von Willebrand’s disease, the majority of dogs may live normal lives. A vet can examine your dog and check for the ailment.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Substantial, deep-chested dogs like Golden Retrievers are particularly vulnerable to this potentially fatal illness, known as bloat, if they only have one large meal per day, eat quickly, drink a lot of water, or engage in strenuous activity right thereafter. Bloat happens when the stomach twists after being inflated with gas or air. The dog can’t belch or vomit to get rid of the extra air in his stomach, which restricts blood flow to the heart. The dog has a dip in blood pressure and shock. The dog might die if not given timely medical care. If your dog’s tummy seems enlarged, drools excessively, and retches without vomiting, suspect bloat. He could also be agitated, melancholy, listless, feeble, and have a fast heartbeat.
Epilepsy: A brain condition called epilepsy produces recurrent seizures and convulsions. To decide what medicine, if any, to give, your veterinarian will need to know how severe the seizures are and how frequently they happen.
Hypothyroidism: This is a thyroid gland problem that has been linked to a number of health issues, including epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy, dark spots on the skin, and other skin disorders. Diet and medicine are used to treat it.
Hemangiosarcoma: This extremely risky kind of cancer develops in the spleen and blood vessel lining. Most often, it affects middle-aged and senior dogs.
Osteosarcoma: Large and enormous breeds of dogs are more likely to develop osteosarcoma, a malignant bone cancer.
Golden Retriever Care
Golden retrievers love outdoor romps and are made for adventure. Your Golden will be pleased to accompany you on any hikes or jogs that you like. Goldens love to retrieve, so if you feel like throwing a ball in the backyard, they’d be more than glad to join you.
Your dog will remain calm when he returns inside if you exhaust him with 20 to 30 minutes of strenuous activity twice a day. However, procrastinating might result in behavioral issues. Similar to other retriever breeds, Golden retrievers are inherently “mouthy,” and they are happiest when they are carrying something in their jaws, such as a ball, soft toy, newspaper, or—best of all—a stinky sock.
If you’re parenting a Golden puppy, you’ll need to exercise extra caution. Between the ages of four and seven months, these dogs develop a lot, which makes them prone to bone problems. Wait until your Golden puppy is at least two years old and has fully developed joints before letting him run and play on really hard surfaces like concrete. Both common playground activities and puppy agility training are acceptable.
Golden Retriever Feeding
2 to 3 cups of superior dry food should be consumed every day, split between two meals.
NOTE: The amount of food your adult dog consumes is influenced by his size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of activity. Like people, each dog is unique, thus they don’t all require the same quantity of food. A very active dog will require more than a couch potato dog, which should almost go without saying. The kind of dog food you purchase also matters; the better the food, the more effectively it will nourish your dog and the less you will need to shake into the bowl.
Instead of putting food out all the time, keep your Golden healthy by feeding him twice a day and weighing out his food. Give him the hands-on and eye tests if you’re not sure if he’s obese. Look down at him first. There should be a waist visible. After that, lay your hands on his back with your thumbs down his spine and your fingers stretched outward. Without exerting much pressure, you should be able to feel his ribs but not see them. He needs less food and more activity if you can’t.
If you’re parenting a Golden puppy, you’ll need to exercise extra caution. Between the ages of four and seven months, these dogs develop a lot, which makes them prone to bone problems.
Golden Retriever Diet and Nutrition
Puppies of golden retrievers should follow a low-calorie puppy diet in order to prevent them from growing too quickly and raising their chance of developing bone diseases. A golden retriever adult has to eat up to 1.5 cups of dry dog food twice a day. Instead of keeping food out for free feeding, it is preferable to measure it out and serve it as meals. Depending on the dog’s size, activity level, age, and other considerations, a certain quantity may be required. You should always have access to clean, fresh water.
Keep an eye on your dog’s weight since it can decrease their lifetime and put them at risk for additional health issues. Contact your veterinarian if you find your dog is gaining weight. To keep your dog healthy, get advice on feeding times, food amounts, food types, and activity.
Golden Retriever Grooming and Coat Color
A thick undercoat and a robust, water-repellent outer coat are characteristics of golden retrievers. Some coats are straight, while others are waved. Fur has thicker feathering on the chest, rear of the thighs, and tail, as well as on the underbody and the backs of the front legs. The color of a Golden Retriever can range from pale to dark gold. Although some breeders have started marketing “unique white Goldens,” the American Kennel Club does not accept white as a breed-acceptable coat color.
To prevent their nails from breaking and developing foot issues, your dog will require nail trimming once or twice a month. By cleaning its teeth at least a few times each week, you should also assist your dog in maintaining good dental health. Check your dog’s ears frequently since they are more susceptible to ear infections because they are droopy.
In the winter and summer, golden retrievers shed lightly; in the spring and fall, they shed profusely. Living with a Golden requires you to get used to having some dog hair in your home and on your clothes.
