Nobody can deny that Golden Retrievers are exceptionally good-looking and loyal. They not only make great hunting companions but also charming family pets. Golden Retrievers can guide the blind, detect drugs, and even track people who are reported missing. In spite of the large variety of fascinating breeds available, Golden Retrievers are in a unique class of their own.

Do not be in a hurry to purchase a Golden Retriever pup. Take your time and exercise a lot of patience. You want to buy a healthy pup, which will grow up into a fine dog. You might end up with the wrong type of pup if you rush into a purchase. You can save a lot of valuable time and money by not rushing into making a purchase and carefully selecting your pup.

Learn about the Breed

Find out a few facts about the breed before you purchase a Golden Retriever for a pet. You can learn as much as possible about the dog of your choice from dog shows, which give you a chance to meet other owners of this breed.

Visit the local Kennel Club. Golden Retriever owners are proud of their pets and will be enthusiastic and eager to share any amount of information with you. Members of the local branches of the Golden Retriever Club of America can provide with a comphrehensive list of dog breeders in your locality.

Purchase from the Right Source

It is a good idea to purchase your Golden Retriever pup from local puppy mills or backyard breeders. In fact, the best purchase of a Retriever pup can be made from backyard breeders because they not only have plenty of knowledge about the breed but also take good care of them.

Moreover, backyard breeders are not just interested in making a profit. They actually have a genuine concern and liking for the dogs and will see to it that you get the best pup. Even if the breeders don’t have any pups for sale at the moment, they can guide you to other breeders and thus help you find the pup of your heart’s desire. You can thereby ensure that you get your pup from a reliable sources.

There are several breeders who are interested only in getting a profit or just want a litter. Beware of such breeders because they usually produce Golden Retrievers of poor quality. They hardly care for the dogs’ health, looks, temparament, or quality. If you purchase a pup from such sources, you will find yourself with a dog that has poor health, the wrong type of temparament, and breed defects.

When you purchase your Golden Retriever pup, think about the long-term consequences of the purchase. Purchase from a reliable breeder of high quality, and you will have nothing more to worry about. After all, you are not just buying a puppy, you are getting yourself a life-long friend and companion.



By: Abhishek Agarwal

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Golden Retrievers are actually considered quite strong and hearty animals. However, they are still susceptible to approximately six common diseases that can be rather harmful to the dogs. These problems can cause the Golden retriever some amount of inconvenience and suffering, so owners should be prepared to be on the look-out for such symptoms.

Skin diseases are one of the top problems with Golden Retrievers. They could have causes as simple as a flea itch or mosquito bite that can cause their skin to be irritated and inflamed. The dogs will worry or bite on that spot until they cut themselves or cause something known as a hot spot. A red, moist and raw spot is known as a hot spot and it can grow in size every time the dog worries it. It will usually require a bandage or a special collar to keep the dog away from this area in order to give it a chance to heal.

Golden Retrievers can suffer from allergies faster than most other breeds. Wheat is typically an offending factor and a lot of commercial dog foods have wheat in their recipes. It is not lethal to animals but it can cause them to have problems with their digestion or cause their skin to become inflamed and irritated. If the dog licks its face excessively or scratches constantly, you might have a dog that is allergic.

Beneath the outer layers of the skin, there could be more severe types of diseases. There are different types of fatty lipomas and the severe liposarcoma that can become common as the dogs grow older.

Fatty lipomas are typically benign and will be able to be removed the next time a dog gets his teeth cleaned and gets general anesthesia. They can develop and become larger, but they are not a threat and can be ignored. On the other hand, liposarcomas are dangerous and need to be removed as soon as possible. They need to be treated as soon as they are diagnosed.

Cataracts and eye afflictions can be frequent among Golden Retrievers that are beyond 10 years of age. Such eye afflictions can lead to poorer vision or even blindness in the dog. There is no cure for such afflictions.

Less frequently seen in Golden Retrievers are problems with the heart, however, should heart problems develop, they are usually subvalvular aortic stenosis or cardiomyopathy. Subvalvular aortic stenosis is a blockage in the left vein of the ventricle and will cause a decrease in the blood flow. At times, the situation is benign, however the dog will be restrained from running around as aften. When the condition is dangerous, the heart is forced to strain itself, working harder when the heart muscles thicken. This heart problem is usually genetic and the treatment can be beta blockers to mild antibiotics. An operation is always a solution but compared to operations on the human heart, it has a lower chance of success.

