The Golden Retriever, America’s Favorite Family Pet

Golden Retrievers originated in Scotland in the 1800’s.  They make a fantastic hunting companion, and have patient, clownish personalities that are great for being around kids.  They sport a wide range of shades, from pale almost cream color, to fox red and iridescent.  Males weigh in at about seventy five pounds typically, with females coming in around sixty or so pounds.  Dogs should have black pigmentation around the nose and eyes.  They should never act nervous or frightened around humans, and should never snip or bite at people or other pets.  They have webbed toes and love to swim, but can be quite happy as couch potatoes as well.

That face is priceless.  This is the age to start teaching them what you expect of them as big kids, so try to be firm.  Try being the key word there, that cuddly mug will win hearts the world over.  When choosing a puppy, try to remember what you want the dog to be like at four years old; is this a hunting companion, a family pet, maybe a future show dog?  If you will be breeding the dog, it must fulfill all these requirements.  These guys should never just be bred because they are beautiful.  Make sure the puppy gets proper food when it is growing, and then a diet later in life that take its breeds needs into account.  Kibbles and bits are just not going to be the best chow for the little guy as he doubles his size every other week. 

Well bred dogs enjoy anything you can think of to do with them, and they will go anywhere you want to take them.  Comfortable in a car,  they will camp with the family, fish with you from a boat, laze about in the sun, you name it.  They make great jogging partners, hunting dogs, and movie critics.

Being super popular as man’s best friend isn’t always a bonus genetically, and the only way we can change that is by breeding a better product for our buyers. Cancer is the biggest killer in the US, but doesn’t seem to be an issue in Britain. Genetic disorders include Progressive Renal Atrophy, Corneal Dystrophy, Retinal Dysplasia, Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, and Luxating Patella. Goldens really almost have too many disorders to list including all the common dog allergies and cardiac arrest is a big killer as well, these guys like being obese. Only breed well structured dogs with fin hip bones. Never breed a female of any breed with a weak pelvis, she will have trouble birthing puppies and both her and her little ones could die as a result.