Golden Retriever

Coat & Grooming:

While Goldens have a beautiful, lustrous coat that doesn’t require any clipping, it does require bathing, brushing, and trimming. They are known to have that distinctive doggy smell, which can be kept at bay with regular bathing. Be careful not to strip their coat of the natural oils that keep it healthy and water resistant.

After the outdoor activities a Golden so loves, this medium-coated dog needs more attention, including drying muddy paws and “feathers”, the fluffy long hairs on the backs of the legs. The Golden’s hindquarters and ears need combing to avoid matting. Keep the feathering around their pads and toes short by carefully trimming with scissors.

Because many Goldens have skin allergies, and because as a breed they are avid swimmers, they are susceptible to ear infections. Keep their ears dry and clean on the inside, and the outside fur combed to help to prevent ear infections. Signs of infection include ear scratching, head shaking as if to dispel water, or holding their head to the side.

Shedding:

Goldens are heavy shedders, especially in spring and winter when their coat transitions to match the temperature outside. Be prepared to find golden hairs and fluff on clothing and around the house. Brushing at least once a week year-round, and bathing (with blowdrying before and after) once a month, will help keep the loose hair manageable.

Training:

Golden Retrievers are very smart and known for being easy to train. In fact, the first three dogs to win AKC Obedience Trial Championships were Golden Retrievers. Even without an obedience title to strive for, basic obedience is a necessity for this large, friendly breed.

Their eagerness to please and high intelligence allows them to learn desired behaviors quickly. It can be a challenge to hold their attention, so using gestures and hand signals along with spoken commands can make the process easier. Positive training methods tend to be most successful with this breed and harsh corrections aren’t necessary.

Goldens are the ideal candidates for many professional jobs as well. You can spot a Golden doing detection work, search and rescue, or wearing a vest that says, “Please don’t pet me, I’m working.”

Barking:

Goldens are one of the more quiet breeds, seldom barking in daily life. But when they do bark, they sure put their size into it! A Golden holds The Guinness World Record for loudest bark at 113.1 decibels—that’s louder than a chainsaw.

If a Golden notices something curious, they usually issue a quiet ‘woof’ before escalating into their loud, deep, and sharp bark. They can bark when playing games or meeting an approaching stranger. Socializing your Golden, spending time together, and supervised playtimes will help keep their quiet nature intact.

Personality:

Goldens are friendly with everyone, even-tempered, eager to please, and devoted. They tend to have a puppy-like playfulness well into maturity, which makes obedience training an important part of channeling their zest for life.

Temperament & Behavior:

Loyal, forgiving, intelligent, friendly, and gentle are traits that characterize the Golden Retriever temperament. They are considered the quintessential family pet and are the one of most popular breeds in America. A loving disposition makes them ideal around children, strangers, and other animals.

Goldens don’t tend to have behavioral problems and eager to please. They are happiest together with their owners and are at risk of suffering from separation anxiety if left alone for long stretches of time.

Behavior with Kids:

Goldens are gentle and obedient, thrive on family activity, and are great around children. They do have a mouthing instinct that should be kept in check from a young age.

Protection:

“Protective” is not on the Golden’s list of personality traits. They are bred to be welcoming and social, not defensive and suspicious. However, they can spring into action if imminent danger is present.

Life span:

Golden Retrievers normally live 10-12 years.

Inherited Health Issues:

Golden Retrievers have been shown to be at increased risk for some conditions. If you find yourself becoming interested in looking for a Golden Retriever puppy, ask lots of questions to perspective breeders about whether they perform genetic testing for known heritable diseases on their breeding pairs.

Common conditions in Goldens include: aortic stenosis, pericardial effusion, allergies, hypothyroidism, portosystemic shunt, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis of the shoulder, osteochondrosis of the knee, cancer, lymphoma, epilepsy, cataracts and renal dysplasia.

Preventive Care:

Golden Retrievers are prone to a number of disease conditions. Many of these diseases can be successfully treated or managed with early detection, so it’s extremely important that you make wellness examinations a priority for your Golden. Dogs under 7 years of age should be seen and examined yearly, and dogs 7 years of age and older should have wellness examinations every 6 months.

There is genetic testing available for many of the above-named diseases. Most of these tests are performed on the prospective parents, to ensure they cannot potentially pass inherited conditions on to their offspring. When choosing a breeder, always inquire about genetic testing for common inherited conditions.

Consider supplementing your Golden’s diet with omega-3 fatty acids. There are several very good quality products made for dogs that come in either capsules or liquid form. Follow the label directions for dosing.

Golden Retriever puppies should be fed a high-quality large breed puppy food until they reach one year of age. These foods are specifically formulated to control the rate of skeletal growth, which can prevent the development of some musculoskeletal conditions, such as hip dysplasia.

Also remember that Golden Retrievers tend to be prone to obesity, which can potentiate many other problems, such as the pain associated with arthritis. You should closely monitor your dog’s weight, and feed conservatively, in order to maintain a healthy weight.

Daily Consumption:

Average daily consumption for an adult Golden is 3-4 cups.

Energy Level:

Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Habits and Exercise:

Goldens really need consistent physical and mental exercise to stay healthy and happy. Depending on breed lines and individual energy levels, these dogs need an hour of exertion every day. Fetching and swimming are great for a Golden, as their webbed toes and powerful legs propel them through the water. They’re also great companions for other physical activities like jogging and hiking.

Mental activity is equally as important for this devoted and intelligent breed. Good activities would include hiding and seeking (treats or toys), obedience training, and asking your Golden to perform tasks, like fetching your mail.

The Golden has a ‘soft mouth’ typical of retrieving dogs that must handle game gently when bringing it to the hunter. They can even use their mouths gently enough to pick up raw eggs without breaking the shell! Because of this fetching fixation it’s important to keep their mouths busy with toys and tasks so they don’t become destructive chewers or mouthy biters.

Climate:

Goldens don’t require a specific kind of climate although their thick coat makes them better suited to temperate areas and they are less comfortable in hot weather.