Golden Retriever : 10 Most Common Questions

Last updated Sep 22, 2020 0

The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dogs, as a family pet and as a hunting companion. This is a breed known for its excellent temperament and friendliness to people and other dogs alike.

To help you understand this beautiful breed, we have gathered the 10 most common questions and provided answers for each.

1. What is the history and background of the Golden Retriever?

The Golden Retriever was bred in England and Scotland in the 1800s to be a hunting dog, working exceptionally well on both land and water. In addition, this breed is the result of crosses between other retrievers and water spaniels.

The breed was first accepted as a separate breed around 1903 and became known as a Yellow or Golden in 1911. In the United States, the Golden Retriever has been around for about 100 years.

2. Is the Golden Retriever a well-behaved dog and good for a family pet?

Generally, yes, the Golden Retriever is a calm, friendly, and loving dog that does well as a family pet. This dog is eager to please and very good with children but remember that while the Golden Retriever does well indoors, it was actually bred for outside living.

Therefore, to ensure the happiness of this breed, regular exercise such as running, walking, and even swimming is important.

3. How big does the Golden Retriever get?

An adult Golden Retriever male will stand about 22 to 24 inches at the front shoulder, weighing about 60 to 80 pounds while the female is about two inches shorter and weigh about 10 pounds less.

4. What sort of jobs does the Golden Retriever work at?

The Golden Retriever is an excellent hunting and retrieving dog, on land and in the water. Formal training by a professional in this field can make some dogs champions. They are also very good as guide dogs for the blind and as companions and helpers for those with physical limitations. Golden Retrievers perform very well in agility and field competitions.

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5. How should I choose a breeder?

You should first read all you can about the breed and be prepared with questions about health and general care of the Golden Retriever. Then it would be best to learn all you can about the various breeders in your area.

We recommend visiting at least three, asking questions and looking closely at the living conditions of the dogs and the way the breeder interacts with the dogs. A breeder should put emphasis on good socialization of the young dogs so that they are comfortable with other dogs and with people.

6. What should I feed my Golden Retriever?

Because this is an energetic, outside dog, you should make sure the dog receives the correct amount and type of food to sustain his activity. A quality diet of lean meats and some vegetables, with adequate protein is a good place to start.

Experienced owners recommend staying away from low-quality commercial foods with excess amounts of grain (corn, wheat, and soy). Some dogs are quite allergic to these grains.

7. What health problems should I watch for?

With many purebred dogs, you should ask about hip dysplasia when you visit a breeder. This degenerative joint disease can be detected early with the OFA radiograph test. A puppy should be certified as free from this tendency.

Additionally, this breed is prone to a genetic eye conditions such as hereditary cataracts or retinal atrophy. Ask your breeder about these conditions in the parents of a puppy you are looking at.

8. What is the best way to give my Golden Retriever the right exercise?

Because this dog was bred to be a working, hunting dog, you should plan to give him plenty of outdoor exercise, with room to run. The Golden Retriever will do reasonably well in a smaller home as long as there is space and time to exercise outdoors. We recommend challenging and fun activities with this energetic dog.

9. What is the best way to housebreak/potty train my Golden Retriever?

There are several different methods for this, but we recommend crate training because it gives the dog a safe place to go when it needs to be alone. Additionally, this provides the dog with a natural den, something it would want to keep clean. Prevention is a key in this type of training, so you should take the dog outside early in the morning and again late at night.

10. What about grooming and caring for the beautiful coat?

The Golden Retriever coat is really of medium length, though it is wavy. The breed also has a good undercoat, needing regular brushing with a medium-stiff brush. For bathing, this should be done once a month or as needed. Remember, the Golden Retriever has a water-resistant coat that should not be bathed too often.

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