Golden Retriever Rescue Florida
We know them best from a baked bean commercial on TV. This medium size, gentle, tolerant, people pleaser is almost smart enough to talk. Ranked third on most intelligence charts, they are easy to train, especially if you make learning a positive experience and lots of fun.
Originating in Scotland as a gun dog, the purpose of the Golden Retriever was to retrieve water and game fowl. As firearms became more effective, the demand for this wonderful dog increased.
Not surprisingly, Goldens are in the Sporting group. Their average weight is 60-80 pounds. Their average lifespan is 10-12 years.
There are three types of Golden Retrievers, American, British, and Canadian. The American Golden is normally taller and thinner than its British cousin. The British Golden is normally the shortest of the three, stockier, with a deeper chest, short stocky tail and rounder, blockier head. The Canadian Golden is more like its American cousin, with the exception of typically darker color and thinner inner coat.
For a while, due their popularity and over and sloppy breeding to meet the demand, the Golden had lost its reputation as a gentle, loving, devoted family pet. However, recently it has regained its reputation.
When you talk with Golden owners you will hear them lovingly describe their pets as gentle, kind, affectionate, patient, friendly, willing to please, calm, loves children, loves other dogs, loves cats, smart, fun, not a good guard dog, but a great watchdog, confident and trusting. Generally good with everyone in the family, Goldens rarely attach themselves to one person. They are equal opportunity lovers.
They are amazingly easy to train, as long as you keep the training positive and fun. When raised with cats and other small animals, the Golden sees them nothing more than another member of their pack. Getting your puppy into a positive reinforcement Puppy Kindergarten for obedience training and socialization is a wonderful way to help them blossom into the incredible well-mannered, well-adjusted adult dog, rather than one with behavior problems.
A happy Golden is one that has a job. Because of their intelligence, patience, calmness and endurance, they make remarkable guide, service, therapy, search and rescue, drug sniffing, cadaver, and hunting dogs.
They love and need exercise. Without it, they can become overweight quite quickly. A walk around the block is not enough for this athlete. Just try to keep a Golden out of water! They have plenty of energy and incredible stamina that can be a problem if they aren’t given opportunities to work or swim off the excess energy. Flyball, Frisbee, agility, rallies, swimming/retrieving and obedience competitions are activities they thrive on. Have a boat? Don’t be surprised when your Golden is the first member of the family on board. If they had opposing digits, simply to please you, they would willingly learn how to tie knots.
If you have a swimming pool, you may want to train them the only time they can jump in, is after receiving your permission!
Goldens have their fair share of health problems. They include: cardiac problems, elbow and hip dysplasia, eye diseases, joint problems such as patellar luxation, skin problems, including allergies to just about everything, and cancer.
Their beautiful coat runs from a pale cream, to a deep, rich, golden-red. They have a dense undercoat needed for insulation in cold water and a soft, long water-repellent outer coat. To prevent matting and remove hitchhikers and burrs, they do need regular brushing and grooming. Since they love water so much, bathing them is easy…just point to the tub!
The Golden Retriever has a long history of being a fantastic family pet. Most would like nothing more, than to find a loving pack to join.
Bottom line: Do your homework. Because they are so popular, avoid flea markets, backyard breeders and pet shops. They only perpetuate dreadful puppy mills that are grinding out inferior quality dogs. Find a responsible, trustworthy breeder. Shelters and rescues often have Goldens. They are more often surrendered because of economic circumstances than behavior problems. Who knows, perhaps your new best friend may be anxiously waiting for you there.
Karen A. Soukiasian, GOOD DOG! – DOG TRAINING and BED-n-BISCUITS dog boarding and training – Owner/Trainer, St. Augustine, Florida – AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN and S.T.A.R. PUPPY Evaluator
http://www.freewebs.com/gooddogsite
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Abigail Golden Retriever Rescue