Dog picture taken by rkleine.

Cleaning the house is always such a chore, but Golden Retriever Grace does her part!

Dog picture taken by rkleine.

All types of dogs love being in a pack; their security depends on their ability to mingle and communicate with the other dogs in the group. Over the years, however, the Golden Retriever has developed a closer relationship with human beings than with dogs. They can guide the blind, provide companionship to young children, and assist hunters. Thanks to their breeding, Golden Retrievers have evolved in such a way that they now need to frequently interact with people.

Golden Retrievers have a forgiving nature. They endlessly forgive all the mistakes their owners make. The only thing they desire from you is that you acknowledge their existence and give them a pat on the head. They love to please their owners; in fact, they are among the first three breeds of dogs to win the Obedience Trial Championships.

Since Golden Retriever’s love the company of people, it is of great importance that you ensure that they in close contact with you and your family. Include your Goden Retriever in any family activity that you organize. Normally, they don’t annoy you by barking. The only thing that makes them bark, however, is boredom. A stout, adult Golden Retriever enjoys adventures such as hiking, huntin, jogging, walking, and any other activity that requires physical exertion.

Expose your Golden Retriever to your kids ever since its earliest days and he or she will become even better with children. While this breed is very loving and friendly toward children, they can knock little children over and lick them all over the face. Your Golden Retriever might be great with your kids, but don’t leave your kids and your dog alone together. Your dog might inadvertently harm them according to its natural instinct if you kids accidentally poke it or pull its tail.

Golden Retrievers love water and enjoy plunging into it. If you own a swimming pool or a pond of some sort, the sight of your Golden Retreiver having a dip whenever it gets an opportunity will be a common one. They also love mud and will roll in it. It is quite normal for your dog to get dirty often. You will have to bathe your Golden Retriever every other day once it becomes an adult.

Ensure that your Golden Retriever gets plenty of fresh air, water, and shade in the summer. Heat is not really good for this breed, though they enjoy it. Take good care of your Golden Retriever in the summer and don’t let it exert itself, and it will enjoy perfect health even though the summer is at its peak.

On a visit to see my puppy to be, my dad and I were having fun being tackled by the wee little pups. This litter had 13 goldens…poor momma dog.

How your Golden Retriever reacts to and behaves with other people and animals depends on how well he was socialized. Socializing dogs means getting them used to adults, children, other dogs, cats, rabbits, and the world in general.

Fortunately, for owners of Golden Retrievers, nature has already done half the work. Goldens are friendly, smart, energetic dogs who love to please. They are normally patient and loving with children, though there are exceptions. Most Goldens are friendly to strangers and good with other animals. However, you may find a Golden who is only comfortable with one sex, with adults but not children, or good with other Goldens but not with other dogs or cats. Socialization depends not only on the breed of the dog but on his early experiences.

Three factors contribute to how well your dog will become socialized: his genetically-inherited characteristics, he experience with his mother and siblings, and his early life experience. Though some over-breeding may have created exceptions, most Goldens are genetically-prone to be open and friendly.

As a newborn, your puppy learned how to behave and react from copying its mother and littermates. In addition to genetic pre-disposition to certain behaviors, its mother’s example will help shape your Golden’s reactions to the world. For this reason, it’s important to make sure the breeder has selected animals with good, even temperaments for breeding. Of course, you can’t know about an adult’s past if you are adopting a rescue. But you can probably draw some pretty good conclusions by his behavior when you bring him home.

If your Golden Retriever puppy separated from his mother before age of seven weeks, he probably won’t have had the chance to learn many of the acceptable social signals and responses. He may tend to be nippy or aggressive toward strangers, men only, women only, or children. He may not tolerate other animals very well. And although he may show aggression towards people, he may be timid around other dogs because he has not learned what to expect or how to behave.

Some Golden Retriever who have been physically or mentally traumatized by abuse or a fearful event. This leaves an emotional scar, a memory that the dog can’t process and leave behind him. Most Goldens that have been traumatized carry the scar with them and require special attention throughout their lives. Their fear responses may be expressed as overt aggression or flight. While these situations are difficult to change, abundant love and careful discipline may help your Golden Retriever move beyond a traumatic event.

