The golden retriever is one of the most popular breeds almost everywhere in the world. Their friendliness and kindness make them an excellent family pet.

The golden retriever, that is, the golden retriever, is known by many. They are one of the most widespread breeds in the world. They are a perfect assistance dog and family member at the same time, with their kindness they sweep everyone off their feet. They are not only friendly, but very intelligent too, easy to train. They are an ideal companion for almost everyone, as they adapt excellently to the human’s lifestyle and living environment.

History

Their exact origin is unknown, their ancestor is considered to be the now extinct Russian Retriever. In 1864, businessman Sir Dudley Marjoribanks bought a long-haired retriever, who had a special, yellow colour. Dudley began breeding the breed on his estate in northern Scotland for hunting purposes. He wanted to create the perfect retrieving dog, who would bring him the hunted game. With the spread of firearms, there was a great demand for this, as people often could not find the shot bird.

They are still used for retrieving in hunts today.

To ensure the offspring would be excellent waterfowl hunters too, Dudley crossed his retriever named Nous with a spaniel. He also paired their puppies with setters, a water spaniel, and a sandy-coloured bloodhound. This is how the golden retriever living today was finally obtained.

The British Kennel Club recognised them as a separate breed in 1913. Their popularity increased rapidly, they became extremely beloved in America too, and were registered there in 1925. In the USA, the golden retriever was slightly transformed; the individuals there have longer and darker fur than their European counterparts, they are taller and their physique is less muscular.

Golden retrievers appear in numerous dog films, which made them even more popular.

Breed standard

The golden retriever, unsurprisingly, belongs to the retriever breed group. Their coat can be straight or wavy, but never curly. Their undercoat is waterproof. Their colour is golden brown, cream-coloured and different shades of these. A few white hairs may appear on the chest. Their withers height depends on their sex and is between 51–61 cm, their body weight is around 30 kg. Their ears are medium-sized, lie close to the face. Interestingly, the puppy’s colour is always lighter than it will be in adulthood. If you look into their ear, you can see what shade your pet’s coat will be later, as the fur there is darker. Their gaze is intelligent, kind, their eyes are dark brown. Their gait is powerful, agile, and sometimes they have webbed feet. Their tail is straight, covered with dense fur. Their expected lifespan is 11–12 years.

Character

The golden’s character is charming and captivating. One cannot help but love the breed. They are a friendly, kind, well-meaning dog, who always tries to please their beloved owner. Compared to average, they are more obedient and compliant, easy to train. It is no coincidence they are used in so many areas.

They are excellent for hunting, as they were bred for this. They love retrieving, don’t even need to be taught. They are an excellent swimmer, they retrieve the hunted animal from the water as well. Thanks to their special so-called soft mouth, they grip the prey very gently, so they don’t damage it.

This trait contributes to them being an excellent assistance dog. They grasp various objects just as gently as they do the game, and give them to their owner. They are a patient and calm dog, no wonder most guide dogs, assistance and therapy four-leggeds are golden retrievers.

Guide dog golden retriever

They are also a great choice for lovers of dog sports. Since they love to run and learn, almost any form of exercise is ideal for them. Whether it is dog dancing, agility, frisbee, or just regular swimming.

They are a wonderful family pet, love children, and playing together with them. They are ideal as a first dog too, as they are easy to raise to be obedient. Due to their friendliness, however, they are not good guard dogs. They bark little, and are not the most suitable as watchdogs either. In return, they have a versatile personality, with a huge thirst for knowledge. A big, furry happiness-bomb, who loves to be near their owner and to please them. With their constant good cheer, they surely bring much joy to the family.

The golden retriever will surely become the favourite of the family.

Ideal environment

Since they adapt very well to every life situation, they can be kept in a flat too. In this case, ensure their regular exercise, they require 1–2 hours of physical and mental exhaustion daily. Do not forget, they were bred for retrieving, so running is in their blood.

They get on very well with children, love them. They can become an excellent playmate.

Grooming

It is important to regularly brush their coat and keep it tangle-free. They shed all year round, but this intensifies even more during the seasonal coat change.

It is worth accustoming them to regular brushing from puppyhood.

Common health problems

Over the years, several studies have shown that more than half of golden retrievers die as a result of cancer. This breed is particularly prone to this type of health problem. This is likely due to the high occurrence of inbreeding during the time of their breeding. Hip dysplasia, characteristic of large dogs, can also develop in the breed.