Article Title: Golden Retrievers
Author: David Beart
Originally bred to hunt in 1800s England, the golden retriever
has retained much of its natural curiosity and hunting
behaviors. The breed has maintained its standing in the top ten
most popular dog breeds in the US partly because of the dog's
gentle nature, fierce loyalty and friendly personality. They're
the quintessential family pet due to their patience with
children.
The female golden weighs approximately 55-65 pounds, and stands
a couple of inches shorter than her male counterpart, who stands
about 24 inches at the shoulder, and weighs in at 65-75 pounds.
Females tend to have smaller, more delicately-shaped heads than
males. They come in a range of colors, from deep coppery auburn
to light cream. Their coats also differ in appearance. Field
goldens, or hunting goldens, are more likely to be darker and
sleeker than show goldens, whose honey-colored coats are thick
and fluffy. Goldens have two coats: their top coats are hardy
and water-repellent, while their undercoats are thick and dense.
These dogs shed most of their undercoat in the spring, and grow
it in preparation for the chill of winter. Regular grooming can
help control excessive shedding. Their ears are soft and floppy,
but they perk up at the sound of, well, almost anything. Their
eyes are brown and very expressive.
Their bodies are very well-engineered to excel at agility
contests. Thanks to their hunting background, they're strong and
muscled, yet quick and agile. Don't let their gentle nature fool
you. They are also incredibly strong dogs. Seventy pounds of
golden on the end of a leash can take down even the strongest
person if he's not prepared.
They need plenty of regular exercise. If it were up to them,
they'd walk for hours. Daily walks, romps in the yard and trips
to the dog park can help it work off some of that golden energy,
which is never in short supply. They rarely get tired of playing
fetch. They excel at finding objects hidden in the yard. They
also love to swim, and will retrieve from water all day if you
let them.
From a temperament standpoint, goldens are extremely agreeable.
They're neither very shy nor extremely aggressive. This tolerant
nature makes them a good choice for any home, including those
with children. They're loyal and loving, as well as outgoing and
friendly. They thrive on human interaction, and are happiest
when they're around people. They never get tired of belly rubs
and head pats. In fact, if the petting stops, many of them will
nudge their masters, as if to say, "Don't stop!"
Though they're usually the center of attention, they still need
training. Their exuberance can be mistaken for misbehavior, and
it may be a few minutes before they calm down. Consistency and
firmness are important when training a golden. They need to be
taught that their master is the leader of the pack. However,
they are eager to please, and can learn their role quickly with
positive reinforcement tactics. No one is prouder than they
when they complete a task successfully. Though they love
showing off their tricks, they also love learning new ones.
Teaching new tricks is a great way to combat boredom during the
training session. Though they'll fetch all day, they won't sit
still for a training class longer than they have to. The key is
to make it fun and make it rewarding, all in short bursts of
time throughout the day. Goldens are game players, so if you
play with it in order to teach commands or tricks, your dog
won't even know the difference. It's just happy to have your
attention.
This is one reason goldens are one of the most popular breeds
of therapy dogs. As much as they love to play, they also love to
have a job to do. Besides being fast learners, they're also very
gentle. They can learn verbal commands or hand signals, and once
they are on the job, they can be calm and focused. They also
make good seeing-eye dogs for this reason.
This breed is not without its health issues. Goldens are prone
to hip dysplasia and allergies. This is partly due to
irresponsible breeding. Backyard breeders, eager to cash in on
the popularity of the golden retriever, breed unhealthy dogs
that pass on congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia occurs when the
bones of the hip joint don't develop correctly, and they rub
painfully against each other. Sitting still is not something
goldens are happy doing, so though these dogs may continue to
move around and play, they're in pain and should be treated.
Treatment consists of pain management, in mild cases, or in
more severe cases, surgery. Though complete rehabilitation can
take 12 weeks, the dog is up and moving within days. This
procedure can so dramatically improve a dog's life that it's
well worth the work to see your golden get its spark back, and
run and play like the puppy that it thinks it is.
These dogs also suffer from skin ailments and allergies. The
golden's thick coat makes it hard to see small skin irritations
unless they're specifically sought out. It's important to
inspect your pet regularly for any sore areas. A vet can run
tests to try to identify the source of the irritation, and
prescribe treatment, which might include frequent baths with
hypoallergenic shampoo, oral medication and/or allergy shots.
Even though this is one of the most popular breeds of dog,
thousands of them are relinquished to shelters or rescue
organizations every year. Most people would never think they'd
find a purebred golden at a shelter, but it's not uncommon. In
fact, the popularity of the breed may be the very reason so many
of them are found in shelters. Sometimes people don't research
the breed, and don't know that goldens need a lot of exercise
and a lot of human interaction. They're also not prepared to
train a dog. Unfortunately, when people like this get goldens,
more than likely, they end up surrendering them to a shelter or
a rescue organization.
Though the average life expectancy of golden retrievers is 11
years, sometimes they forget they've gotten older, and maintain
their puppy-like playfulness throughout their lives. As they
age, they may slow down a bit, so it's important to adjust their
food and treat intake accordingly. It's nearly impossible to
resist their sweet faces as they come looking for a treat, but
it's for their own good. As obesity rates in humans have
skyrocketed, so they have in dogs. Thankfully, this is one
disease that is completely preventable. If your dog is already
obese, it's 100% treatable. A balanced diet and plenty of
exercise will get your golden into fighting shape before too
long. It might also prevent the onset of canine diabetes, joint
problems and other weight-related issues.
Overall, this breed has one of the most agreeable dispositions
you can find in a dog. Goldens are also gorgeous, friendly,
obedient, loyal and loving. The downside, which pales in
comparison to their wonderful attributes, is that this is a
breed that sheds, needs a lot of exercise, and needs to be
around people. If your home can handle the relatively minor
considerations, the benefits you'll reap from loving a golden
retriever are immeasurable.
About The Author: David Beart is owner of the
http://www.professorshouse.com Professors House, a site
dedicated to family, relationships,
http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/breeder/dog-breeders.aspx
dog breeders, and household issues.
