Breed All About It!
Spotlight on: The Golden Retriever
Description: A Golden Retriever ' s outer coat is thick and water-repellent, and can be straight or wavy. They come in all shades of gold, from light to dark, and a more rare shade of nearly white. They have a sturdy, muscular build, broad head, feathery tail, and friendly, intelligent eyes that charm just about everyone they meet!
Temperament: The Golden Retriever is part of the sporting group of dogs, and was originally bred as a hunting companion for retrieving waterfowl. It continues to be one of the most popular family dogs in the United States. This breed is affectionate, playful, obedient, and loyal to a fault. The fun-loving Retriever makes an ideal pet for the whole family to love. Their joyous, puppyish behavior lasts well into adulthood. Not surprisingly, it lives up to its name as a great retriever, reveling in games of catch and carrying objects around in its mouth- balls, toys, or best of all, smelly socks! But while it enjoys its active time outdoors, the Golden Retriever is calm indoors, making it a great household pet for any type of family. This breed is highly regarded for its love of human companionship. Its enthusiasm for learning new things and ability to quickly pick up on new commands makes the Golden Retriever a pleasure, and among the easiest of breeds to train. They are very adept at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue, and do well and enjoy obedience and other competitive events, too.
Average Height / Weight: Golden Retrievers are generally 20- 24 inches in height, and weigh between 55- 80 pounds.
Health Issues: Some of the Retriever’ s minor health problems include hypothyroidism, sub-aortic stenosis( SAS), eye disorders, elbow dysplasia, skin issues, mast cell tumors, and seizures. Osteosarcoma is also occasionally seen in Golden Retrievers. Major health concerns for the breed include lymphoma, canine hip dysplasia( CHD), and hemangiosarcoma. To identify these conditions early, a veterinarian may recommend heart, hip, thyroid, eye, or elbow tests during routine checkups.
Exercise: It’ s important for a Retriever to maintain a daily exercise routine, or take part in physically challenging games. Hiking, jogging, or just going for a romp in the yard are good activities to expend this breed ' s energy so he doesn ' t engage in destructive behavior.
Life Expectancy: Between 10 and 13 years. Grooming: Goldens shed moderately in summer and winter, and more heavily in spring and fall. To encourage turnover of the coat and minimize buildup of hair inside the house, it’ s best to brush a Golden ' s coat at least twice a week. A bath once or twice a month is sufficient.
Pawsitively Pets-- July 7