Monday, August 11, 2008

What You Need To Know About Your Golden Retriever Puppy

There is no doubt that Golden Retriever puppies are cute, but those fuzzy little faces are just the beginning. Golden Retrievers tend to remain puppies for the first few years of life, with plenty of energy and a need to be with you as much as possible. Training and attention are the two biggest requirements for Golden Retriever puppies, as well as enough food to satisfy their voracious appetites and plenty of chew toys to keep them entertained. With the proper preparation and care, you can have a dog that is well behaved, healthy and happy.

The first step in caring for Golden Retriever puppies is selecting the right breeder and then choosing the best dog from that breeder We have tips to help you do that, and give you the supplies and information that you will need to collect before you ever bring that puppy home. If you are well prepared to receive your new pet into your home, you will be much more successful in the housebreaking and training of your dog. A Golden Retriever that is properly trained and cared for is a delight to his family and the visitors that come to his home.
Before you head to the first breeder that you find on the Internet to examine his latest litter of Golden Retriever puppies, find out if this is the breeder that you want to work with. A responsible breeder is much more likely to breed healthy, good-tempered animals. Ask the breeder if he has documentation to show that he is actively breeding out hereditary disorders, and get the veterinarian records for the particular litter that you are considering. A good breeder will have questions for you also, since responsible breeders will want to make sure that their dogs go to the best homes possible.

After selecting a breeder, stock up on puppy supplies before bringing your new dog home, such as feeding dishes, a collar and leash and a crate for sleeping and housebreaking. Do your homework ahead of time, so that you know how you will begin the housebreaking process from the first day your pup comes home. It is also important to establish the rules of the house from the first day, so there is never any confusion about whether your new pup is allowed to sit on the couch or sleep in your bed.
Golden Retriever puppies are a great addition to many homes, as long as the potential owners do their homework to ensure they end up with pups that are good tempered, healthy and well socialized. Once you have chosen a reputable breeder, it is a good idea to stock up on necessary supplies so that care and training of your new Golden Retriever pup can begin from the first day that you bring him home. Most owners of these dogs will begin with housebreaking, and then move into obedience training as the dog and owner develop a relationship with one another.

When you prepare well and select your pup with care, a Golden Retriever can be the perfect choice in pets for many families today. A friendly dog that is always ready to play and never wants to be far from his family, the Golden Retriever has a well deserved reputation as one of the most popular breeds today. If you decide to add a Golden to your family, you will have a dog that will bring years of enjoyment and companionship to everyone in your family.

While Golden Retriever puppies are cute and irresistible, acquiring one should never be done without plenty of preparation in terms of supplies and education. Before you bring your dog home from the breeder, it is important to learn all you can about Golden Retriever puppy care through articles like this, a reputable breeder and your veterinarian.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Choosing Golden Retriever Puppies

Before you get Golden Retriever puppies it is important to consider whether or not they are the right breed of dog for you. The Golden Retriever is right for you if you want a large and athletic dog, a dog that has a nature to be cheerful with their tail-wagging most of the time or a dog that requires vigorous exercise and various athletic activities. If you want a dog that is dependable with nearly everyone and has a steady temperament, a dog that will get along well with other animals or you want a dog that will be responsive to training and is eager to please you the Golden Retriever is your kind of dog. While these are the things that may attract certain people to the breed they can also be things that will turn people away from the breed. There are also several other factors you need to consider before deciding whether or not Golden Retriever puppies are right for you and your household.
Until Golden Retriever puppies turn about three years old they will be very vigorous. This means you will have a puppy that will romp and jump a lot, resulting in flying objects and people a lot of the time. Therefore, Golden Retriever puppies may not be best for households with small children, the elderly or the infirmed. However, you can still get an older Golden Retriever rather than a puppy if you still like the idea of getting a Golden Retriever even if you have people like this in your household. It is too much of a temptation for the puppy to rough play.

