Golden Retriever - Characteristics and personality of the dog breed Golden Retriever

Characteristics and personality of the dog breed Golden Retriever

Like Golden retrievers (or golden retrievers) they are dogs with a desire to please and respond positively to obedience training. They complement this trait with the fact that they are playful, affectionate and with a mild temperament.

Golden retriever males measure between 58 and 62 cm and weigh between 29 and 32 kg. Females measure between 53 and 55 cm and weigh between 25 and 29 kg.

The golden retriever has wavy or smooth, water-resistant hair that is golden to cream in color. One of the most interesting characteristics of this breed is the fringes on the neck, legs, thighs, bottom and tail.

The dog's head is strong and wide. The ears are not very large, but they are implanted high in the head and hang just below the jaw line. The chest is deep and the body is well balanced. Golden retrievers live approximately 10 to 13 years.

Personality

The golden retriever is mild-tempered, intelligent and affectionate. Golden retrievers are playful, yet docile with children, and tend to get along well with other pets and with strangers.

These dogs are eager to please, which probably explains why they respond so well to obedience training, making them very popular support dogs. They also like to work, either hunting birds or looking for their owner's slippers...

Golden retrievers don't bark often, and they lack guarding instincts, so don't count on them as good guard dogs. However, if someone strange approaches, some golden retrievers will let you know.

Coexistence

This breed likes activity. Remember that golden retrievers are natural retrievers, so they love a good game of returning the ball or a bath. By exercising daily, golden retrievers can be adapted to any type of home, even a city apartment.

The level of molting of golden retrievers is considered medium. Brushing about once a week will keep your hair looking good.

History

In 1999, the Golden Retriever was the second most popular breed of the American Kennel Club (AKC), unsurprisingly given the many qualities of the dog that make it a perfect family pet. However, the roots of the golden retriever are found in the fields and navigable channels of Great Britain.

The golden retriever was bred to be a retriever, especially for hunting waterfowl, and the breed was obtained after crossing several breeds, including spaniels, setters, and the Newfoundland (although not the one we know today) and perhaps even the dog of Saint Hubert. The fruit of such a combination was a strong and robust swimming dog that could resist in cold water, track wounded prey, and handle maimed birds.

Golden retrievers are currently only good retrievers and family pets; they are also popular as support dogs for the blind and disabled, and as search, rescue and contraband dogs. Few dogs can boast such versatility.

Golden retriever or golden retriever

The golden retriever, also known as the golden retriever, is native to the United Kingdom, more specifically to Scotland. It was born around 1850 with the search for a retriever and lifter dog that was capable of not hurting the prey. For this reason we observe hunting skills in him. It is also known as a golden retriever.

Due to its versatility and intelligence, it is one of the most popular breeds in the world. Today, in addition to being an excellent companion animal, he has aptitudes as an assistance dog, therapy dog, police dog, fire dog and even as a rescue dog. Next, in Animal Expert we explain everything you should know about the golden retriever.

Origin of the golden retriever or golden retriever

According to the UK Kennel Club, Lord Tweedmouth is considered the founder of the Golden Breeder breed, a consequence of the crossing of the Smooth-haired Breeder with the Tweed Water Spaniel. Interestingly, the fruit of both breeds resulted in a light-haired dog. Other breeds, such as the bloodhound, the Irish setter, and other retrievers, were later added to the bloodline.

The breed was known as "yellow retriever" or "golden retriever" in 1913. The official name was changed in 1920, when it was named golden retriever. Currently, Mr. Tweedmouth and his Guisachan Retrievers, using their former estate for Golden Retriever related shows, being revered by breed enthusiasts as the "home" of the breed.

If you want to know more about the origins of this precious dog, we encourage you to read this other article by Animal Expert on History of the golden retriever.

Physical characteristics of the golden retriever or golden retriever

The golden retriever is a medium-sized dog, with a body slightly longer than it is tall and a dense and beautiful golden coat that characterizes it. The elegance provided by its golden coat is unusual in other hunting dogs. Overall, the appearance of the golden retriever is that of a harmonious, well-proportioned, powerful, active and balanced dog. In addition, the kind and gentle expression of these dogs is characteristic.

There are some differences between breed standards followed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the UK Kennel Club, so the appearance of the American Line Golden Retriever is slightly different from the appearance of the European Golden Retriever. However, such differences are not very marked and can only be easily recognized by the expert eye of a breed judge or an experienced breeder. The International Cynological Federation (FCI) follows the original breed standard proposed by the UK Kennel Club.

According to the FCI, the height at the withers for males should be between 56 and 61 centimeters, while the height at withers for females should be between 51 and 56 centimeters. In contrast, the AKC standard requires that male golden retrievers have a height at withers of between 58 and 60.9 centimeters (23 - 24 inches) and females between 54.6 and 57.1 centimeters (21.5 - 22.5 inches). The weight of the golden retriever is not specified in the FCI standard, but it is specified in the AKC. The latter indicates a weight of 29.5 to 34 kilograms (65 - 75 pounds) for males and 25 to 29.5 kilograms (55 - 65 pounds) for females.

