Golden Retriever dog breed
- Last updated: February 7. 2022
- Categories: Dog breeds, Large dogs, Long hair, Sporting dogs
- Post views: 750
Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. This quite large Sporting dog is calm and loving by nature with everyone it encounters. They are also gentle towards children, one of the many reasons the Golden Retriever is such a great choice for a family dog. They do shed a lot though, so they might not be the best choice for individuals sensitive to dog hair, or generally don’t like dog hair everywhere. Bred to travel long distances with hunters, the Golden Retriever has a moderate energy level and exercise requirement. Further down you can keep exploring the most important traits of this beloved breed
M: 58 - 61 cm / 23 - 24 inches
F: 53 - 58 cm / 21.5 - 22.5 in
M: 29 - 34 kg / 65 - 75 lbs
F: 25 - 29 kg / 55 - 65 lbs
Healthy dogs of this breed lives
average between 10 to 12 years
Sporting: Active and alert highly trainable assistant dog breeds
Golden Retriever general info
The Golden Retriever dates back to England in the 1800s. The man who made this kind and loving dog was a chap named Lord Tweedmouth. By breeding a Belle with a Nous, the Golden Retriever saw daylight. A dog that could push through dense vegetation, swim in cold water and retrieve birds and prey. This new breed made its way to America at the beginning of the 1900s, by Lord Tweedmouths sons. In 1927 it was recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club, thus gaining its official breed status. Today the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dogs in America, as pets, show dogs, and obedience competitors. Although they are not used much for hunting these days, their instincts are still there. They love playing games that involve fetching items, like sticks, as well as carrying them around in their mouths
Golden Retriever appearance
The Golden Retriever is a large-sized dog that can weigh up to 34 kg / 75 lbs and have a height of 61 cm / 24 inches from the floor and up to the shoulders. They have a broad slightly rounded skull with small ears and a well-defined stop. The colors should be variations of golden, hence their name, with a thick tail they carry near horizontal. Golden Retrievers are long-haired dogs that have two sets of coats, their undercoat is water-resistant, with a straight or wavy outercoat. Together, these two coats protect the dog from the weather, be it hot or cold, snowy or rainy. Disqualification reasons for show dogs of this breed are height deviations of more than 1″, and undershot or overshot bite
Golden Retriever temperament
Golden Retrievers love everybody, and everybody loves them. Well-trained Goldies are calm and mannered at home and enthusiastic when invited to play. They get along with everybody, strangers, other dogs, and other animals. They are affectionate and loving creatures that are gentle with children. These traits make the breed an excellent choice as a family dog. As with all dog breeds, not just Golden Retrievers, socialization with humans and other dogs should start early to teach the dog how to behave when encountering strangers and other dogs. Signing up for a puppy class is the first step along the way to get a companion that reacts to the world around it in a healthy well-behaved way. Larger veterinary clinics usually offer puppy classes
Golden Retriever breed health
Golden Retrievers are generally a healthy breed, as long as they come from reputable breeders and not puppy mills. It is always important to do proper research on the breeders and bloodlines before getting a puppy. The most concerning health issues that Golden Retrievers may suffer from are hip dysplasia, skin conditions, chest conditions, cancer, and Von Willebrand disease. As with all dog breeds, they are also prone to developing certain common diseases. This can include eye problems, skin allergies, orthopedic problems, and ear infections. Regular wellness checkups at the vet should be done at least once a year to track the dog’s development and catch any potential health issues early on, which improves the chances of treatment
Breed shedding and grooming
Golden Retrievers are known for their heavy shedding. They shed all year round, with spring and autumn being the worst periods. Expect to find dog hair everywhere from your good boy. Frequent brushing will help reduce the amount of hair floating around the home, also preventing the coat from getting tangles and mats. Keeping the dog on meat-rich dog foods also helps reduce the shedding amount and prevents dry skin. Meat is digested and absorbed quickly, promoting better overall health in your furry little buddy. If your dog is subject to excessive shedding, contact your local veterinarian and ask for guidance and hear with them if the dog should come in for a checkup
Golden Retriever barking level
Golden Retrievers are quite silent dogs, they mainly only bark if they have something important to tell you. At least it’s important to them. When they do bark, they have a quite loud and deep bark. Common reasons for dogs barking are protection, alerting, being bored, fear, seeking attention, separation anxiety, or just saying hello. You can read more about barking at this guide from WebMD Pets: Understanding why dogs bark. All dog breeds can be trained to reduce barking, another thing that should be focused on learning from an early age. There are plenty of online resources where you can learn how to reduce barking, like YouTube, online courses, and websites you can find by Googling. You might also want to shop for books that address this issue too
Golden Retriever dog training
Golden Retrievers are very intelligent dogs that can be learned to do just about anything. Due to their high trainability level, Golden Retrievers are commonly used as assistant dogs and guides for the blind, and contraband sniffers for law enforcement. As with all dog breeds, training should start at an early age and should be done in a distraction-free area after a walk when the dog has burned off energy. The first step on the long road is signing up for a puppy class, here you will learn the basics about dog care and training, most classes also have supervised playtime among the puppies for socialization. You can also watch free dog training videos from professional trainers, attend online dog training courses, or maybe get yourself a nifty dog training book
Breed exercise requirements
Golden Retrievers have a moderate energy level, requiring at least one hour of exercise daily when they are adults, preferably more. Exercise can be done in the form of either walking a couple of times a day or playing games like fetch. As the Golden Retrievers were bred to travel large distances and retrieve birds, they sure love a game of fetch. This way, they get to both play and run, burning off lots of energy. If you live an active lifestyle with lots of outdoor activities, like hiking, running, biking, etc, the Golden Retriever will make an excellent companion on your adventures. As a golden rule, until the dog reaches one year of age, exercise should be limited to 5 minutes per month of age. So when the dog is 4 months old, 4 x 5Â = 20 minutes is sufficient
Caring for dogs
Grooming is not the only maintenance your dog requires throughout its life. Complete examinations at the vet should be done at least once a year for adult dogs. Puppies should come in every 3 or 4 weeks until they are around four months old. Contact your vet and they will set you up with schedules.
Trimming the claws should be done whenever they touch the ground when the dog is standing up, or make it a frequent routine to keep them short
Brushing the teeth should be done on a daily basis to prevent gum diseases. Chew bones and toys will also help strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums
Cleaning the ears to prevent ear infections is also another important part of the dog’s routine maintenance. You can have your vet show you how to do it
Socializing dogs
No matter what kind of dog breed you have, socializing it from an early age is the most important thing you can do in order to get a well-behaving buddy that reacts to the world around it in a healthy way. Until your puppy is around 16 weeks old, it should encounter different kinds of people, situations, and locations, learning that the world is a wonderful place to live. Puppies have a short developmental window in which their experiences will form their future selves. Puppies should however not be forced into situations they might feel uncomfortable with, as bad experiences may imprint and stay with the dog for the rest of the life. You can watch free videos from professional dog trainers on how to socialize your new puppy and learn how to do so the correct way
Golden Retrievers on Instagram
Here are some pictures of the Golden Retriever on Instagram. See even more pics of this breed by exploring #GoldenRetriever or using the Google Image Search
Video of the Golden Retriever
Here is a video of the Golden Retriever from YouTube. Learn more about this loving dog from a breeder with 25 years of experience with Golden Retrievers
Frequently asked questions
References and resources
You can absorb more knowledge about this dog breed from the resources below. Websites, books, and social media sites where you can ask dog owners questions
