Golden Retriever
Docile, affectionate, soft and intelligent
Ranking
18 th
Most popular breed
Origin
United Kingdom
Group
Size
Large
Activity
Family dog
Coat
Long hair
breeds.lifeSpan
8 to 12
Weight
66 to 110lbs
Origins of the Golden Retriever
Obscure origins
Several origins are attributed to the Golden Retriever. It may be descended from a group of dogs originating from the caucuses, in the lineage of Leonberg. These dogs were brought to England or Scotland, or alternatively purchased from a Russian circus in 1858 by Lord Tweedmouth.
However, history takes a more formal turn with Lord Tweedmouth. In 1868, Lord Tweedmouth, an avid hunter, crosses a yellow coated Wavy dog, which is a straight haired retriever, with a Tweed Water Spaniel female. He wished to create his own breed by multiplying the crossings according to the morphology or the abilities of the dogs. The result of this crossing led to the Golden Retriever that we know today.
These dogs were trained to bring back game that had been wounded or killed in water or high grass. They were especially useful in the hunting beats organized by the English aristocracy.
The recognition of the Golden Retriever
It was in the early twentieth century, in 1909 specifically, that the Golden Retriever participated in its first dog show. Its name is a reference to the color of its coat.
In 1911, the first club dedicated to the Golden Retriever was born in England as the Golden Retriever Club of England.
The breed was registered in England in 1903 and was recognized as a pure breed in 1913.
The breed standard was made official in 1930.
The Golden Retriever in the USA
It took another 12 years after England for the breed to be recognized in America, and in 1925, the American Kennel Club did so. In 1938, the Golden Retriever Club of America was founded.
The Golden Retriever in Canada
The first record of the breed in Canada is from 1881, when the Honourable Archie Marjoribanks took a Golden Retriever called 'Lady'to Canada. The breed was registered in Canada in 1927 and in 1958, the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario (GRCO) was formed. The cofounders of the GRCO were Cliff Drysdale, an Englishman who had brought over an English Golden, and Jutta Baker, daughter-in-law of Louis Baker, who owned Northland Kennels.[38] In later years, the GCRO expranded to become the Golden Retriever Club of Canada.
Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
It is one of the favorite breeds to be trained as service dogs.
The qualities Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a docile, friendly and affectionate dog. It is very good at working and is confident.
The Golden retriever is also playful and cheery, which will brighten your days.
It gets along well with children but does not always know its own strength. However, it can be very gentle and will not show any sign of aggression towards children.
The Golden Retriever is a dog that is easy to train and obedient.
Although it prefers to live in the countyside, it can adapt to an apartment life.
The shortcomings of the Golden Retriever
Although it can sometimes try to look pitiful to gain your sympathy, do not let yourself be swayed and stay firm when it makes a mistake.
It is a dog that does not much like being alone, so be careful not to leave it by itself too often.
Physical Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
The standard of the Golden Retriever was defined in 1930. Unlike other breeds, it has changed very little since then.
General aspect of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a rustic hunting dog. It is medium in size and harmonious in its proportions. Its size and weight vary depending on its gender.
Its head has a pronounced stop, a black nose, a look full of sweetness, and dangling ears of medium size. Its fur is thick and silky, its hair is flat or wavy, with fringes. Its tail, well-feathered, continues the line of the back. All shades of yellow are admissible for its dress, ranging from cream to dark golden, with no trace of red.
HEAD
- Skull: broad without being heavy. Head well-tied to the neck.
- Stop: well-pronounced.
- Nose: black, preferably.
- Muzzle: powerful, wide and high. The length of the chamfer is approximately equal to that of the skull, from the stop to the occiput.
- Jaws and teeth: strong jaws with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. This means that the upper incisors should cover the lower incisors in close contact and be set square to the jaw.
- Eyes: well set apart and dark brown. The eye rims are dark.
- Ears: of moderate size, set almost at eye level.
NECK
The neck should have a good length, as well as be clear and muscular.
BODY
- Back: horizontal top line.
- Loins: strong and muscular, short.
- Chest: well let-down between the forelegs. The ribs should be well let-down and well sprung.
- Tail: attached to the back. It should reach the hocks but not curl at the end.
- Shoulders: Well slanted. The shoulder blades should be long.
- Elbows: close to the body.
- Thighs: long
- Legs: solid.
- Hocks: well let-down. They should be straight and neither turn in nor out.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Non-disqualifying
Cow hocks.
The coat must be gold or cream. It cannot be red nor mahogany.
Disqualifying
Any aggressive or fearful dog.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities.
Males should have two testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Although my masters sometimes think I am too rough, I just want to play. I don’t like it when people aren’t polite with me and I’ll let you know it by barking loudly. I have a good voicebox!
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Coat, Color and Care of the Golden Retriever
Coat of the Golden Retriever
Its hair is flat or wavy with a good fringe.
Its undercoat is tight and waterproof.
Color of the Golden Retriever
Any shade of gold or cream. It cannot be red nor mahogany. The presence of a few white hairs is permitted only on the chest.
The different colors:
Sable: it is the lightest color, and is almost white.
Fauve clair: it’s a color that is close to the color of straw.
Fauve orangé: it’s a color that’s fairly close to mahogany.
Care for the Golden Retriever
Brush once a week to untangle the hair and remove dead hairs. A bath is a good idea from time to time.
Keep and eye on its ears, which are fragile. Do not hesitate to clean them regularly.
Although they are part of the same family, Golden Retrievers and Labradors are distinct breeds.
Size and weight of the Golden Retriever
Size: 51 to 61 cm at the withers
Weight : between 25 and 34 kg
Health
The Golden Retriever needs a lot of exercise. It has a predisposition to hip and elbow dysplasia.
A dog for children?
This is the family dog par excellence. It will get along with children very well and be gentle with them. It never shows any aggression.
Is the Golden Retriever easy to train?
Because of its sensitive nature, the Golden Retriever should be trained through care and rewards, and not through punishment. It is a very intelligent and obedient dog that is easy to train.
Pictures of Golden Retriever
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