Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a relatively young breed and only dates as far back as the mid-19th century. Developed by Lord Tweedmouth near the English-Scottish border, the Golden combines the blood of retriever, Tweed Water Spaniel, setter and the sandy-colored Bloodhound. The Golden is a popular breed due to its well-mannered, friendly nature. It is also an excellent candidate for obedience training, and by instinct, is still a reliable, gentle-mouthed retriever. The Golden Retriever enjoys urban or rural settings as long as it is provided with plenty of outdoor exercise.
Height: 23 - 24" (58.4 - 58.4cm) for dogs, 21.5 - 22.5" (54.6 - 54.6cm) for bitches
Weight: 65 - 75 lbs (29 - 29 kg) for dogs, 60 - 70 lbs (26.8 - 26.8 kg) for bitches
Coat Type: The water-repellent coat of the Golden Retriever is dense with a moderate undercoat. The texture is neither silky nor coarse, and the golden-colored coat may be wavy but lies flat. The front of the chest, back of the thighs and the uderside of the tail are more heavily feathered than the rest of the body. Careful grooming and brushing are required on a regular basis.
Temperament: The Golden is mild-mannered and easy to train, yet maintains its sporting instincts. These qualities make this breed an ideal and reliable family pet, one particularly suited to a family with kids.
Health Problems: Hip Dysplasia, cataracts and other eye problems, and subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS - a cardiac problem), thyroid problems, and allergies are all potential health concers in this breed. Reputable breeders of Goldens should only consider breeding with some sort of permanent hip certification, annual eye check and certification, and a heart screening by a board certified cardiologist. Other problems found to a lesser extent include Trichiasis (abnormal position or direction of the eyelashes), and epilepsy, which is highly suspected to have a genetic component in this breed.
Special Interest: These dogs perform extremely well in training schools as guides for the blind.
Classifications:
AKC: Group 1 - Sporting Dogs
CKC: Group 1 - Sporting Dogs
KC: Sporting - Gundog Group
FCI: Group 8
ANKC: Group 3 - Gundogs
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