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Golden Retriever dog breed
 | The Golden Retriever is a popular breed of dog,
originally developed as a retrieving dog to use while hunting wild fowl. It is
one of the most common family dogs as it is easy to handle, very tolerant and
does not require very much from the owner(s), other than regular exercise,
food and veterinary check-ups. Golden Retrievers are usually compatible with
people and other dogs. Golden Retrievers typically bark when startled, but
their friendly nature generally makes them poor watchdogs. Golden Retrievers
are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people,
and are used as Guide dogs. |
Photo of
Golden Retriever dog breed
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Golden Retriever |
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A darker coloured Golden Retriever
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| Country of origin |
| Scotland |
| Common nicknames |
Golden or Goldie
Yellow Retriever |
| Classification and breed standards |
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Information about
Golden Retriever dog breed
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Appearance
The Golden should be athletic, well balanced, and symmetrical. Its appearance
should reflect its merry and outgoing temperament, and it should never look
sulky or aggressive. This large breed is similar in appearance to the yellow
Labrador Retriever, especially when young. The most obvious difference is the
Golden Retriever's luxuriant coat, which is usually goldish yellow.[2]
Coat and color
Color ranges from nearly blonde to this dark golden coat.The coat should be
dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It should not be
silky, hard, or wooly. It must lie flat against the body. The American Kennel
Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various
shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This
leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing
in conformation shows. Judges may also disallow Goldens with brown or pink
noses, though these are very rare. The Golden's coat can also be a 'mahogany'
color, referred to as 'redheads' in people. As a Golden grows older, its coat
can become darker or lighter tints of brown, along with a noticeable whitening
of the fur on and around the face.
This male Golden has the profuse coat typical of dogs from show bloodlines
Size
Golden Retrievers reach their full height around one year of age and full weight
around age two, though they may retain their puppyish nature for life. The
height standard is 56 - 61 cm (22-24 ins) at the withers for males, and 51 - 56
cm (20-22 ins) for females. The weight standard is 29 - 34 kg (65-75 lb) for
males, and 27-32 kg (60-70 lb) for females. The weight and sizes standards
determine whether dogs can compete in sanctioned dog shows; individual Goldens
may be larger or smaller, but may not compete.
Temperament
Typically, Goldens are fairly unruly as puppies. However, once they reach
maturity, Goldens remain active and fun-loving while developing an exceptionally
patient demeanor, as befits a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a hunting
blind. Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited
for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for cool water.
Most Goldens enjoy active entertainment, such as dog agility.They are noted for
their affection for people, and their tolerance of children. They are natural
clowns, which characterizes them as great therapy dogs to use in hospitals or
retirement homes. Most Goldens require lots of companionship to be happy. Due to
their intelligence, they do well in obedience trials and make excellent
assistance dogs. While they might not do quite as well in field trials as
Labrador Retrievers, they are excellent hunters, known for outstanding scenting
ability. However, many Golden Retrievers will not express their desire to
"fetch" until adulthood.
The Golden Retriever loves to retrieve. Retrieving a thrown stick, tennis ball,
or flying disc can keep a Golden occupied and entertained for hours,
particularly if there is also water involved.
Today's Golden Retrievers fall into two groups: show dogs and field dogs. The
Goldens in the show group are generally bigger-boned, longer, and heavier. The
champagne color and long flowing coat are highly prized in the show ring. On the
other hand, field Goldens tend to be smaller, longer legged, and be a more
reddish shade. These two strains derive from champion Goldens from the 1960s.
Gold Rush Charlie moved the show Goldens toward their present characteristics,
while Holway Barty greatly affected the field group. Contemporary breeders
attempt to unite these two strains into the all-purpose Golden Retriever.
History
The Golden Retriever breed was originally developed in Scotland, at "Guisachan",
near Glen Affric, the highland estate of Sir Dudley Majoribanks (pronounced "Marchbanks"),
later Lord Tweedmouth. For many years, there was controversy over which breeds
were originally crossed. In 1952, the publication of Majoribanks' breeding
records from 1835 to 1890 removed doubt about a romantic story concerning the
purchase of a whole troupe of Russian sheepdogs from a visiting circus.
