Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog. They were bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such
as ducks and upland game birds
during hunting and shooting parties, and were
named retriever because of their ability to retrieve shot game
undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water, and are easy to
train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They are a long-coated breed,
with a dense inner coat that provides them with adequate warmth in the
outdoors, and an outer coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels
water. Golden Retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country
environments. Although they need substantial outdoor exercise, they should be
housed in a fenced area because of their instinctual tendency to roam. The
dog sheds copiously, particularly at the change of seasons, and requires fairly
regular grooming.
The breed is a prominent participant in conformation shows for purebred dogs. The
Golden Retrievers' intelligence makes it a versatile breed and allows it to
fill a variety of roles – common ones being guide dog for
the blind, hearing
dog for the deaf, hunting dog, detection dog,
and search and rescue participant. The breed's friendly,
gentle temperament means it is unsuited to being a professional guard dog, but
its temperament has also made it the third most popular family dog breed (by
registration) in the United States, the
fifth most popular in Australia, and the eighth most popular in the
United Kingdom. Golden Retrievers are rarely choosy eaters, but require
ample exercise (of two or more hours a day). The breed is fond of play but also highly
trainable; Augie, a Golden Retriever from Texas, holds the world record for the most
tennis balls held in the mouth by a dog.
Characteristics
The Golden Retriever is a large, strongly-built breed with a
dense water-repellant wavy coat. As a dog with origins in pedigree
breeding, and due to its widespread historical popularity, some regional
variations have emerged in the breed; therefore, there are three sub-types of
the Golden Retriever that reflect the typical variations in dimensions and
coat. However, all Golden Retrievers are blonde, yellow, or gold in colour and
all sub-types are susceptible to the same health problems. Golden
Retrievers also are very smart dogs who are loyal and friendly to their
caregivers.
British type
The Golden Retriever was first bred in Scotland.
British-type Golden Retrievers are stockier than North American varieties, with
thick coats and larger weights.
British type Golden Retrievers are prevalent throughout
Europe and Australia, and are distinguished from the North American lines
by the official breed standards. The muzzle of the British dog is wider and
shorter, and its forehead is blockier. Its legs are shorter, its chest is
deeper, and its tail is slightly shorter. Due to these features, a British type
usually weighs more than an American or Canadian. Males will be between 56 and
61 cm (22 and 24 in) at the withers; females will be slightly
shorter, at between 51 and 56 cm (20 and 22 in). Acceptable or
expected weights are not specified in the UK standard, but the KC standard
calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear
angulation found in American lines. The eyes of the European type are
noted for their roundness and darkness, which is in contrast to the triangular
or slanted composition of their American counterparts. A Golden Retriever of
British breeding can have a coat colour of any shade of gold or cream; red or
mahogany are not permitted colours of coat. Originally, cream was an
unacceptable colour in the UK standard, but the standard was revised in 1936 to
include cream. At the time of this revision, it was agreed the exclusion of
cream as a colour was a mistake, as the original "yellow" retrievers
of the 19th century were actually lighter in colour than was permitted by the
standards that were used before 1936. As with American lines, white is an unacceptable
colour in the show ring. The British KC standard is used in all countries
except the USA and Canada. Golden Retrievers have muscular bodies with
great endurance, owing to their origins as hunting and gundogs.
American type
American Golden Retrievers are taller than the British type,
but retain its thick coat. The American Goldens are lankier and less stocky
than British types. Males will stand between 23 and 24 in (58 and
61 cm) in height at the withers;
females will be 21.5–22.5 in (55–57 cm). Their coat is dense and
water-repellent, and comes in various shades of lustrous gold with moderate
feathering. When trotting, they have a free, smooth, powerful, and
well-coordinated gait; as the dog runs, its feet converge towards the centre of
the line of balance. The American standard also makes requirements about
the proportion, substance, head and skull, neck, body, topline, forequarters,
and hindquarters; in these respects, the American type Retriever is the same as
Golden Retrievers that conform to other national standards. American breeders
of Golden Retrievers sometimes import their dogs from Britain, in order to take
advantage of the temperament and appearance of the British types.
