Learn About Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers, sometimes called Golden Flat-Coats,
Yellow Retrievers, or Russian Retrievers, comprise a
breed of dog that originated in the 1800s in Scotland.
They were initially bred to retrieve game and waterfowl,
and did so effectively due to their strong swimming
capabilities and their ability to carry birds in their
mouths firmly but gently and without damaging them.
Golden Retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs, on
average weighing 60-80 pounds and measuring 20-24 inches
in height. Their builds are strong, sturdy, and athletic
without being bulky. They have broad skulls; straight
muzzles that taper slightly towards the nose; darkly
colored noses; relatively short drop ears; medium-sized
to large eyes; and thick, feathered tails.
Golden Retrievers have water-repellent, dense double-coats
that can be either wavy or flat. Their coats are shiny,
and generally a rich golden shade. They may vary in
shade, however, from a pale yellow, which is often referred
to as English cream, to a dark copper that earns such
dogs the title of "redheads." The color of a Golden
Retriever's coat may change as it ages, and is usually
lighter when the dog is a puppy.
Golden Retrievers are famous for their friendly dispositions
and their apparently perpetual exuberance. They are
also devoted, obedient, and intelligent, which makes
them both very loyal and easy to train. Being gentle,
patient, and deeply loving, they are a popular choice
of family dog, in many countries, including the U.S.A.,
Australia, and the U.K., where they rank as the third,
fifth, and eighth most popular family dog breeds, respectively.
In addition to their popularity as pets and companion
dogs, Golden Retrievers are highly functional in executing
important tasks; because they are highly intelligent,
easy to train, and interact well with people, Golden
Retrievers are popularly used as seeing eye dogs, police
dogs, and water rescue dogs. They are also still used
for their initial purpose, to aid in hunting, and often
perform in dog sports such as agility and flyball.
Golden Retrievers require fairly regular coat maintenance,
and should ideally be brushed bi-weekly. They are also
very social dogs, and require daily human interaction.
Golden Retrievers need daily exercise as well, and do
best with more space available to them. Though they
have high energy levels and are very active, Golden
Retrievers can only be moderately active indoors, and
may fare well in apartments if they are given plenty
of opportunities to exercise and socialize.
Some of the most common health complications in Golden
Retrievers are obesity, hip dysplasia, heart problems,
skin allergies, and cataracts. Cancer, in particular
mast cell tumors, is the leading cause of death among
the breed. The life span of the average Golden Retriever
is 10-13 years.
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