| So you are interested in acquiring a Golden | | | | Goldens should be socialized and obedience trained |
| Retriever because you think it is a friendly and | | | | when they are puppies. On the other hand, young |
| good looking dog breed and you have heard that | | | | children also must be supervised as the Golden is |
| it behaves well with children. Well you are right in | | | | so docile it will let them do almost anything to it - |
| that the Golden is one of the best family-oriented | | | | even dress the dog up like a doll. Goldens also |
| dogs in the world as well as being one of the best | | | | have a tendency to mouth everything and |
| looking and friendliest of the retriever dog breeds. | | | | everybody so they should be provided with lots |
| However, to simply limit the Golden's description | | | | of toys to carry around. The friendly Golden, with |
| to child-friendly and good looking is to do the dog | | | | its constantly wagging tail, will clear coffee tables |
| breed a major disservice. The Golden Retriever is | | | | wherever it walks. Goldens should be given regular |
| one of the most versatile dog breeds known to | | | | exercise, not too vigorous, several times a day |
| man. This retriever is a good hunting dog, guide | | | | when they are young. After the Golden is fully |
| dog for the blind, narcotics dog, as well as an | | | | grown it can be taken jogging, hiking or biking. |
| outstanding competitor in agility, retriever field | | | | These retrievers love to swim whenever possible |
| trial, and obedience competitions. The versatile | | | | and if given enough exercise can adapt to most |
| Golden manages all this while being an outstanding | | | | living conditions. |
| family dog. The list of superlatives that can be | | | | If you are seriously interested in acquiring a |
| used to describe this breed are endless, but we | | | | Golden Retriever then you should check with your |
| can limit ourselves to: gentle, confidant, loyal, | | | | national pure-bred dog organizations such as the |
| cheerful, trustworthy, active, friendly, intelligent, | | | | American ( or Canadian Kennel ( Clubs to look for |
| eager to please and responsive to training. It is | | | | conformation shows in your area. Make sure you |
| these last three characteristics that enable the | | | | talk to owners and breeders at these shows to |
| Golden to be trained to such a high-level for work | | | | see if your lifestyle is really suited to this breed. |
| and competition. Additional information on activities | | | | Additional information on Goldens and on specific |
| for dogs can be found in my article Fun Dog | | | | shows and competitions in your area can be |
| Activities. | | | | found by checking with the national Golden |
| The origin of the Golden can be traced back to | | | | Retriever Clubs. In the US it is the Golden |
| mid-19th century Britain. A Scotsman, Sir Dudley | | | | Retriever Club of America ( and in Canada it is |
| Marjoribanks later Lord Tweedsmuir, developed | | | | the Golden Retriever Club of Canada ( Both of |
| the breed both as a land hunting dog and a water | | | | these umbrella organizations will point you to the |
| retriever. The breeding records show that the | | | | local chapter closest to your home that will be |
| Golden has a mixture of sporting dog breeds in its | | | | able to provide you with information on reputable |
| lineage. These breeds include the wavy-coated | | | | breeders. They can also provide you with |
| Retriever, the yellow Tweed Water Spaniel, the | | | | information on Golden Retriever rescue |
| Irish Setter and the sandy-colored Bloodhound. | | | | organizations in case you wish to obtain an adult |
| The resulting line of Golden Retrievers was | | | | dog. |
| officially recognized as a pure-bred breed in Britain | | | | The national Golden Retriever clubs are dedicated |
| in 1913 and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in | | | | to improving the bloodlines of Golden's and |
| 1925. The Golden's water-repellant coat may be a | | | | eliminating and reducing the incidence of inherited |
| rich shade of gold or a lighter cream color. The | | | | diseases. These clubs will encourage you to ask |
| coat is easy to care for and only requires weekly | | | | the breeder for the health clearances appropriate |
| combing and brushing except when shedding. Male | | | | for Goldens. Goldens are a fairly robust and |
| Goldens are fairly large and stand 23 to 24 inches | | | | healthy dog breed that can be expected to live |
| tall at shoulder height and weigh from 65 to 75 | | | | for 10 to 14 years. Unfortunately, because of the |
| pounds. Females are smaller and stand 21.5 to | | | | dog breeds popularity some backyard breeders |
| 22.5 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh from | | | | and puppy mills are producing defective and even |
| 55 to 65 pounds. The popularity of the Golden is | | | | aggressive representatives of the breed. |
| not due to its prowess as a hunting dog or its | | | | Common health problems include: inherited |
| ability to be trained to a high-level for work and | | | | musculoskeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia and |
| competition. It is largely based on its popularity as | | | | elbow dysplasia; eye diseases such as progressive |
| a family-oriented dog breed. The Golden was | | | | retinal atrophy and juvenile cataracts; sub aortic |
| ranked 2nd out of 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC | | | | stenosis (SAS) heart disease and hypothyroidism. |
| registrations. | | | | Information on these inherited diseases can be |
| It isn't, however, all smiles and chuckles when | | | | found in my article Hereditary diseases . Before |
| raising a Golden. The Golden Retriever remains | | | | you buy that irresistible Golden puppy, make sure |
| goofy and puppy-like for several years. This can | | | | you ask the breeder for the Orthopedic |
| be amusing but it can also be frustrating. Young | | | | Foundation for Animals (OFA) results and the |
| Goldens tend to be overly exuberant and you | | | | Canine Eye Registry (CERF) recent |
| must supervise young toddlers around them in | | | | ophthalmologists report for the breeding sire and |
| order to avoid toddler knock down. Therefore | | | | dam. |