Canadian type
The Canadian Golden Retriever has a thinner coat and stands
taller than other varieties of Golden Retriever. As with American Golden
Retrievers, Canadians are often taller and leaner than their British
counterparts. However, Canadian retrievers differ in the density and colour of
their coats, which are commonly thinner and darker than those of Americans.
Coat and colour
As indicated by their name, their coats come in light golden
to dark golden colours. The topcoat is water-resistant and slightly wavy, and
sheds in small amounts throughout the year. The undercoat is soft and keeps the
retriever cool in summer and warm in winter; it sheds in the spring and fall. It
usually lies flat against the belly. The Golden's coat should never be too
long, as this may prove to be a disservice to it in the field, especially when
retrieving game. Golden Retrievers have mild feathering on the backs of
their forelegs and heaver feathering on the fronts of their necks, backs of
their thighs and the bottoms of their tails.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states the coat is a
"rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are
extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat colour
up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows.
Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colours,
as is black.[13] The
Kennel Club (UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat colour. Judges
may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The
Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany colour, referred to as
"redheads", although this is not accepted in the British show ring. As
a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a
noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are
usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a puppy with a darker
colouration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult colour.
Temperament
The Golden Retriever is instinctively fond of swimming,
owing to its history as a game retriever.
The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the
breed, and is described in the standard as "kindly, friendly and
confident". Golden Retrievers make good family pets, particularly as they
are patient with children. They are not "one-man dogs" and are
generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them. Their
trusting, gentle disposition makes them a poor guard dog. Any
form of unprovoked aggression or
hostility towards either people, dogs or other
animals, whether in the show ring or community, is considered unacceptable in a
Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed. Nor
should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden
Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, and with an exceptional
eagerness to please.
Golden Retrievers are also noted for their intelligence. The
breed ranks fourth in Stanley
Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs – following theBorder Collie, Poodle, and German Shepherd – as
one of the brightest dogs ranked by obedience-command trainability.
Typical Golden Retrievers are active and fun-loving animals
with the exceptionally patient demeanour befitting a dog bred to sit quietly
for hours in a hunting
blind. Adult Goldens love to work, and have a keen ability to focus
on a given task. They will work until they collapse, so care should be taken to
avoid overworking them.
Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are
a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for
water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable—due to their intelligence,
athleticism and desire to please their handlers—and excel in obedience trials.
They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. Harsh
training methods are unnecessary, as Golden Retrievers often respond very well
to positive and upbeat training styles.
Golden Retrievers are compatible with other dogs, cats and
most livestock. They are particularly valued for their high level of
sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of
this, they are commonly used as guide dogs,
mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
Newborn Golden Retriever puppies, shown here suckling. Golden
Retriever litters typically contain 5–10 puppies.[citation needed]
Health and lifespan
Like most large breeds of dog, Goldens have an abundance of
energy and require plenty of exercise. They excel at dog agility.
The average life span for a Golden Retriever is about 11 to
12.5. Golden Retrievers are susceptible to specific ailments. They should
be taken to a veterinarian for yearly checkups.
Golden retrievers are known to have genetic disorders
and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is common in the breed; when buying a
puppy, the pedigree should be known and be examined by the OFA or by PennHIP for
hip disease. Obesity is also common in the breed because Golden Retrievers love
to eat. Puppies should eat about three cups of food a day and adults three to
five cups, depending on the food and how active the dog is.
Common health problems
Cancer, the most
common being hemangiosarcoma,
followed by lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumour,
and osteosarcoma,
was the cause of death for 61.4% of American Goldens according to a 1998 health
study conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America, making it the breed's
biggest killer. A 2004 survey by the UK Kennel Club puts this number at
38.8%. Due to their large appetite and love of food, Golden Retrievers
are prone to obesity. Although most puppies are screened for the disorders
before being sold (by reputable breeders), hipand elbow dysplasia afflict
one fifth of dogs. Eye diseases are also possible in the breed; cataracts are
the most common eye disease in Goldens, but they can also be afflicted
with progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, distichiasis, entropion, corneal dystrophy, and retinal dysplasia They
may suffer from heart disease, especially subvalvular aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy, and
joint diseases, including patella luxation, osteochondritis, panosteitis, and
cruciate ligament rupture. In addition to the heavy shedding they experience
(and their constant lighter shedding throughout the year), Golden Retrievers
can suffer from skin diseases; the most prevalent skin problem is allergies (often
leading to acute moist dermatitis or "hot spots"), with the most common allergy
being to fleas. They
can also suffer from seborrhoea,
sebaceous adenitis, and self-inflicted lick granuloma. Haemophilia and Lyme disease is
possible, although the latter is not typically detected until the dog reaches
the late stages of kidney failure.
