Golden Retriever Dog Breed

The golden retriever is a medium-sized family dog that loves children. The Golden Retriever is a very sweet and attractive-looking dog but is also highly regarded by the company due to its very sociable temperament. The Golden Retriever has its roots in Scotland when in the mid-18th century it was selected as a retriever of objects in water and land, for the hunting trips of the aristocrats. It is an obedient, intelligent dog with an innate willingness to work; kind, friendly, and confident. It may be subject to some hereditary diseases and, for this reason, it is advisable to buy a puppy only from breeders.

Breed Overview

Origin: United Kingdom, Scotland, England

Life expectancy: 10 – 12 years

Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Reliable, Kind, Trustworthy, Confident

Colors: Cream, Light Golden, Dark Golden, Golden

Height: Female: 51–56 cm, Male: 56–61 cm

Weight: Female: 25–32 kg, Male: 30–34 kg

Characteristics

The golden retriever is famous for its obedience. He likes his humans to be happy with him and has a strong eagerness to learn. It adapts very easily to a routine and loves to participate in all the family activities.

It is one of the quintessential family dogs in the world. Its kind and calm way of being, together with its affectionate and playful character, makes it very popular, especially in families with children. In addition, it lives with other domestic animals in harmony.

Some retriever owners joke that Golden is so friendly that instead of kicking out a thief they would help him get valuables out of the house. These dogs do not have a highly developed protective instinct.

Indeed, they are not good guard dogs, but their eagerness to work, intelligence, and docility make them excellent guides, therapy, or assistance dogs. The combination of a good sense of smell and hunting instinct makes them suitable to participate in police and rescue deployments, either as rescue dogs or detecting explosives or illegal goods.

Read also: 6 Fun Facts About Golden Retrievers

Appearance

The popularity of golden retrievers is not only based on their loving way of being but also their attractive appearance. This breed of medium-sized dog has a very well proportioned and harmonious physical complexion. The head is well-formed and has a well-defined nasofrontal depression (stop) and the dark eyes with pigmented lids give it a soft and friendly appearance. Thanks to their strong muscles and very solid bones, they are very agile dogs that enjoy moving.

Belonging to medium-sized breeds, the back height of the males is between 56-61 cm and the females, somewhat smaller, between 51-56 cm. The weight, depending on the size and sex, is between 30-40 kilos. The golden retriever’s hair is soft and wavy, but it is never curly.

The fur sticks to the back, while, on the back of the legs, in the lower part of the tail, on the chest, and on the belly, it forms fringes. Having a very dense undercoat makes them immune to cold and wet weather. The shade of the light coat varies from bright gold to a soft cream color. Sometimes white hair may appear on the chest.

History

There are several legends about the origin of the golden retriever breed. Contrary to what happens with other species, it can be said with total security that the origin of golden dates from the year 1864.

It was in that year that Britain’s Sir Dudley Marjoribanks bought the wavy-haired retriever, Nous, from a shoemaker in Brighton. This male was the only puppy with golden fur, as his brothers were all black fur. On his farm, called Guisachan, in northern Scotland, Marjoribanks (later to become Lord of Tweedmouth ) started breeding this breed.

The objective of this breeding was to achieve a retriever for hunting wild birds. In 1868 he crossed Nous with the female Belle of the tweed water spaniel breed (an extinct breed today), because the spaniel breed, in addition to liking water, is known for being a good collector of prey.

For the next twenty years, Tweedmouth crossed the descendants of Nous and Belle with other curly-haired retrievers and tweed water spaniels, as well as Irish setters and a sand-colored bloodhound. From these crosses was born what is now known as the golden retriever breed.

According to the initial purpose of the breeding, they were used to “work after the shot”, that is, their main activity consisted of collecting the hunted prey. They brought the dead animals in their mouths, without putting pressure on them. Many of these dogs were specialized in collecting waterfowl, which shows a high affinity for water. Even today, golden retrievers are excellent swimmers.

The rise of the golden retriever

Once the breed was recognized in 1913 by the British Kennel Club and eight years later the first breed club was formed, these beautiful dogs began to gain popularity in their country of origin, England, and in the United States. In the 80s and 90s, this breed experienced a boom, caused in part by various appearances in movies and on television.