The best time to socialize your Golden Retriever is during his/her “adolescence” (from 8 weeks to 8 months). During this time, you should provide many opportunities for your Golden to be with other people and in different situations. Earlier than 8 weeks, your puppy is not capable of learning social skills. After 8 months, he may be too set in his ways to adjust rapidly to new situations. During that window of adolescence, you will have to offer plenty of reassurance and encourage your Golden to interact. He may be shy at first, but with loving encouragement and praise, he should become more adventurous.

Successful Golden Retriever socialization involves frequent contact and interaction with people (especially children), other dogs, and other animals in general. Your Golden will learn to feel comfortable with strangers as well as learn appropriate behaviors in social situations with other adults, children, and animals. As he ages, he’ll carry these positive experiences with him. Golden Retrievers who are not given lots of opportunities for social interactions early in life may be behavior problems down the road, so it’s very important that you take the right steps with your puppy to teach him how to behave in public. Your Golden Retriever will repay you with a lifetime of loving, happy companionship.

A lot of people love golden retrievers and get them home sometimes without checking the credentials of the breeder. This is a really bad idea, as you may then get a golden retriever puppy that is not 100% pure bred and it can have some health problems, which are inherited from its parents or may develop some later on as they grow up.

Purebred dogs too have their share of health problems, which are inherited genetically. Generally golden retrievers tend to suffer from minor health problems which are quite common in nature, and can be easily cured if looked after carefully.

For example, luxating patella is one of the common health problems of Golden retrievers when the kneecap gets dislocated out of its normal position. Your vet can help you with this problem.

Similarly, distemper virus is a common health problem of Golden retrievers and is an airborne disease. It is a high-risk disease, and can be easily prevented by getting three vaccinations done for a golden retriever, starting at the age of 6 weeks and ending at the age of 16 weeks.

This can be given along with the regular annual booster shot. Symptoms include cough, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You should take a golden retriever to the vet immediately if it manifests any of these symptoms.

Heart worms are among the most common health problems of Golden retrievers, and can grow up to 12 inches in the heart or lung arteries in all dog breeds. As a result, they may cause heart failure or a decrease in the circulation of blood.

So, in this case, prevention is better than cure, and you’re better off giving your golden retriever the correct heart worm medicines from before.

It may sound tough to believe, but another common health problems of Golden retrievers is heat stroke. Be sure to keep your dog indoors during the hot months and make it drink lots of water. Don’t leave him in bright sunlight for a very long period of time.

If you think he’s been out for too long, let him rest awhile. Classic symptoms of heat stroke include drooling, panting, dark gums, and even vomiting. Once again you should take it to the vet immediately, if you think he is suffering from heatstroke.

One of the most serious health problems Golden retrievers face is rabies. It has a very serious affect on your dogs nervous system. Generally, dogs are liable to get rabies, only through the bite of another infected animal.

To prevent this, you should make sure you get your dog rabies shots periodically as per the vets instructions. Common symptoms of rabies include foaming at the mouth, seizures and aggression.

If you even suspect that your pet may have rabies, you should take it to the vet immediately as only he could tell you what to do. Never allow your dog near others when he is exhibiting these symptoms.

Lastly, let me tell you about tapeworms and hookworms. Tapeworms are spread by fleas and can cause a loss of weight, diarrhoea, and irritation in the rectal area.

It is better to make sure that your dog does not have fleas by checking regularly. Hookworms on the other hand generally enter your dogs digestive system if they come into contact with feces. For both these problems, you should consult your vet.

Common health problems of golden retrievers can be solved simply by taking it to the vet for regular check ups and of course, your love and care.

Dog picture taken by rkleine.

Ginger enjoys a leisurely breakfast

The Golden Retriever is typically athletic, well balanced, and symmetrical in appearance. This is reflected in its merry outgoing temperament; in fact you will not find this dog sulky or aggressive. This large breed looks very similar to the yellow Labrador retriever, especially when young. The most obvious difference being that the Golden Retriever’s coat is luxurious and varies in shades of gold yellow.

The breed was first developed in the British Isles by Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland. He wanted to breed the perfect dog. He wanted characteristics of a dog that was intelligent, loyal, attractive, perceptive, and a powerfully-built, agile, hunting dog that could retrieve waterfowl in extreme wet and cold conditions. The end result was the Golden Retriever.

