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Golden Retriever Facts Life Expectancy: 13 years Size: 20-24in Noise: Talkative Common Health Problems: Eye problems, hip dysplasia Breed Recognized By: AKC, CKC, FCI, KC Alternate Names: Golden Friendliness | Outstanding, friendly to everyone | Grooming | High maintenance | Energy | Medium to high | Trainability | Highly trainable and eager to please | The Golden Retriever was most likely first bred in Scotland to retrieve game for hunters. Over the years, the Golden Retriever’s legendary good nature and handsome looks have made it one of the most popular breeds the world over. The Golden Retriever is still used as a working and service dog as well as a popular family pet. Golden Retrievers are renowned for their even tempers and friendly natures. Most Golden Retrievers can easy adapt to life with rowdy children, other dogs, and small animals. Golden Retrievers are intelligent and easy to train and will even respond to the commands of children. Golden Retrievers are very pack oriented and need to be with their people for most of each day. Golden Retrievers are not a good choice for homes that are empty for hours at a time. Able to remain calm in almost any situation, Golden Retrievers make excellent therapy dogs. Golden Retrievers have long, beautiful coats that require a great deal of attention. The Golden Retriever’s dense, water-resistant undercoat can easily become matted and must be brushed daily. A Golden Retriever’s long, feathered tail is a magnet for burrs and dirt and should be trimmed short if the dog will spend a lot of time in the field. Occasional clipping of hair around the ears, toes, and under the tail will keep a Golden Retriever neat and clean. Because the Golden Retriever has an undemanding attitude, it’s easy to overlook daily play, but exercise is vital to a Golden Retriever’s health and happiness. While gentle and obedient, the Golden Retriever can become destructive (but never vicious) if denied regular exercise. Adaptive and easy to please, a Golden Retriever will be happy with any type of exercise you offer whether it be chasing a ball in the yard, joining you for a run, or just roughhousing with the kids. The Golden Retriever’s intelligence and willingness to please, it is an easy dog to train. Training a Golden Retriever can be a family affair because this patient dog will tolerate and obey the instructions of children. The only thing training can’t seem to tame in the Golden is its retrieving instinct, and dogs will often bring their owners unexpected gifts—like the next door neighbor’s lawn ornament. The ease with which the Golden Retriever can be trained has led to common use of the dog as a guide dog.
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