When looking for a medium-sized dog that is well liked and friendly, the Golden Retriever is at the top of the list. From their amicable natures to their even temperaments and skills as watchdogs, Retrievers are popular dogs adored by their owners.
DESCRIPTION
Golden Retrievers are considered to be hearty, strong, and alert. They are known for their hunting prowess, obedience, and their kind, amicable natures Their desire to please is obvious. Being great companion dogs in general, Golden Retrievers are also used as service dogs for therapy, the disabled, or to guide the blind. Other uses for Golden Retrievers include tracking, searching, and guarding. In terms of size, The Dog Breed Info Center reports that Retrievers height can range from 20 to 24 inches. Their weights typically fall between 55 and 80 pounds.
HISTORY
According to the American Kennel Club, the Golden or Yellow Retriever first became noticed in Scotland and England around 1800 because of their capacity to hunt fowl over land and in the water. Using hunting dogs for sport and finding food led hunters to Retrievers because of their fine hunting abilities. Staff at Lord Tweedmouth’s estate in Inverness-Shire, Scotland documented the evolution of the Golden Retriever during the 1800s. Lord Tweedmouth sought to establish especially hardy traits of the Tweed Water Spaniel by breeding them with Retrievers. Specifically, Tweed Water Spaniels were considered great hunting dogs because of their retrieval skills, smarts, and fearlessness.
Upon successfully breeding and obtaining 4 golden pups, Lord Tweedmouth continued to refine the Retriever breed through subsequent pairings with other dogs, among them, Bloodhounds and Irish Setters. In 1908, Golden Retrievers appeared at dog shows,even though they were called “Golden Flat-Coats” at that time. Finally, in the 1920s, Golden Retrievers came to North America. In fact, it became quite a popular dog to have in the 30s and 40s. The Golden Retrievers of the 21st century are the result of Lord Tweedmouth’s careful breeding combinations.
CARE
As the Retriever has a double coat of sleek hair of medium length, they’re considered some of the easiest dogs to groom. They can be combed or brushed using a brush with firm bristles. Because of the double coat, it is important to brush firmly to ensure attention is paid to the thick undercoat. Their coat is waterproof and they’re considered “average shedders” by the Dog Breed Info Center. Retrievers