Cardiomyopathy is an acquired disease which is more serious. It tends to happen in dogs that are 4 to 10 years old and the cause is unknown. The heart muscle will become thin and flabby, progressively getting worse until the dog passes away.

Nevertheless, most Golden Retrievers live a long and healthy live. With the right diet and plenty of exercise, your animal has a better shot at living a wonderful life.



By: Moses Wright

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nted from getting into your Golden Retriever by using three different vaccinations. This is done usually when it is 6 to 16 weeks old and it is accompanied with annual regular booster shots. The symptoms include cough, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You should be immediately visiting a doctor if you find your dog having these symptoms.

2. Heartworms

Most of the dog breeds are attacked by this ailment named Heartworms. It leads to heart failures on reaching lengths of 12 inches or more in the lung and heart arteries. There is a decrease in blood circulation and can be even fatal sometimes. The symptoms of this Heartworm ailment don’t come early and hence it’s better to prevent them before it actually affects your dog.

3. Heatstroke

A heatstroke can affect a Golden Retriever usually in summer or some hot day. Give the dog plenty of fluids, fluid being water, and do not leave the dog in direct sunlight. Suppose you are playing with your dog, give it ample rest so that it doesn’t get easily tired. Panting, dark sums, excessive drooling, rapid pulse, glazed expression and vomiting are the symptoms for heatstroke. Take your dog to the vet if any of these symptoms are seen in your dog.

4. Rabies

Rabies is a very serious and dangerous ailment a Golden Retriever can get. It has a direct effect on the nervous system of the dog. Rabies usually comes with a bite from another dog infected with rabies. Rabies shots are given in clinics to prevent this disastrous disease. The vaccination should be taken at least once a year. Aggression, seizures and foaming are the main symptoms. Call the vet immediately if you spot any of these above symptoms.

5. Tapeworms

Tapeworms affect the stomach of a Golden Retriever and are normally caused by fleas. Diarrhea, loss of weight and biting of rectal area are the major symptoms of this ailment. A rigid flea control can prevent tapeworms from affecting your dog. Take it to the vet as soon as you see your dog suffering. The vet might kill the Tapeworms early through oral medicines.

6. Hookworms

Contact with any feces or simply burrowing under the exposed skin can cause Hookworms in your Golden Retriever. By keeping the surroundings and your dog area clean, you can prevent this from affecting your dog it is very essential to keep the dog’s skin clean. Weight loss, dry coat and blood seen in stool are the symptoms of this ailment. Just like any other ailment, this once seen must be immediately looked after. Take it to the vet and make sure you prevent this ailment from affecting your dog.

These are only a few ailments that can affect a Golden Retriever. There can be other ailments as well that can cause serious health problems. You should not hesitate or think to take your dog to the vet. Anticipate when you see your dog suffering from any of those mentioned symptoms as a few can be really dangerous if it is not treated early.



By: Abhishek Agarwal

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Be prepared to spend up to a half hour daily during shedding season for Golden Retriever grooming sessions. For feathery-coated dogs, it can take a half hour daily just to prevent the matting to which the dog is prone. Both types of Golden Retriever, the smooth-coated and the feathery-coated, will shed and are prone to matting and hot spots.

Hot spots are an irritated skin condition for which you must regularly check your dog’s skin. Since Golden Retriever grooming is so important to your dog’s health and comfort, you have to start grooming puppies with good grooming supplies. This way, you can introduce and familiarize the puppy with the Golden Retriever grooming supplies.

It takes thirty minutes to thoroughly brush your pet. You can control the amount of hair that is shed in your home with regular Golden Retriever grooming. A smooth-coated dog needs one thorough grooming session a week. A feathery-coated Golden Retriever may need daily grooming depending on the amount of matting that is present.

Matting should be cared for immediately through proper grooming. For some feathery-coated Retrievers, resting for long periods can produce a mat. The typical locations for matting are the ears, rear, tail and feathery sections. For dogs with feathering, a mat problem can result overnight.