The head maintains a good proportion in relation to the body, without appearing either heavy or light. It is well molded by the skull, which should be broad but not rough. The stop, or naso-frontal depression, is well defined and evident, but it is not abrupt. The golden retriever's nose should be dark. The eyes are medium and with a friendly and intelligent expression. They should be well separated from each other and the edge of the eyelid should be dark in color.

The golden retriever's ears are implanted at eye level, and hang over the cheeks. The muzzle is powerful, wide and deep, its length being approximately equal to the length from the stop to the occiput. The strong jaws of the golden retriever close in a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.

The balanced body is slightly longer than it is tall. The top line (back) must be horizontal in golden retrievers that follow the FCI standard. Instead, the rump should be slightly tilted in those dogs that follow the AKC standard. The loin is short, strong, and muscular in either case. The golden's chest is deep and features deep, well-arched ribs, but not barrel-shaped.

The tail of the golden retriever is inserted at the level of the dorsal line, and is thick and muscular at the base. The last vertebra reaches the hock. The forelimbs of the golden retriever are straight and with good bones. They present oblique shoulders with long scapulae. The arms are the same length as the shoulder blades, which makes the elbows close to the body and the front limbs are well placed under the body. The hind limbs are strong and muscular. The golden retriever's feet are round and compact. They correspond to the type of foot known as "cat's foot".

Colors of the golden retriever or golden retriever

The coat is characteristic of this breed of dog and distinguishes it from other retriever dogs. The golden retriever has a double coat, the inner one being dense and waterproof. The outer hair, on the other hand, is smooth or wavy, and firm, and falls close to the body. The neck, the back of the thighs, and the lower region of the tail, have abundant hair fringes. In contrast, the back of the front legs and the ventral region of the body have moderate fringes.

A variety of golden shades are supported for the golden retriever, ranging from gold to cream. However, extremes such as pure white or red (mahogany) are not accepted. Fringes can have lighter colored hairs than the rest of the hair. However, due to its similarity, many people confuse the Labrador Retrie

Golden retriever or golden retriever character

The stable and gentle temperament of the Golden Retriever dog is one of the main characteristics of the breed and perhaps the one that has given it the most popularity. These dogs are patient, intelligent, easy to train and very dynamic. These qualities make them excellent assistance, work, therapy and companion dogs.

Golden retrievers take time to mature, taking about three years or a little more to develop their final character. Furthermore, they are still very playful even as adults, so they are highly appreciated by families with children. All these peculiarities of the golden retriever character are the result of decades of selection to obtain very obedient, sociable and suitable dogs for hard work. Of course, not all golden have the same character and there can be great variation between individuals.

Predominant Golden Retriever Instincts

As in other retriever dogs, instincts related to hunting predominate in the golden retriever, particularly those that are exploited during collection. Thus, golden retrievers have a marked predisposition to chase and catch objects that are thrown or prey that has fallen.

It is important to note that these instincts do not charge for themselves. Although dogs have a tendency to chase and capture, they do not usually bring the pieces to the hunter unless they are trained to do so. On the contrary, it is common for untrained dogs to start a chasing game with their owners.

This instinct is so strong that golden retrievers can play ball for many hours without showing signs of exhaustion. This is a great advantage to train dogs, since it has a great motivator that can be used to reinforce the behaviors that you want to promote, but it is a disadvantage with dogs that do not have self-control and want to play all the time.

Also, the golden retriever is an instinctive swimmer. It is a dog that loves to dive into the water and swim for a long time. Its waterproof coat favors it in this activity, since it protects it from the cold.

Golden retriever sociability

Sociability with people: the sociability of the golden retriever with people is usually excellent. These dogs tend to be very friendly to both acquaintances and strangers and are often excellent playmates for children. The urgent need for affection and company makes Golden Retrievers dogs not suitable to live isolated in a garden or in kennels.

These dogs need to live with the family and share all the possible moments with it. The high sociability of the Golden Retriever makes it a suitable pet for families with children, as well as for assistance, animal-assisted therapy or search and rescue, among others.

However, it can also be a nuisance when the dog is not taught to have self-control. It is important to teach the Golden Retriever to stay only for certain periods of time, so that he does not develop inappropriate behaviors or separation anxiety when he must be left alone.

Sociability with other dogs: The Golden Retriever also gets along very well with other dogs and tends to avoid fighting. Of course, it can get to fight with other dogs, but it is not a marked tendency in this breed. The strong prey drive can make it annoying for some small dogs. Either way, this breed is an excellent choice for people who want to have more than one dog.

Sociability with other animals: the way in which a golden will relate to other animals will depend on the socialization it receives, both the dog and the other animals, from an early age. In general, it is possible to teach a golden retriever not to disturb other pets or farmyard animals.

However, difficulties can arise when dealing with very small pets that can trigger the golden prey drive or when the dog has not been socialized with other animals since he was a puppy. A peculiarity of the Golden Retriever's character is the interest aroused by the birds. In English this particularity is known as "birdy" and in Spanish it could be said that the golden is a "birdcatcher" dog.

