Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a large dog that is often mistaken for a Labrador Retriever. They were bred to be hunting dogs that would retrieve water fowl. They turned into well loved family companions. They are easy to train and will work hard to please their owners.

These natural swimmers enjoy the water and love to be outside romping with an active family.

Size

The breed is a large size breed they can weigh up to 75lbs for a male and 65lbs for a female. This is a physically strong breed that is muscular and well built. They stand about 24inches for males and 22inches for females.

Coat and Grooming

The Golden Retriever has a double coat. The thick under layer provides a layer of additional warmth and water proofing. The outer layer can be straight or wavy. They shed through out the year so good grooming is a necessity. A weekly bath and a good brushing every few days will help to keep shedding in check. The coat on the British version and the American version of this dog differs slightly. The British version has a shorter tail and the coat tends to be shorter than the American counterpart.

Color

The color of the Golden Retriever ranges from a pale yellow to a deep golden color. Some of the unacceptable colors by the AKC are black and red. True bred Golden’s have black noses those with noses that are of different color or that have less pigment are thought to be mixed somewhere along their lines.

Puppies are usually much lighter than they will be as adults. As the dog ages it is common to see some white around their muzzles and on the tips of their ears. The shade of color may show some variance but there should be no spotting, saddling or other markings that are noticeable.

The Personality

This dog is the hallmark of what makes a great family pet. They have very gentle temperaments with both family members and strangers. They tolerate children very well and are typically not aggressive to other animals.

They get along well with both people and other pets. They are confident and intelligent. They are easily trainable. They display an exceptional desire to please their human companions. They do not make very good guard dogs because of their love of people.

This breed is often used in assisting the handicap as guide dogs and other companions because of their intelligence and the ease with which they can be trained. They display a constant desire to please. They are very trustworthy dogs with people, children and other animals.

Housing

This breed can thrive in both apartments and a house with a yard. They do require a moderate amount of exercise but they are a very adaptable breed. As long as you can walk your Goldie two times a day and spend an afternoon now again in the park they can live comfortably in an apartment. As a matter of fact because they are so people friendly they are very well suited for apartment living. They do not alert very much and they typically are not very big barkers.

Health

Overall the Golden Retriever experiences good health thanks to careful breeding. They can be prone to hip dysplasia and elbow troubles like most large breeds but overall they experience very few genetic diseases.

They do enjoy eating A LOT so if they do not get enough exercise there is a risk of obesity that is present. Proper nutrition in balanced amounts is very important for this breed. Additionally exercise is also hugely important to avoid the pitfalls of gaining weight. An obese Golden Retriever is a dog that is 100 lbs or more. Diabetes becomes a risk and joint problems become a risk as the weight increases.

The life expectancy is 12 years for this breed but with the proper health care and lifestyle they can live longer.

Overall

The Golden Retriever makes a perfect family companion. They can adapt to any environment as long as they have their needs met. This is a well established breed that can be a valuable and welcome addition to any family.

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