Golden Retriever Breed — Is It for You?
Is the golden retriever breed the one for you? Golden retrievers have continued to gain popularity because they are so fun, loyal, and heartwarming. Originally, golden retrievers were bred as hunting and working dogs for the cold, wet terrain of northern Europe. Now they are popular as search and rescue dogs, service dogs, and as family pets.
People usually have a particular picture in mind when they think of golden retrievers. One thing is for certain, they are well known for their energetic, happy-go-lucky personality.
People first consider how the breed looks when they think of a golden retriever. This sort of dog is active, powerful and large. A good example of a golden retriever should embody all of the following qualities. A dog should have a heavily muscled body under a thick, luxuriant coat. A good golden retriever is so built that it is easy for it to track game in the underbrush of a forest. Golden retrievers were specially bred for this trait.
At the withers, a male golden retriever can reach 23 to 24 inches tall, and they can weigh as much as 65 to 75 pounds. A female golden retriever may be a bit smaller: 21.5-22.5 inches at the withers and about 55 to 65 pounds is typical. Both males and females are usually quite large and have very sweet expressions that bring smiles to everyone who sees them.
Golden retrievers come in a variety of shades of gold. This trait, along with a number of other reasons, gave them their name. The color ranges from rust to cream. Golden retrievers were originally bred in northern Europe. The weather and terrain there are cold and marshy. The Goldens’ thick, water repellent coat is well suited for outdoor work in these conditions. Grooming for golden retrievers is considered moderate.
They will need to be groomed twice a week because of the double layer of the coat. More frequent grooming is necessary when it is shedding season. There is no need to clip them on a regular basis as you would with some breeds, though they will need stray hairs trimmed sometimes. A golden retriever has a dense coat that should lie flat against the body. The coat may be moderately wavy or it may be straight. The fur on the tail is quite long and feathery. It should be groomed and trimmed for a better appearance.
The original golden retrievers hailed from the Scottish Highlands; however, as years and generations have passed, noticeable differences have emerged between American and British golden retrievers. American golden retrievers are taller, leaner, and of a darker color than British golden retrievers.
The shape of the muzzle, eyes, and head will reveal many more differences. The Canadian golden retriever is a mix between the British golden and the American golden. They are similar to an American golden in weight and height; however, they are more like a British golden in color (although not quite as light).
Generally, golden retrievers are thought to be confident and friendly in personality. They are very highly trainable – more so than many breeds. They have the patience to wait in a hunting blind for hours, and they can focus themselves on a task to the point of exhaustion. They are not particularly good watch dogs, though. They just love people too much – even strangers. So, if you want a larger dog who is smart, loving, trainable, and a great all-around companion (though not much of a watch dog), the golden retriever breed is probably for you.
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