The Golden Retriever is typically athletic,
well balanced, and symmetrical in appearance. This is reflected in
its merry outgoing temperament; in fact you will not find this dog
sulky or aggressive. This large breed looks very similar to the
yellow Labrador retriever, especially when young. The most obvious
difference being that the Golden Retriever's coat is luxurious and
varies in shades of gold yellow.The
breed was first developed in the British Isles by Lord Tweedmouth
of Scotland. He wanted to breed the perfect dog. He wanted
characteristics of a dog that was intelligent, loyal, attractive,
perceptive, and a powerfully-built, agile, hunting dog that could
retrieve waterfowl in extreme wet and cold conditions. The end
result was the Golden Retriever.
The Golden Retriever has feathered,
medium-length, cream to golden-colored coat which may be straight
or moderately wavy. They are beautiful, sturdy and
well-proportioned dogs. Their coat is water-repellent and the
undercoat is dense and lies flat against the belly . It is
characterized by a strong, broad head, a tapering wide, powerful
muzzle and a scissor bite with a clear frontal stop. Black nosed,
and soft, dark eyes that are brown with dark rims, ears that are
medium-sized and pendant in shape, the neck and thighs are
muscular and they are broad chested with long, straight tails.
Golden Retrievers will generally reach their
full height at about one year of age and they attain full weight
by the time they are two years old, although their puppyish nature
may stay with them for life. The standard height is around 56-61
cm (22-24 in) at the withers for males, and around 51-56 cm (20-22
in) for females. Proportionately the weight is 29-34 kg (65-75 lb)
for males, and 27-32 kg (60-70 lb) for females.
Today's Golden Retrievers fall into two
groups: English and American. These are merely variations of the
Golden Retriever breed as a whole, and the difference lies only in
the aesthetic look. The English dogs are easily recognized as they
have long, light cream-colored coats which appear white at times.
They are big-boned, short, with a square head/ muzzle. These are
more common in Europe. A Golden Retriever of English breeding can
have coats in all shades of gold or cream, but not red or
mahogany. A few white hairs on the chest are acceptable.
On the other hand, the American Golden
Retrievers vary widely in color. They retain the standard of their
field-hunting ancestors and have a lanky appearance characterized
by a tall body and long limbs. Their coats are in darker shades of
gold than the English Golden and are fairly similar to that of the
Irish Setter.
Typically, this breed of dogs likes to be
around people and they are happiest then. But isolated from human
contact, or left alone for long, the Golden Retriever may become
mischievous and quite capable of tearing things up around the
house. They are known to be over-exuberant and easily distractable.
But because they care so much, owners find
that they make superb companions and are very easily trainable.
Many schools that train guide dogs for the blind choose the Golden
Retriever for their qualities. Keep your Golden Retriever pup
happy by keeping it close to you and you will benefit and enjoy
the obedience training sessions and the bonding that you
experience with your dog. Good luck!