This made them one of the favorite family and companion dogs, not only in the UK but in many European countries. According to the statistics of Puppies of the breed clubs, it is one of the most common dogs in Anglo-Saxon-speaking countries and Germany.

Golden Retriever health and diseases 

However, this boom brought with it several negative associated symptoms. Several greedy “multipliers”, who were only looking for easy money with these adorable puppies, crossed the dogs without planning and without taking into account their essence and their health. This resulted in typical ailments of the breed, which they still suffer today. Through selective breeding and strict admission requirements, attempts are being made to reduce their risk. The most common golden retriever diseases are:

Feed allergy

Is your Golden Retriever showing skin problems such as itching, shaking, chronic ear infections, and hair loss? Or does he suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting or gas? In both cases, a feed allergy should be considered.

An allergy, in particular the feed allergy, basically describes an over-sensitivity of the immune system to certain substances that are contained in the feed. These so-called allergens are mostly proteins that pass through the intestinal wall and then lead to an immunological reaction.

If a Golden Retriever suffers from these symptoms, the owners should use food that consists of a few different components as possible and is guaranteed to be free of allergenic ingredients (Zimmer et al. 2011).

The gastrointestinal tract can also be supported by prebiotics such as inulin (Kolida et al. 2002). If the skin is affected, essential fatty acids in the food of the golden retriever are suitable to reduce inflammation (Fritsche 2015).

Elbow dysplasia (ED)

Elbow dysplasia, which can occur in some Golden Retrievers due to a hereditary predisposition, is also favored by certain environmental influences, such as diet or exercise. The ED basically describes a disease of the dog’s elbow, which can occur in different forms. A distinction is made between OCD, i.e. osteochondrosis dissecans, a fragmented coronoid process, or an isolated anconeus process.

Also, in some Golden Retrievers, the elbow and radius bones grow unevenly, which can also lead to ED. The basic cause of the disease is cartilage that is not properly ossified in the growth phase and that has become detached and deposited in the joint. This problem occurs in some cases after trauma. The result is inflammation and arthritis in the joints, which causes pain.

The first symptoms of elbow dysplasia often show up in young golden retrievers around the age of five months, but often disappear again after the bone growth is complete. Later, the dogs often become lame after getting up but are free of symptoms during physical activities such as walks.

In order to support healthy bone growth, especially with young Golden Retrievers as they are growing, care must be taken to choose a food that has a low energy content. Excessive protein, calcium, and vitamin values ​​should also be avoided. The dog’s needs should be determined regularly and the ratio adjusted accordingly.

Hip Dysplasia (HD)

Hip dysplasia is a common disease in large dog breeds, from which the Golden Retriever is not spared. Hip dysplasia is due on the one hand to genetic factors and on the other hand to external influences such as poor nutrition and insufficient or excessive physical exertion. It occurs mainly in larger dogs and is a typical condition of Golden Retrievers (Smith et al. 2001).

HD manifests itself in a deformation of the hip joint, whereby the femoral head or the joint socket are changed in such a way that the femoral head no longer fits perfectly into the joint socket. Excessive physical stress in young Golden Retrievers, obesity, and an improper diet are aggravating environmental factors for this disease.

The symptoms of hip dysplasia depend, among other things, on the age of the patient and the severity of the disease. In dogs, pain occurs when walking or when the veterinarian feels it. A shaky gait and problems getting up are also typical signs.

In order to alleviate the symptoms and support joint health, the food for young Golden Retrievers should be tailored to their respective energy requirements. You should also pay attention to the content of other nutrients, especially the calcium and phosphorus content. These two substances have a significant influence on bone metabolism and thus on bone health.

Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease that affects a dog’s visibility. There are several forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and eventually, dogs with this eye disease go blind. While PRA is not painful, it definitely changes life and should be understood by pet owners in order to best prepare and care for a dog with the disease.

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy mainly affects the cells of the retina, called rods and cones, but also affects the pigmented layer of cells under the rods and cones. Poles allow a dog to see movement, and in low light conditions, cones can see a dog in color, and the pigmented epithelial layer helps protect and maintain these rods and cones. In PRA, these rods, cones, and/or the pigmented layer deteriorate and eventually wear out, leading to blindness. There are two main forms of progressive retinal atrophy that affect dogs, but both are considered hereditary.