The Golden Retriever has feathered, medium-length, cream to golden-colored coat which may be straight or moderately wavy. They are beautiful, sturdy and well-proportioned dogs. Their coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is dense and lies flat against the belly . It is characterized by a strong, broad head, a tapering wide, powerful muzzle and a scissor bite with a clear frontal stop. Black nosed, and soft, dark eyes that are brown with dark rims, ears that are medium-sized and pendant in shape, the neck and thighs are muscular and they are broad chested with long, straight tails.

Golden Retrievers will generally reach their full height at about one year of age and they attain full weight by the time they are two years old, although their puppyish nature may stay with them for life. The standard height is around 56-61 cm (22-24 in) at the withers for males, and around 51-56 cm (20-22 in) for females. Proportionately the weight is 29-34 kg (65-75 lb) for males, and 27-32 kg (60-70 lb) for females.

Today’s Golden Retrievers fall into two groups: English and American. These are merely variations of the Golden Retriever breed as a whole, and the difference lies only in the aesthetic look. The English dogs are easily recognized as they have long, light cream-colored coats which appear white at times. They are big-boned, short, with a square head/ muzzle. These are more common in Europe. A Golden Retriever of English breeding can have coats in all shades of gold or cream, but not red or mahogany. A few white hairs on the chest are acceptable.

On the other hand, the American Golden Retrievers vary widely in color. They retain the standard of their field-hunting ancestors and have a lanky appearance characterized by a tall body and long limbs. Their coats are in darker shades of gold than the English Golden and are fairly similar to that of the Irish Setter.

Typically, this breed of dogs likes to be around people and they are happiest then. But isolated from human contact, or left alone for long, the Golden Retriever may become mischievous and quite capable of tearing things up around the house. They are known to be over-exuberant and easily distractable.

But because they care so much, owners find that they make superb companions and are very easily trainable. Many schools that train guide dogs for the blind choose the Golden Retriever for their qualities. Keep your Golden Retriever pup happy by keeping it close to you and you will benefit and enjoy the obedience training sessions and the bonding that you experience with your dog. Good luck!

Groom golden retrievers by bathing them every one to six weeks, using a high velocity blow dryer to eliminate shedding fur, combing through the fur behind the ears and on the thighs and shaving the bottom of their feet. Keep a golden retriever groomed and happy with help from a professional dog groomer in this free video on pet care. Expert: Sammi Bio: Sammi is a dog groomer at the Animal Care Center in West Bountiful, Utah. Filmmaker: Michael Burton

Dog picture taken by rkleine.

Dog picture taken by rkleine.

A Golden Retriever Dog At A Southeast Kansas Zoo Has Adopted Three White Tiger Babies Abandoned By Their Mother. Un Perro Golden Retriever del Zoológico de Southeast Kansas, adopta 3 Bebés de Tigres Blancos, Abandonados por su madre.

A crack team of PhD-trained golden retrievers illustrate the structure of atoms – the particles that make up everything around you. They also show how atoms are weirder than you might think.

Golden Retrievers are the second most commonly registered breed with the American Kennel Club. The only other breed that outranks the Golden Retriever in popularity is the Labrador Retriever. They are dually coated. The outer coat is silky and soft. The undercoat provides the necessary extra layer to maintain proper body temperature throughout the year and repel water when hunting or participating in water activities. The Golden Retriever was originally bred to be a hunting dog because they are instinctive retrievers. This makes them ideal as a hunting companion, particularly for bird hunters that typically are hunting in rough terrain and/or areas with water. They are not pointers or well suited for flushing out game like other breeds such as cocker spaniels or Blue Tick, but they will swim in rough, cold water to retrieve game or charge through thick bramble and brush to locate and return with the prize. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular family pets. One reason for being a great family dog is because of their calm and easy going temperament. Golden Retrievers are good around children because of their tolerant disposition. Golden Retriever will generally be far more patient of the clumsiness and irregularity of a toddler or young child than other breeds. Golden Retrievers are excellent service dogs. They are used by police and military, and are considered the best dog breed as a therapeutic or seeing eye companion because of their gentle disposition and temperament. Because Golden Retrievers are athletically inclined, highly intelligent and possess a strong desire to please their owners, they perform very well at dog obedience’s competition. They also have a high energy level and are fun loving dogs. One of their favorite playtime activities is to play fetch. The Golden Retriever loves water which makes retrieving a stick or tennis ball from lakes, ponds, rivers or tidal areas a great deal of fun, but also prepares them for hunting conditions which is one of their strongest skills and instinctive characteristics. Their high level of intelligence makes them strong candidates to do very well in obedience training. Their friendly and affectionate personalities also make them ideal visitors for retirement homes and allow them to be effective therapy dogs as noted earlier. The Golden Retriever breed is ideal for families and children because they are so even tempered and calm natured. They are eager to please and want to be your loyal companion. This breed requires vigorous and regular activity to stay mentally stimulated and physically healthy.

