Frequently
Asked Questions
&
History of Golden Retrievers
How long
is the life span of a Golden Retriever?
The typical life span of a Golden is 12-15 years
What is the
difference between males and females?
Other than the obvious, the difference between the male and female
Golden Retriever is predominately size. Females are normally between
50-60 lbs and males are 65-80 lbs. Of course this can vary because
of genetics.
Is it true
that females are calmer and more affectionate?
Absolutely not! Males in most cases are much more affectionate than
females. Males are big loving teddy bears. Female Goldens are generally
more independent than males.
Do all males
mark territory and lift their legs?
No, if they are neutered early enough, 6 months to 1 1/2 years,
they do not become territorial markers or leg lifters. They will
squat like a female.
Why should
I spay my dog?
There are many reasons you should spay your dog.
If you have your female spayed before her first heat cycle you are
protecting her against mammary tumors, uterine cancer, and ovarian
cancer. Spayed pets will not have heat cycles that soil your rugs.
Sterilized pets behave better.
Why should
I neuter my dog?
Neutered pets can’t develop testicular tumors and have a lower
incidence of prostate cancer. If you neuter your dog early you will
have less chances of medical problems, territorial aggression, leg
lifting, roaming, behavioral problems, mounting & possessive
aggression.
The biggest
reason for spaying or neutering your pet is pet responsibility.
Males who escape their yards can sire litters without their owner’s
knowledge. Millions of unwanted pets are euthanized everyday. The
primary cause of this is people who fail to spay or neuter their
pets, and who abandon or give up pets because of lack of commitment
to training a pet.
Do Golden
Retrievers shed?
Yes they do! Goldens shed most all year round and there are least
two times a year that it is a lot. You can expect dog hair everywhere
if you own a Golden Retriever. They need to be brushed daily and
regular use of an undercoat rake will significantly improve the
shedding. Daily brushing also keeps them from matting. If you do
not like dog hair in your house a Golden is probably not the dog
for you.
Do Goldens
need exercise?
Yes, letting your dog out for potty breaks only is not considered
enough exercise. They are a sporting breed and as such need plenty
of exercise. Throwing tennis balls, swimming and romping with other
dogs is great exercise. You do need to be careful exercising your
Golden under the age of 18 months old. They need exercise but it
must not be forced. You should refrain from jogging with them until
they are fully grown because you can damage their joints.
Are Golden
Retrievers good with children?
Most Goldens are wonderful with children; however, when they are
young and full of energy they can easily knock small children down
from excitement. It is important not to leave small children alone
with a dog unattended because of children that might pull on their
tail or poke them in the eye.
When do Goldens
grow up?
Golden Retrievers are usually physically mature by 2 years of age.
Mentally, it depends on the dog but usually not before 3 years of
age.
Why does
my Golden Retriever not retrieve?
Some dogs are born with more drive than others, a puppy that is
not properly socialized generally will not retrieve. Some pups have
no play drive which allows them to learn to retrieve on their own.
It generally has to be encouraged by either the pups siblings (as
in "take away games") or by the owners engaging the dog
in play and praising the dog for the retrieving behavior. Shaping
the behavior by using praise when the pup goes after the thrown
object , more praise when he touches the object or picks it up,
more when he takes even one step towards you with the object, etc.
Are Goldens
good guard dogs?
No, most Golden Retrievers will bark at strangers but most of the
time they will greet the stranger at the door with their tail wagging
and a toy in their mouth ready to play. They will most likely show
them where all the silverware in the house is .
Why does
my dog scoot on the floor or chew on his rear end at the base of
his tail?
There could be two reasons for this. They could have tapeworms or
their anal sacs need to be emptied. The first thing to check is
their stool. Tapeworms look like little pieces of white rice and
are visible. If they have tapeworms you will need to see your vet
for treatment. If you do not see tapeworms then you may need to
take your dog to the vet to see if his or hers anal sacs need to
be emptied.
Do Golden
Retrievers bark a lot?
Not typically, but they can if they are bored.
Why does
my Golden itch?