Grooming
Golden Retrievers require regular grooming and an occasional
bath. They should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during
heavy shedding. They should be bathed every two months. Their coats shed
somewhat during the year, but are known to shed profusely twice a year. They
also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or ear infections might occur.
While shedding is unavoidable, frequent grooming (daily to weekly) lessens the
amount of hair shed by the animal. Severe shedding resulting in bald patches
can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever.
Activities
The Golden Retriever's eagerness to please has made it a
consistent, top performer in the obedience and agility rings.
Its excellent swimming ability makes it proficient at dock jumping. A
natural retrieving ability means it is also competitive in flyball and field trials.
The first three dogs ever to achieve the AKC Obedience
Champion title were Golden Retrievers; the first of the three was a female
named 'Ch. Moreland's Golden Tonka'.
Since Golden Retrievers are so trainable, they are used for
many important jobs, such as guide dogs for blind people, drug or bomb sniffing
at airports, or helping to rescuing people from earthquakes and other natural
disasters. This breed is also used in water rescue/lifesaving, along
with the Leonberger, Newfoundland and Labrador Retriever dogs; they are used at the Italian School of Canine
Lifeguard.
Origins and history
Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve, which has led to
the soft mouth-grip it has today.
The Golden Retriever was originally bred in Scotland in the
mid-19th century. At that time, wildfowl hunting was a popular sport for
the wealthy Scottish elite, but the existing retriever breeds were inadequate
for retrieving downed game from both water and land. Retrieving from both land
and water was necessary because the hunting grounds of the time were pocketed
with marshy ponds and rivers. Consequently, the best water spaniels were
crossed with the existing retrievers, resulting in the establishment of the
breed today known as the Golden Retriever. The Golden Retriever was first
developed near Glen
Affric in Scotland, at "Guisachan", the highland
estate of Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, what
breeds were originally crossed was disputed, but in 1952, the publication of
Marjoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning
the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian tracker sheepdogs from
a visiting circus, instead it
details a careful line-breeding program. Commonly, the breed is said to
have originated from the Russian tracker.
Improvements in guns during the 1800s resulted in more fowl being downed during hunts at
greater distances and over increasingly difficult terrain. This led to more
birds being lost in the field. Because of this improvement in firearms, a need
for a specialist retriever arose, as training setter and pointer breeds in
retrievals were found to be ineffective. Thus, work began on the breeding of
the dog to fill this much-needed role.
The original cross was of a yellow-coloured Retriever,
'Nous', with a Tweed Water Spaniel female dog, 'Belle'. The Tweed
Water Spaniel is now extinct, but was then common in the border country.
Marjoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered litter of
otherwise black wavy-coated retriever pups.
In 1868, this cross produced a litter that included four pups; these four
became the basis of a breeding program which included the Irish Setter, the
sandy-coloured Bloodhound,
the St. John's water dog of Newfoundland, and two more
wavy-coated black Retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for
trueness to Marjoribanks' idea of the ultimate hunting dog. His
vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one
that would still be gentle and trainable. Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned
in these records, nor are any other working dog breeds.
The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all sporting dogs, in
line with Marjoribanks' goals. The Golden Retriever was active and powerful and
had a gentle mouth for retrieving games while on hunts.
Organisations other than clubs are dedicated to Golden
Retrievers, such as breed-specific adoption sites. One such organisation is the
Golden Retriever Club of Scotland, which in August 2013 assembled 222 Golden
Retrievers at the historical home of the first Golden Retrievers.
