Table of Contents
American Golden Retriever- Complete Breed Guide
The American Golden Retriever is among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. The breed’s gentle attitude and dazzling golden coat make them great family pets, and their intelligence makes them highly capable working dogs.
Golden Retrievers are proficient at retrieving games for hunters, tracking, and compliance checks for law enforcement and service dogs. They’re also natural athletes and perennial competitors in dog shows and used as a courser.
These dogs are relatively manageable to train and roam around with and get along in just about any home or family and maybe trained for use as a watchdog. If you need a loyal, incredibly loving, and intelligent companion, you must consider adopting one of these pups to take into your house.
Breed traits and facts about Golden Retrievers
- Adapts well to apartment living
- Kids friendly
- Health and grooming needs
- Tendency to learn bark
- High energy level
- Playfulness
- Tolerates weather
It’s not surprising that the Golden Retriever is among the top ten prevalent dogs currently in the U.S. It’s all great with the Golden: he’s knowledgeable, friendly, beautiful, and loyal.
The American Golden retriever is slow to mature and possesses a playful personality of a bit of a pup until three to four years of age, which can be both delightful and annoying for a few pet owners.
The Golden requires a daily workout:
- A jog or walk.
- Plenty of free time in the yard.
- A quick run at the beach or lake (Golden is fond of water).
- A quick game of fetch.
And similar to other intelligent dogs who were initially bred to work, they require to have an activity to do. This may include retrieving the paper, waking up you or other family members, or battling in any dog sports.
Sports give your American Golden Retriever physical and cognitive exercise, and you must also be prepared to include him in your family activities. There’s one other drawback to the breed: He may bark when foreigners come around but not count on it. He’ll probably wag his tail and flash that distinctive Golden smile.
Golden Retrievers’ everyday brushing will get a few untidy hairs out of the fur, keeping golden retrievers from sitting on your clothes and all over your home. But if you reside with a Golden, you’ll have to get used to dog hair.
Golden Retrievers are highly active dogs who require 40-60 minutes of rough exercise daily. They thrive on agility classes, obedience training, and other canine sports, which are excellent for providing your dog with mental and physical exercise.
Although they’re gentle and trustworthy with kids, golden retrievers love to eat and become overweight quickly if overfed. Try to restrict or minimize treats, measure out the dog’s daily kibble, and feed them regular meals instead of keeping food out in front of them.
Because the American Golden Retriever is so famous, many individuals breed Goldens. The latter care more about making cash out of the demand for puppies than breeding happy, healthy dogs. Never buy a puppy from an untrustworthy breeder or pet store to bring a healthy dog. Look for a responsible breeder who tests breeding dogs to ensure they’re free of genetic diseases.
American Golden Retriever History
A famous legend was that Golden Retrievers were descended from Russian sheepdogs purchased from a circus for many years. The breed originated in Scotland at the highland estate of Sir Dudley Majoribanks, later known as Lord Tweedmouth.
Tweedmouth practiced breeding animals of all types, trying to perfect various breeds. Tweedmouth’s breeding notes from 1835 to 1890 reveal what he was aiming for with the Golden: A renowned retriever — Tweedmouth was an espresso hunter who would be extra attentive to his human hunting partners than the setters and spaniels employed at the time for retrieving. He also needed the dog to be loyal as well as even-tempered in the house.
Tweedmouth carried Nous home to Scotland and, in the years 1868 and 1871, bred him to Belle, another Tweed Water Spaniel. Tweed Water Spaniels were famous for being curious retrievers in the hunting field and extraordinarily calm and loyal within the home — a few features you’ll discover in today’s Golden Retrievers.
Nous and Belle’s progeny were bred with Flat- and Wavy-coated retrievers, a Tweed Water Spaniel, and a red setter. Tweedmouth retained the yellow puppies to proceed with his breeding program and gave others away to friends and relatives.
Tweedmouth’s breed initially attracted attention for their excellent skills within the hunting field. One of the highly well-known was Don of Gerwyn, a liver-coated offspring of one of Tweedmouth’s dogs, who later won the International Gundog League trial in 1904.
The Kennel Club in England formally recognized the Golden Retriever as a unique breed in 1911. At that period, they were categorized as “Retriever — Yellow and Golden.” In 1920, the breed name was later changed to American Golden Retriever.
