Dog Breeds 101: The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a very popular type of breed which was initially used for retrieving shot game during hunting seasons, hence the name. In today’s world they are widely used as a family pet because they are very friendly, great with other dogs and children and can be easily trained if done using the proper methods.
They originated from Scotland where they were mix bred with many different breeds of dogs in order to breed the fun loving temperament found in the Golden Retriever.
The Golden Retriever is a high maintenance dog and requires a lot of attention in order to stay satisfied, they require a well balanced diet, plenty of exercise and regular check ups by your local vet. This specific breed of dog are prone to obesity so a few decent walks each day is a necessity. Golden Retrievers must be groomed at least once a week to keep their coat from matting up.
The average male Golden Retriever stands between 23 – 24 inches in height where as the female 21.5 – 22.5 inches in height. They come in various different shades of gold and creams.
There are common disease in which the Golden Retriever are subject to, these include cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases, heart and joint diseases and skin diseases. In order to reduce these risks you need to keep a constant check on them and report to a vet if you feel any suspicion of illness.
They are often used as guide dogs in the world today as they are very willing to learn and an incredibly sociable animal, which makes them poor guard dogs, as they are naturally friendly.
Common nicknames used to describe a Golden Retriever may include Yellow Retriever, Golden or Goldie, at early ages Golden Retrievers are known to be boisterous and may chew anything in sight. Don’t worry, they do grow out of this phase when they reach maturity and keep the energetic and active characteristics which make them so fun to have in your family.
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