Hereditary cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens. In connection with hereditary forms of cataracts in dogs, more modes of inheritance are described and it is stated that cataracts are a very common hereditary disease, occurring in more than 70 breeds of dogs. Most HC are characterized by recessive autosomal inheritance, but there are forms with autosomal dominant inheritance or polygenic inheritance. Cataracts represent the leading cause of blindness in dogs.

Hereditary cataracts are also often called primary cataracts. Secondary cataracts are forms of cataracts that accompany other eye diseases, progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, retinal dysplasia.

Cataracts in individual breeds are very specific, taking into account the part of the lesion of the lens, the age of the onset of the disease, the rate of progression, the measure of the bilateral lesion.

HC in Staffordshire Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers (in Boston Terriers this is the juvenile form of HC, this form is also assumed in French Bulldogs) is characterized by recessive autosomal inheritance. Clinical signs appear during the first year of life. The opacity always appears in both eyes (i.e., it is bilateral). The disease is progressing. This means that it worsens with age and ends with complete blindness around the third year of the dog’s life.

Golden Retriever Price

If you are interested in a golden retriever puppy, always check that the breeder has carried out all the health checks. Insist them to show you the genealogical chart and show you the impeccable state of health of the parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Unfortunately, there are still many mass breeders of this breed, who do not pay attention to the health of the dogs. Buy your puppy only from a reputable breeder and take the time to choose carefully.

The price of a healthy golden retriever puppy from a serious breeder is around $1500 and $3500. It is worth paying that price for a dog that will accompany you and your family for many years.

Compared to puppies from mass farms, a puppy from a well-controlled breeder will save you veterinary costs. The life expectancy of a golden retriever dog is about twelve to sixteen years. The probability of having many years to enjoy your quadruped is quite high.

Golden Retriever Grooming

1. Brush your dog’s coat every day. Golden Retrievers have long coats that can be straight or wavy. Since the coat is long, the dog needs to be brushed regularly so that the coat does not stray and so that the dog sheds less. Train your retriever to brush as early as possible and practice your dog’s coat every day.

   • Brush your dog’s coat with a natural bristle brush. To comb out tangles, you need a wire brush and a comb.
   • Comb the coat all over the dog’s body. Pay attention to your dog’s back, sides, belly, tail, chest, and ears. Look for fleas and ticks while brushing.
   • Look for any crusts, scratches, redness, bumps, bumps, or other lesions on your skin. If you notice anything unusual, observe the dog’s skin for a couple of days. If the formation does not go away or becomes larger, take the dog to the veterinarian.
   • Do not trim all of your dog’s coat to keep it cooler. The retriever’s double coat protects it from any weather, including extreme heat.

     Brush your dog’s teeth. Brush your dog’s teeth and check them regularly. It is best to start brushing your dog’s teeth when he is still a puppy, but an adult retriever can also be trained to brush. Don’t use humans toothpaste these pastes contain substances that can cause poisoning in a dog.

     Clean and inspect your dog’s ears. Retrievers have drooping ears, which can lead to infections. Examine and clean your dog’s ears regularly, especially if the dog has just swum.

     Nail trimming. Trim your dog’s nails when they get too long. It is time to trim the claws of the dog knocks them on the floor. If the dog is active, clipping will be less frequent.

     • Be careful not to touch the pink area at the base of the claw. There are blood vessels, and if you cut them, the dog will be hurt.
     • To avoid touching this area, cut off the very tip of the claw and check how much space is still left to the vessels. If you notice a circle on the cut piece, do not cut further, because the vessels begin immediately after the circle.
     • Wrap your finger in a damp (but not wet) piece of gauze and wipe the inside of your dog’s ears. Also, wipe the inside of the dangling ear.
     • Do not clean your dog’s ears with cotton swabs or discs deep inside.
     • Examine the ears of your dog regularly to keep earwax and dirt from building up.
     • If there is a lot of wax in the ears, discharge, or an unpleasant odor, take your dog to a doctor as soon as possible.

