Dogs 101 - GOLDEN RETRIEVER - Top Dog Facts About the GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Golden Retriever The friendly golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. In the 1800s, common use of guns changed the nature of hunting, increasing the number of birds being shot on hunts as well as the distance to be covered to retrieve fallen birds. In Scotland, because of the region's unique terrain, a need was felt for a dog that could move fast on both land and water. To achieve this, existing retrievers were crossed with the best water spaniels and the golden retriever was born. To begin with, a male yellow-colored retriever was crossed with a female tweed water spaniel in 1868. The offspring were carefully crossed with other setters, black retrievers, water spaniels, and even a bloodhound. The resulting dogs were initially considered a yellow variety of flat-coated retrievers, but were recognized as a separate breed in the UK in 1912. Some of these dogs had come to the US by 1900, and the dog's amiable nature won them fans very soon. Time for some rough trivia! Which of these is not a disqualification in the golden retriever breed standard? A. A dark red coat B. Undershot or overshot bite C. Height, an inch above or below the breed standard What do you think? Give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer. The golden retriever is a large dog with a strong build. Its outer coat is dense, wavy, and water-repellent. The undercoat is soft and protects the dog from heat and cold. There is natural feathering in front of the neck and on the back of the forelegs, underbody, back of thighs, and underside of tail. The colors seen are blonde, yellow, and gold. There are slight variations in the British, American, and Canadian type golden retrievers. The British type has a broader skull, is more muscular, and has a coat that is lighter in color. The Canadian type is taller than others, and has a thinner and darker coat. The American type is less muscular than the others. The adult male's height is between 23 and 24 inches, and weight between 65 and 75 pounds. The adult female's height is between 21.5 and 22.5 inches, and weight between 55 and 65 pounds. Grooming The golden retriever tends to shed a lot and requires daily brushing. The shedding can get more intense during change in seasons. Occasional bath is recommended. Regular trimming of nails, cleaning of ears, and brushing of teeth are necessary. Environment The golden retriever is popular with families because of its friendly nature. It is also very gentle with children and can get along well with all members of the family, instead of getting attached to just one person. On the other hand, its friendly nature makes it ill-suited to be a guard dog. It is also generally non-aggressive with other pets and dogs. Training The golden retriever is one of the most intelligent breeds and can be trained easily. As befits a breed that was needed to wait for long periods on hunting trips, the dog is known for its patience while being trained. It is an active breed and requires 2 to 3 hours of exercise daily. The breed is not suited for city apartments as it requires the space provided by a suburban or country home to move around freely. Health The life expectancy of a golden retriever is 10 to 13 years. Cancer is a common cause of death. Major ailments seen are hip and elbow dysplasia and cataracts. Other common health problems can be heart diseases, kneecap dislocation, and skin allergies. The breed is prone to obesity as a golden retriever is very undiscerning in what it eats and requires proper supervision in diet. A bundle of energy, the golden retriever is adored for its nature as well as its good looks. If that wasn't enough, it is quick to learn new things and can prove a great addition to every family activity. Find out if the golden retriever would be a good addition to your home. Now you can visit brooklinscorner.com to take our quiz and find out which dog would be the best match for you. Let's get back to the answer to our rough trivia question. A dark red coat is permitted as golden retrievers can be any shade of gold ranging from light blonde to dark red. That does it for the golden retriever. If you enjoyed this Dog Facts 101 video be sure to subscribe and paw that thumbs up button. Then go ahead and check out some of our other videos or fun activities on our website. Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.