I have yearned to have Golden Retriever puppies for as long as I can remember. In childhood, my mom wouldn’t allow one (who will clean the mess?), and now my hectic work routine prevents me from getting the dog of my dreams.
My love for these furry creatures is rooted in their beautiful golden coat and warm personality. Not just me, most people like Golden Retrievers (pronounced as gohl-duhn ri-tree-ver), making them one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide.
You may recognize Golden Retrievers for their unique golden color, flippy floppy ears, gorgeous fur coat, a tail that never stops wiggling, and playful nature. Looking at these handsome and loving dogs, you’ll never guess that they were bred as gun dogs to retrieve game during hunting season.
They are mischievous enough that they will have you chasing them around but smart enough to know when enough is enough. They will keep you on your toes before they show you that they can be your best furry friend and your guard dog.
We can give you a list of reasons to prove why having a Golden Retriever in your house is a good idea, including their social and playful temperament, intelligence, and affectionate personality.
Not to mention that they are incredibly photogenic (you are going to have plenty of pictures for the gram). Life feels like a constant high with a Golden Retriever puppy around.
Let’ learn more about these beautiful dogs in detail:
About The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever was bred to retrieve fowl for the hunters, but today you can count on them to work as service dogs, disability assistance dogs, search and rescue dogs, detection dogs, or simply as furry friends who love to play fetch with you.
This happy-go-lucky dog is popular among families because it goes along well with kids, and if Golden Retriever puppies are introduced to other house animals at an early stage, they get along well with them too.
If you want to own a beautiful pup one day or already have one, then keep on reading because we are going to share plenty of information here with you.
Origin and History
These majestic beauties originated back in the 1800s in the Scottish Highlands. The best-documented history of Golden Retrievers is available in the books at Inverness-Shire, Scotland, where the gamekeepers of Lord Tweedmoth’s state of Guisachan kept the record from 1835 to 1890.
These records were made available to the public by the Sixth Earl of Ilchester and the great nephew of Lord Tweedmoth, who was also a sportsman and historian. In 1952 he published all this material left to him by his ancestors. So, they confirmed the stories passed down from generation to generation with factual information.
The records show that Lord Tweedmoth took a fancy towards yellow color and got Nous (retriever) from Brighton, England, in 1865. That yellow retriever was then crossed with Tweed Water Spaniel (a species that is now extinct), which was a liver-colored retriever.
The breeding was carried on for 20 more years, and some Red Setters, Labrador Retrievers, and a couple of bloodhounds along with more Tweed Water Spaniel dogs were brought in. It helped in adding bone and improving scenting in the breed that was then called Golden Flat-coats.
Golden Retrievers were known as Golden Flatcoats from 1908 to 1913, and then in 1913, their name was changed to Yellow Retrievers or Golden Retrievers. It was not until 1920 that they were finally given the name they bear today. In 1925, Golden Retrievers finally got recognized by the AKC.
Appearance
Golden Retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs; they are a sturdy, broad-shouldered breed that has a slightly tapering, straight muzzle with a defined stop.
They usually have a brown or brownish-black nose. They have mesmerizing brown eyes with slightly short ears with ears hanging down to the cheeks and an ever-wiggling tail.
Their tail has feathering from the base to the tip. They have a medium-sized but double fur coat, and the outer coat is water repellent. The undercoat is softer than the outer one and is responsible for maintaining the dog’s body temperature in both warm and cold weather.
The feathering on their body covers the back of their legs, underbelly, tail, and the front of the neck.
Size
Golden Retrievers fall somewhere in between medium and large size dogs. You can expect your male Golden Retriever to grow as much as 23-34 inches tall and weigh around 65 to 75 pounds on average.
Their female counterparts are a little behind them in height and weight, with 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall and 55-65 pounds heavy, respectively.
When Golden Retriever puppies are born, they weigh 14 – 16 ounces, but they gain weight quickly. At 7 weeks old, the average Golden Retriever puppy weighs about 9 pounds. Interestingly, your puppy will gain 10 – 25% weight each week until they are 9 – 12 months old.
Golden Retriever Temperament
Golden Retrievers are sure to fill your house with positive energy. They are playful, intelligent, kind, and even-tempered. They are highly energetic but very gentle with kids. They get along nicely with other house pets and animals as well as with strangers. You can count on them not to get annoyed or restless when you have guests over.
These well-mannered and loveable dogs are very charming. They like to please people around them and be patient, making them a popular choice for a family dog. They are very friendly with people and love to play with other dogs. They are highly trainable and the fourth-most intelligent dog.
However, they do not have strong barking instincts, so they do not make a good watch or guard dogs. However, that varies from dog to dog, as some of the Golden Retriever puppies might let you know when they see a stranger approaching.
Although they are highly energetic and competitive, they are unlikely to attack anyone. They are happy around the people who display strong leadership qualities. It is important to provide them enough exercise or physical activity, or they can get aggressive, high-strung, distractible, and exuberant.
Golden Retriever Types
There are three main types of Golden Retrievers, but there is only a slight difference among these types. The three types are:
- English or British Golden Retriever: They have their signature cream coat and are a little heavier than the rest, although slightly smaller in height.