A young Golden Retriever showing the breed's broad face and wide muzzle.The
original cross was of a yellow-coloured dog, Nous, with a Tweed Water Spaniel
female dog, Belle. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct but was then common in
the border country. Majoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered
litter of otherwise black wavy-coated retriever pups. In 1868, this cross
produced a litter that included four bitch pups; these four became the basis of
a breeding program which included the Red Setter, the sandy-coloured Bloodhound,
the St. John's Water Dog of Newfoundland, the Springer Spaniel, and two more
wavy-coated black Retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for
trueness to Majoribanks' idea of the ultimate hunting dog. His vision included a
more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, that would still be
gentle and trainable. Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned in these records, nor
are any other working dog breeds. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all
sporting dogs, in line with Majoribanks' goals.
Golden Retrievers vary widely in colourGolden Retrievers were
first accepted for registration by the The Kennel Club of England in 1903, as
Flat Coats - Golden. They were first exhibited in 1908, and in 1911 were
recognised as a breed described as Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1913, the
Golden Retriever Club was founded. The breed name was officially changed to
Golden Retriever in 1920.
The Hon. Archie Majoribanks took a Golden Retriever to Canada in 1881, and
registered Lady with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1894. These are the first
records of the breed in these two countries. The breed was first registered in
Canada in 1927, and the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario, now the Golden
Retriever Club of Canada, was formed in 1958. The AKC recognized the breed in
1932, and in 1938 the Golden Retriever Club of America was formed
Health
A three year old.
Two light-coloured Goldens
A 4 year old Golden RetrieverBreeding Goldens can be profitable for puppy mills
and backyard breeders; as a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are
prone to genetic and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed;
when buying a puppy its parents should have been examined by the OFA or PennHIP
for hip disease.
Common diseases in the breed include:
Cancer, the most common being hemangiosarcoma, followed by, lymphosarcoma,
mastocytoma, and osteosarcoma. Cancer was the cause of death for 61.8% of
Goldens in a 1998 health study conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of
America, making it the breed's most deadly disease.
hip and elbow dysplasia.
Eye diseases, including cataracts (the most common eye disease in Goldens),
progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, distichiasis, entropion, and retinal
dysplasia
Heart diseases, especially subvalvular aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy are
major problems in this breed.
Joint diseases, including patella luxation, osteochondritis, panosteitis, and
cruciate ligament rupture
Skin diseases, with allergies (often leading to acute moist dermatitis or "Hot
Spots"), particularly flea allergies, being most common. Others include
seborrhea, sebaceous adenitis, and lick granuloma.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Bloat
Cushing's Disease
Diabetes (occasionally)
Ear Infections
Epilepsy
Hypothyroidism
Laryngeal paralysis
Liver shunt
Megaesophagus
Myasthenia gravis
von Willebrand Disease
Haemophilia
Rescue efforts
A ten-month-old field variety Golden Retriever.Because of the prevalence and
prominence of the breed, high demand results in many Goldens being abandoned
each year by owners who can no longer care for them. Puppy mills — large-scale
commercial breeding operations sometimes shut down for poor conditions — are
another source of orphan Golden Retrievers. These dogs — often old or in need of
medical support — may end up in animal shelters.
In response to the numbers of orphan Goldens, volunteer organizations work to
rescue, care for, and adopt abandoned Golden Retrievers. These rescue groups
usually accept dogs from owners and establish agreements with local animal
shelters to ensure that dogs will be transferred to their care rather than
euthanized. Once rescued, Golden Retrievers are placed in foster homes until a
permanent home is found. It is common for rescue groups to screen prospective
adopters to ensure that they are capable of providing a good home for the dog.
Golden retriever rescue groups have utilized the world wide web to raise funds
and advertise rescued Goldens to adopters.
Golden Retrievers in popular culture
Gerald Ford and Liberty in 1974 in the Oval OfficeComet from Full House
Buddy in the film Air Bud
Duke from Bush's Baked Beans commercials
Alex from Stroh Brewery Company ads
Brandon, companion of Punky Brewster
Charlie the Wonderdog from the Australian television series The Late Show
Chase, mascot of the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team
J.D. from Dead Like Me
Klaus Von Puppy - Jack McFarland's puppy in the sitcom Will & Grace
Levi from Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye
Liberty, pet of Gerald Ford
Lucy, as seen on Blue Peter
Mel from Ginga Legend Weed
Shadow from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and Homeward Bound II
Shelby AKA Krypto from Smallville
Speedy from The Drew Carey Show
Stogie from Mission Hill.
Sun Dance, from Adam Sandler's Click
Trixie Koontz a retired service dog, purported author of Life Is Good, and
companion of Dean Koontz
Tugboat, pet of Tyler Hamilton
~From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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