Golden Retriever Dog Breed

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Golden Retriever

Dog Breed

The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog. They were bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties, and were named retriever ... Wikipedia

Lifespan: 10 – 12 y

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

Mass: 29 – 34 kg (Male), 27 – 32 kg (Female)

Colors: Light Golden, Golden, Dark Golden, Cream

Height: 56 – 61 cm (Male, At the withers), 51 – 56 cm (At the withers, Female)

Origin: Scotland, England, United Kingdom

The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog. They were bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties,^[1] and were named retriever because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water, and are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They are a long-coated breed, with a dense inner coat that provides them with adequate warmth in the outdoors, and an outer coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels water. Golden Retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. Although they need substantial outdoor exercise, they should be housed in a fenced area because of their instinctual tendency to roam.^[2] The dog sheds copiously, particularly at the change of seasons, and requires fairly regular grooming.

The breed is a prominent participant in conformation shows for purebred dogs. The Golden Retrievers' intelligence makes it a versatile breed and allows it to fill a variety of roles – common ones being guide dog for the blind, hearing dog for the deaf, hunting dog, detection dog, and search and rescue participant. The breed's friendly, gentle temperament means it is unsuited to being a professional guard dog, but its temperament has also made it the third most popular family dog breed (by registration) in the United States,^[3] the fifth most popular in Australia,^[4] and the eighth most popular in the United Kingdom.^[5] Golden Retrievers are rarely choosy eaters, but require ample exercise (of two or more hours a day).^[6] The breed is fond of play but also highly trainable; Augie, a Golden Retriever from Texas, holds the world record for the most tennis balls held in the mouth by a dog.^[7]

Characteristics

The Golden Retriever was first bred in Scotland. British-type Golden Retrievers are stockier than North American varieties, with thick coats and larger weights.

American Golden Retrievers is taller than the British type, but retains its thick coat.

The Canadian Golden Retriever has a thinner coat and stands taller than other varieties of Golden Retriever.

The Golden Retriever is a large, strongly-built breed with a dense water-repellant wavy coat.^[8] As a dog with origins in pedigree breeding, and due to its widespread historical popularity, some regional variations have emerged in the breed; therefore, there are three sub-types of the Golden Retriever that reflect the typical variations in dimensions and coat. However, all Golden Retrievers are blonde, yellow, or gold in colour and all sub-types are susceptible to the same health problems.^[9] Golden Retrievers also are very smart dogs who are loyal and friendly to their caregivers.

British type

British type Golden Retrievers are prevalent throughout Europe and Australia,^[10] and are distinguished from the North American lines by the official breed standards. The muzzle of the British dog is wider and shorter, and its forehead is blockier. Its legs are shorter, its chest is deeper, and its tail is slightly shorter. Due to these features, a British type usually weighs more than an American or Canadian. Males will be between 56 and 61 cm (22 and 24 in) at the withers; females will be slightly shorter, at between 51 and 56 cm (20 and 22 in). Acceptable or expected weights are not specified in the UK standard, but the KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines.^[11][12] The eyes of the European type are noted for their roundness and darkness, which is in contrast to the triangular or slanted composition of their American counterparts. A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat colour of any shade of gold or cream; red or mahogany are not permitted colours of coat. Originally, cream was an unacceptable colour in the UK standard, but the standard was revised in 1936 to include cream. At the time of this revision, it was agreed the exclusion of cream as a colour was a mistake, as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were actually lighter in colour than was permitted by the standards that were used before 1936. As with American lines, white is an unacceptable colour in the show ring.^[13] The British KC standard is used in all countries except the USA and Canada.^[12] Golden Retrievers have muscular bodies with great endurance, owing to their origins as hunting and gundogs.

American type

American Goldens are lankier and less stocky than British types. Males will stand between 23 and 24 in (58 and 61 cm) in height at the withers; females will be 21.5–22.5 in (55–57 cm). Their coat is dense and water-repellent, and comes in various shades of lustrous gold with moderate feathering. When trotting, they have a free, smooth, powerful, and well-coordinated gait; as the dog runs, its feet converge towards the centre of the line of balance.^[14] The American standard also makes requirements about the proportion, substance, head and skull, neck, body, topline, forequarters, and hindquarters; in these respects, the American type Retriever is the same as Golden Retrievers that conform to other national standards. American breeders of Golden Retrievers sometimes import their dogs from Britain, in order to take advantage of the temperament and appearance of the British types.

Canadian type

As with American Golden Retrievers, Canadians are often taller and leaner than their British counterparts. However, Canadian retrievers differ in the density and colour of their coats, which are commonly thinner and darker than those of Americans.

Golden Retrievers vary in colour, with a fair-haired dog shown here beside a mahogany one

 

A 4 months old white golden retriever

 

A light golden puppy

 

Health and lifespan

Like most large breeds of dog, Goldens have an abundance of energy and require plenty of exercise. They excel at dog agility.

The average life span for a Golden Retriever is about 11 to 12.5.^[19][20][21] Golden Retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. They should be taken to a veterinarian for yearly checkups.

Golden retrievers are known to have genetic disorders and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is common in the breed; when buying a puppy, the pedigree should be known and be examined by the OFA or byPennHIP for hip disease. Obesity is also common in the breed because Golden Retrievers love to eat. Puppies should eat about three cups of food a day and adults three to five cups, depending on the food and how active the dog is.^[15]

Common health problems

Cancer, the most common being hemangiosarcoma, followed by lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumour, and osteosarcoma, was the cause of death for 61.4% of American Goldens according to a 1998 health study conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America, making it the breed's biggest killer.^[19] A 2004 survey by the UK Kennel Club puts this number at 38.8%.^[20] Due to their large appetite and love of food, Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity. Although most puppies are screened for the disorders before being sold (by reputable breeders), hip and elbow dysplasia afflict one fifth of dogs.^[22][23] Eye diseases are also possible in the breed; cataracts are the most common eye disease in Goldens,^[22] but they can also be afflicted with progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, distichiasis,^[24] entropion,^[24] corneal dystrophy,^[24] and retinal dysplasia^[24] They may suffer from heart disease, especially subvalvular aortic stenosis^[22] and cardiomyopathy, and joint diseases, including patella luxation, osteochondritis, panosteitis, and cruciate ligament rupture. In addition to the heavy shedding they experience (and their constant lighter shedding throughout the year), Golden Retrievers can suffer from skin diseases; the most prevalent skin problem is allergies(often leading to acute moist dermatitis or "hot spots"), with the most common allergy being to fleas.^[19] They can also suffer from seborrhoea, sebaceous adenitis, and self-inflicted lick granuloma. Haemophilia^[25] and Lyme disease is possible, although the latter is not typically detected until the dog reaches the late stages of kidney failure.

Grooming

Golden retriever puppies

Golden Retrievers require regular grooming and an occasional bath.^[26] They should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during heavy shedding. They should be bathed every two months. Their coats shed somewhat during the year, but are known to shed profusely twice a year. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or ear infections might occur. While shedding is unavoidable, 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.

Activities

A Golden Retriever dock jumping

The Golden Retriever's eagerness to please has made it a consistent, top performer in the obedience and agility rings. Its excellent swimming ability makes it proficient at dock jumping. A natural retrieving ability means it is also competitive in flyball and field trials.^[27]

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'.^[28]

Since Golden Retrievers are so trainable, they are used for many important jobs, such as guide dogs for blind people, drug or bomb sniffing at airports, or helping to rescuing people from earthquakes and other natural disasters.^[15] This breed is also used in water rescue/lifesaving, along with theLeonberger, Newfoundland and Labrador Retriever dogs; they are used at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguard.^[29]