Golden retrievers are generally healthy dogs, with strong and sound constitutions. They are extremely popular as family pets. However, there are some medical problems of Golden retrievers that all Golden owners should know.

These are inherited by the golden retriever in its genes and are quite common. So, if you’re planning to get yourself a golden retriever puppy, be sure to get a well-bred puppy from a reputed breeder.

The truth is, that poor breeding of the golden retriever has tarnished its reputation without any fault of the breed. Here are some commonly found medical problems of Golden retrievers.

Hip Dyslapsia

In Golden retrievers this is a common problem, which occurs because of a malformed joint. It causes the better part of the femur to not be properly aligned with the cup of the hip socket. This is one of the medical problems of Golden retrievers, which can range from mild to relatively severe.

It is not something to worry about, and with proper diet and exercise your dog will be able to lead a completely normal and active life. In extremely rare circumstances, surgical correction or euthanasia are required as a last resort.

Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)

OCD is a bone formation disorder, which takes place due to a defect in the transition of cartilage into bone, while the dog is growing up. Research has shown this condition to be genetic and it appears more commonly in some lines of Golden retrievers than others. Environmental factors can also contribute to aggravating this problem.

Panosteitis

This medical problem of Golden retrievers affects them in their early age when they are 5 to 14 months old. Also referred to as wandering lameness, it causes sudden lameness in dogs.

Epilepsy

This too is a hereditary disorder, which causes seizures. There is no cure, but it can be controlled with medication. This medical problem of Golden retrievers allows them to lead a very normal life. But they should not be placed in very stressful situations, and most certainly should not be bred if they have epilepsy.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

(PRA), and central (PRA) are among the most common retina based problems found in Golden retrievers. Symptoms begin to manifest in dogs around the age of two and degenerative in nature. Sadly, this condition is also hereditary. So it is wise to make sure that both parents do not have this problem before you consider picking up a pup born to them.

Ear care

It’s a good idea to continuously clean your dogs ears, as they are likely to pick up a lot of dust and dirt when they are out. This way they would not pick up any ear infections.

Juvenile cataracts

This particular medical problem of Golden retrievers is also hereditary and is also a fact you should look out for when looking to purchase a golden retriever pup.

Seborrhea

Primary sebhorrea is a medical problem of Golden retrievers, which gives them yellowish brownish scales, a greasy coat, and an irritable itchy skin with a foul smell. You can take your dog to your vet to get this problem treated, as it is not too serious.

Just buy a golden retriever from a reputed breeder and do some checks on the pups mother and father and you will be fine! If your golden retriever develops a disease at an older age, do not worry. Just take it to the Vet. Lastly, keep your golden clean and take good care of it!

Now that you’ve brought a Golden Retriever into your home and family, you’ll want the reassurance that it will be a positive addition, not a constant bother. Here are some training tips for your Golden Retriever.

When you consider training your new Golden Retriever, know that there are different types of training that address different aspects of your dogs personality and conduct.

Behavior training is the approach where you teach your Golden Retriever to be a good dog in general. This may include house breaking, welcoming visitors (be they people or other animals), leash training, and types of training that make your Golden Retriever a better companion. The way you relate to your dog will determine much of his way of relating to his world. If you’re nervous and excitable and communicate those traits, your Golden Retriever will be nervous and excitable. On the other hand, if you speak softly and remain calm, your Golden Retriever will be a more laid-back dog.

