Golden retrievers, or “goldens,” as we like to call them, are one of the most popular dog breeds on the planet, not only in the UK. They are beautiful, appealing to owners, and lovely dogs in general. Here is everything you need to know about the Golden Retriever dog breed.
This will be useful if you already have a dog of this breed or are planning on adopting one. If you are planning on getting one, yes, you should get one as soon as possible.
Golden Retrievers: Overview
As you can assume, everything you need to know about Golden Retrievers will start with a short overview of the dog breed. They are medium-sized dogs that can reach 24 inches (at the shoulders) when we are referring to males and 22.5 inches for females.
Weight is between 65 and 75 pounds for male dogs and between 55 and 65 pounds for female goldens. They live between 10 and 12 years.
This is a Scottish gundog, and they were used for hunting. Today, they are mostly present as pets and guides for blind people. Of course, they are used in search and rescue missions as well. Golden Retrievers are extremely popular as pets. They are commonly ranked as the top three most popular dog breeds for pets. You can deduce that they come with more pros than cons.
Great Things About Golden Retrievers
The first and main advantage of these dogs is their nature and personality. They are, for lack of a better word, extremely nice. Many dog owners claim that their dogs are better than grandmas. Anyway, you can get a better idea of why this breed is so desirable today.
Training golden retrievers is easy. They are smart dogs, and they are big, making training even better. Goldens can be trained in all kinds of things, such as simple commands and games, but they can also be trained to help people with special needs. Despite the size, these are agile dogs, so the possibilities are endless.
The next, most important thing is the fact that goldens love being part of a family. They love not only their owners but also children. They enjoy being a part of a large family, and they will be extremely happy all the time. In other words, this is a new family member you will want at some point.
The situation is the same if we take a look at the “compatibility” with other pets.
Golden retrievers love other pets and other animals in general. They will get along just fine.
An obvious fact is the simplest. Goldens are beautiful dogs. It may sound like the personal opinion of some people, but in reality, it is a fact. Goldens have a sweet smile, an amazing coat, and they look like small bears when they are actually small. You will definitely want to hug one and spend time with him. This is one of many reasons why golden retrievers are popular as therapy dogs as well.
Golden retrievers will stay with their family (that’s you) all the time. They don’t like wandering alone, and they don’t like being alone in general. But, if stressed, scared, or because of violence, they may run away. Make sure your dog has a nice life, and he will be there for you all the time.
Goldens don’t bark very much. They have plenty of energy, especially during the first 3–4 years, and they don’t like to bite. All of this makes them ideal dogs for so many reasons. In a nutshell, this is a dog you will want to go for a walk with, and you will want to watch him play around the backyard.
Not So Great Things About Golden Retrievers
Nothing is perfect in this world, so we can see that golden rules have a few drawbacks as well. The first one is the hunger issue. They are big dogs, and as such, they want to eat. Although males can reach 75 pounds, if you feed them too much, they can exceed this weight! You don’t want that.
Goldens must exercise, and they need it. If you have one, you will need to provide him with between 40 and 60 minutes of exercise every single day. Without this perk, they will get overweight, lazy, and chewy.
When it comes to their hair, you can see some issues. This dog will shed twice per year, every single year in the fall and spring. When this starts, you can expect the entire house to be filled with hair. They are big, and they have big hair, so this is obvious.
As we have mentioned earlier, golden retrievers love companionship and spending time with people. They are not the right dog breed if you are planning to leave one alone, at home the entire day.
Golden Retrievers love you, and they want to be with you as much as possible.
Keep that in mind before you adopt one. Adopting is a more affordable way of getting one. These are expensive dogs to get from a breeder. They are also expensive to keep due to their size and needs.
All animals are prone to certain health issues. Goldens are not different. They may suffer from hip dysplasia, which is the most common health problem associated with the species. But they can also develop or suffer from Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, cataracts, and Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis.
This doesn’t mean your dog will have one of these diseases or conditions. It means that the rates seen in the species are higher than normal. Make sure your dog is regularly checked for these health complications!
The final word
Everything you need to know about Golden Retrievers is explained above. We have covered good and not-so-good things alongside some basic facts. In a nutshell, these are amazing dogs, and they should be considered regardless of whether you are a first-time owner or just want another member of your family.
Their pros outweigh the drawbacks, making golden retrievers some of the best dogs on the planet.