There are different types of breeds you will come across. Each carry their own characteristics, physical appearance and other aspects. One such is the golden retriever dog, which is very much a favorite of many dog owners. Every other dog lover owns a golden retriever because of the friendly and funny nature they carry. Furthermore, they are known for their tolerant and intelligent nature. Since their origin, this breed of dog has been good hunting and therapy. This is why they are widely considered as service dogs. Their agility and competitive nature is what makes them the best.
One of the interesting parts of this breed is they are easy to train. They are very protective of their humans. Golden Retrievers are muscular and medium in size. The best part of their structure is they carry a lustrous coat of gold. This makes them look great.
Golden Retriever Origin:
If we go back to history, Golden Retrievers originated from the Scottish Highlands where they were largely used for hunting purposes. Scottish estate owners needed a special dog that can retrieve birds in water or land. Moreover, they also wanted a dog that is well trained to be able to bring back birds from a farther distance.
To get an ideal retriever breed, the Baron of Tweedmouth, Dudley Marjoribanks, crossed the path of Tweed water spaniel having a yellow-colored retriever. Four pups which they found were used for breeding with lines having Irish setter, bloodhound, St. John's Water Dog ad Black Retriever.
In the 19th century, this breed started gaining popularity in England and gained recognition from The Kennel Club of England in 1911. In the 20th century, the breed was introduced to North America as a companion and hunter. In 1925, American Kennel Club officially recognized this breed.
Golden Retrievers became the third most popular breed in the US, surpassing Labrador retriever and German Shepherd Dogs.
Types Golden Retriever Dog
There are different types of Golden Retrievers found around the world. Few of the famous ones are - Canadian Golden Retrievers, British or English Golden Retrievers. Each of the retrievers carry differences in the types of physical, nature and health. Some of the types of Golden Retriever Dog:
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
This type of dog descended from two dogs who were saved from the English brig wrecked off the coast of Maryland in 1807. The dogs were given to people in the local community, and they turned out to be excellent breeders. However, the two were not bred with each other, but were interbred with other dogs. What makes a retriever the best is its characteristic and straw-to brown- colored coat.
Curly- Coated Retriever
Curly-coated retriever is one of the oldest dogs in the retriever breed and is dated back to 16th- century English Water Spaniel, St. John's Newfoundland, and in the 19th century the Poodle. Its coat of small, tight, and water-resistant characterizes this type of breed dog.
Flat-Coated Retriever
Flat-Coated retriever includes the crossbreed emerging from its origin like sheepdogs, bred to setters and spaniel. This retriever breed is more elegant, and its flat-lying coat comes in solid black or liver. One of the distinguished features of the breed type is the coat, which protects it from harsh weather and icy water. Moreover, it has a longhead, making it look unique.
Labrador Retriever
Originated in 1600 at the island of Newfoundland, Labrador retriever worked for anglers to get fish from the pond. The golden retriever became instant love for many in that century because of its retrieving abilities. In 1800, some of the St. John’s dogs prized sporting dogs for the aristocracy. Presently, in the US, this lab is the most loved and is known for its intelligence, solid, versatility and pleasant nature.
Canadian Golden Retriever
This breed of dog looks a bit different from other Golden Retrievers. It comes with short hair and stands taller than the other two varieties by two inches. These features make this breed of dog look a bit different from its counterparts.
British Golden Retrievers
This English breed dog carries feathery cream coats making it look quite different. Moreover, they carry similar coats. However, one of the biggest differences between the two is they carry broader skulls and have darker eyes.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Called as the Toller, this breed of dog was developed at the Little River Harbor area of Nova Scotia in the 19th century. This breed is known for its alertness and agility. The reason why it is called as the tolling is its playful action and the curiosity towards birds that are out in the water. Hunters in the early stage trained these dogs to mimic the plot of attracting waterfowl prey.
Golden Retrievers Diet
When it comes to the diet of Golden Retrievers, you need to be specific in what they would prefer eating to remain energetic. If you have a golden puppy, then you should not include food that has too many calories that may not be the right diet for them to consume. Golden puppies need a good amount of energy, and to get that they need to have a stable and balanced supply of minerals, especially calcium. Feeding of these puppies also depends on the current weight and the weight once turned adult. There are food brands that offer specific food to golden retriever puppies.
Based on the size, weight and activity level, golden retrievers need food that gives a balanced diet. Active retrievers will need high concentration of carbohydrates, and the less active ones will need moderate amounts of carbohydrate. The best is to feed them with wet food that is tastier. Moreover, they are lower in calories and help the dog to keep the weight in balance.
Golden retriever puppies and older dogs do not carry the same amount of nutritional value and the feeding plan should according to their age and weight. If you have a golden puppy, it is vital to feed him/her at the right time and right food. Skipping of meals will lead to slow growth of the puppy and the overall development.