The Golden Retriever puppy will experience joint and bone problems and eye diseases as it ages so another factor you want to consider is health problems. The Golden Retriever is one of the riskiest breeds when it comes to health problems because of over breeding and poor breeding practices. Grooming is yet another area to consider since their feathered coat will require you to do regular brushing and combing along with the occasional trim.
Another issue you want to consider is separation anxiety. Golden Retriever puppies experience this more than other breeds which means they require a lot of companionship and should only be left alone for a few hours at a time. Their unhappiness at being left alone for longer periods of time will be expressed through various destructive behaviors such as barking and chewing. Therefore, Golden Retriever puppies may not be right for you if you can't be home during the day.

The shedding and odor factor may also be something you want to consider. The Golden Retriever sheds more than any other breed, even when you pet them the fur will come off on your hands. After coming off, their fur sticks like glue to clothing, upholstery and carpeting. So be prepared to do a lot of vacuuming. The breed also has the permanent dog odor that many don't like, even with constant bathing it can be difficult to complete get rid of this smell.

Carefully consider if Golden Retriever puppies are right for you or your household. Next you can focus on how to choose the right Golden Retriever puppy if you know they will be the right breed for you and your household.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Energetic Puppies: Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever puppies are very adorable, but even their cute behavior, like jumping onto laps and barking at anything different will get old as they grow up. They don’t stay small for long. A pup that is twelve pounds at a couple of months will be thirty-five pounds by four months and easily sixty-five pounds by a year of age. It is best to teach them good habits right from the beginning, as bad habits are much harder to get rid of than to teach good habits from the start.

The best time to determine boundaries with your puppy is before you even bring it into your house. Will you have any rooms be off limits to the Golden Retriever puppy? Is it allowed to jump into laps or climb on the furniture? It is important to identify early on which things you will allow and disallow, and then be consistent with your puppy so that he isn’t confused.
Golden Retriever puppies sometimes will bark or growl as they play. While it may seem cute to begin with, it is best to curtail this behavior from the beginning. Be sure to not growl or bark at your Golden Retriever puppy when you are playing with it, as that encourages the behavior. Also, remember that some Golden Retrievers will look like they are smiling or talking with growly sounds when they are happy or excited. This isn’t dangerous, but can be frustrating to people who don’t understand the behavior.

You also want to be sure that your Golden Retriever Puppy learns that it is ok for you to touch its food bowl and toys, and that it shouldn’t growl at you when you do.

Also, since Golden Retriever puppies are still babies, they are getting in their adult teeth – mouthing and chewing feels good to their gums. It is fine for them to chew on toys. But when they nip your fingers, it is wise to use a firm voice and remove your hand. It is helpful to keep an eye on your pup when he is out of his crate, as they sometimes chew because they are curious.
Golden Retriever puppies need to be obedience trained in order to be pleasant to be around as they grow. They need to learn to not nip and chew, to not growl at people when they play with them, and to not growl or intimidate when a person touches their food bowl or their toys.

Obedience classes can facilitate the training, and even teach the owners how to continue to work with their dog. It is best if the training is held in an established training facility, where classes are smaller and distractions are few. Using positive reinforcement is the best way to instill good behavior in your dog, for example, using praise and food. Negative behavior, on the part of the owner, is much less effective. These methods would include yelling, intimidating and getting mad at your dog. Your dog wants to please you and is happiest when you are happy with him.

If you train your Golden Retriever puppies to not nip and chew, and to not growl or intimidate when playing, and to allow people to touch food bowl and toys, you will enjoy them much more. If you want to come up with a great Golden Retriever puppy names it is helpful to know about typical Golden Retriever puppy behavior.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Golden Retriever: Consider The Price

It is common knowledge that Golden Retriever puppies are lovable and beautiful and they are also obedient and thus make a great addition to any home, and they are also useful hunting companions as well. You will find it difficult to not be bowled over by Golden Retrievers as they can help guide you in traffic or help the police detect narcotics and even help in tracking someone that is missing. Thus, Golden Retrievers are versatile and they will never cease to amaze you with their abilities.