The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in 1932. Today, the American Golden Retriever is the second most prominent breed in the United States.
Size Of American Golden Retriever
Males dogs are 23 to 24 inches tall and weigh nearly 65 to 75 pounds. Females dogs usually are 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall and weigh around 55 to 65 pounds. Golden Retrievers typically reach their maximum height by one year of age and their mature weight by two.
Personality
A sweet, calm nature is the sign of the retriever breed. The Golden was reproduced to work with people and is eager to please his owner. Like other dogs, the Golden must be well-trained and well-raised to make the most of his kind heritage.
Like another dog, the Golden needs timely socialization — exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences — when they’re young.
Health And Disease American Golden Retriever Is Prone To
Goldens are generally healthy, but they’re inclined to specific health conditions like all different breeds. Not all Golden retrievers will acquire any or all of the given or known diseases, but it’s crucial to be aware of them if you consider adopting this breed.
If you are purchasing a puppy, find a trustworthy breeder who will reveal health clearances for both the puppy’s parents. Health clearances help prove that a dog has been examined for and cleared of a specific condition.
In American Golden Retriever, you must expect to see health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia. You can easily confirm health clearances by reviewing the OFA website (offa.org). Here are a few health issues the dog may face.
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition in which the thighbone doesn’t fit into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain on either one or both rear legs, but you might not notice any signs of pain or discomfort in a dog suffering from hip dysplasia. X-ray screening for this condition is done by the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Dogs with hip dysplasia must not be bred.
Elbow Dysplasia: This is another inherited condition regular in large-breed dogs. It is believed to be caused by different growth rates of the three bones that make up the dog’s elbow, causing joint laxity. This can lead to painful lameness.
Cataracts: Like humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow over time. A cataract is examined by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist to be noted as free of inherited eye disease before they’re bred. Cataracts can usually be surgically removed with excellent results.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): PRA is a class of eye disorders that includes the gradual deterioration of the dog’s retina. Early in disorder, dogs grow night-blind. As the disease proceeds further, they lose their daytime vision as well.
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis: This heart disease results in a narrow link between the left ventricle (out-flow) with the aorta. It can lead to fainting and even sudden demise. Your vet can quickly identify it and prescribe the proper treatment.
Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD): This particular orthopedic condition, resulting in improper cartilage growth in the joints, usually occurs in the elbows. It leads to a painful stiffening of the dog’s joint so that the dog cannot bend the elbow. It can be found in dogs as early as four to nine months. Overfeeding high-protein meals may add to its development.
Allergies: American Golden Retriever can be allergic to various things, ranging from pollen to food. If your Golden is licking the paws or rubbing the face a great deal, have him examined by your vet.
Von Willebrand’s Disease: This inherited blood disorder hinders the blood’s ability to clot. The main sign is excessive bleeding after the injury or surgery. Other signs include nosebleeds, bleeding in the gums, or bleeding in the stomach and intestines. There is no remedy, and a blood transfusion from the blood of normal dogs is currently the only treatment.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: This is a life-threatening ailment that impacts large, deep-chested dogs such as Golden Retrievers, particularly if they’re allowed to eat one large meal a day, eat quickly, drink excessive amounts of water, or exercise roughly after eating. Bloat happens when the stomach is distended with air or gas and then twists.
The dog is not capable of belching or vomiting to rid himself of the surplus air in his stomach, and the flow of blood to the heart is disrupted. Blood pressure declines, and the dog goes into a shock. He also may be restless, low, and weak with a fast heart rate. If you detect these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a severe brain disorder that leads to periodic annexation and disruption. Your vet will require to know how serious the annexation is and how frequently they occur to find out what medication to prescribe if there is any.
Hypothyroidism: This is a disease of the thyroid gland that’s thought to result in conditions such as epilepsy, obesity, hair loss, lethargy, dark patches all over the skin, and other skin conditions. It’s ministered with medication and diet.
Hemangiosarcoma: This is a highly dangerous form of cancer that stems from blood vessels or spleen lining. It most commonly happens in middle-aged and elderly dogs.
Caring For American Golden Retriever
American Golden Retriever dogs are bred for action and cherish outdoor romps. If you like jogging, your American Golden Retriever will be happy to assist you. And if you feel like throwing a toy or ball in the yard, they would be more than happy to play with you; true to their name, Goldens love to retrieve.