A mat will enlarge by pulling in nearby hair into itself. This can produce painful spots that are prone to irritation. Wetting the mat worsens the condition by pulling the hair tighter. Mats are inviting hiding spots for fleas. Regular Golden Retriever grooming must be performed regularly to avoid matting problems.

There are several Golden Retriever grooming supplies that will help with mats. A mat should be gently combed out with a wide toothed comb. Problem mats can be removed safely and gently with mat breakers. A hair detangling formula or oil can help with detangling a mat. Trimming the feathering or cutting the mat may be necessary. Use rounded scissors to prevent any accidents during grooming.

Regular brushing is a part of correct grooming. You can choose two main brushes for your Golden Retriever grooming supplies needs.

The slicker brush is versatile. The wide head and short bristles, set wide, are useful for shedding and regular brushing of smooth and feathered coats. The pin brush has longer pins, set wide, is useful for brushing feathered portions. The pin brush will reduce shedding as well. Regular brushing will remove any particles and dirt from the coat.

Brush your dog thoroughly before a bath or wetting the coat. Tangles tighten with water. A vegetable oil or detangle solution can help to detangle tangles. Avoid too much bathing or using detergent based shampoo because of undercoat fall out or skin irritation. Brush dirt from the underside and legs for spot cleaning and wet as necessary.

Use a flea comb to detangle mats and check the skin for hot spots or other irritated spots. Clip the nails when necessary. Check and clean the nails and ears once a week. Include all these Golden Retriever grooming tasks in your grooming plan to maintain your dog’s health.



By: John Williams

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The Golden Retriever is a popular breed of dog that was used as a retrieving dog while hunting wild fowl in the past. It is one of the most common dogs for families now as it is very tolerant, easy to handle and doesn’t require much from the owners besides exercise, food and visits to the vet. Though known to get along well with other dogs and people, they sometimes get human traits and then are not very fond of other dogs. Due to its friendly nature, Golden Retrievers are not good watchdogs. However, they are liked for their fondness of people.

Golden Retrievers are athletic dogs that are well balanced. They are a large breed, but are slightly longer than they are tall. Golden Retrievers have an outgoing temperament with a very luxurious coat. The coat is usually straight, waterproof and dense. Golden Retrievers do not have hard, silky, or wool-like hair. As they become older, their coats can become darker in color while the fur around their face whitens.

Golden Retrievers are about 22 to 24 inches tall but reach that height after only one year of age. After their second year, they maintain their weight at 60 to 75 pounds.

This breed of dog is quite active, but also very patient. Their history as dogs sitting and waiting for the catch during hunts may be the cause of this. They also enjoy cold water, which may also be a trait gained from their hunting past. Retrievers are affectionate towards people and are often used as therapy dogs because of this. Though they are intelligent, they require a companion to be happy which makes them great assistance dogs. Golden Retrievers also enjoy retrieving anything, from tennis balls to frisbees.

Golden Retrievers were grown in Scotland and come from a cross of a yellow dog, Nous and a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. They continued to breed as they were the idea of the best hunting dog. The idea was to create a dog that was not only powerful but gentle and affectionate towards people.

Unfortunately since they are often profitable dogs, many corrupt breeders don’t take care of them and they are prone to quite a few diseases. Hip dysplasia is a common problem in the breed, along with von Willebrand’s disease and cataracts. Potential owners should check to make sure that the parents of the dog had healthy hips as well.

Since purebred Golden Retrievers are in high demand, many are sadly abandoned by owners who no longer care for them. The dogs end up in animal shelters, but fortunately there are many organizations which try to rescue and adopt these abandoned Golden Retrievers. They are often placed in foster homes until a permanent home for them is found.

There are also quite a few famous Golden Retrievers, such as Comet from Full House, the star of the movie Air Bud, Liberty, President Ford’s pet and Speedy from The Drew Carey Show. Golden Retrievers are popular because of their caring attitude towards people and the wonderful companionship that they can bring to a family.



By: John Williams

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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!



By: Peter Finch

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The Golden Retriever, as its name so obviously suggests, is a member of the retrieving class of dogs. The retriever dog came about because the British sportsman of Victorian ages was frustrated with the game retrieving abilities of the Setter, Pointer and Spaniel dog breeds that were largely used for such purpose at the time. Though the Spaniel dog breeds were favored as being more adept retrievers they were still not considered as optimal retriever dogs on account of their small size.