Care of the golden retriever or golden retriever

Healthy golden retriever dogs do not need special care beyond good nutrition, companionship and affection, routine veterinary assistance, and lots of physical exercise. However, we collect everything that is important for the care of these dogs in Golden Retriever Care. It is also necessary to provide them with even basic canine training to stimulate their minds and get them to behave appropriately anywhere.

Golden Retriever Feeding

Golden retrievers that have already been weaned will follow a mainly solid diet that must be balanced to provide them with the nutrients they require. There are many opinions on which is the best food for these dogs, from those who support feeding exclusively with balanced feed (from different brands), to those who consider that the dog's diet should be based on cooked food. There are also those who believe that dogs should be fed raw food.

None of the previous opinions is necessarily more valid than the others, but it is best to decide the diet of your golden retriever with the help of the vet. It would also be interesting to know what food you have received until you reach our home. However, golden retriever puppies are generally fed three to four times a day, while adult dogs eat twice a day. Water is something else, since your dog must have fresh water available throughout the day.

With this breed it is very important to maintain food rations in relation to the amount of exercise the dog does, since golden retrievers tend to be obese. If you use food to train your dog, take some of her daily allowance off to compensate for the extra calories she receives during training sessions. Keep in mind, however, not to take away much of your daily ration, because during training you also burn calories.

The care of the coat and the hygiene of the golden retriever

Brushing these dogs should be done frequently with a metal bristle brush. You should brush your golden at least once a day, because these dogs lose a lot of hair (and even more so during a time of molting a year). If you don't brush your golden retriever frequently, you'll have a lot of hair on furniture and clothing. Worse yet, your dog's hair will tangle creating appropriate places for external parasites such as fleas to appear. Those tangled hairs are difficult to detangle and can cause pain in the dog.

The golden retriever should only be bathed when it is dirty and using only dog shampoo, as frequent bathing damages the protective layer of its coat. Options for keeping the dog clean without frequent bathing include "dry" dog shampoos or the use of a damp cloth. Do not forget to completely check your goldenen body in beauty sessions to detect any skin disease or parasites.

Here we explain more about how to take care of the golden retriever's hair: Care of the golden retriever's hair.

Golden retriever dog exercise and lifestyle

Golden retrievers are dogs that need a lot of affection and company. They are not dogs to live isolated in the garden, but must be part of the family. They are very attached to people, but not of a single owner. If they don't get enough attention and company, golden retrievers look for ways to ease their anxiety, usually nibbling on things or digging in the garden.

Also, golden retrievers need to exercise a lot every day, as they are very active dogs. Exercising them can be easy when taught to chase a ball. Those kinds of exercises prevent obesity. We also recommend taking two daily walks, combining them with physical exercise or sport, such as Agility, canine freestyle or flyball.

Golden retriever or golden retriever education

The golden retriever is considered the 4th smartest dog according to Stanley Coren. Regardless of this, the truth is that the breed is really intelligent, so it will not cost us to work in the education and training of this dog. There are many tips for training a golden retriever, but without a doubt the most important thing is to be consistent.

In its stage of puppy the golden retriever will have to learn to urinate in the soggy, to later learn to urinate outside. It will also be time to mentally stimulate him, allow him to develop his teeth through toys, and teach him to inhibit biting appropriately. It is also time to start with some basic commands, such as sitting, lying down, or coming here.

Later, as an adult, we will work more strictly on basic obedience, but we can also begin to perform canine skills, tricks or various exercises that allow you to feel mentally stimulated. All this should be worked through the use of positive reinforcement, never through traditional dog training (with the usual use of punishment) since this inhibits the dog's natural behavior and predisposes him to learn with difficulty.

Golden retriever or golden retriever health

Any dog should go to the vet periodically to quickly identify the appearance of any disease. In puppies and elderly dogs the average time should be around 6 months, but in adult dogs visits can be annual. It will also be necessary to keep track of the vaccination schedule and deworming of the dog.

Most golden retrievers are healthy dogs that reach a life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some hereditary diseases that dogs of this breed can be prone to and that can reduce the life expectancy of those affected specimens.

Golden retriever dog diseases are more common in puppies that come from dog farms (usually sold at pet stores and fairs) and in litters of so-called "backyard breeders" (occasional breeders who do not select the specimens that go to cross). Likewise, golden retriever dogs with pedigree are usually prone to suffering from some hereditary diseases, such as:

Hip dysplasia.

Elbow dysplasia.

Obesity and overweight.

Cancer.

Waterfalls.

Progressive retinal atrophy.

Most of these diseases develop in golden retriever puppies or in older dogs, even so we must be aware of the health of our golden retriever dog throughout his life and be careful with food because they are tremendously sweet and will do everything that it is in their power to get you to reward them.

Where to adopt a golden retriever or golden retriever?

Golden retrievers are one of the most beautiful, noble and intelligent dog breeds that we can find, so having a golden retriever in our lives is a great luck, since it is an animal that will fill our home with love and joy.

If you are looking for a golden retriever for adoption, we encourage you to ask at the shelters, protectors and associations in your area. In addition, there may be several organizations that specialize in picking up and putting up golden retrievers.

Golden retriever photos :