Golden Retriever dog
- Related Topics:
- guide dog
- retriever
- sporting dog
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Golden Retriever dog, breed of sporting dog developed in Scotland in the 19th century as a gundog and water retriever to assist hunters in recovering game birds. Typically a strong and hardy all-around dog and an excellent swimmer, it stands 21.5 to 24 inches (55 to 61 cm) at the withers and weighs 55 to 75 pounds (25 to 34 kg). Its thick coat is long on the neck, thighs, tail, and back of the legs and may be any shade of golden brown. The Golden Retriever was first shown in England in 1908 and was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1925. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. The breed is noted for being friendly, gentle, and willing to work, and it makes an excellent family pet. Golden Retrievers also have been trained as guide dogs for the blind.
| Golden Retriever breed facts | |
|---|---|
| other names | Golden |
| area of origin | Scotland |
| breed group | sporting |
| height at withers | 21.5–24 inches (55–61 cm) |
| weight | 55–75 pounds (24–34 kg) |
| life span | 10–12 years |
| Did you know? | All Golden Retrievers can be traced back to a litter born in 1868 at Guisachan House, owned by Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, in the Scottish Highlands. Gerald Ford’s Golden, named Liberty, was often photographed at the White House during his presidency. |
Care and upkeep
Although the Golden Retriever needs at least an hour of strenuous exercise daily, much of this can be met with games of fetch and other retrieving activities. It is a good companion for hiking and cool-weather jogging. Though generally not suited for marathons, Golden Retrievers can complete them with proper training and care that guards against overheating. Despite the dog’s obedience from a distance, off-leash exercise for the Golden Retriever should only be done in fenced areas or road-free areas; the Golden Retriever needs a fenced yard at home. It is a water-loving dog that enjoys swimming, but care must be taken not to let it swim to the point of exhaustion. The breed requires mental stimulation and challenges, which can be met by agility exercises, play, and field training that can include pointing, trailing, flushing out prey, and retrieving. The breed is one of the most versatile in competitive events, excelling at obedience, agility, tracking, retriever field trials, and dock diving (in which a dog leaps from a dock into the water to retrieve an item).
Coat care consists of twice-weekly brushing (which should increase during shedding season) and occasional bathing. As with all large breeds, it is advisable to feed puppies a large-breed puppy food to slow the rate of growth, which also lessens the danger of hip dysplasia. Golden Retrievers are somewhat prone to obesity, so their diet should be monitored.
Temperament
The Golden Retriever is well known for being outgoing and eager to please, and it is an enthusiastic retriever both on land and in the water. The breed is among the most obedient, consistently winning in standardized obedience, agility, and field trials. However, Golden Retrievers can initially be difficult to train, as they can be easily distracted during early training attempts. Without training, the breed can be difficult to walk on a leash because of its eagerness to investigate or play. Part of being a successful retriever is being able to follow directions from a distance, and Golden Retrievers are very good at this when given appropriate training.
The breed is very playful and affectionate with its family and fairly friendly toward unfamiliar people and dogs. It is energetic when appropriate for play or training, but it calms down when it is time to rest. Golden Retrievers make fairly good watchdogs but poor protection dogs. (Although generalizations about dog breeds are well established and widely accepted, individual dogs may differ in behaviour from others of their breed.)