Routine checks

Apart from grooming their fur, their ears, eyes, feet, and teeth need routine check-ups daily. This not only makes it possible for many diseases to be identified and treated in time but also to prevent dangerous infections. With regular checks, it is easy to see any change in your canine friend and he also gets used to this care. The ideal is to accustom him from puppy to daily controls and cleanings.

Food for golden retrievers

 Food greatly influences the health of your dog. But what is the right food for this breed? Is it better to give them think or wet food? Or should home cooking be done? And how does the BARF or ACBA diet suit your dog? The offer of dog food online and in supermarkets is as varied as the opinions about what is the ideal diet for a golden retriever.

However, this question of what is the best food for a golden retriever dog does not have an absolute answer. The decision about the type of food that is right for your dog depends on individual factors such as age, size, weight, physical activity, and health. These influence energy demand and must be taken into account when choosing food. Like people, young dogs, eager to move, need more energy than an older and calm dog prone to movement overweight.

Golden retriever food

In bowl

• Beef Chunks
  – Beef green tripe
  – Beef gizzard
  – Beef lung
  – Beef spleen
  – Chicken heart
  – Chicken feet
  – Steamed broccoli
  – Ginger
  – Pomegranate
  – Milk Thistle Seeds powder

Regardless of individual criteria, the composition of the feed is the first indicator of quality. Good quality dog ​​food is important for its high meat content, which should be seventy percent or more.

The rest are vegetables, herbs, or fruits. A high grain content is unsuitable for dogs and an indication of lower quality. You will recognize good quality food by the detailed list of ingredients and the specification of the origin of the meat.

Wet food?

I think for dogs is usually the most practical solution for those who have a dog, but that does not mean that it is the best option for the dog. The feed usually lacks fluids and 100% assimilable nutrients. This does not mean that you can use it from time to time, but it is recommended that the diet is not based solely on feed.

If you have to choose between feed and wet food, the best option is wet. If you want to give him more variety, you can offer him raw meat (as in the BARF diet) or homemade dog food. In this way, you can choose the quality and composition of the nutrients.

Correct ownership for golden retrievers

With all the worry about the correct feeding and care for your retriever, you cannot forget the most important thing: love and attention. This breed is very close to people and needs to be part of the family. Being in a kennel is unthinkable for the sensitive nature of this animal. Let your golden be part of your life and above all have enough time to stimulate it physically and mentally.

Golden retrievers love to exercise. Having one of these furry energetics is intense. A daily walk is not enough, as intelligent retrievers need physical and mental challenges. You can incorporate gathering or searching exercises into your daily walks and different types of sport or dog training are also suitable to keep your faithful friend busy.

The ideal for this breed is obedience, dummy training, tracking work, or being part of a group of rescue dogs. There are many other sports and games in which they can use their good sense of smell and their desire to collect. Another thing this water-loving breed loves is to take a bath in the river, the lake, or the sea. If you don’t have any of these options on hand, you will always find a puddle or if you cannot use the garden hose.

Golden retriever training

Before taking one of these cute golden puppies you should think carefully if you have enough time for this restless and playful dog. It is not appropriate for professionals who work full time to have a retriever. These furry ones will be loving and very loyal companions for those who have the time and desire to entertain a dog and, in the best of cases, have a house with a garden.

Training a golden retriever dog doesn’t take up much space as they are easy to train, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need any education. Thanks to their eagerness to work and their obedience, they are excellent students. However, you need to be consistent and consistent. Even though your canine friend looks at you with adorable eyes and curls his tail, he needs to learn the basic commands. Do not confuse being consistent with being severe, on the contrary, you have to give orders safely, but also calmly and gently. These sensitive and close-to-people dogs need a human companion who is also calm. 

Pros

• They are very friendly, good-natured;
• Sociable, cheerful, flexible;
• Not aggressive, never come into conflict, get along with all pets;
• Patient, quiet, never barking over trifles;
• Due to its medium size, it can be kept in a city apartment;
• Devotees, faithful, very attached to the owner and family members, love to help them, serve;
• Smart, quick-witted, obedient;
• Have a good reaction, are able to make independent decisions, thanks to which they often save people in a Critical situation;
• Have a keen hearing, a keen sense of smell, can be used in hunting, in the police;
• Treat children well, tolerate all their tricks, can become a nanny for them or a playmate;
• Not prone to dominance and manipulation.

Cons