Characteristics of Golden Retrievers
- Size → medium / large.
- Weight → Males between 30kg and 34kg, females between 25kg and 29kg.
- Height → males: between 56 and 61 cm, females: between 51 and 56 cm.
- Life expectancy → 10 to 12 years
- FCI Classification → Group 8, section 1.
Origin of Golden Retriever
Scotland, end of the 11th century. An aristocrat named Lord Tweedmouth wanted to create a hunting dog that would be an excellent retriever of aquatic prey, such as birds and ducks. To do so, he crossed several breeds. It was a long selection process, but he managed to create a medium to large sized dog with a golden and shiny coat, great skills in the water and a kind and loyal personality. Golden Retrievers quickly became popular as a hunting dog and, later, as a pet and working dog in several tasks mentioned in the introduction.
Character
Friendly, affectionate, sociable, loyal and loving. He enjoys spending time with his family. In addition, it is intelligent and easy to train, which makes it ideal as a pet and for assistance tasks. It is also known for being very energetic and playful, so it is an excellent companion for outdoor activities such as walking, running or swimming. It is a very sociable breed and enjoys the company of other dogs and people.
Health
The Golden Retriever is an active and athletic breed that requires daily exercise to maintain its physical and mental health. It is recommended that adult Golden Retrievers perform at least one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise per day. It’s important to note that they have a tendency to obesity, so it’s important to monitor their diet and make sure they’re not overfed and getting enough exercise.
Care
It is important to feed them a balanced and high quality diet, controlling the amount of food to avoid overweight. They should be bathed every 2-3 months, their fur brushed at least once a week to avoid knots and their ears and teeth checked regularly for possible problems.
They are prone to developing health problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia, so it is important to make regular veterinary checks to detect any health problems in time.
Education
Be firm but kind, using positive reinforcement such as rewards and praise to encourage desirable behaviors. The training must be consistent and firm, using clear and repeated commands so that the dog understands what is expected of him.
It is important for them to socialize from a very early age, and expose them to different situations and people so that they learn to interact properly with their environment.
Curiosities
Golden Retrievers are known for having a very soft and delicate mouth, which makes them excellent at carrying fragile objects like eggs, or even small birds without hurting them.