Golden Retriever
Appearance
The Golden Retriever is a well-balanced, symmetrical dog with an active, powerful appearance. They possess an alert, self-confident demeanor and a friendly, intelligent expression. The breed’s body is short coupled and the chest is wide and well-developed. Their neck is comparatively long, and it merges gradually into their well laid-back shoulders. Their back is strong and level from the withers and it slopes gently at the croup. They have long, well-sprung ribs that extend towards the hindquarters and a short, muscular loin with very little tuck up. Their long tail is thick at its muscular base, and it is never curled or carried between the dog’s legs. The limbs are straight and well-boned, and the pasterns are short, strong, and slightly sloping. Their compact feet are medium-sized, round, and thickly padded. They have a broad, slightly arched skull and a well-defined stop. The muzzle is straight, wide, and tapered, and it blends smoothly into the dog’s skull. The eyes of the Golden Retriever are relatively large-sized and brown in color, and the ears are medium-sized and pendant. They have a dark nose and their teeth close in a scissors bite. The breed’s medium length coat is dense, water-repellent, and feathered. Coat colors for this breed include a variety of rich, lustrous golden shades.Know something we don't? Add it here.
Temperament
The Golden Retriever is an intelligent, well-mannered breed with a charming, affectionate personality. Because of their patience and gentleness, they are outstanding with children. They are loyal, self-assured, and they constantly aim to please. They make terrific family companions. They get along well with everyone, including strangers, and they have very few natural guarding instincts. While they won’t attack an intruder, they will bark loudly if they detect a threat. This breed needs to be in the company of people in order to be happy. If left alone for extended periods of time, they may become mischievous or distractible. Golden Retrievers also love to swim.Size
20 – 24 inchesWeight
55 – 80 poundsHealth
Like many other large dog breeds, the Golden Retriever is prone to hip dysplasia. Potential owners of this breed should ensure that the specimen’s parents are OFA and CERF certified. These dogs should also be checked for heart problems and Von Willebrand’s disease. Other health concerns for this breed include congenital eye defects and skin allergies. The Golden Retriever typically lives for 10 to 12 years.Origin
The Golden Retriever was initially developed in the British Isles. It’s likely that the breed is the result of crosses between a yellow, Flat-Coated Retriever, light-coated Tweed Water Spaniels, other varieties of spaniels, the Newfoundland, and possibly the Bloodhound. Not only is the Golden Retriever a highly coveted family companion, but it is a highly talented bird and hunting dog. They have a fine nose and have been used for tracking and narcotics detection. They also serve as guides for the blind, therapy dogs, and service dogs for the disabled.Maintenance
The medium-length, smooth, double coat of the Golden Retriever is easy to groom and care for. It should be combed and brushed with a firm bristle brush, and extra attention should be given to the dense undercoat. This breed should be dry shampooed on a regular basis, but they should only be bathed as necessary. The Golden Retriever is an average shedder.Ideal Environment
The Golden Retriever is content to live in a small household or apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are a moderately active breed indoors, and they are happiest with at least a medium- to large-sized yard. They should receive a good amount of daily physical activity.Ask a QuestionGolden Retriever Q&A
What do you suggest for itching/hot spots,probably allergies, although no testing has been done.
I suggest a special spray from the pet store or just try natural sprays. Blessings =)
My golden retriever use to itch a lot. So much she would make her skin raw. I tried medicated shampoo from the pet store. I bath her often in it. Shes fine now.
I recommend natural sprays and natural shampoos, also make sure you are gentle enough when grooming.
mine had those too. but we changed her dog food and within 2 weeks they were almost gone.
Itchy skin can be caused for a lot of different reasons, so the first step is to determine what is making the dog itchy. The treatment would vary depending on the cause:- Check for fleas and ticks. That is the first and easiest thing to do.- Make sure you are not bathing the dog too often. More than once a month is probably too often since that would dry out the dog's skin and make it itchy.- Does your dog like sitting in from of the fireplace or heating vents for long periods of time? That could be drying out its skin too.- Is your dog a "nervous digger"? I have known of dogs who scratch until they hurt themselves when they are nervous or anxious. You need to observe your dog's behavior really close.- If none of the above is the case, it could be a food allergy. I hope that is not the case, because trying to discover what is causing the allergy is a long and tiring process. You need to cut out all treats, human food, etc, and put the dog on a special diet that he has never had before, like duck and potato, or venison and oatmeal. Most vets sell that type of food, or you can fix it yourself. If that clears up the allergy, you start introducing one new item in the dogs food at a time and see if the allergies come back. It takes forever, since the allergies take about 2 to 3 weeks to clear up after a change of diet, and 2 to 3 to reappear after a new item has been introduced again. Hopefully you'll find what's causing your dog's problem and have a happy baby again. Good luck!
My golden retriever has been having scabs on his ears. Could you tell me what is wrong?
Probably an allergin to the enviroment. Try asking your veterinarian about it. It is either that or he just has an infection.
he might be having ticks. have a look. ticks can be dangerous for dogs and for humans as well.
If there are scabs in your dogs' ears, it can be caused from constant scratching. I'm surprised that you haven't already contacted your vet so they could run a culture test to find out the problem. Ear mites can be one cause of scratching.Take your dog to your vet and have them do a routine check of your dogs' ears. That's the first and proper step to help your dog's situation.
Most likely the dog is causing the scabs by scratching his ears constantly. If he scratches his ears more than normal, it could be due to many different reasons. One you can check for right away is the presence of fleas or ticks. If that's not the case, she could also have ear mites. A trip to the vet would be required. If the dog's ears are "smelly" too, it could be an ear infection. Dogs with floppy ears who love to play in the water or who don't get their ears properly dried after a bath can develop yeast infection on their ears. Infections are easy to treat with ear drops, but you do need to take the dog to the vet for a diagnosis and prescription. Whatever it is, don't waste time and take your dog to the vet ASAP. As it also happens with humans, illnesses are easier and less expensive to treat when they are caught earlier.
Posibly flies.My German Shepherd had flies biting his ears until my dad went to Petsmart and bought a can with a shepherd on the front cover. It's called "Flys-off".He applied it to my dog and it was like an insect repellent!They all stopped bitting.Mabye you should buy a can and see if your dog's ears heal.
im thinking of getting a golden retrever i have always wanted one but the only problem is i have to go to school from 9 till 3 and my dad is in work most of the day is there anything i can do to keep the dog company i have herd that they can develop anxiaty problems with being left alone please help!
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