Golden Retrievers – The Golden Choice for Family Dogs
Golden Retrievers are elegant, graceful, sturdy, and well-proportioned medium-to-large sized dogs. They have medium-length cream to golden coloring in their coats, with attractive feathering on the legs and tail, as well as along the belly. This same coat is effectively water-repellent, with a dense undercoating.
The golden retriever’s head is wide and tapering, with a broad powerful muzzle to match. It has a sharp stop with a scissor bite. It’s soft, gentle, friendly eyes are typically a rich brown with darker rims, and a black nose. The golden’s ears are medium sized and fold over upon themselves to hang down. The ears are very active in listening and showing emotion. The neck and the thighs of the golden retriever are quite muscular meeting via a deep chest. Though long, the tail does not curl, however, it wags freely when the dog is in motion.
Golden retrievers can be intelligent, but they are always charming and well-mannered. Eager to please, golden retrievers are not difficult to train. They are loyal, gentle, and confident, making them good choices as pets for families with children.
First developed and bred in Britain, the golden retriever was likely originally a combination of a yellow flat-coated retriever and a tweed water spaniel, as well as other spaniels and setters. Some believe that the Newfoundland and the Bloodhound may make up part of the golden retriever’s ancestry.
Traditionally, the golden retriever has been used as a companion dog, obedience competition dog, bird hunting dog (both in the water and on land), and a hunting and tracking dog for animals, and narcotics. Today, golden retrievers are also great choices for guide dogs for the visually impaired, service dogs for the physically challenged, as well as soothing therapy dogs
The life span of the golden retriever is approximately ten to twelve years. They are at a high risk for congenital eye defects and hip dysplasia as well as heart problems and hereditary Von Willebrand’s disease. More recently, golden retrievers have become much more prone to skin allergies that require attention of the veterinarian.
Always wanting to please, and happy to be among friends and family, the golden retriever is the ideal family dog.
