Golden Retrievers

About ten years ago, I bought my mom a Golden Retriever . She's not up to breed standard , but even so, she's been an excellent dog. We never had any AKC papers on her, but she was bought strictly as a companion dog, so that doesn't really matter.

If you are looking into buying one for show or breeding, then you do want it to be up to AKC standards. A physical description of the Golden Retriever begins with the coat. To be considered up to standard, it should only range in color from cream to golden. It should not be a red color, which is what Shadoe, my mom's dog is. This dog should also be sturdy, well-proportioned with a broad head and a wide muzzle that tapers down. The coat will be feathered and medium length. It does have a double coat - the outer is meant to repel water and the dense undercoat is meant to keep them warm. A good Golden will have a clear frontal stop with the correct scissors bite - never a drastic over or under bite. The nose should be a nice, solid black and the dog's eyes will be brown with dark rims and should show a sweet expression. Ears should hang like pendants and are medium-sized. The dog's body will be fairly muscular, but not overly muscular, and he should have a nice, broad chest. The tail should be long and straight, not curved. Males will grow to a height of about 22 to 24", while females will be 20 - 22". Males will weigh an average of 60 to 80 pounds and females 55 to 70 pounds.

The temperament is probably what attracts most people to this dog. They are very lovable and well-mannered. My mom's dog is no exception to that rule. She is the sweetest thing. On the other hand, one of my best friends was attacked by a Golden several years ago. I'm not sure what the circumstances were, but just keep in mind, not all dogs live up to the temperament standards. You also have to consider how the dog has been treated in the past. If you are adopting an older dog that comes from an abusive situation, you may really have to work with him to gain trust. Temperaments can always vary no matter what the AKC description is.

They are very intellegent and charming and are usually easy to train. For the most part, they are patient and gentle with children and make great family dogs. They get a joy out of pleasing their owners, are loyal and very confident of themselves. They need to be kept active so that they do not start in on bad behaviors such as tearing things up. Don't get a Golden if you are looking for a guard dog. This is not a natural instinct and usually won't attack. They do bark to alert their owners of people on the property, though. Shadoe has shown aggressive behavior at times to strangers that come to my mom's door. Although she's never attacked anyone, if someone tried to hurt my mom, she just may become a fierce dog. That's not something I want to find out, but I do feel better knowing Shadoe is there.

These dogs can be very stubborn and needs to have consistency in order to behave properly. The owner must make sure that the dog knows who's in charge. He can also be a very mischevious dog and high strung if not taken for daily walks or daily exercise. He will demand your attention, so be prepared to set time aside daily to focus just on the dog.

Goldens are very talented dogs. Of course, hunting, tracking, and retrieving is well known for the breed. But they are also used in drug searches, search and rescue missions, are excellent at agility, performing tricks and swimming.

This breed also comes with it's share of health concerns. Just to name a few: hip dysplasia, congenital eye defects, heart problems and skin allergies. Shadoe experiences skin allergies a lot. It was so bad this past summer that she lost some weight and lost a lot of hair. Her skin became dry and flakey. The vet had to put her on some allergy medication to get it under control. She looks much better now, but still tends to have skin rashes from time to time. Another health problem that Goldens may have is called Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD). This is an inherited bleeding disorder, which affects the ability to clot the blood correctly.

As with any other breed, always research the breeder to make sure they are good. If you get one from a puppy mill, your chances go up of having a dog with severe health problems. If you adopt, just make sure you know what history you can learn of the dog. Make sure you are prepared to care for a sick dog if the history is bad. Special needs dogs need loving homes just like healthy dogs. So, you may want to consider what you are prepared to commit to before getting one.

Goldens can adapt to living anywhere - from the country to the city. As long as you are willing to commit to a daily exercise routine. This is especially important if you live in an apartment. Hopefully, you will have a park nearby that you can take on a daily, brisk walk or go to jog. These dogs do well running with a bike, also. Have a ball or frisbee ready to play, with as well. Remember, they love attention and will behave very well if given it. Exercise is also important because they will be obese from over eating. Make sure you monitor how much food is given each day. The best thing to do is to feed two to three times a day in small amounts.

You can expect to have your dog for ten to twelve years, on average. So, this is a long-term commitment. Grooming is not that difficult. Use a firm bristle brush and make sure to get down to the undercoat. Using a dry shampoo is fine, but only bathe when really needed. That way, you don't over dry the skin. Goldens are an average shedder, but brushing daily during shedding can help to cut back on the mess in your house.

The history of this breed is pretty interesting. It was develped by Lord Tweedmouth of the Scottish Highlands in the 1800's. He took a yellow Flat-coated Retriever and crossed it with the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. Throughout the years, other breeds were infused as well - other types of Spaniels, Setters, Newfoundland and maybe even some Bloodhound. When the Golden was first shown, it was called the Golden -Flat Coat.

We now have today's beautiful Golden Retriever, which happens to be one of the number one companion dogs in the country. They excel at agility and obedience competitions and are used as bird dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs and service dogs. They are in the AKC's Sporting Group.

Golden Retriever's are a very well-rounded breed- used for many things and they usually do everything well. They are great dogs to have around just for a companion, as well. I do hope that before you make that decision you consider everything I have mentioned. You may also want to do further research. Talk to owners of Goldens and see what they think. No matter what you do, always be knowlegable about your breed.