Golden Retrievers – an Introduction
Golden Retrievers are the ideal pet for anybody who has ever seen movies like Airbud or Pushing Daisys and fell in love with the dog on the screen. While they make a great pet for a lot of people, Golden Retrievers might not be the perfect first dg for someone.
Retrievers became popular helpers in England and Scotland during the 1800s when hunting was getting increasingly fashionable. Retrievers were the prime pick because hunters needed a medium sized dog that could catch birds. During the 19th century, gamekeepers at Lord Tweedmouth’s Scottish estate kept records of the development of Golden Retrievers. Along the shore near the estate was the light-colored Tweed Water Spaniel, known for its courage, intelligence, and ability. Tweedmouth bred his original dog “Nous” to “Belle,” a Tweed Water Spaniel, to produce four yellow pups! Later on they started integrating Irish Settlers, Bloodhound, and more Tweed Water Spaniel to produce what we now know and love as the Golden Retriever.
Golden Retrievers are strong and beautiful dogs with smooth, medium-length golden fur. The outer coat is water resistant while the undercoat is dense. Their heads are broad with a powerful snout and jaw. They have strong scissor bites. Their noses are black and they have nice soft brown eyes. They are broad chested dogs and their tails are long. Male Retrievers are usually about 22-24 inches in height and female Retrievers are 20 to 22 inches. Males weigh anywhere from 60-80 pounds and females 55-70.
Golden Retrievers are known for their charm and well-mannered temperament. Because of their high level of intelligence, they are very easy to train. They are always patient and gentle which makes them a great pet for a family. They’re loyal dogs and they want nothing more than to please their owner. They are great in obedience competitions. These dogs are friendly with other animals but they’re not good guard dogs. However, even though they won’t attack, they’re excellent watch dogs. Golden Retrievers need to have a family that will be able to spend quality time with them. If they don’t get enough attention they can become mischievous. They have a ton of energy especially as young dogs and need a fair bit of exercise. So if you are not going to be able to take your do for a walk on a regular basis you might want to pass on the Golden. Goldens are good at hunting, tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks. They also love to swim.
Although Goldens are great dogs, they do have some tendency toward certain health problems. They are prone to hip dysplasia, congenital eye defects, and skin allergies. Goldens need a lot of exercise and they should be taken for at least one long walk every day. Golden Retrievers easily put on weight so they must exercise regularly and not overeat. Goldens need to be brushed frequently but they only need baths every few months. It’s important to keep a Golden well-groomed because they are shedders.
If you choose to have a Golden Retriever as your pet, you will receive love, appreciation, and affection in return. Just make sure they are getting the exercise they need and deserve in return.
rkleine
golden retriever
Hans is a life long dog owner and the owner of http://www.lucysdoghouse.net. Lucy’s Dog House has a great selection of dog chew toys, and other fun dog toys as well as a variety of great products for you and your dog.
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