Golden Retriever
BREED INFO
- Group – Sporting
- Height – 21-24 inches at the shoulder
- Weight – 25-34 KG
- Life Span – 10-13 years
The Golden Retriever has a great personality and is easy to train, making this one of America’s favorite family pets. They are good hunting companions and also great with kids.
History
The Golden Retriever descends from dogs bred in the 1800s in Britain, when sportsmen wanted efficient retrieving dogs for both waterfowl and upland game. It is thought that almost all retrievers go back to the Saint John’s Dog of Newfoundland, an immediate ancestor of the wavy-coated retriever, which is behind both the Flat-Coated and the Golden retrievers. The best record of the breed’s origin is contained in a journal kept from about 1840 to 1890 by Dudley Marjoribanks in the Highlands, Inverness-shire, of Scotland. He acquired the only yellow puppy in a litter of black wavy-coated retrievers in 1865 and named him Nous, which is Greek for “wisdom.” Nous grew into a sturdy dog recognizable as a Golden. He was bred to a Tweed Water Spaniel (now an extinct breed) named Belle, resulting in four yellow puppies that became the foundation of the Golden Retriever breed. Over years of careful breeding, occasionally bringing in another Tweed Water Spaniel, several black Wavy-Coated Retrievers, a red setter and possible a Labrador retriever and a Bloodhound, Mr. Marjoribanks and his relatives created an exceptional and consistent line of yellow working retrievers with exceptional water abilities.
Golden Retrievers remained largely unknown until 1904, when one of the Marjoribanks dogs won the first field trial for retrievers. “Yellow retrievers” were registered thereafter with The Kennel Club (of England) as “Retrievers – Wavy or Flat-Coated” and were shown for the first time in 1908, in a class for “Flat-Coats of Any Other Color.” In 1913, Goldens were recognized in their own right as”Retrievers – Yellow or Golden.”
Golden Retrievers first came to the United States in the early 1900s and immediately became popular. The American Kennel Club registered its first Golden Retriever in 1925. The Golden Retriever Club of America was founded in 1938 and is one of the strongest AKC parent clubs. The most notable foundation sire, Am/Can Ch Speedwell Pluto, was born in England in 1929 and made enormous contributions to the breed worldwide. Golden Retrievers grew steadily in popularity in the United States both before and after World War II, with a surge in registration in the 1970s. Goldens are used as hunting dogs, assistance and service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, search-and-rescue dogs and as tracking and scenting specialists. They excel in obedience trials, hunting tests, field trials and agility, as well as in the conformation show ring. The Golden’s grace, trainability and delightful temperament contribute to the breed’s popularity as a family companion. They usually are among the top ten most popular breeds in AKC registrations.
Personality and Temperament
Golden Retrievers are very self-confident and intelligent. These dogs can be quite sensitive and adaptable; they bark infrequently.
This breed gets along well with children, other dogs, and most household pets. They are often aggressive with unknown visitors, however.
Hair, Care and Grooming
Hair is smooth and wavy and the undercoat is weather-resistant. The Golden Retriever requires regular grooming with a brush and comb, with special care given to keeping the ears clean.
Health
This breed is prone to hip dysplasia and congenital eye defects.
Training and Activity
This breed should attend obedience classes. They are sensitive to harsh treatment, so take a gentle approach. They are very intelligent and have a great memory for their lessons learned.
Golden Retrievers needs a lot of exercise, although they will adapt themselves to your family’s activity level.
Feeding
Meals for Golden Retrievers should consist of a proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. If you are going with a premium line of dog food, stay away from those with rich ingredients – Golden Retrievers don’t handle this kind of food well. If your Golden Retriever has digestive issues, try a lamb and rice dog food. And when choosing a dog food, lean toward those that come with a high-quality source of protein with no fillers or artificial preservatives.