Tiring them out with 20-30 minutes of exercise twice a day will keep your dog warm when he’s back inside.
Like other retriever dogs, Goldens are “mouthy,” and they’re at their happiest stage when they have something to hold or carry within their mouths: a ball, newspaper, soft toy, or, best of all, a sock.
You’ll be required to take special care if you raise a Golden puppy. These dogs grow highly rapidly between four and seven months, making them extra susceptible to bone diseases. Don’t let the Golden puppy run and play on rough surfaces such as pavement until he’s at least two years old and the joints are completely formed.
Feeding American Golden Retriever
Suggested daily amount: 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food daily, divided into two meals. How much an adult dog consumes depends on his metabolism, age, build, size, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like us, and they do not all require the same amount of food.
An extremely active dog will require more than a couch potato canine. The quality of dog food purchased also makes a huge difference — the better the dog food, the far it will go toward making your dog healthier.
Keep the American Golden Retriever in great shape by measuring the food intake and feeding him two times a day rather than serving food out.
You’ll need to take special care when raising a Golden retriever puppy. These dogs grow in size very rapidly between four to seven months, making them vulnerable to bone disorders. They do pretty well on a high-quality, low-calorie diet that prevents them from growing too fast.
Grooming For American Golden Retriever
American Golden Retriever dogs have a thick, water-repellent outer fur or coat with a thick undercoat. Some coats tend to be wavy, while some are straight. The fur feathers are located on the back of the front two legs and under the body, with denser feathering on the chest, tail, and back of the thighs.
American Golden Retriever is present in all shades of gold, from dark to light golden. Some breeders have started selling “rare white Goldens,” but various clubs like the American Kennel Club do not identify white as a coat color for this breed.
American Golden Retriever dogs shed moderately in the winter and summer and heavily in the spring and fall. The Golden’s thick fur means lots of grooming. Everyday brushing is recommended to prevent tangling, and once a week is a bare minimum. Your Golden retriever will also require a bath at least once a month to keep him looking and smelling fresh.
Brush your American Golden Retriever dog’s teeth at least two or three times a week to eliminate food buildup and the bacteria that adhere inside them. Daily brushing is better to prevent gum disease or bad breath.
Trim nails once or twice every month if your dog does not wear them down on its own. They’re too long if you can hear them making a clicking sound on the floor. Short and neatly trimmed nails keep the feet in excellent condition.
Fold-over ears form a warm, dark environment for fungus or bacteria to grow in, and giant breeds that have them — such as the Golden retriever — are inclined to ear infections. His ears must be checked weekly for foul odor or redness, suggesting an infection. Check them every once in a while or when he gets wet. When you monitor your dog’s ears, clean them out using a cotton ball dampened with mild, pH-balanced ear cleaner to help avoid infections. Don’t insert anything within the ear canal; cleanse the outer ear.
As you groom, monitor for sores, rashes, or symptoms of infection such as tenderness, redness, or inflammation over the skin, in the nose, eyes, and mouth, and on the feet. Eyes must be clear, with no discharge or redness. Your thorough weekly test will help you spot potential health problems early.
American Golden Retriever With Children And Other Pets
The cordial American Golden Retriever isn’t bothered by the noise of kids he loves and thrives on it. He’s a large, muscular dog, though, and he can effortlessly knock over a small kid by mistake.
As with all other breeds, you must always teach kids how to approach and get closer to dogs and always oversee any interactions between dogs and young kids to avoid any biting or tail or ear pulling on the part of both parties. Teach your kid never to get closer to American Golden Retriever or any other dog while eating or to sleep or to try to carry the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how loving or friendly should ever be left without supervision with a child.
The American Golden Retriever dog’s attitude toward different pets is the more, the merrier. He wants the companionship of other dogs, and with the proper introductions and training, he can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals.
Rescue Groups
There are many American Golden Retriever dogs in requirement of adoption and or fostering. There are plenty of rescue homes that we have not listed. If you do not see a rescue listed for your area, contact the national breed club or any local breed club, and they can guide you toward a Golden rescue. Here are a few clubs to name:
Golden Retriever Club of America, Inc., National Rescue Committee.
This was everything you needed to know about American Golden Retriever dogs.