However, rather than rush into looking for Golden Retriever puppies for sale, you would be much better off in learning all that there is to know about this breed and be patient in how you go about obtaining a puppy for your home. It would be better if you first of all tried visiting dog shows or talked to those who own the breed and also checked with a local kennel club to help you find suitable Golden Retriever puppies and to also learn to distinguish between those puppies that are worth paying for and those that you can safely pass up.
There are no doubts the fact that the Golden Retriever puppies are most amazing creatures that will prove to be welcome additions to every home and owning them will give you a certain sense of pride that you would want others to appreciate. Nevertheless, it is advisable for you to, before you check out various sources offering Golden Retriever puppies for sale, avoid the local puppy mills and even tread cautiously when dealing with backyard breeders.

Backyard breeders may be the lesser of two evils and will prove a worthwhile option if you are truly constrained for choice in sourcing decent Golden Retriever puppies. Such breeders will no doubt, take good care of their Golden Retrievers and they may even breed for reasons other than making money and so can be trusted to a certain extent. In any case, these breeders will do everything to ensure that their Golden Retriever puppies for sale conform to basic breed standards and thus you could pick up cute Golden Retriever puppies from such a source.
After taking everything into consideration with regard to choosing Golden Retriever puppies for sale, you may want to check out those breeders that enjoy a good reputation and the Golden Retriever Club of America is a good source for learning about various reputable breeders as too are neighborhood member clubs. Even if a particular breeder does not have suitable Golden Retriever puppies, he or she could point you in the right direction and thus help you find what you are looking for.

However, the goal is to find Golden Retriever puppies that are in good health and who are free from health problems and who will show definite signs of being able to grow into sociable and well behaved adult Golden Retrievers. Exercising patience when on the hunt for Golden Retriever puppies for sale will help you and if you combine your knowledge about the breed with judicious decisions, you should be able to save yourself the heartache of picking up puppies with more faults than qualifications, and also not end up wasting money paying for puppies that are of poor quality.

To ensure that the Golden Retriever puppies for sale that you are considering buying are of good quality, you need to look for a breeder whom you feel you can trust and you may also need to compare different breeders since all litters won’t have been created equally. This article provides you with tips on finding puppies for sale and also about the necessary Golden Retriever puppy supplies to take care of your new acquisitions.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Golden Retriever 101: Finding Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale

So, you want a Golden Retriever puppy, do you? If you've taken the time to do research on Golden Retriever information and think they can fit well into your life, than you can continue looking for Golden Retriever puppies for sale. If you have no idea of what you are getting yourself in for, stop and go check out the requirements for these big energetic dogs. There's no point in getting a Golden Retriever if you can't be sure you can commit to his or her proper care.

The best places to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is from licensed breeders or from Golden Retriever breed rescues. Technically, a breed rescue will not have Golden Retriever puppies for sale, but they will have adoption fees of a few hundred dollars. The adoption fee is to discourage those who would use the dogs for nefarious purposes. Breed rescues rarely have young puppies and usually have males.
The worst place you can go to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is your local pet store. If you can help it, never even buy any Golden Retriever puppy supplies from any store unethical enough to sell puppies. All Golden Retriever puppies for sale at pet stores are from inhumane puppy mills – all of them. These puppy mills not only treat the adult breeding dogs very cruelly – often never taking them to see a vet in their short, miserable lives – but the puppies produced are usually sickly, mentally challenged troublemakers instead of good pets.

A good Golden Retriever breeder would never sell their puppies to a pet store because they would not be able to control what puppies would go to what home. A pet store never stops to check your references or cares if you've ever owned a dog before. They just want your money. They are usually not a very good source of Golden Retriever information when you inevitably have problems with your new puppy.
The best place you can go to find Golden Retriever puppies for sale is from an AKC licensed breeder. You can find them on the web, by going to dog shows, through classifieds in dog magazines or from personal recommendations by people you know with well-behaved Golden Retrievers. When looking online, ignore any site that has puppies 365 days of the year. That's a puppy mill (or puppy broker) in disguise as a breeder.

