Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a firm favourite around the world when it comes to dog breeds, most probably because of their good temperaments. Versatile and affectionate, they are the perfect working and family companions.
Life expectancy |
The Golden Retriever has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years |
Temperament |
|
Size |
Medium
|
Adult size |
Female
Between 20 and 22 in
Male
Between 22 and 24 in
|
Adult weight |
Female
Between 53 and 62 lb
Male
Between 62 and 71 lb
|
Coat colour
The Golden Retriever’s coat can be any shade of yellow, ranging from cream to dark gold. Some white hair can be seen on the chest, but red or mahogany shades are forbidden. |
Sand |
Type of coat
The hair is mid-length. The top-hair is flat or wavy with fringes and the undercoat is tight and provides good waterproofing. |
Long Wavy |
Eye colour
His eyes are brown, the edge of his eyelids are dark. |
Brown
|
Purchase price |
The Golden Retriever costs between £820 and £1000 |
In addition to being an excellent hunting, companion, and guide dog, the Golden Retriever is also used by search and rescue teams or by police units to detect drugs and explosives due to his unrivalled tracking capabilities.
Goldens are very well known for their "soft mouth", which enables them to grab a victim's arm without hurting them. In fact, it is said that Goldens can pick up raw eggs without even cracking them!
More details about the Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever: Origins and history
Originally from Great Britain, the recognition of the breed is quite recent since it dates back only to 1931; but we know practically nothing of his history. Only legends are known: the most famous one says that in 1858 Lord Tweedmouth bought a couple of Caucasian Shepherds that he had seen working in a circus. Eventually, he kept only the golden puppies to fix the recessive personality of the parents. Another theory argues that the breed originated from the cross between a sandy-coloured dog from St. Hubert (Bloodhound), and a Tweed Water Spaniel that’s now extinct. Other authors still argue that the ancestor of the breed was a yellow dog born from a cross between this water Spaniel and a Flat-coated Retriever.
FCI classification of the Golden Retriever
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Group 8 - Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs
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Section 1 : Retrievers
Golden Retriever: Characteristics
Golden Retriever: Behaviour
Training a Golden Retriever
The Goldie is very easy to educate since he will want and need to please his master. Due to his docile nature, he will be eager to learn if the methods employed are respectful of the principles of positive education.
Education should be initiated in puppyhood. Throughout his first 20 weeks of life, his brain will be super-busy. He will need to learn and be stimulated so that his natural abilities develop.
Instinctively, the Retriever puppy will look for a person to count on, which is a role that his owner should fill in order to guarantee the beautiful balance of this breed.
Golden Retriever: Lifestyle
Breed compatibility Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever: Purchase price
The price of a Golden Retriever varies depending on his origins, age and gender. An average of £1000 is to be counted for a dog registered with the Kennel Club.
The average monthly budget ranges between £35 and £45. This includes food and care.
Golden Retriever: Shedding
Average
This dog sheds regularly and even more heavily during moulting periods, especially in the spring.
Golden Retriever: Grooming
Maintenance of this dog’s coat is not difficult but it still requires regular brushing, especially for dogs with wavy fur.
The fur can easily become tangled due to his regular activities, so daily brushing will sometimes be necessary.
In addition, special care will have to be given to his drooping ears so as to avoid and/or prevent any infections.
Golden Retriever: Health
The lifespan of this dog can be up to 12 years.
The Golden Retriever is a sturdy dog that has a good lifespan. According to several surveys, few dogs fail to reach the age of 10 years. These dogs are therefore strong and resistant.
He is rather durable, but it will still be necessary to offer him fresh water and to renew it regularly during hot weather. He also needs a place to rest in the shade.
The thick undercoat of this dog and the waterproofness of his coat allows him to withstand the weather, but be careful of freezing temperatures.
Since he is friendly and cheerful, we often tend to please this dog by giving him some treats here and there. However, it is important to be vigilant because the Golden Retriever is particularly sensitive to becoming overweight and could quickly suffer from obesity.
Contrary to common misconceptions, "chubby" dogs are not healthy dogs. Adjusting daily rations is of prime importance to maintain a good physical condition and to avoid excesses.
- Predispositions to cancers (hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, localized mastocytoma)
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Cataract
- Progressive retinal atrophy/Degeneration Ocular Allergies
- Ear infections
- Skin diseases (dermatitis, vitiligo, furunculosis, folliculitis, ichthyosis)
- Hepatitis by copper toxicosis
- Risk of "broken tail" if the tail is not dried well after water contact
Do you want a Golden Retriever dog ?
Frequently asked questions
Are Golden Retrievers good family dogs?
Golden Retrievers are arguably the best family dogs in the world! They are friendly, gentle, patient, playful - making them excellent companions for kids. This doesn't mean that you should fully trust your dog alone with your children, though. Make sure you always supervise interactions between them.
Find out how to introduce your dog to your baby!
What is bad about Golden Retrievers?
Golden Retrievers may not be for everyone. Though they are incredibly well-tempered, they need a lot of exercise. A happy Golden is outdoors 1-2 hours a day! Golden Retrievers are also very heavy shedders, so if you're a fan of cleanliness, they may not be the breed for you. Finally, their biggest fault might be that they are predisposed to a variety of health issues, and often are taken away from us sooner than we'd like.
Find out what you can do to prevent health issues in your pet.
Is the Golden Retriever a healthy breed?
Goldens are not an unhealthy breed, but they're not a particularly healthy one either. Over-breeding due to their popularity has lead to many health issues making their way into the breed's genetics. This causes them to suffer from health problems ranging from cancer to hip dysplasia. The best way to preserve your dog's health is to get your puppy from a reputable breeder registered with the Kennel Club, and then to give your dog the best possible diet, mental, and physical stimulation as possible!
Find out what kind of food is best for your pet.
Are Golden Retrievers big barkers?
No, Golden Retrievers are a relatively quiet breed. In fact, they’re not very good watch dogs, and they’re terrible guard dogs, since they tend to love everyone, even strangers!
Find out why dogs bark.
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