In 1865 Sir Dudley Majoribanks (later to become Lord Tweedmouth) embarked on a breeding program to develop the most efficient and capable retrieving gun dog in the world. What is undisputed is the fact that his Golden Retriever dog breeding program all started with a yellow retriever called Nous. What is not quite so clear is the history and origins of Nous.

One story has it that Nous was purchased from a Russian circus trainer in Brighton, another tale contends that Nous was obtained from a Brighton cobbler, while yet another source claims that Nous previous owner was either a gypsy or the somewhat more distinguished Lord Chichester.

Golden Retriever Dog Breed Foundation Stock



Conflicting origins of Nous notwithstanding, what is not under contention is the fact that Nous was the only yellow puppy from a litter of black Wavy-Coated Retrievers. In 1868 Nous, the yellow Wavy-coated Retriever, was mated with a Tweed Water Spaniel bitch called Belle. The resultant litter consisted of four yellow puppies of which Lord Tweedmouth then crossbred the best bitch (a dog named Cowslip) to a Red Setter and a Tweed Water Spaniel.

Offspring from those two litters were then recrossed with black Wavy-coated Retrievers and from the resultant litter (that ranged from very dark colored puppies to very light colored ones) those that were golden were selected and mated together. It should be noted that there are some who claim that the Bloodhound dog was introduced to the mix but such talk is largely unsubstantiated and probably unlikely. Anyway it was in this fashion that Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland produced the foundation stock of the Golden Retriever dog breed.

The Golden Retriever was initially called the Flat Coated Golden Retriever (due to the fact that it was descended from the Flat Coated Retriever, a dog breed it largely came to eclipse in popularity) and was registered with The Kennel Club (British) under that name in 1903. Later on when the Golden Retriever Club was formed in 1911 it was categorized as a separate dog breed under the name “Yellow or Golden Retriever”. Further down along the line the “Yellow or” was dropped and ever since then this dog breed has gone by the name of Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever came to the shores of the North Americas in the late 19th century, reaching Canada first in 1881 and then the United States in 1890. It was finally registered with the Canadian Kennel Club in 1922 and then by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1932. Since its entry into the show ring from the 1930s, the Golden Retriever has become one of the most recognized and popular dog breeds, consistently ranking within the top ten most popular dog breeds according to the AKC listing.

More About The Dog

 



By: Kayye Nynne

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Hip dysplasia refers to the poor formation of hip joints, this might be very common growing disease for some younger dogs of almost every other breed. In larger breeds, these unsteady hip joints become very common, even though hip dysplasia can become a serious problem which will limit most of the physical activity of your Retriever. Although most Golden Retriever owners might not realize this, but hip dysplasia is one disease which dogs get from the parents, and it only gets increasingly bad with age.

Some of the symptoms and even some signs of this hip dysplasia is almost not at all possible to detect with the Golden puppies, even though it starts to show once these pups have reached age of around nine months. Even if you may take the Golden Retriever to the vet in order to have him checked, the vet will tell that you must wait to see if these symptoms are still there once these Golden Retrievers have reached a specific age.

Some signs and symptoms of this hip dysplasia may vary, the most common ones include crippling or called as the disorder to walk correctly. This may get better once your dog gets older though, owing to joints stabilizing, hence the inflammation goes down, and also the muscles near the hips get stronger and also mature. Do keep in mind that the Golden’s who get hip dysplasia when they are young will most likely develop some form of arthritis as they grow older.

These Golden Retrievers which suffer from the hip dysplasia are not fit for breeding, although they may still live a very long and certainly healthy life. There maybe certain drugs which the vet can prescribe for your dog, which can help him control the weight and hence help control this disease. Also these drugs cut down on some of the pain as well, hence helping the Retriever enjoy as much as possible.

Many Golden Retrievers which have hip this dysplasia will not start to show the signs till they are old enough, like once all the muscles tend to tire down and then damage to hip muscles will start to be very noticeable. Even though the dog may be very active and also healthy for almost all of the puppy years, hip dysplasia will slow everything and tend to make the dog look like he has become old and also is suffering from some physical attributes belonging to arthritis.

