The Golden retriever, as it's known today, was developed in the late 1800s in the Scottish Highlands, by Lord Tweedmouth. His goal was to produce a superior hunter and retriever suited towards the Scottish climate and game. He mixed the original Yellow Retriever with the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, to produce the new breed of retriever. Additional breeding with the Irish Setter and Bloodhound have given us the Golden Retriever that we know today.
Golden retrievers are part of what's known as the sporting dog group, which includes the popular Labrador Retriever. Golden Retrievers generally reach a height of anywhere between 22 to 24 inches and can weigh up to seventy-five pounds. Their coat is dense and water repellent. This results in a coat that sheds periodically and is in constant need of brushing. Mature Golden Retrievers can have subtle golden variations. Puppy coats tend to be lighter than those of mature adults and some graying or whitening of the face or body due to age is expected. These dogs can live between ten to thirteen years.
The temperament of the Golden Retriever is one of kindness. They are gentle dogs that are good with children, other animals and people. Due to their calm and trusting nature, they do not make good guard dogs. They are fun-loving and noted for their intelligence. The Golden Retriever ranks fourth in Stanley Coren's, The Intelligence of Dogs, being one of the best dogs to train and follow commands. This makes them good candidates for positive training methods. They will work endlessly in their eagerness to please, so care must be taken not to exhaust them. They need moderate exercise to remain healthy.
Due to their popularity, many have tried to breed Golden Retriever puppies. Puppy mills have led to careless breeding practices, leading to a host of genetic defects and health issues. Purchase from reputable breeders is of paramount importance. Some of the health problems that these dogs are prone to are:
· Cancer, especially hemangiosarcoma. The Golden Retriever Club of America, in a study conducted in 1998, found that 61.8% of all American Golden Retrievers died from cancer.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma
- Cardiomyopathy
- Joint disease
- Various skin diseases
- Hemophilia
Golden Retrievers have a pleasant temperament and are good with animals and people. Their eagerness to please and ability to adapt to almost any condition or situation, makes them great pets to own in any setting. Despite potential health issues, proper exercise and purchase from a reputable and responsible breeder will ensure easy, joyful ownership.
References
Sporting Breeds: Golden Retriever
AKC Dog Registration Statistics
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