Getting to Know the Golden Retriever

One of the most beloved dogs of all time, the golden retriever has earned a place in the hearts of many Americans and people all over the world. The playful dog with the striking beautiful golden brown fur is an icon of animal companionship and loyalty. Its intelligence and almost overwhelming love for life gives it a place in almost any kind of situation, from family pet, to service dog, to hunting dog, or even rescue and police dog. Friendly, affectionate and eager to please, this dog is certainly a friend of man.

Golden retrievers are natural hunters. They were employed as such in the 1800s in the Scottish highlands where they originated. They were originally a cross breed between a yellow retriever and a tweed spaniel. Though the tweed spaniel is now extinct, the resulting dog adapted exceedingly well to the Scottish land and earned it a place alongside many hunters. As time went by, more breeds were introduced as the dog was bred with Irish setters, bloodhounds and tweed water spaniels. This produced the Golden Retriever known and loved today.

With its hunting heritage, the golden retriever remains a physically energetic dog. They will need lots of room to play with and can prove to be unsuited to cramped living spaces. They require constant walks and activities like swimming, playing and hiking. They crave attention and approval and will actively seek it from their owners. Coupled with their high intelligence, these dogs are excellent for dog owning beginners, as they are so willing to be trained.

In the hands of professionals, they can become experts at important jobs. This makes them excellent rescue and police dogs. Goldens are so eager to learn that they will even shed their natural instincts to serve their owners needs. Some have been employed as companions for the disabled and the elderly, which is in fact a contradiction to their need to be active and energetic. This is of course an exception and golden retrievers are still naturally active and not the best choice for these kinds of tasks.

Goldens enjoy life too much to be sedentary dogs. This love for life, theirs and others, makes them truly friendly and affectionate. Sometimes to a fault as, even though it makes them excellent pets even to families with children and other pets, they make lousy guard dogs most of the time as they will usually be friendly even to potential intruders.

With a life span of about 10 to 14 years, golden retrievers are an excellent example of the canine species. They are however still plagued by the disadvantages of pure breeding. Most dogs suffer from hereditary diseases due to the fact that the recessive or defective genes of the parents are more likely to be passed on to the off-spring if the parents are too similar. This is why in-breeding causes problems. Pure-breeding, although practiced regularly, can have this effect as well. Many pet stores and breeders allow this to happen, regardless of its ill effects to the puppy抯 lives, as pure breeding has become a lucrative business.

An informed buyer should always ask for OFA and CERF certificates from any breeder to ensure that the puppy they are getting are from parents verified to be viable breeders. These diseases, which include cataracts, allergies, entropion, thyroid problems, epilepsy, cancer and hip displaysia, severely affect the life of the puppy and should be avoided to ensure that the dog will live a long and happy life.

All in all, golden retrievers are wonderful dogs. They do require a lot of attention and maintenance and finding a good quality retriever can prove a challenge, but getting the right dog who will stand by an owners side through thick or thin is a priceless gift.