A Golden Retriever breeder knows the personalities of all of his or her puppies and knows how to best match a puppy to your home, lifestyle and level of Golden Retriever experience. Fortunately, there are far more breeders who love dogs and treat them well then there are evil breeders. Go to see the parents of your prospective puppy to see what kind of dogs they are – and what conditions they live in. Never buy a puppy you have never met.

Golden Retriever puppies are much sought after in both America to in Europe. Proper Golden Retriever puppy care will ensure a long healthy life for your pet..

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Spun Gold: Finding Golden Retriever Breeders

Golden Retrievers originated in the British Isles. A Scottish lord, Baron Tweedmouth, was the first Golden Retriever breeder. The Baron desired to breed a yellow-coated water spaniel that had tracking and retrieving skills as well as the charm of a family pet. Using various dog breeds including the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, the Newfoundland, the Irish Setter and the Bloodhound, Baron Tweedmouth bred an eventual litter of four Golden Retrievers. These four puppies were the ancestors of modern Golden Retrievers.

The British registered the breed as the Flat-Coated Retriever in 1913. The breed was renamed the Golden Retriever in 1920. The United States registered the breed in the sporting group in 1925 and Canada followed in 1927. The American Kennel Club sets the standard breed characteristics for all dog breeds that engage in AKC competition. A champion Golden Retriever breeder will select and breed dogs with the most desirable genetic traits and pedigreed bloodlines.
A Golden Retriever breeder will attempt to breed dogs with the best breed specific traits. A cream to light gold colored coat is preferred. Intelligence, trainability, an even temper, tracking and hunting skills, and overall health and beauty are the standard for this breed. Because the breed is prone to health problems like hip dysplasia, eye disease, cancer and obesity, breeders must have all dogs medically screened. Breeders do not mate dogs found to have medical or behavioral conditions. A Golden Retriever breeder will be able to educate potential buyers on the pros and cons of the breed to make sure buyers and Golden Retrievers match. They may also urge buyers to look into rescued Golden Retrievers. These are purebred Golden Retrievers that have been abandoned or neglected. They can be bought for a much lower price and often need loving homes even more than purebred puppies.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the Golden attracts unethical breeders who wish to make a profit with no regard for animal health and well-being. These backyard breeders sell unhealthy and uncertified Golden Retriever puppies to pet stores and/or unsuspecting buyers.
It is never acceptable to buy a Golden Retriever from a pet store. Pet store puppies have been shipped (and often sedated) across the country and put up on shelves like other store merchandise. These puppies have spent their entire lives in cages, receiving little to no socialization and there is no guarantee where they have come from. A Golden Retriever breeder that brokers or sells to pet stores should be avoided and reported. These puppies have most likely come from puppy mills or puppy auctions and may have significant health and behavioral problems.

Good breeders want to see puppies go to loving, permanent homes. They want to interview buyers and have buyers interview them. Breeders who sell to pet stores don't know what type of home their puppies will go to and never meet buyers or see their puppies again. The only good places to buy Golden Retrievers are from respected breeders with references and their own kennels or from rescue centers, which are often run by knowledgeable breeders.

Reputable Golden Retriever breeders would never sell puppies to a pet store. This article provides Golden Retriever information about how to recognize a bad breeder.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Golden Retriever Information And Ancestry

The history of the Golden Retriever dog breed is brief. A Scottish Lord living on the Tweed River developed the breed in 19th century Scotland. Lord Tweedmouth wished to breed a yellow water spaniel. He mated the Tweed Water Spaniel, Irish Setter and several other dog breeds to create a breed similar to the Golden Retriever of today. Perhaps due to their Irish Setter ancestry, many of the first Golden Retriever had much darker gold to copper-colored coats than those seen today. Golden Retriever Breeders prefer dogs with cream to light gold coats. Though the American Kennel Club, which sets the desired breed characteristics, does not prohibit darker coats, copper or rust colored coats are not allowed.

