Golden Retriever is the most popular dog breed around the globe due to their friendly and cheerful nature. They can adapt to any kind of household which makes the man ideal choice for many families.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY of Golden Retriever
Many people have different ideas about the true origins of this adorable breed, but two theories are widely popular.
The first theory is that the Golden Retrievers are successors of some Russian circus dogs that Lord Tweedmouth purchased. Lord Tweedmouth was the member of the English royalty, and he used these dogs to hunt deer. He was delighted with the skills of these dogs and decided to cross breed them with a bloodhound. Many people believe that Golden Retrievers were the result of this crossbreeding which not only reduced their size but also improved their scenting abilities.
In the 1950s, a researcher named Elma Stonex challenged this idea and came up with a new theory that most of the people believe in now. According to this theory, Lord Tweedmouth bought a dog named Nous from a cobbler in 1865. He then bred Nous to Belle who was a Tweed Water Spaniel and several yellow puppies were born as a result of this breeding. These puppies were the origin of this beautiful breed of dogs that we now know as the Golden Retriever.
Personality and temperament of Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are the ideal family companions due to their playful and tail-wagging nature. They are not only obedient to their owners but also great with kids.
Golden Retrievers don’t make good guard dogs may because they are overly kind even with strangers.
great with attribute of this dog breed is their youthful playfulness. These dogs are overly playful puppies and love to goof around. If you have an ailing person in your house, you should consider adopting an adult Golden Retriever.
Although Golden Retrievers have come with great attributes, some factors can influence their personality. If you want them to unveil all their positive qualities indeed, you will have to give a lot of care to their upbringing and training.
Golden Retrievers make perfect therapy dogs because of their stable temperament. They are also very needy and rely on the love and affection of their owner. Golden Retrievers are more suited for large families that spend time in home decoration ideas, where they find plenty of chances to vent their energy. If they don’t get the love and attention that they desire, they will express it by destroying things around the house.
Pros. and Cons Of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are full of life, and they like to live each day to the fullest. If you are planning on bringing one of these goofballs into your house, you should first consider all of their pros and cons.
Pros
- They are very good with children and can bear with all the tail pulling and screaming of noisy children.
- The adult dogs are very calm and make excellent therapy dogs.
- They are brilliant and with the right amount of training they can make perfect assistant dogs.
- Golden Retrievers are very good with other animals too so if you are planning on welcoming another pet animal into your house, your dog will not have a problem with it.
- These dogs are very energetic puppies and will never fail to bring a smile to your face.
Cons
- These dogs boatload of hair and they shed a lot of it around spring and fall. You will find dog hair everywhere on your clothing and furniture, and you will have to make your peace with it.
- Golden Retrievers produce a lot of dander and are not ideal in case you have any allergies.
- They have a very noticeable doggy odor which may be a deal breaker for some people.
- Golden Retrievers may be too big (55-75 pounds) for some people.
- You will always have to make an effort to entertain these dogs because merely walking in and out of the house is not enough for them.
- It is
very common for adult Golden Retrievers to develop a life-threatening health condition.
Physical Appearance of Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers come with a water repellant coat that comes in many shades of gold ranging from dark to light.
Some of these dogs come with straight hair while others come with wavy hair that tangles easily.
Golden Retrievers come with a broad head, and most of them have black noses, brown eyes, and hanging ears.
Taking Care of Golden Retriever
- Golden Retrievers have an ample amount of energy and require a lot of exercises. You will have to regularly go with this dog for walks and play games like Fetch or engage him in any other kind of outdoor activity.
- Golden Retrievers are very easy to train because of their people-pleasing nature. You can make these dogs do anything for a bit of praise and a treat. They are number one choice for service and therapy dogs due to their intelligence and ability to learn faster.
- An average Golden Retriever requires up to 1272 calories per day as compared to the older dogs with health problems which require lesser calories. You can buy commercial dog food or feed a homemade diet to your dog based on his taste and liking.
- Golden Retrievers require regular grooming to comb out all the tangles in their feathering. It is essential to groom the area around their private parts for sanitary reasons.
- Golden Retrievers mostly require ample space to move around freely. It is not a good idea to own a Golden Retriever if you are living in a small apartment. Golden Retrievers are very social animals, and they love prominent families.
Health Concerns of Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers can easily suffer from skin diseases because their dense coat makes an excellent habitat for problem-causing bacteria.
It is easy for these dogs to develop skin allergies which can cause their skin to become red and itchy.
Hip dysplasia is a widespread health issue for many Golden Retrievers and leads to abnormal growth of ball and socket joint of the dog’s hip. In extreme cases, this disease can take away the ability of your dog to walk at all.
Buying a Golden Retriever puppy
Golden Retrievers usually cost somewhere in between $500-$2,000. If you are planning on getting a Golden Retriever, you will first have to:
- Learn all about the breed you want.
- Find yourself a good breeder in your area.
- You can use the AKC website to locate and contact the perfect breeder around you.
- Communicate all the qualities you want in your dog to the breeder and also ask for the medical record of the parents to make sure that they don’t have any severe health issues.
- Once the puppies arrive, you should meet them one by one and carefully observe them to find the puppy that best suits you and your family.
Also, read Everything You Must Know Before Getting a Golden Retriever
FAQS
How long do Golden Retrievers usually live for on average?
An average Golden Retriever may live up to 10 or 12 years.
Should I feed my Golden Retriever a premium dog food?
Yes, premium dog food is very good for Golden Retrievers as it helps to produce healthier coat and skin and also results in smaller stools.
Does a Golden Retriever bark a lot?
Golden Retrievers are typically calm, but they may bark out of boredom.
Are Golden Retrievers heavy shedders?
Yes, Golden Retrievers come with a very furry coat and shed a lot of hair especially around spring and fall.
Do Golden Retrievers require a lot of physical activity?
Yes,Golden Retrievers are very energetic animals and they always need a way to venttheir energy.
Picture credits: Pixabay.com
Also, read about the Cavachon dog breed