The thick coat of the Golden requires extensive maintenance. To avoid tangling, brushing should be done at least once a week and preferably daily. In order to keep your Golden looking and smelling clean, he will also require a wash at least once a month and usually more frequently. To get rid of tartar accumulation and the germs that live inside it, brush your Goldens teeth at least two or three times every week. Even better than twice-daily brushing is prevention of foul breath and gum disease.
If your dog doesn’t naturally wear down his nails, you should trim them once or twice a month. They are too lengthy if you can hear them clicking on the floor. Nails that are short and well clipped maintain the foot in good shape. Because dog toenails include blood veins, cutting them too short might result in bleeding, which may make your dog uncooperative the next time the nail clippers are pulled out. Therefore, get advice from a veterinarian or groomer if you are unfamiliar with clipping dog nails.
Breeds with fold-over ears, like the Golden, are more prone to ear infections because they provide a warm, dark habitat for bacteria or fungus to flourish in. Every week, you should examine his ears for redness or an unpleasant smell that might be an infection. Every time he gets wet, he checks them as well. To help avoid infections, clean your dog’s ears when you examine them using a cotton ball soaked with a mild, pH-balanced ear cleanser. Simply wipe the outer ear; avoid inserting anything into the ear canal.
When your Golden is a puppy, start getting accustomed to being rubbed and looked at. Dogs are sensitive when it comes to their feet, so handle his paws regularly and examine his lips. Lay the framework for simple veterinarian checks and other handling when he’s an adult by making grooming a rewarding experience full with praise and incentives. Check your pet’s feet, nose, mouth, eyes, and skin for sores, rashes, or infection-related symptoms including redness, soreness, or inflammation when you groom them. Clear eyes without any redness or discharge are ideal. You may identify any health issues early on thanks to your thorough weekly exam.
Golden Retriever Exercise
Due to their high level of activity, goldens require regular training and exercise. A golden retriever should ideally have access to a play yard for running around in and be taken for walks a few times a day. Most dogs get along well with golden retrievers, so taking them to a free-run dog park is probably going to be appreciated. Golden retrievers have a reputation for being mouthy and carrying objects in their mouths. Provide chew toys and bones to fulfil this mouth fixation.
Golden Retriever Training
This breed like to be included in the family’s activities rather than being kept outside in the yard, where they may become lonely. They get along with everyone, thus they are not good watchdogs. For dogs, socialization is crucial, and the golden retriever does it rather readily. They ought to adapt well to a home with other dogs and cats.
A tiny child can be knocked down by a golden retriever if it becomes overexcited, despite the fact that they are gentle, calm, and like playing with children. This could terrify young children, especially playmates who are visiting and are not accustomed to a larger dog. A golden retriever is a fantastic fit for families with children as long as they are taught how to play nicely together.
Children And Other Pets
The friendly Golden Retriever enjoys the activity and noise that children make; in fact, he is not troubled by it. But because of his size and strength, the dog might easily unintentionally knock a little child to the ground.
In order to prevent biting or ear or tail tugging on either party, you should always educate kids how to approach and touch dogs. You should also carefully monitor any interactions between young children and dogs. Teach your youngster to never try to steal a dog’s food or approach a dog when he or she is eating or resting. Regardless of how nice they are, dogs and children should never be left alone. The Goldens philosophy on other animals is that the more the merrier. He likes the friendship of other dogs and can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals with the right introductions and training.
Golden Retriever History:
There was a long-standing urban myth that Russian sheepdogs purchased from a circus were the ancestors of Golden Retrievers. In actuality, the breed was created in Scotland, on Sir Dudley Major banks’ highland estate, which he eventually came to be known as Lord Tweedmouth. Like many other nobility of the time, Tweedmouth raised a variety of animals in an effort to improve various breeds. What Tweedmouth sought to achieve with the Golden is evident in his breeding records from 1835 to 1890: A gifted retriever with an excellent nose who would be more considerate of his human hunting companion than the setters and spaniels utilized at the time for retrieving—Tweedmouth was an avid duck hunter. In the house, he also wanted the dog to be obedient and calm.
Nous was brought to his Scottish home by Tweedmouth, who bred him to Belle, a Tweed Water Spaniel, between 1868 and 1871. Today’s Golden Retrievers share traits with the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniels, which were renowned for being eager retrievers in the field and incredibly placid and devoted inside. The progeny of Nousand Belle were crossed with red setters, another Tweed Water Spaniel, and Wavy and Flat-coated retrievers. Tweedmouth handed away some of the other puppies to friends and family while keeping the majority of the yellow ones to continue his breeding scheme. Unsurprisingly, the Tweedmouth breed’s abilities as hunters initially garnered notice. The International Gundog League trial was won by Don of Gerwyn, a liver-coated offspring of one of Tweedmouth dogs, in 1904.
In 1911, the English Kennel Club recognized the Golden Retriever as a separate breed. They were categorized as “Retriever — Yellow or Golden” at the time. The Golden Retriever became the official name of the breed in 1920. In 1932, the American Kennel Club approved the breed. In the United States today, the Golden Retriever is the second most popular breed.