In order to eliminate pain from hip dysplasia, some surgery options available nowadays. These Golden Retrievers tend to have a very high threshold for bearing pain, and won’t generally show signs of being in any pain, although you realize they are. Some X-rays will not show signs of this pain, although all the limping or even slow walking will let you know that your dog is in pain. Dogs who have this won’t know it – that is why you must. If you tend to do your parts well and hence help the dog seek relief – she or he will feel much better than ever – although he might not let you know that he was hurt at all.



By: Abhishek Agarwal

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Those of you who want a Golden Retriever but aren’t ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an older Golden. Older Golden Retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves. They are a very adjustable breed, being good tempered. No matter how old the Golden may be, he will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.

Where do you find an older Golden. Well your first stop should be your nearest breeder because strange as it may seem they often do have older dogs for sale. It may be a retired show dog, or a dog which has produced several litters and will not be needed again. There is a whole host of reasons why they might have a mature dog they wish to find a home for, so, give them a call and enquire.

Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and know a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love him and you are glad he’s a member of your family.

When you meet your Golden for the first time you may well be so taken with them that you are tempted to ‘wrap them up and take them home’ straightaway. But, avoid this temptation. Take a bit of time to get to know them, and to know all about them, just to make sure that they are right for your lifestyle. Also, do involve the other members of your family in all of these initial decisions, as it is important that everybody feels happy about welcoming a new member into the family.

You will find life much easier in the early days if you spend a bit of time helping your new family member adjust to your home and its environs. You will find things easier if you do, and your new family member will certainly appreciate you taking the time to help them settle in.

You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience training. Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enroll him in a new class. This way, he can brush up on training and you can work with him to help him understand. Once you have finished training, he’ll understand your commands better and you and him will get along just fine.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever – they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

Before you buy any other obedience training aids make sure you visit John Charles excellent dog training resource



By: Jonathan Charles

About the Author:

This article which you are about to read has been written by somebody who is passionate about Golden Retrievers, and I want to pass on a few hints and tips that I have learned over the years.

We all know that Golden Retrievers are beautiful, obedient, and make great family pets and hunting dogs. Goldens also make great guide dogs for the blind, narcotic detection dogs, and even tracking dogs for finding missing people. Although there are many other dog breeds out there, Golden Retrievers remain one of the most versatile and most astonishing breeds that you can get.

Before you rush out and buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should first take the time to learn a bit more about the breed. You can attend dog shows, meet with various owners of Golden Retrievers, and even go to your local kennel club. Most people who own Golden Retrievers are extremely proud of them and will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm with you.

When you buy your Golden Retriever puppy, it is always a great idea to buy from a backyard breeder or local puppy breeder. Backyard breeders are normally the best way to get a Golden puppy, as they know and care a lot about the breed in general. Although you can always go to a reputable breeder, backyard breeders are not just in it for the money, they actually care about their dogs and want you to get the best Golden possible.

You can also visit the Golden Retriever Club of America and their local member clubs, as they can supply you with a list of breeders in your area. If these breeders dont have any Goldens for sale themselves, they will be more than willing to help you find what your looking for. This way, you can get a Golden from a very reliable source.

I have had a number of Goldens for many, many years, and I have always bought from a backyard breeder, that is, somebody who loves their Golden and who has a litter perhaps once a year and sells the puppies. It is not a business for them, it is something they love doing.

Whatever you do, you should never rush into buying a Golden Retriever. You should always take your time, and have a little bit of patience. When you buy your puppy, you want a healthy puppy who will grow up to be a fine testament of the breed. By taking your time and making a careful decision, you can save yourself a lot of time and money later on down the road.

Golden puppies that are poor quality, are normally produced by breeders who just want to have a litter or breeders who are just looking for the profits and care very little about giving thoughts to looks, quality, or temperament. If you buy a puppy from either of these breeders, you will more than likely end up with a puppy who has poor health, poor temperaments, and even disqualifications in breed.

When you get your puppy, you should always think long term. Only buy from a quality breeder, and you should not have anything to worry about. Always remember that you are not just buying a Golden Retriever puppy, you are buying a companion and a friend for life, and what a wonderful friend they are.

Let me finish this article by saying that there is a lot of information available to you to help you as you make this important choice. Your local bookstore, your local library, and indeed the internet are all sources of information on Golden Retrievers. Enjoy your purchase, I know you will.



By: John Savage

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