Everything about Golden Retriever totally explained
» For the single by Super Furry Animals, see Golden Retriever (song).
The
Golden Retriever is a large
breed of
dog, historically developed as a
gundog to
retrieve shot
waterfowl and
upland game during hunting. As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and an instinctive love of water. Their versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including
illegal drug detection,
search and rescue, as hunting dogs and as
guide dogs. Its friendly, biddable nature and patient demeanor has also made it one of the most popular family dogs (by registration) in the world today.
Description
Appearance
American type
The ideal Golden is athletic, and well balanced. It is a symmetrical, powerful, and active dog. An American Golden is less stocky and lankier than a British. A male should stand from 22–24 inch (58–61 cm) in height at the shoulders, and females should be 21.5–22.5 inch (55–57 cm) at the shoulders. The males weigh 65–75 lb. and the females weigh 55–65 lb. The coat is dense and water repellent, in various shades of lustrous gold, with moderate feathering. Excessive length, lightness, or darkness is undesirable. The gait should be free, smooth, powerful, and well-coordinated. They originated in Scotland during the late nineteenth century and were a mix of the
Tweed Water Spaniel, which is now extinct, and the Wavy-Coated
Retriever. They are considered to be one of America's favorite household pets.
Field line Golden Retrievers tend to be smaller and have a less dense coat than their show line counterparts.
British type
There is some variation between the British type Golden Retrievers prevalent throughout
Europe and
Australia, and those of American lines and these differences are reflected in the breed standards. This type is bigger-boned, shorter, with a more square head and or muzzle and are generally slightly heavier. Males should be between 56–61 cm (22–24 inch) at the withers and females slightly shorter at between 51–56 cm (20–22 inch). Weight, however, isn't specified in the UK standard. The
KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines. The eyes of American line dogs tend to be set further apart than those of English lines and can appear to be slanted and triangular in shape by comparison. A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat colour of any shade of gold or cream, however, red or mahogany are not permissible colours. Originally cream wasn't an acceptable colour in the UK standard, however, by 1936 the standard was revised to include cream. It was felt this exclusion was a mistake as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were lighter in colour than the then current standard permitted. As with dogs of American lines white is an unacceptable colour. The British
KC standard is used in all countries with the exceptions of the
US and
Canada. Some breeders of this type in
America may import their dogs to improve bloodlines.
Coat and color
The coat is dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat against the belly. The
American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing in
conformation shows. Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colors for the Golden coat. The Kennel Club (
UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat color. Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany color, referred to as "redheads", although this isn't accepted in the British show ring. As a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a darker colouration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult color. A golden's coat should never be too long, as this may prove to be a disservice to them in the field- especially when retrieving game.
Temperament
The Golden Retriever temperament is a hallmark of the breed and is described in the standard as "kindly, friendly and confident". They are not "one man dogs" and are generally equally friendly with strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor
guard dog. Any form of unprovoked
aggression or hostility towards either people,
dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and isn't in keeping with the character of the breed and as such is considered a serious fault. Nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please. They are excellent with children and this along with their other qualities has made them a favorite family pet.
As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever really loves to retrieve. Whether it's a thrown stick,
tennis ball, or
flying disc, retrieving can keep a dog of this breed occupied and entertained for hours, particularly if there's also water involved. They might also pick up and "retrieve" any object that's near to them upon their masters' arrival,thus giving the name retriever.
Goldens are also noted for their intelligence, and can learn up to roughly 240 commands, words and phrases. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children. However, as with any breed of dog, if not appropriately trained and supervised, a Golden may accidentally injure a child in play, due to their high-spirited nature.
Typically, Goldens are fairly unruly as puppies and may chew and retrieve everything in sight.
By the time they reach maturity however, Goldens will have become active and fun-loving animals with the exceptionally patient demeanor befitting a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a
hunting blind. Adult Golden Retrievers love to work, and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. They will seemingly work until collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them.
Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable -due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers- and generally excel in obedience trials. In fact, the first AKC Obedience Trial Champion was a Golden Retriever. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. It is important to note that harsh training methods will typically cause Goldens to “shut down,” therefore positive reinforcement is a more effective way to train this breed.
Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of this, they're commonly used as
guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and
search and rescue dogs.
Care
Golden Retrievers are moderately active dogs, and require a reasonable amount of exercise each day, although exercise needs may vary depending on the individual dog and its age. They are a breed that's prone to obesity, even more so than the
Labrador Retrievers, and as such the average Golden Retriever should never be treated like a small dog, or sedentary house pet. Some dogs may be too active to be easily exercised by elderly owners.
Goldens should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during heavy shedding. Their coats shed heavily the entire year, and even more excessively during shedding season, which is normally in the spring as the dog loses its thick winter coat. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or otherwise an ear infection might occur. While shedding is unavoidable with Golden Retrievers, frequent grooming (daily to weekly) lessens the amount of hair shed by the animal. Severe
shedding resulting in bald patches can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever.
