Breed Focus : Golden Retriever
Breed focus: Golden Retriever
It’s always been tough trying to hold back my love for the cute and adorable Golden Retriever. Shocking how they sometimes appear to know and understand us more than our siblings or family members. Widely recognized and currently ranked as the 3rd most popular dog in the USA by AKC out of 194, the Golden Retriever is loved by individuals and families alike.
History
The Golden Retriever was originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century at the estate of Lord Tweedmouth. They were bred as hunting dogs, for finding and retrieving game from land and water during a hunt. He spent 20 years trying to perfect a breed that would fit the rainy weather and their rough, rocky terrain, and so he crossed different breeds. A mix of a number of breeds including the Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct), the Irish Setter, the Bloodhound, and the Yellow Retriever.
Appearance and Grooming
An average Golden weighs about 55 to 75 pounds and stands between 21 to 24 inches. They come in different shades of gold, from light to dark gold and have a double coat which can be a straight or wavy coat. Having this dog as a partner means you’ll have to get yourself used to dog hairs as they shed heavy once or twice a year and on a more moderate side continuously. Not too much grooming needed but should be bathed occasionally and brushed at least twice a week.
Feeding
Make sure you give your pooch a high-quality doggy food that contains every necessary nutrient required to properly nourish the breed. Watch the food quantity you give to him and calorie intake as well, you do not want him to be obese now do you. It’s also advisable you visit a professional veterinarian if you’re worried about your dog’s diet or weight.
Temperament and Personality
The Golden Retriever dog breed is known for its friendly loyal, high in energy, gentle, and playful temperament. They have a habit of being gentle towards kids and easily get along with other pets and dogs as well. Goldens are often easy to train and tend to make a good watchdog, but lousy guard dogs because of their unaggressive nature. The Golden Retriever is friendly to everyone including strangers. Like most dogs, the Golden Retriever needs to be socialized early and exposed to different sounds, sights, people, and experiences.
Health
Golden Retrievers are generally healthy dogs, however, if you're thinking of adding one to the family, then it’s probably best you find a responsible breeder who’ll be happy to show you in black and white the health clearances for both your puppy's parents. This will show that he has been examined and cleared of a health condition. Here are some of the recommended health tests from the National Breed Club:
- Cardiac Exam
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- Elbow Evaluation
The Golden Retriever continues to be people favorite and a perfect match for family with kids. Remember early socialization is very important for the golden and they require physical and mental stimulation. Always keep an eye on them and report any concern you might have to your vet.