Golden Retrievers - the breed
The Physical Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a beautiful, sturdy, well-proportioned dog with a feathered, medium-length, cream to golden-coloured coat. The outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is dense. The head is broad, with a tapering, but wide, powerful muzzle. It has a scissors bite and a clear frontal stop. The nose is black and the kindly eyes are brown with dark rims. The ears are medium-sized and pendant. Its neck and thighs are muscular and the chest is broad. The tail is long, but never curled.
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The Social Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent dogs with a great charm. They are easily trained, and always patient and gentle with children. GRs are loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding family dog. GRs enjoy pleasing their masters, so obedience training can be fun. They excel in obedience competitions. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. While unlikely to attack, GRs make good watchdogs, loudly signalling a stranger's approach. This breed needs to be around people who display leadership to be happy. The Golden Retriever may become mischievous and high-strung, over-exuberant and distractable if he is lacking in daily exercise.
The Origins of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever was first developed in the British Isles, probably from crosses between a yellow Flat-Coated Retriever, light-coated Tweed Water Spaniels, other spaniels, setters and even the Newfoundland and possibly the Bloodhound. In fact the breed was first shown as a Golden Flat-Coat. The Golden is one of the world's foremost family companion dogs. Many of the top obedience competition dogs in the country are Golden retrievers. The Golden is also a fine bird dog on both land and in the water. He has an excellent nose and has been used not only for hunting and tracking, but also for narcotics detection. Because of his great desire to please and capacity for love and learning, the Golden Retriever is also used as a guide for the blind, therapy dog, and service dog for the disabled.
