For several years this pedigree dog has been a faithful companion of numerous Germans. The most likely reason for this is that the Golden Retriever has a friendly, amiable and trusting character. You can find out what else distinguishes him in our breed portrait.
The history of the Golden Retriever is relatively well documented compared to other dog breeds: Between 1868 and 1890 the first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Marjoribanks, bred him in England. His ancestors are a yellow retriever and the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel.
His goal was to obtain a hunting dog with a very good sense of smell and excellent ability to retrieve feathered game on land and in water. Therefore the Lord bred further Spaniels and Retrievers as well as an Irish Setter and Bloodhound.
The Golden Retriever is therefore a hunting dog for the work after the shot in contrast to pointing dogs like the Magyar Vizsla, which are supposed to find game and indicate this.
In 1913 the newly bred retrievers were finally recognized by the British Kennel Club as a separate breed. It quickly gained popularity in England and the USA, whereas in Germany it only became better known in the 1980s.
For whom is the Golden Retriever suitable?
He is very much in demand as a family dog, because he is characterized by a very friendly, patient and adaptable nature. Small children, just like many other environmental stimuli, can hardly disturb him. Typical for the Golden Retriever's character is that he shows no shyness, nervousness or aggression.
Therefore he is not a watchdog, even if he would defend his master and mistress in case of an incident. But usually he meets strangers with kindness. This is also important, because this active dog breed likes to be on the move with its human pack and would like to be everywhere.
Therefore the Golden Retriever should be well educated. His great will to please his humans and to cooperate with them makes the education easy ("will to please"). As an original hunting dog he is robust, persistent and weatherproof.
There are two breeding lines of the Golden Retriever, which differ in appearance and character and are suitable for different purposes:
Breeding line: bigger, bulky, heavy build, short-legged, mainly light-colored coat from cream to light gold balanced, calm, cosy ideal family dog, dog sports like dummy work, guide dog, therapy dog
Show line: small, light, slim, athletic, agile, predominantly darker coat color from gold to dark gold, spirited, very active, performance-oriented, very attentive, willing to learn, demanding family dog, dog sports like dummy work, hunting work, hunting competitions, retrieving competitions
Golden Retriever with play in the mouth
If the Golden Retriever gets enough exercise and is used to full capacity in a species-appropriate way, he will feel comfortable not only in a house but also in an apartment. Because of his adaptability and philanthropy he gets along well in the city. Nevertheless, he is naturally enthusiastic about regular trips into nature to go for a walk, swimming in a stream or lake.
What characterizes the breed?
Profile
Medium size: Bitch 51 to 56 cm, males 56 to 61 cm shoulder height
Weight: 25 to 35 kg
Fur-structure: Longer, wavy, not curled fur with feathering and dense, water-repellent undercoat
Coat colors: Shades of gold or cream, few white hairs allowed in the chest area
Physique: Well-formed head with broad skull and pronounced stop, dark brown eyes set wide apart with dark eyelid rims, drooping, medium-sized ears, set approximately at eye level, muscular neck, deep chest with deep, well arched ribs
Sometimes the Golden Retriever is confused with the yellow Labrador Retriever - which is not surprising, after all the Labrador is one of his ancestors.
However, they differ optically very well by the length of their fur: Labradors are short-haired and therefore easier to care for, because they don't have to be brushed so often. However, they can lose just as much hair, which is merely shorter and therefore less noticeable.
What do you have to consider when a Goldie moves in with you?
Have you decided to buy a Golden Retriever puppy in our pet store? Then he will immediately inspire you with his cheerful nature and his cute appearance, which reminds a little bit of a teddy.
Nevertheless you should attach importance to a good education. Because this is important so that the dog can show his positive characteristics in the best possible way. If children live in your home, they should follow certain rules - otherwise it can easily happen that they mistake the Golden Retriever for a stuffed animal.
Apart from the education it is crucial that you use the four-legged friend sufficiently. This applies all the more to the working line, which has a great will to work. If they cannot get rid of their eagerness and energy, it can happen that shoes or furniture suffer.
Apart from long walks in nature, any activity that reminds you of the Golden Retriever's actual job is beneficial. For example: Playing ball, swimming, retrieval training with dummy on land and in water, search games, tracking
An avid jogger and hiker
He will also accompany you enthusiastically for hiking, jogging and cycling. However, make sure that your four-legged friend doesn't overexert himself when he's doing long-lasting activities. In general, on a warm day it can quickly happen that he overheats due to too much effort.
This is due to his long coat. Breaks in a shady place and a cool down in a stream or lake are good for the Golden Retriever. His weakness for the water, however, he basically likes to live it out the whole year.
Dirt, burrs and other plant parts can easily get caught in its long hair. If your dog spends a lot of time in the water, this can lead to tangles. For this reason, regular brushing and trimming is recommended. Many golden retrievers also tend to have dirty and inflamed ears. You should therefore check and clean them regularly.
An important issue is the nutrition: These pedigree dogs are known to be voracious and therefore need a strict hand in the daily ration of dog food and treats. For the benefit of his health, the Golden Retriever should not become overweight. Among other things, this can damage his joints, with which he generally has problems more often.
Typical complaints and diseases:
Hip joint dysplasia
Elbow joint dysplasia
Retinal atrophy and cataracts
Epilepsy
If you pay attention to the health of your golden retriever, his life expectancy is between 10 and 14 years. However, according to the DRC (German Retriever Club), there are more and more dogs that reach 15 years or even older.
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