Golden Retriever, an energetic and favorite children’s breed

Historic

The first historical evidence of the Golden Retriever dates back to the beginning of the 19th century in Scotland, and combines the ambition of a wealthy man with the story of an unwanted dog. At that time, in Scotland, the aristocracy was just beginning to develop, and one of the favorite activities of aristocratic men was hunting. The hunting dogs used at that time only hunted on the ground and had difficulty recovering fallen game at very long distances.

Dudley Majoribankswho later became Lord Tweedmouth, a passionate bird hunter who wanted to create a dog that was easy to train, strong, agile but also an excellent swimmer. He purchased the only yellow dog with long, wavy fur from a shoemaker in the city of Brighton (his brothers were all black). His name was “Nous” and his owner mated him with a female Tweed Water Spaniel “Belle”. The breeding took place in 1868. Over the years, to shape his physical appearance but also his character and to make him an excellent hunting dog, Lord Tweedmouth created crosses with various breeds, from the Terra Nova to the English Setter to the Bloodhound.

At shows, the breed was presented as Golden Flat Coat. In 1911, the breed was recognized with the name “Retriever-Yellow or Golden” by the Kennel Club. It received the final name of Golden Retriever only after 9 years, in 1920.
The breed was prized for its ability to hunt on both land and water. but also for the agility and diligence he demonstrates. People were also struck by his tender and friendly nature, especially in the presence of children.
According to the American Kennel Club, Golden Retrievers are part of the “recreational” group of hunting or sporting dogs. According to their original purpose, Golden Retrievers were used to bring wild animals that had been killed back to the hunter. Many golden retrievers brought shot waterfowl back to hunters, this characteristic has been preserved to this day, as golden retrievers are great lovers of water and bringing objects back. As time went by, hunting became less of a popular activity and the Goldens took other jobs. From therapy dogs for children with various emotional, health or cognitive problems, to guide dogs for people who are blind or have other disabilities, search and rescue dogs or dogs that detect narcotics or explosives, the Golden loves to be in the presence of humans, is a balanced, affectionate and extremely intelligent dog. Due to these characteristics, the Golden began to become an extremely popular breed as a pet, especially among families with children.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Golden Retriever belongs to the medium-sized dog breeds. Males are between 56 and 61 cm tall, while females are a little smaller, measuring between 51 and 56 cm. The weight of dogs depends on sex and size and is between 30 and 40 kg. The body is athletic, pronounced with muscles, this can be observed by the strong gait of the dog. Its skull has a noticeable anterior stop and its dark eyes under well-pigmented eyelids give the Retriever a gentle and friendly, many would say smiling, expression. Its strong muscles and strong bones make it a very agile and active dog.
The ears are triangular in shape and long to the level of the jaw. The eyes are round, dark in tone, and the nose is black.

TREATMENT

Since the breed has thick and long fur, it is necessary to brush the dog regularly. Brushing helps keep your dog’s coat healthy and shiny and reduces shedding. In addition to the fur, as with any dog, it is also necessary to regularly check/clean the ears, eyes, paws and teeth.

TRAINING

Golden Retriever he is a very easy dog ​​to train as he is very intelligent. In addition to being excellent hunters, this breed is used to accompany disabled people and also for search and rescue actions and for drug detection. Training should be gentle, based on rewards and a variation to get used to different situations. As a dog that needs a lot of exercise, he needs to exercise or walk every day. It can also fit in a closed space (apartment), but requires movement.

PERSONALITY

One of the most obedient dog breeds, Goldens have always won obedience, agility or field training competitions. Goldens are extroverted dogs, always in a good mood and always eager to please their owner. Although it is an extremely easy breed to train, in the early stages of training the challenge is getting the dog’s attention. Ideally, training should begin as early as possible. Being a puppy, the dog will be distracted relatively easily by external stimuli, but after some training he will concentrate on his owner’s commands without problems. With proper training, golden retrievers can follow the instructions of the remote trainer. It can be difficult to walk him on a leash if he hasn’t benefited from training because he is very playful and wants to explore.

The Goldens they are extremely affectionate dogs, especially with family members and relatively affectionate with strangers or other dogs. Therefore they cannot be used as guard dogs, but rather as alert dogs. They will certainly bark and let the owner know that someone has entered the yard, but under no circumstances will they have a territorial attitude.

Another breed-specific character trait is the fact that they can be extremely patient. This is why they are a very suitable breed for families with small children. They are very tolerant of the specific agitation of children, they are not at all disturbed by the noises produced when the little ones play. Even though they are large dogs and can become very energetic when playing, they run the risk of knocking down smaller ones during play or jumping on them. with adequate training they can be taught to play safely with the little ones and their friends. They also get along very well with other dogs or other pets (cats, rabbits, etc.)
This dog must always be the center of attention, only then is he happy. Obviously he is not a dog that can be left alone for long periods of time and will miss his family. The Golden requires total owner involvement. He needs at least an hour of physical activity a day, his favorite activity is catching balls and of course swimming. Goldens love long walks or easy runs, there is no physical activity that he doesn’t enjoy as long as he is close to his owner. A dog that doesn’t get enough physical activity will develop behavioral and health problems. With a rigorous training program and intellectual stimulation, Goldens adapt to any environment, including an apartment.

Golden Retriever he is known for his desire to please his master. He is constantly taught to learn new things and is very happy to do so in the presence of the teacher. Being an intelligent dog, he adapts very easily to new situations.

the Golden it is one of America’s favorite breeds, always being associated with family life in the suburbs.

HEALTH

Golden Retriever it is considered a low health risk dog. The most common conditions are:
– gastric torsion, a condition found mostly in large dogs and is a condition associated with the stomach filling with air and twisting
– hip dysplasia – malformation of the hip joint causing pain, lameness and arthritis
– wet food eczema – skin lesions caused by incorrect nutrition
– epilepsy, a nervous system condition that can develop at age 2-5.
– cataracts cause the loss of normal transparency of the lens. The condition can occur in one or both eyes and can lead to vision loss over time.
– Diabetes is a condition of the pancreas associated with insulin insufficiency.
– Entropion is a condition of the eyelids that causes their free edge to twist inward. The eyelashes on the free edge of the eyelids irritate the surface of the eyeball, which can lead to much more serious problems.
– Hemangiosarcoma is a type of cancer that can cause tumors of the vascular system of the spleen, liver or heart.
– other pathologies to which they are subject: cancer, Von Willebrand disease, heart problems and congenital eye defects. They can develop various skin allergies and are prone to obesity if they are not fed properly.
The average lifespan of Golden Retrievers is 9-15 years

PERSONALITIES THAT HAVE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

Conan O’Brien, Mike Sorrentino, Lisa Vanderpump, Nicollette Sheridan, Jackie Chan, Shawn Johnson, Joey Lawrence, Colbie Caillat, Nick Jonas, Betty White, Chris Colfer, Oprah Winfrey, Elisha Dushku, Adam Levine, David Hasselhoff, Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Weber, Nicollette Sheridan, Nick Jonas, Maggie Rizer, Cameron Diaz, Shakira, George Clooney, Gerald Ford, Ryan Reynolds, Diane Keaton