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The Golden Retriever is
one of the most popular dogs, as a family pet and as
a hunting companion. This is a breed known for its
excellent temperament and friendliness to people and
other dogs alike. To help you understand this
beautiful breed, we have gathered the 10 most common
questions and provided answers for each.
1. What is the history and background of the
Golden Retriever?
The Golden Retriever was bred in England and
Scotland in the 1800s to be a hunting dog, working
exceptionally well on both land and water. In
addition, this breed is the result of crosses
between other retrievers and water spaniels. The
breed was first accepted as a separate breed around
1903 and became known as a Yellow or Golden in 1911.
In the United States, the Golden Retriever has been
around for about 100 years.
2. Is the Golden
Retriever a well-behaved dog and good for a family
pet?
Generally, yes, the Golden Retriever is a calm,
friendly, and loving dog that does well as a family
pet. This dog is eager to please and very good with
children but remember that while the Golden
Retriever does well indoors, it was actually bred
for outside living. Therefore, to ensure the
happiness of this breed, regular exercise such as
running, walking, and even swimming is important.
3. How big does the Golden Retriever get?
An adult Golden Retriever male will stand about 22
to 24 inches at the front shoulder, weighing about
60 to 80 pounds while the female is about two inches
shorter and weigh about 10 pounds less.
4. What sort of jobs does the Golden Retriever
work at?
The Golden Retriever is an excellent hunting and
retrieving dog, on land and in the water. Formal
training by a professional in this field can make
some dogs champions. They are also very good as
guide dogs for the blind and as companions and
helpers for those with physical limitations. Golden
Retrievers perform very well in agility and field
competitions.
5. How should I choose a breeder?
You should first read all you can about the breed
and be prepared with questions about health and
general care of the Golden Retriever. Then it would
be best to learn all you can about the various
breeders in your area. We recommend visiting at
least three, asking questions and looking closely at
the living conditions of the dogs and the way the
breeder interacts with the dogs. A breeder should
put emphasis on good socialization of the young dogs
so that they are comfortable with other dogs and
with people.
6. What should I feed my Golden Retriever?
Because this is an energetic, outside dog, you
should make sure the dog receives the correct amount
and type of food to sustain his activity. A quality
diet of lean meats and some vegetables, with
adequate protein is a good place to start.
Experienced owners recommend staying away from
low-quality commercial foods with excess amounts of
grain (corn, wheat, and soy). Some dogs are quite
allergic to these grains.
7. What health problems should I watch for?
With many purebred dogs, you should ask about hip
dysplasia when you visit a breeder. This
degenerative joint disease can be detected early
with the OFA radiograph test. A puppy should be
certified as free from this tendency. Additionally,
this breed is prone to a genetic eye conditions such
as hereditary cataracts or retinal atrophy. Ask your
breeder about these conditions in the parents of a
puppy you are looking at.
8. What is the best way to give my Golden
Retriever the right exercise?
Because this dog was bred to be a working, hunting
dog, you should plan to give him plenty of outdoor
exercise, with room to run. The Golden Retriever
will do reasonably well in a smaller home as long as
there is space and time to exercise outdoors. We
recommend challenging and fun activities with this
energetic dog.
9. What is the best way to housebreak/potty train
my Golden Retriever?
There are several different methods for this, but we
recommend crate training because it gives the dog a
safe place to go when it needs to be alone.
Additionally, this provides the dog with a natural
den, something it would want to keep clean.
Prevention is a key in this type of training, so you
should take the dog outside early in the morning and
again late at night.
10. What about grooming and caring for the
beautiful coat?
The Golden Retriever coat is really of medium
length, though it is wavy. The breed also has a good
undercoat, needing regular brushing with a
medium-stiff brush. For bathing, this should be done
once a month or as needed. Remember, the Golden
Retriever has a water-resistant coat that should not
be bathed too often.
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