Golden Retrievers, Related Articles

Before beginning your search for a puppy, we urge you to take the time to learn about the breed - attend dog shows, obedience trials, field trials; talk with Golden owners and visit or talk with several breeders. Decide what you are looking for - a good family pet, obedience worker, hunting dog, beautiful conformation dog, or a combination of all of these. Do not buy on impulse - all puppies are cute. Reputable breeders do not always have puppies available and you may have to wait for one. You will have an easier time locating a puppy from a "backyard breeder" or a "puppymill". Beware! These people know little and care less about the breed. They may sell their puppies at a more reasonable cost but, in many cases, they charge the same as the careful, knowledgeable breeder.

THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER in CANADA (excerpted from http://www.grcc.net/PuppyInformation.htm)

The Golden Retriever is a powerfully active dog, of medium build. He has a kindly expression and an eager, alert and self-confident personality. Mature males weigh 65 to 75 lbs. and females 55 to 65 lbs. The coat is a "double coat" - a thick, weather-proof topcoat and dense, soft undercoat. There are featherings of longer hair on the back of the forelegs, on the neck, chest and tail. The adult coat colour may range from light to dark golden.

Golden Retrievers have extremely active tails that can clear a coffee table with one sweep. They need room in the house and a fenced yard is a MUST. As the breed was developed as a sporting dog, the Golden needs daily exercise. The Golden SHEDS a minimum of twice a year. If you are a fastidious housekeeper, do not get a Golden! Goldens require consistent discipline - they tend to be sensitive in many training situations and therefore must be handled carefully with a firm but GENTLE hand. The Golden Retriever is NOT a guard dog. He is a "people dog" and, for this reason, should NEVER be kenneled alone outdoors. All animals are predisposed to some problems and the Golden Retriever is no exception. The following are some of the more common hereditary problems encountered in Goldens.

Hip Dysplasia

The term hip dysplasia means abnormal development or growth of the hip joint. The hip is a ball and socket joint. Normal function depends on a good fit of the ball within the socket. In hip dysplasia, the fit of the joint is loose, thus the harmony of joint movement is disturbed. Hip dysplasia is not present at birth but develops as the dog matures.

Hip dysplasia is an inherited trait with a polygenic (many genes) mode of inheritance. The degree of hereditability is moderate and the formation of the hip joints can also be modified by environmental factors such as over-nutrition, vigorous exercise, and certain traumas during the rapid growth phase. Hip joint conformation can range from good to bad with many degrees in between. Symptoms of hip dysplasia vary widely from none to severely crippling hip disease. Hip dysplasia should not always be regarded as a tragedy as many dogs can and do live with it with relatively little or no evident discomfort. An x-ray does not always show how your dog feels - many dysplastic Goldens are completely unaware that they have a problem.

Eye Disease

Cataracts are a common problem in Golden Retrievers. There are several types of cataract, some of which do not interfere with the dog's vision. An examination by a Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist is required to determine if the cataract is or is not hereditary. Other inherited eye defects such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and retinal dysplasia are in a few families of Goldens. All breeding stock should be examined annually by a Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.