- Canadian Golden Retriever: These dogs look different than the other two types as they have a thinner, darker, and shorter coat. They are taller than the other 2 varieties.
- American Golden Retriever: This is the least muscular type out of all but has the richest gold shade fur coat that is wavy, dense, and highly water repellent.
The difference between these types is physical as they might have fur coats of different colors and these differences occurred naturally during breeding.
However, despite these small differences in their appearance, there is no difference in their temperament and nature. All Golden Retriever types are loving, affectionate, strong, and athletic.
Golden Retriever Colors
As the name suggests, Golden Retrievers are primarily golden in color, but the shades of golden can differ. A Golden Retriever can be of any color, from light golden (English Cream Golden Retriever, White Golden Retriever, etc.) to dark shades of golden. However, some types have white, black, or red hues in their fur coats.
Golden Retriever Life Span
The athletic champs usually live long enough to see 12 to 12 years of life.
Are Golden Retrievers Hypoallergenic?
No, they are heavy shedders, and if you want a Golden Retriever, you have to come in term with dog hair in your house. Especially in fall and spring, they will shed profusely, and you would need to brush them regularly.
What Can I Expect When Caring for A Golden Retriever?
The fact that Golden Retrievers are people pleasers or have a playful nature fool you into thinking that they are somehow low maintenance. You would need to be vigilant about their health, grooming, training, and brushing to care for them properly.
Considering they have a double fur coat; you should pay special attention to their grooming needs. Moreover, since they have energetic personalities, Golden Retriever training should also be prioritized.
Health
Just like any dog breed, there are some diseases Golden Retrievers are more susceptible to than others. One out of every five gold retrievers develop a joint disease like elbow dysplasia or hip dysplasia.
Here is a list of all the diseases your dog can have at any stage of life:
- Dental disease (the most common chronic problem in pets)
- Viral and bacterial infections like rabies, parvo, and distemper
- Obesity
- Parasites like ticks, fleas, mites, heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms
- Cancers like lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and mast cell tumors
- Gastric dilatation
- Hips and elbow dysplasia
- Eye problems like glaucoma, cataracts, and distichiasis
- Mold, pollen, or dust allergy
- Epilepsy
- Heart diseases like aortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy
- Diabetes
- Portosystemic shunt (liver disease)
- Hemophilia (bleeding disorder)
- Hypothyroidism
This long list might scare you but do not worry. You can keep your Golden Retriever happy and healthy by following standard health protocols like taking care of their diet, making sure they get enough exercise, brushing their coat and teeth regularly, and keeping a close eye on them.
Do not miss their regular check-up appointments with the vet and their vaccinations. Golden Retriever puppies must get them regularly tested for the diseases that are commonly found in Golden Retriever puppies must get distemper, parvovirus, DHPP, and rabies vaccination within their first year.
Do not forget to sign up for the health insurance of your pet, as it will help you cover the cost of all the medical procedures and tests throughout their life.
Grooming
You might be wondering how to groom a Golden Retriever considering they shed so much and are prone to so many diseases.
Let us tell you that Golden Retriever grooming is such an important part of their maintenance. As they have a water-repellant thick double coat, so they shed heavily twice a year.
The shedding continues throughout the year as well, so it is essential to use a slicker brush to comb them twice a week thoroughly. When they are shedding heavy, they would need daily brushing.
It is good to bathe them often as it will help loosen their hair; otherwise, an occasional bath is enough to keep them clean. You would need to trim their nails regularly and brush their teeth twice a week.
Exercise
The fact that Golden Retrievers are a bundle of energy means they require exercise daily. If they do not get enough exercise, they are likely to direct all that energy negatively, which won’t be desirable for you as a dog owner.
They love long brisk walks and would prove themselves to be great jogging or running partners. It is better if you consult the vet before engaging them in a high-impact exercise, so their bones and joints won’t get stressed.
They love all the dog sports as well, like flyball, fetch, dock living, tracking, and obedience activities.
Feeding
Considering the size of Golden Retrievers, they need big portions of food with plenty of vitamins and minerals compared to smaller dog breeds. However, there is no definite chart as it depends upon the size and age of your dog.
Although they need a large portion of food, Golden Retrievers are prone to bloating. So, it is better to give them frequent small meals during the day.
Try not to give them foods that have high-fat contents and do not overdo treats. Even though treats can help you train your Golden Retriever puppies, moderation is key here.
Training
Golden Retriever training is not a daunting task as they are loyal, obedient, and eager to please people, making them easy to train.
However, it is advised to enroll them in puppy training classes as it will help them socialize. These classes will be beneficial for owners as well, as you would be able to recognize any bad habits your pup might be developing.
You should gradually expose them to people, situations, and places between the age of seven weeks to four months to help them grow into well-mannered and well-adjusted adult dogs.
Golden Retriever – The American Sweetheart
Now, you know why these furry canines are everyone’s favorite and popular among people as pets. These large-sized happy-go-lucky dogs with friendly faces will prove themselves to be your best friend.
If you have further questions about golden retrievers, leave a comment below, and we will make sure to answer them all.
