English
Golden Retrievers vary widely in color
English goldens are easily recognized by their light cream-coloured coats which sometimes appear white. This type is bigger-boned, shorter, with a more square head and/or muzzle. They are more common in
Europe, so breeders of this type in
America may import their dogs to improve bloodlines. A Golden Retriever of English breeding can have a coat colour in the colour range of all shades of gold or cream, but not including red nor mahogany. While shedding is unavoidable with Golden Retrievers, frequent grooming (daily to weekly) lessens the amount of hair shed by the animal. Goldens are known to shed the most in the spring and summer months as this is when they drop their winter undercoats. Severe
shedding that results in bald patches can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever.
Coat and colour
The coat is dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat against the belly. The
American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat colour up to a judge's discretion when competing in
conformation shows. Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colors for the Golden coat. Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany color, referred to as "redheads", although this is not accepted in the British showring. As a Golden grows older, its coat can become a darker or lighter tint of brown, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a darker coloration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult color.
Temperament
Most Goldens need plenty of exercise, such as
dog agility.
Typically, Goldens are fairly unruly as puppies and may chew and retrieve everything in sight. However, once they reach maturity, Goldens remain active and fun-loving while developing an exceptionally patient demeanor as befits a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a
hunting blind. Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water.
Another legacy from their hunting background, Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable due to their desire to please their handlers and excel in obedience trials. In fact, the first AKC Obedience Trial Champion was a Golden Retriever. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. However, harsh training methods frequently cause Goldens to “shut down,” therefore positive methods are a better way to train these wonderful, gentle dogs.
They are also noted for their intelligence. As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever loves to retrieve. Retrieving a thrown stick,
tennis ball, or
flying disc can keep a Golden occupied and entertained for hours, particularly if there is also water involved. Goldens tend to be very tolerant of boisterous children. However, if not properly trained, they may accidentally injure a child in play.
As they age, they remain excellent friends and companions. They adore their owners and exhibit what can be described as unconditional love.
Care
Newborn pups
Golden Retrievers tend to be crepuscular - more active in the mornings and at the evenings. Between these times, many retrievers are happy to sleep providing they get a good burst of exercise each day. Golden Retrievers are moderately active dogs, and require a reasonable amount of exercise each day, although the extent of the exercise is determined by gender (males are more active); by individual temperament (some Golden Retrievers are less active than others); whether the dog has a companion animal (a pair of dogs will burn a lot more energy through play); and by age (puppies tire quickly; adolescent dogs are more energetic). As with any breed of dog, the owner needs to make a responsible determination of the amount of exercise required based on these factors. They are a breed that is prone to obesity, even more so than the
Labrador Retrievers, so the average Golden Retriever should never be treated like a small dog, or sedentary housepet. Some dogs may be too active to be easily exercised by elderly owners.
Goldens should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during heavy shedding. Their coats shed heavily the entire year, and even more excessively during shedding season, which is normally in the spring as the dog loses its thick winter coat. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or otherwise an ear infection might occur.
History
The Golden Retriever breed was originally developed in
Scotland at "Guisachan" near
Glen Affric, the highland estate of
Sir Dudley Majoribanks (pronounced "Marshbanks"), later
Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, there was controversy over which breeds were originally crossed. In 1952, the publication of Majoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian
sheepdogs from a visiting
circus.
Goldens excel at retrieving in water
The original cross was of a yellow-colored dog, Nous, with a
Tweed Water Spaniel female dog, Belle. The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct but was then common in the border country. Majoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered litter of otherwise black wavy-coated
retriever pups. In 1868, this cross produced a litter that included four pups; these four became the basis of a breeding program which included the
Irish Setter, the sandy-colored
Bloodhound, the
St. John's Water Dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black Retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for trueness to Majoribanks' idea of the ultimate
hunting dog. His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one that would still be gentle and trainable. Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned in these records, nor are any other
working dog breeds. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all
sporting dogs, in line with Majoribanks' goals.
Golden Retrievers were first accepted for registration by the
The Kennel Club of
England in 1903, as Flat Coats - Golden. They were first exhibited in 1908, and in 1911 were recognized as a breed described as Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1913, the Golden Retriever Club was founded. The breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever in 1920.
The Honorable Archie Majoribanks took a Golden Retriever to
Canada in 1881, and registered Lady with the
American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1894. These are the first records of the breed in these two countries. The breed was first registered in Canada in 1927, and the Golden Retriever Club of
Ontario, now the Golden Retriever Club of Canada, was formed in 1958. The co-founders of the GRCC were Cliff Drysdale an Englishman who had brought over an English Golden and Jutta Baker, daughter in law of Louis Baker who owned Northland Kennels, possibly Canada's first kennel dedicated to Goldens. The AKC recognized the breed in 1925, and in 1938 the Golden Retriever Club of America was formed.
Health
A golden retriever at 15 years old, an advanced age for the breed.
The typical life span for Golden Retrievers is 10-13 years.[
citation needed] In many lines of Golden Retrievers, life-threatening health problems are so common that it can be difficult to find an individual that you can count on remaining healthy for a normal lifetime. When not taken care of (not exercising GR's can cause them to become obese) a large number of Golden Retrievers live less than 10 years.[
citation needed]
Breeding Goldens can be profitable for
puppy mills and
backyard breeders. As a result of careless breeding for profit, Goldens are prone to
genetic disorders and other diseases.
Hip dysplasia is very common in the breed; when buying a puppy its parents should have been examined by the
OFA or by
PennHIP for hip disease.
Common diseases
Cancer, the most common being
hemangiosarcoma, followed by
lymphosarcoma,
mast cell tumor, and
osteosarcoma. Cancer was the cause of death for 61.8% of Goldens according to a 1998 health study conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America, making it the breed's most deadly disease.
Hip and
elbow dysplasia.
Eye diseases, including
cataracts (the most common eye disease in Goldens),
progressive retinal atrophy,
glaucoma,
distichiasis,
entropion,
corneal dystrophy and
retinal dysplasiaHeart diseases, especially
subvalvular aortic stenosis and
cardiomyopathy are major problems in this breed.
Joint diseases, including
patella luxation,
osteochondritis,
panosteitis, and
cruciate ligament ruptureSkin diseases, with
allergies (often leading to acute moist dermatitis or "
Hot Spots"), particularly flea allergies, being most common. Others include
seborrhea,
sebaceous adenitis, and
lick granuloma.
HaemophiliaOther diseases
Autoimmune hemolytic anemiaBloatCushing's DiseaseDiabetes (occasionally)
Ear InfectionsEpilepsyHypothyroidismLaryngeal paralysisLiver shuntMegaesophagusMyasthenia gravisvon Willebrand DiseaseRescue efforts
Because of the prevalence and prominence of the breed, high demand results in many Goldens being abandoned each year by owners who can no longer care for them.
Puppy mills are another source of orphan Golden Retrievers. These dogs, often old or in need of medical support, may end up in
animal shelters.
In response to the numbers of orphan Goldens, volunteer organizations work to rescue, care for, and adopt abandoned Golden Retrievers. These
rescue groups usually accept dogs from owners and establish agreements with local animal shelters to ensure that dogs will be transferred to their care rather than euthanized. Once rescued, Golden Retrievers are placed in
foster homes until a permanent home is found. It is common for rescue groups to screen prospective adopters to ensure that they are capable of providing a good home for the dog. Golden retriever rescue groups have utilized the world wide web to raise funds and advertise rescued Goldens to adopters. The
Golden Retriever Club of America has a permanent standing committee, the National Rescue Committee.