Golden retrievers usually weigh 55 to 75 pounds. In addition, adult retrievers would eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day. For instance, if your dog is a nursing mother or performs heavy work will need at least 2,000 calories per day to maintain the right balance of weight and to stay healthy. On a daily basis, your retriever should get at least equally spaced meals. Avoid serving processed or packaged food.
Health Problems in Golden Retriever
Every dog breed has health issues and so the Golden Retriever has. Dog owners need to be very attentive when it comes to health problems. Some of the health issues golden retriever can face are:
Hip Dysplasia
This is the most common problem faced by golden retrievers when they grow up. The canine hip is the same as the ball-in-socket joint, where the femur rotates smoothly within the socket. These large bones are held in powerful ligaments. When the hip socket dislocates, there is bone tear leading to the stress in ligaments. Stiffness and joint inflammation are quite common among this dog breed.
Cancer
The rate of cancer disease among golden retrievers is quite high compared to other breed dogs. Hemangiosarcoma is one of the fastest growing cancer diseases among this breed and has been taking lives of dogs. This problem arises from the blood vessels and is diagnosed in the early stage. There are other forms of cancers this breed face, that are Lymphosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, and Mastocytoma.
Respiratory Conditions
Golden retrievers face different conditions affecting their heart, lungs and circulation. Respiratory is one such problem, which happens due to the narrowing of the vessel carrying oxygenated blood. If ever, your pet starts showing signs of weakness, breathing issues or other such respiratory issues, then you need to show him/her to the vet.
Skin Condition
It is the most common probe the golden retriever faces. Since this breed has a dense undercoat, it creates an ideal environment for bacteria to settle and damage the skin. Moreover, this breed is very active and likes to stay in mud. Sometimes, they end up in unhygienic water, which carry germs. In addition, their skin is sensitive to molds and dust. It becomes important to take your dog to the vet for examination.
Other health issues golden retrievers can face are-
Cataracts
Bloat
Ear and eyes infection
Facture
Some Facts about Golden Retriever
Golden retriever dogs are very intelligent and active. With hunter origin attached to its history, this breed is great when trained well. There are certain facts in regards to this breed, which are quite interesting to know:
Consistent in Ranking the Top 3 Under Most Popular Dogs in the US
Golden retriever dog can be found in every other home in the US. This shows that they are the most famous breed in the country. One of the reasons is their protective and friendly nature.
Great Family Dog and Pack Oriented
Due to their friendly nature, this breed loved hanging around with humans. The breed, compared to others, is very tolerant and tends to get along with other family pets and kids in the home. When it comes to loyalty, they rank the top. In India too, many dog lovers love petting and owning this dog breed. Old people who are alone, do keep such breed dogs to make themselves feel good.
Best Hunting Companions
The golden retriever origin displays its hunting history. They were first developed to retrieve fish for hunters at the estate in Scottish belonging to Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, which was later named as Lord Tweedmouth. The goal of Tweedmouth was to develop and train a breed, which is good in hunting. The hunting nature of the dog really helped to carry forward even now and their friendly makes them the better companion.
They Look Amazing
Not only just looks, but also the overall structure of this breed is amazing. The beautiful coats make them look beautiful. However, it requires daily brushing and examination at least once in a month.
They Have Athletic Body
Due to their sturdy body structure and hunting nature, this breed is good with athletic nature. They love to chase and catch. It is best to train them with different athletic tricks. Moreover, they like to swim in the water. Give them the pool; they will not be out for hours. They like to have fun in water and play around.
They are Easy to Train
One of the interesting facts about this breed is you can train dogs easily. Due to their friendly nature, they can be trained quickly and easily perform different tasks. Many companies train these breed dogs to help people with disabilities.
FAQs on Golden-Retriever
1: How Much Exercise Does a Golden Retriever Require?
Golden retrievers are very active and have a good athletic nature. However, to make them remain active and good in physics, you need to train them well. A good training helps them to get a lot of intensity. However, it is important to keep caution when training puppies and you should not force them with hard training, which can be fatal for them.
2: Do Golden Retrievers Love to Swim?
Yes, they do love to swim a lot. In fact, they love to play around water. However, not every dog would love to play in the water. In case of bad experience, they will not play or swim in the water.
3: Do Golden Retrievers Need Regular Grooming?
Yes, they need a lot of grooming. Since they have long hair and coats, they need regular grooming. You need to keep grooming their ears, armpits and legs. There are separate brush and grooming tools for retrievers, which you can use for the same purpose.
4: Do they Shed Loads of Hair?
In many cases, they do shed loads of hair, depending on the environment and how well they are taken care. The shedding usually happens during autumn and spring. You need to keep checking about the shedding of hair.
