Golden Retriever
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006
Golden Retriever Appearance: The Golden Retriever is beautiful, athletic, graceful and friendly. This medium to large sized dog stands solidly at a height of 20 to 24 inches, has a wide chest and long tail. The Golden Retriever has a medium length coat and can have a color of blond, cream, golden, dark golden and butterscotch that is feathered or straight and is weatherproof. The undercoat is thick and soft. They have a wide head that tapers with soft and medium sized ears that flop over. They have brown eyes and dark rims and a black nose. You might say the main attention getter of the Golden Retriever is its beautiful coat - and with that comes a lot of shedding. But..no dog is perfect, right? Read on and see…
Golden Retriever Temperament: Not only do Golden Retrievers have a beautiful appearance, they also have a beautiful personality. This loyal dog breed is full of energy and desires to please its owner. Golden Retrievers are very smart and easy to train. Ever wonder why they are called Retrievers? Well, they love to retrieve, fetch and play. They also enjoy swimming and make a great companion for hunting or similar outdoor activites. They love companionship, so it is best not to leave them alone - otherwise they may get a bit nutty. On one hand they can make a good watchdog as they will bark when a stranger comes near. On the other hand, they are so friendly they will rarely attack. This sweet dog breed does very well with children and is also used often as a service dog for the handicapped. They also do well with other dogs. Golden Retrievers have so many great qualities, it is likely to be a very loved member of your family and a dog you will enjoy for years.
Golden Retriever Health: Golden Retrievers typically weigh between 55 to 80 pounds and have a life span of 10 to 13 years. Some health concerns include skin allergies, heart problems, hip dysplasia, cataracts, epilepsy, arthritis and thyroid problems. They should be checked for Von Willebrand’s disease. As with all dog breeds, take your Golden Retriever to the vet on a regular basis to maintain optimum health.
History of the Golden Retriever: Unlike other breeds, the origin of the Golden Retriever is more well known. The Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the 1800’s. He kept very good breeding records and it is believed the breed came from crossing a Tweed Water Spaniel and a Yellow Retriever. He wanted a dog breed that could endure extreme weather conditions and one that could retrieve for hunting purposes. The breed was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1900’s as a Retriever, and later the name was officially changed to Golden Retriever. It is now considered one of the most popular breeds in the United States and because of its great learning abilities is a favored breed to help the handicapped.
Golden Retriever Breed Group: Retriever, gundog, sporting
Video: A touching tribute to Rookie and Carolyn Scott, Canine Freestyle dance partners. A very, very well done tribute…
Are you the proud owner of a Golden Retriever? Please leave a comment below to add your thoughts about this dog breed. Also, if you have a web site or video featuring your Golden Retriever, leave that as well.