Golden Retrievers are very attached to their owners. Leaving them alone in a room can cause the dog to become very sad and distressed. They have a need to always have something in their mouth, and like to carry things around. They are great athletes and must be walked daily, or that'll become restless and anxious.
History
The Golden Retriever breed was originally developed in
Scotland at "Guisachan" near
Glen Affric, the highland estate of
Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (pronounced "Marʒbanks"), later
Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, there was controversy over which breeds were originally crossed. In 1952, the publication of Majoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian
sheepdogs from a visiting
circus.
Improvements in guns during the 1800s resulted in more
fowl being downed during hunts at greater distances and over increasingly difficult terrain. This led to more birds being lost in the field. Because of this improvement in
firearms, a need for a specialist retriever arose as training setter and pointer breeds in retrieval was found to be ineffective. Thus work began on the breeding of the Golden Retriever to fill this role.
The original cross was of a yellow-colored Retriever,
Nous, with a
Tweed Water Spaniel female dog,
Belle. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct but was then common in the border country. Majoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered litter of otherwise black wavy-coated
retriever pups. In 1868, this cross produced a litter that included four pups; these four became the basis of a breeding program which included the
Irish Setter, the sandy-colored
Bloodhound, the
St. John's Water Dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black Retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for trueness to Majoribanks' idea of the ultimate
hunting dog. His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one that would still be gentle and trainable. Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned in these records, nor are any other
working dog breeds. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all
sporting dogs, in line with Majoribanks' goals.
Health
The median life span for Golden Retrievers is approximately 10 to 13 years. While the breed is recognized for its vitality, many retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. A responsible breeder will proactively minimize the risk of illness by having the health of dogs in breeding pairs professionally assessed and selected on the basis of complementary traits.
Breeding Golden Retrievers can be profitable for
puppy mills and
backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are prone to
genetic disorders and other diseases.
Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed; when buying a puppy in the US its parents should have been examined by the
OFA or by
PennHIP for hip disease.
Common diseases
Other diseases
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Bloat
Cushing's Disease
Diabetes (occasionally)
Ear Infections
Epilepsy
Hypothyroidism
Laryngeal paralysis
Liver shunt
Megaesophagus
Myasthenia gravis
von Willebrand Disease
Activities
Dog sports
The Golden Retriever's eagerness to please has made them consistent, top performers in the obedience and agility rings. Plus with their excellent swimming ability they're good at Dock jumping. The first three dogs ever to achieve the AKC Obedience Champion title were Golden Retrievers; the first of the three was a female named Ch. Moreland's Golden Tonka.
Their natural retrieving ability also sees them excel in flyball and field trials.
Rescue efforts
Because of the prevalence and prominence of the breed, high demand results in many Goldens being abandoned each year by owners who can no longer care for them. Puppy mills are another source of orphan Golden Retrievers.
These dogs, often old or in need of medical support, may end up in animal shelters.
In response to the numbers of orphan Goldens, volunteer organizations work to rescue, care for, and adopt abandoned Golden Retrievers. These rescue groups usually accept dogs from owners and establish agreements with local animal shelters to ensure that dogs will be transferred to their care rather than euthanized. Once rescued, Golden Retrievers are placed in foster homes until a permanent home is found. It is common for rescue groups to screen prospective adopters to ensure that they're capable of providing a good home for the dog. Golden retriever rescue groups have utilized the world wide web to raise funds and advertise rescued Goldens to adopters. The Golden Retriever Club of America has a permanent standing committee, the National Rescue Committee.
Famous Golden Retrievers
Abbey, pet of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Alex from Stroh Brewery Company ads
Antoinette from Ouran High School Host Club
Kaya from peru nacional champion
Bonnie, as seen on Blue Peter
Brandon, companion of Punky Brewster
Brinkley, in "You've Got Mail"
Buddy in Air Bud and its sequels
Charlie the Wonderdog from the Australian television series The Late Show
Chuutaro from Futari wa Pretty Cure
Chase, mascot of the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team
Comet from Full House
Einstein from Dean Koontzs' The Watchers
Digby from Pushing Daisies
Duke from Bush's Baked Beans commercials
Goldie, as seen on Blue Peter
Puppikins Dogchild aka Bill Griffin aka Gryphon
Hunter from Road Rovers
J.D. from Dead Like Me
Klaus Von Puppy - Jack McFarland's puppy in the sitcom Will & Grace
Levi from
Liberty, pet of Gerald Ford and Betty Ford
Lucy, as seen on Blue Peter
Luke, Layla and Gracie, Oprah Winfrey's three golden retrievers.
Maise, pet of Trent Reznor
Max the blogging Golden Retriever featured on CNN.com
Mel from Ginga Densetsu Weed
Napoleon from movie Napoleon.
Purin from Sanrio.
Shadow from and Homeward Bound II
Shelby AKA Krypto from Smallville
Star owned by Pamela Anderson appeared in the TV show Baywatch
Steeler the Stink Dog of Colorado
Trixie Koontz a retired service dog who died on June 30th, 2007, purported author of and Christmas is Good, companion of Dean KoontzFurther Information
Get more info on 'Golden Retriever'.
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