He is the direct cousin of the Labrador more than of the English Setter with which he is often associated, this is all the more so when we have a Golden retriever dog in front of us.
Specialists are unable to agree on the origin of the Goldens Retrievers. However, several theories are presented. One claims that Lord Tweedmouth adopted what would later become the Golden, but was a direct descendant of a Caucasian Shepherd. Another would like him to come down from a cross between a Water Spaniel and a Wavy Coated. Another theory would say it is a cross between a Water Spaniel and a Bloodhound.
Originally its name was the flat coated Retriever.
You will have understood it, the origins of the Golden are rather vague what does not prevent it from being a golden dog.
History
The breed appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1909 to be precise, at a dog show, but had been registered in England as early as 1913 and finally became a recognised “pure” breed in 1931. The end of the Second World War marked the beginning of the Golden boom in Western Europe.
It has even become since the 90’s where its peak was approaching until today one of the most popular breeds in the world.
He managed to seduce the audience with his jovial, friendly, intelligent and affectionate character as well as his magnificent golden dress. He then became the ideal companion dog for many. In addition, he is an extraordinary working dog, among other things because of his swimming qualities. It also finds its full place as a hunting dog (retriever), guide dog, or rescue dog.
Its physical characteristics :
He is considered a big dog.
Its hairs are half-long.
Size
In terms of average size, females range from 21 to 56 cm while the male can claim a size of 56 to 61 cm.
The weight
The weight also depends of course on the sex of the animal. For a male, 28 to 32 kg seems to be the norm, while his female counterpart is content with a weight of 24 to 28 kg.
Fur
Its fur ranges from creamy white to dark gold. Its ears are hanging and of medium size and its eyes are dark brown in colour.
His character and behaviour :
Affection and calm are known to be ingrained in them. He is also protective and coexists almost perfectly with children. He is nonetheless an excellent hunting dog and is extremely sociable both with members of his family and with other dogs or strangers. On the other hand, its lack of independence is the negative point of this breed.
The character of the golden retriever is no less stubborn.
How to educate it?
Above all, the golden retriever is a dog of great intelligence. And although this breed is very popular, it is not the easiest. Indeed, they are generally not very obedient. Often for the Golden, we don’t even talk about training in the sense that it is a very sensitive breed and that its education passes above all through encouragement rather than reprimands. It can be frustrating to see his stubbornness emerge from time to time. The ideal master of the golden must possess tact and patience, while remaining calm. The golden is always looking to please and satisfy its owner.
It is also important to ensure a serious socialisation of Goldens Retriever puppies from an early age.
For its education, even if it is far from being the most difficult of dogs, experience is still advisable. Because its player side can play tricks on you.
Ideal living conditions?
The flat is not his preferred habitat, but it could be done under certain conditions; he should stay as close as possible to his masters and be taken out once or several times a day in the ideal case.
Having an outdoor area as a playground is obviously ideal because it is a dog that needs relatively sustained physical activity.
His health?
He is considered to be a very strong dog.
Only a few fragilities are known such as: the tail when wet (which can happen since he generally likes water), ears, certain allergies, dermatitis and skin diseases. He is also at risk of cancer, hip dysplasia and even cataracts in later life.
His life expectancy is around 13 years.
Its maintenance and hygiene
Although it is not difficult to maintain (although it is not always a pleasure to make him take a shower), it is nevertheless relatively expensive from this point of view. Hair loss is one of the daily struggles you will face and even more so in the spring. He drools relatively hard, but it always depends on the individual.
When to switch from puppy food to adult food?
As Amaury Vienne says in the article“How do you feed your dog properly?”The transition to adult dog food should take place in the last third of the dog’s growth. In the case of the Golden, it must adapt its diet between 10 and 12 months.
