Caring For Your Very Own Golden Retriever

A breed of dog which is of medium size, the Golden Retriever was developed historically to be gun dogs for shot-retrieval when fowl from the water like ducks and upland birds of game were shot for groups that hunted.

Thus, these dogs were bred with a mouth which is soft for game-retrieval that left the game without damage. This breed also has a love of water which is instinctive.

Golden Retrievers have dense inner coats providing them with warmth which is adequate. Outer coats for this breed are water repellent and sleek, lying flat on their bodies.

Officially, the breed color of Golden Retrievers varies in shadings of gold which are seen most often. Suited well to country or suburban environments, this dog needs a lot of exercise in the outdoors but need a fence due to their hunting-dog instincts.

The versatility and intelligence of this breed are well-suited to its roles. These roles include being a blind-person guide-dog, a deaf-person hearing dog, detectors for illegal drugs, hunting dogs and participants in search-rescue operations.

Due to their gentle, loyal temperaments Golden Retrievers are a well-known choice for a family pet.

This breed has a demeanor which is eager-to-please and friendly. By USA and Australia registration, they are the 5th most popular dog breed for families, and the 8th most popular in the UK.

There are a few existing variations between the Golden Retrievers that are British which prevail throughout Australia and Europe. The breed standard reflects the difference in these variations as well as those in the lines found in America.

The dog muzzles of Golden Retrievers found in Britain are shorter and wider, with blocker foreheads. These have a slightly deeper chest, a shorter tail and shorter legs. Compared to the type from America, this breed is heavier.

At the withers, male breeds ought to be between twenty two and twenty four inches and female breeds between twenty and twenty two inches. In the breeding standard of the United Kingdom, the weight is not specified.

The KCStandard specifies straight hindquarters and a level topline without the slight angulation in the rear that American lines have. Lines from Europe tend to have eyes that are darker and rounder in comparison to the slanted, triangular eyes of breeds from the United States.

British versions of Golden Retrievers have coat colors that have shades of cream or gold. Mahogany or red colors are not permitted according to the standard. In the show ring, white is not acceptable, both in the UK and USA breeds.

Except for Canada and the USA, the KC standard of the UK is used in all other countries. Some Golden Retriever breeders in the USA import some breeds in order to improve health and temperament that can be seen in other bloodlines. Golden Retrievers have great endurance, a muscular body and are built to hunt.

Compared to British Goldens, American Goldens are less stocky and more lanky. At the shoulders, males stand between twenty two and twenty four inches and females stand between twenty and twenty two inches.

Their coats repel water and are dense, in varying degrees of gold luster and with medium feathering. Their gaits need to be well-coordinated, powerful, smooth and free.

Just like breeds from America, the ones from Canada are usually leaner and taller than the ones from the UK. On the other hand, retrievers from Canada vary in the color and density of their coats, which are usually darker and thinner than the ones from America.

As their name indicates, the coats of Golden Retrievers come in colors ranging from light gold to dark gold. There are 2 varying coat types.

The top coat is slightly wavy and water resistant. There is a small amount of shedding all year round. They have a soft undercoat keeping the dog warm during the cold months and cool in the warmer months.

In the fall and spring, the undercoat tends to shed and sits flat against the stomach. There is heavy feathering on the bottom of their tails, on the back of their thighs, in front of their neck and mild feathering behind their forelegs.

The words confident, friendly and kindly are the hallmark temperaments of this breed. Making wonderful pets for families, Golden Retrievers get along perfectly with children. Quite amiable with strangers, this dog's disposition is gentle and trusting, thus not making them very good guard dogs.

Aggression which is unprovoked or hostility to other animals, dogs or people is not acceptable for this breed and is considered a fault that is serious as it does not keep with the Golden Retriever character. Nervousness and timidity are unacceptable as well. Rather, the typical characteristics of this breed include a natural intelligence, calmness and being eager to please.