A Golden Retriever archive to help with buying, adopting and caring for your Golden Retriever

Posts Tagged ‘Playfulness’

Before You Adopt a Golden Retriever Puppy by Vaughn Scott

Golden retrievers are great dogs. They are so playful and kind, and imbued with a lot of useful abilities that they have forever etched themselves in the hearts and minds of people. Adopting a golden retriever can be too good a thing to resist. However, some things must be taken into account before adopting one.

To start, golden retrievers require attention. They are highly active, always looking for an activity and approval. They have to be walked regularly. They have to be played with regularly. They even have to socialize with other dogs regularly. This is a serious time commitment and should be taken into account. Along with the usual activities like fetching the ball or stick or catching things, these dogs like to swim, hike, jog and really push themselves physically. They also enjoy mind puzzles and owners can employ this to keep them busy. They are actually very smart. Their intelligence makes them great dogs for inexperienced dog owners. This natural ability to learn makes them very trainable.

Grooming is also a must for these dogs. Their fur coats shed a lot and must be brushed regularly, at least twice a week, more if the shedding is excessive. This can become a problem for those with allergies to fur. The hair at their rears also has to be trimmed for hygiene. Also, dogs that have floppy ears need to have their ears cleaned regularly as well.

In feeding golden retrievers, some care must be taken to prevent them from becoming overweight, which is a real problem for golden retrievers. They are constantly hungry and will eat almost any food offered to them. If this intake of food is not burned up properly through exercise and activity, the dog can become obese. This really becomes a problem as the dog grows older. Owners have employed diets to their retrievers to keep their weight in control.

The natural playfulness and friendliness of the golden retriever makes it an excellent pet but not an excellent sentry dog. Its natural tendency to be warm to almost anything makes it excellent in households with children or other dogs but it seriously hampers its ability to guard a home or property. It’s more inclined to be playful to the intruders rather than effective. They also chew, and will probably damage furniture if they have no chew toys.

All in all, golden retrievers are great pets, but this comes at a price that the potential owner must be willing to pay to ensure the well being of the dog as well as his own.

Vaughn Scott is a Golden Retriever enthusiast. For more information on Golden Retriever Origins, visit www.TotallyGoldenRetrievers.com.

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The Golden Retriever – A Noble Breed
By Laurence Burrows

Who does not want to be better informed about the golden retriever breed? Known for their intelligence, friendliness, gentleness, loyalty, and willingness to work, goldens are a favorite breed for families. Their strong attributes make them great hunting dogs, guide and service dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Their distinctive golden coat gives the golden retriever a natural glow. This versatile breed is famous for its high energy and playfulness.

The golden retriever is a member of the sporting group. They are large, robust dogs which stand 20-24 inches tall at withers and weigh 55-75 pounds. The American Breed Standard calls for a coat to be any shade of gold barring coats that are too dark or too light. The British standards allow for lighter shades of gold, known as cream colors. A red or mahogany ‘gold’ color is allowable under American rules, but not under British rules. American goldens are typically taller and more slender and have a longer coat. British dogs are stockier with shorter tails and legs.

Originally, the Labrador retriever came from Newfoundland. Fishermen brought the breed to England about 1800. In the 1800’s, golden retrievers were developed in Scotland at the highland estate of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later Baron Tweedmouth. Golden retrievers were originally used as hunting dogs to retrieve shot game birds and waterfowl. They were bred to be great hunting dogs with water-resistant coats, an excellent sense of smell, and soft mouths that do not damage game. The breed was first arrived at by the yellow retriever crossed with a tweed water spaniel, now extinct. Afterwards, the breed was infused with black wavy-coated retrievers, Irish Setters, Bloodhounds, and the St. John’s Water Dog of Newfoundland.

A dog legendary for its gentle, friendly ways, the golden retriever doesn’t make a good watchdog; they are known for their affection for both their owners and for strangers. This breed thrives on human companionship. Goldens are energetic and active dogs. Exercising everyday is important for their health. Bred to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl, goldens love to swim. Active, and large in size, this breed is not the ideal apartment dog. Though they are adaptable, a prospective owner should live near a park and be willing to spend a lot of time with his/her dog. Otherwise, goldens need sizable backyards to be healthy. Known for their intelligence, these dogs enjoy learning tricks, playing games, retrieving and catching balls, and exercising with their owners. It is not uncommon for goldens to win obedience and agility competitions. Energetic and devoted, this breed also makes great working and service dogs. Having an excellent sense of smell, goldens have been employed in alpine search and rescue, and as police dogs for drug detection. Very active, this breed may not be the best choice of dog for the elderly. However, golden retrievers are great with children and other pets, and make a wonderful family pet.

Typically, golden retrievers can expect to live about 10-15 years. Unfortunately, bad breeding for profit has led to a number of common health problems. The most frequently encountered of these afflictions is hip dysplasia. Cataracts is another common ailment. Cancer represents the leading cause of death for goldens. To help avoid these health problems for your golden retriever, it is important to know a dog’s pedigree and to purchase dogs from a reputable breeder. Each dog should be examined by the OFA or by PennHIP. These evaluations involve x-rays to test a dog for hip dysplasia and disease. Grooming (brushing) is recommended twice a week. They may not be a good choice for those with allergies because of shedding.

Golden retrievers are an energetic and enthusiastic breed who love and crave the company of humans. These qualities along with a gentle and friendly nature make this dog wonderful for families and active people looking for a companion.

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. For more great tips on the golden retriever breed, visit http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com.

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