Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
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. Proportionatly
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 distractible.
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!
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