The Golden Retriever is a large breed of hunting dog. It is used to retrieve game and retrieve it back to the hunter. Its soft bite prevents it from damaging game. It is one of the most popular breeds. Its docile nature and high intelligence make it a versatile pet.
Of the dogs of this breed they make excellent bloodhounds, rescuers, companions, and indispensable guide dogs for the disabled. Golden Retrievers are very popular in the United States, where they rank third among hunting dogs, fifth in Australia, and eighth in the United Kingdom.
Description and breed standard, photo
- The body structure is balanced and strong.
- The neck is muscular, without dewlap, of medium length.
- The head is proportionate to the body, beautifully set, and has a well-defined stop.
- The eyes are set wide apart, oval-shaped, and dark brown. The eyelids have dark edges.
- The nose is black and large. The nostrils are wide.
- The ears are set high, medium in size, and hanging.
- Teeth: Strong jaws with a scissor bite. The lower teeth closely overlap the upper incisors and are set vertically.
- The chest is deep and wide. The ribs are well sprung.
- The loin is short, muscular and strong.
- The back is straight.
Elbows are close to the body. Shoulder blades are long, and shoulders are pulled back.- The tail is set high and long, with no curl at the end.
- The front legs are strong, muscular, and straight. The palms are rounded and well developed.
- The hind limbs are muscular and strong.
- The hocks are set low, the metatarsus is straight and not turned out.
- The coat is wavy or straight, long, and fairly dense. It has a waterproof undercoat.
Elbows are close to the body. Shoulder blades are long, and shoulders are pulled back.The American variety of Golden Retriever is less stocky and appears taller than its British counterpart. The Canadian variety is slender and tall, with a less dense coat.
The Golden Retriever's coat can be any shade of cream or gold, except mahogany and red.
Retriever personality
Golden retrievers are very kind and calm animals that get along well with all household members. there is absolutely no tendency to excessive barking and notes of dominance, which allows them to coexist peacefully with other pets. These are delicate and sensitive dogs. Their natural devotion, good nature, adoration of people, and patience, coupled with a love of fetch and boundless energy, make the retriever a good companion for active play.
Highly developed mental abilities and excellent memory ensure the achievement of good results in learning.
Main areas of use of golden retrievers
In modern society, the golden retriever is rarely used as a hunting dog, but despite this the dog remains a good assistant for work Following the blood trail and retrieving game, the hunting instinct remains the breed's primary characteristic.
The dog is used in the following specialties:
- Rescue operations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
- search for explosives and drugs at customs;
- guide dog and assistant for people with disabilities;
- actors of commercials and films;
- therapist.
They are ideal companions for children and the elderly. Specially trained dogs are widely used in shelters and boarding schools for children with mental disabilities. Due to their good-natured nature, The golden retriever is not at all suitable as a guard or protector., as it is incapable of aggression and attacking strangers. In this case, the dog, on the contrary, will try to find common ground with the stranger and befriend them.
Maintenance and care of a retriever
Contents and Caring for a dog of this breed requires a comprehensive solution, which includes nail, skin, and coat care, as well as an appropriate diet and feeding schedule. Golden Retrievers require regular checks for ticks and other parasites, as well as daily brushing with a wire brush.
It is necessary to bathe your pet no more than 1-2 times a month.claws are subject to regular inspection and pruning as it grows. Apartment living requires walks (at least three hours a day) with interesting sports games.
The dog is very sociable and forms strong bonds with all family members, so leaving it unattended for long periods of time is not recommended, as the animal may become very sad and even sick.
Brushing a Retriever
Your pet's luxurious appearance depends directly on proper grooming of its luxurious, thick coat. It's important to get them used to this routine from an early age. The main thing is to teach your child to stand still while being brushed.However, the owner should exercise caution and try not to cause pain to the pet and do everything possible to ensure that the procedure does not evoke unpleasant associations in the puppy.
A wire comb, available at a grooming store, is ideal for grooming a golden retriever's coat. This type of comb has fine teeth on one side and wide teeth on the other. First you should comb it out Brush your pet's fur with the wide-toothed side, then repeat the process with the other side of the comb. If you make brushing a daily ritual and use a special combing glove, the procedure won't take much time.
Walking with a retriever
The first walks should begin immediately after basic vaccinations. To avoid the formation of puddles and piles of urine all over the house, try to accustom your baby to a specific place where his "toilet" will beTo do this, find a secluded corner and lay down some plastic (not plastic!), then layer several layers of newspaper on top. When cleaning up after your puppy, remember to leave the bottom layer of paper behind so the scent lingering there will remind your puppy where his "baby" is.
Later, you can take your retriever outside for walks. It's crucial to let your pet know you're thrilled to see him go outside. Once he understands this, the misbehavior in the house will stop.
If some time has passed since the "crime" was committed, and you missed the moment, do not punish the puppy: he still will not understand what exactly he did wrong.
Composing Little Golden's walk schedule It is important to take into account that the puppy needs to go to the toilet after waking up from sleep and after each meal.
Retriever health
The Golden Retriever is a dog breed with a strong immune system and excellent health. But to ensure your pet grows up healthy and lives a long life, It is necessary to monitor its general development from puppyhood Provide your puppy with appropriate nutrition. Some diseases may be hereditary, while others are acquired with age.
The following diseases are typical for this dog breed:
- Atopic dermatitis;
- von Willebrand disease;
- hip dysplasia;
- hypothyroidism;
- retinal degeneration.
Pay close attention to your pet's joint health, as hip dysplasia is often a hereditary condition.
The Golden Retriever is an excellent dog, and the presence or absence of a pedigree and supporting documents doesn't play a particularly important role. The main thing is so that your pet grows up happy, cheerful, obedient and then the joy of communicating with him will overflow you.