That is a tough question. Some of them have allergies so this could
be the cause. It could be inhalant, contact or food allergy. Many
Golden Retrievers have very sensitive skin so it is important that
you use medicated shampoo on them if they do. This can relieve a
lot of the itching. Many of them have flea allergies and one flea
alone can caused them to excessively itch.
What is a
hot spot?
They look like open, oozing sores that start out real small, could
be the size of a quarter and if not treated quickly the size of
it will escalate really fast and get out of control. Golden Retrievers
can get hot spots very easily. Hot spots are often caused by allergies.
The most common would be by fleas. If you do not get all the shampoo
out of your dog this can cause a hot spot too. Most hot spots need
to be shaved so that they will get well. Shaving the area promotes
air circulation. It is best to see the
vet before they get out of control.
My Golden
Retriever has constant ear infections. How can I avoid this?
Most Goldens need their ears cleaned weekly with an ear cleansing
solution. Goldens have floppy ears so they do not breathe as easy
so they get yeast and bacterial infections constantly if they are
not kept clean. Their ears need to be as clean and free of debris
as your ears.
Why should
my Golden eat a premium dog food?
Premium dog food produces healthier coat & skin. It also produces
smaller stools.
Why should
Goldens be inside dogs?
Golden Retrievers are family dogs. They live for their family so
they are poorly suited to live in a backyard all day. When they
are bored and stressed they develop behavior problems, such as digging,
barking, and become destructive.
Does my Golden
Retriever need obedience classes?
Every dog and their owner should attend obedience classes. Goldens
are large dogs and because they get over excited when they greet
guest they need to know their basic commands such as heel, sit,
stay, and come. Obedience classes are a great bonding experience
for you and your Golden Retrieve
History of Golden Retrievers
Golden
Retrievers originated in the 1860's in Great Britain from foundation
stock developed at the Scottish country estate of Lord Tweedsmouth.
To begin the breed, Lord Tweedsmouth mated a yellow wavy-coated
retriever-the only yellow in a litter of blacks-to a Tweed Water
Spaniel (a breed now extinct). The resulting litter produced four
bitches who, with a limited number of outcrosses, produced the foundation
stock from which all of today's Golden Retrievers descend. Goldens
were first brought to North America in the late 1890's and were
first registered by the American Kennel Association (AKC) in 1925.
As
you may know, Golden Retrievers were originally bred to assist in
retrieving both upland game and waterfowl. Their basic hunting instincts
remain today in varying degrees. The Golden is equally at home as
a beloved companion, a gun dog, a guide dog for the blind, an assistant
for the handicapped, an obedience competitor and/or a show dog.
Goldens are noted for their gentle, loving dispositions and are
an excellent breed for families with children. The Golden's desire
to please humans is legendary - making him a top obedience competitor
and a first-rate companion dog.
While
Goldens can adapt to virtually any living situation, they need considerable
daily exercise to maintain physical and mental fitness. Your Golden
should never be allowed to run free. Time spent in the companionship
of people indoors can and should be complemented with time spent
on daily walks or playing in a secure fenced area. Without the companionship
of people and adequate exercise, your Golden may display behavior
atypical of the well-cared-for pet and family member.
Regular
veterinary care, yearly vaccinations and proper feeding are vital
to maintaining your dog's good health. With proper nutrition, routine
veterinary care, and regular exercise and grooming, your Golden
Retriever should live from ten to thirteen years.
Basic
obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership.
It will make your dog a better companion and will help establish
a stronger bond between the two of you. Your Golden wants nothing
more from life than to please you. Therefore, it is your responsibility
to train this faithful companion to do as you wish. Classes - ranging
from "puppy kindergarten" to advanced obedience training
and competition - are available in most areas, often as a service
of a local kennel club.
Golden
Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds in the country, with
nearly 70,000 registered with the AKC each year. In fact, there
are more Goldens alive today than were registered with the AKC from
1925 to 1980. Unfortunately, many of these dogs lack the qualities
that make the Golden Retriever such a desirable breed. It is for
this reason that only the best Goldens should be carefully bred.
As
with all purebred dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club, there
is an approved Breed Standard for Golden Retrievers. This standard
of perfection is a written description of how the ideal Golden Retriever
should look, how it should move and how it should behave. All responsible
breeders strive to produce dogs that conform to this Breed Standard.