Activity training teaches your Golden Retriever how to accomplish specific tasks like agility training, search and rescue, hunting, disability support, and herding. Golden Retrievers are strong athletic dogs that enjoy frequent exercise. They’re also smart dogs that appreciate being challenged and competing against other dogs for recognition and rewards. Of course, you’ll have the best luck if you select activities appropriate to the breed like guiding people, field trials, and service.
Goldens were first bred in Great Britain in the 1800s as a game-retrieving dog, so games that mimic finding and returning “game” like a frisbee are perfect for your Golden Retriever. Remember that Goldens are high-energy dogs that need to burn a lot of exercise on a daily basis. Active, challenging tasks are perfect to keep them happy and healthy and to maintain a balance temperament. Golden Retrievers are comfortable with routines and adapt easily to schedules where they know what to expect at certain times of day.

Obedience training focuses on the dog’s specific responses to specific commands. Obedience training promotes well-behaved, easily controlled Golden Retrievers. Goldens in obedience training learn how to listen to and carry out your commands (like “sit,” “heel,” and “Stay”), how to interpret hand signals and tone of voice, and appropriate responses to each command. Successful obedience training will give your Golden a head start on other types of training.

You should know that, due to their popularity, Golden Retriever characteristics and health issues have been changing. Possible over-breeding has created some problems not traditionally associated with Goldens. For example, while most Golden Retrievers are happy, socially outgoing, and anxious to please, more and more of this breed are overly aggressive or very shy, contradicting expectations. Because they are so loving, some Goldens suffer from separation anxiety. This can present behavioral problems that need additional or specialized training.

Getting your Golden enough exercise and enough mental stimulation is critical to good behavior. A Golden who’s left indoors or alone much of the time is likely to be nervous, temperamental, and hard to handle. Daily walks are critical, and more vigorous exercise is advisable.

Goldens are also very smart dogs. They pick up new behaviors quickly and remember them well. They are anxious to please and will respond well to generous praise and affection as rewards for jobs well done. With proper training in all three areas – behavior, activity, and obedience – your Golden Retriever will be an ideal companion that will share many happy years with you.

The history of the Golden Retriever dates back to the 1800s. Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland bred the first documented Golden Retrievers in the British Isles. The Tweed Water Spaniel, a breed now extinct, along with the Irish Setter, Newfoundland, and Bloodhound was used to create the Golden Retriever of today. Golden Retrievers were bred to retain their yellow color and to hunt waterfowl and other game. Lord Tweedmouth also wanted a breed that was loyal and good-natured.

The Golden Retriever is known to be one of the most loyal and even-tempered dog breeds. The breed was called the Flat-Coated Retriever in Britain and was later named the Golden Retriever. Exported to America in the 1920s, the breed was registered by the American Kennel Club as a pure breed in 1925 and has enjoyed a successful AKC competition history ever since. Golden Retriever breeders select dogs with AKC breed standard characteristics to produce bloodlines of Golden Retriever champions.

Some of the most desired characteristics of Golden Retrievers are intelligence, trainability, beauty, gentleness and hunting and tracking ability. The first dog to win an American Kennel Club obedience championship was a Golden Retriever. The breed has the lowest rate of behavior school dropouts due to the breed’s eagerness to please as well as inherent intelligence.

Though Golden Retriever breeders may have champion ancestry in their bloodlines, Golden Retrievers are still prone to health problems like many other pure breeds. The average life span for a Golden Retriever is only ten to thirteen years with many not making it to the minimum age at death.

Golden Retrievers are highly focused. This can be a good trait but it can also be something owners must watch out for. Golden Retrievers will focus on work so much that they wear themselves out or focus on food so much that they become obese. Owners must be aware of the activities of Golden Retrievers and monitor their food intake and activity level closely.

Golden Retriever breeders you should avoid include any breeders suspected of running puppy mills or over-breeding dogs until subsequent litters as well as parents become ill. If breeders seem to have too many puppies available at one time and will not allow the buyer to visit their kennels these are warning signals that these are bad breeders. Other breeders to avoid are those who sell to pet stores. Healthy, purebred puppies do not come from pet stores.

Good breeders do not breed or raise dogs as merchandise to be shipped across the country and sold to anyone. It is imperative for buyers to know how to identify good from bad Golden Retriever breeders to put bad breeders out of business for good. Buyers have the responsibility of researching Golden Retriever breeders to find legitimate sources to buy purebred puppies.

Buyers should ask for references, visit the kennels and puppies prior to purchase, and ask many questions of breeders to determine how much they know about Golden Retrievers. Good breeders will be experts on their breed and will also have questions for buyers to make sure puppies are going to good homes.

More golden retriever puppies!