Classified as a breed in England in 1913, America in 1925 and Canada in 1927, the Golden Retriever has consistently been in the top ten most popular dog breeds. It cannot be overstated that the Golden Retriever has excellent traits for both sporting and family living. The breed is mild-mannered, extremely intelligent, loyal, eager to please, easily trainable, and beautiful. All of these traits make the Golden Retriever a beloved pet and a champion competitor.
Golden Retriever breeders mate dogs with the best breed specific traits. Currently, a cream to light gold colored coat is preferred. Golden Retrievers are also bred for intelligence, trainability, even temper, tracking and hunting skill, as well as overall health and beauty. The breed is prone to health problems such as hip dysplasia, which can be a problem in most medium to large-sized dog breeds. Eye diseases such as cataracts and retinal atrophy are common. Some lines of Golden Retrievers have so many health problems that it may be difficult to find a purebred Golden Retriever that lives the average ten to thirteen years.

The breed is prone to obesity if not exercised daily. A reputable Golden Retriever breeder will educate potential buyers on the health problems they may face as well as how to properly care for Golden Retrievers. Unfortunately, due to the beauty and popularity of this breed there are many illicit, or backyard breeders who sell unhealthy Golden Retriever puppies to unsuspecting buyers.
Golden Retriever breeders you should avoid have the opposite characteristics from the traits listed below. All of the following are signs of reputable Golden Retriever breeders:
-Breeders maintain their own kennels and allow buyers to visit
-Puppies have been socialized and are allowed in the breeder's home.
-Puppies and parents have been screened for common genetic defects.
-Breeders provide documentation of ancestry, pedigree, etc.
-Medical records and immunizations are available upon request.
-Breeders will inform buyers of any known physical or behavioral problems in a line.
-Breeders do NOT sell to pet stores.
-Breeders provide warranties and may accept returns.
-Breeders either run or are affiliated with Golden Retriever rescue centers.
-Breeders answer all of buyers' questions thoroughly and are knowledgeable on the breed.
-Breeders interview buyers to make sure buyers and puppies are a good match.
-Breeders educate buyers on how to train, groom, and care for puppies.
-Breeders have references available upon request.

Look for breeders with these traits and avoid those that cannot meet these requirements or even cannot answers questions about the Golden Retriever.

Golden Retriever breeders can provide the information and history of Golden Retrievers to potential buyers. This article provides Golden Retriever information about breeders.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Finding Golden Retriever Breeders

A reputable Golden Retriever breeder will be listed in a national registry. The Internet is also a place where you can search to see if your Golden Retriever breeder has ever had a complaint filed against them. When it comes to choosing a reputable Golden Retriever breeder your vet can also be a good source of advice. Local law enforcement is another often overlooked source of information when checking out a potential Golden Retriever breeder.

By far the Internet is the best source for finding breeder registries. Choosing a Golden Retriever breeder that is a member of a registry means you are getting someone who adheres to specific breeding stands that their registry outlines. Be suspicious of any breeder not listed with a registry and ask about what standards they use. If your breeder has a website then it should have a detailed breed history and specific breeding information for the company. Always ask for references and make sure you contact at least a few of the people before buying from the breeder.
It likely you took a long time to decide that a Golden Retriever puppy was right for your household. After this difficult decision has been made it is just as important that you do research on the Golden Retriever breeder you are considering and to set up a quality relationship with your Golden Retriever breeder. By accidentally choosing a fake breeder you will not only have a long relationship with them but your dog's life also depends on the breeder that you choose. So carefully consider the Golden Retriever breeder you are thinking of buying from and make sure they are a quality breeder before you get your next family pet from them. In order to do this you need to talk with the prospective breeder and listen to the information they give. They may not be a quality breeder if they can't offer helpful information. It is also likely that they are a fake Golden Retriever breeder if they seem like they don't know what they are talking about.
You should also get your vet's opinion about the Golden Retriever breeder before you make the final decision to purchase your puppy. This is also a good time to get to know your vet personally and learn what their opinion is, this is especially important if this is your first family pet. If you vet tells you that your Golden Retriever breeder isn't the best then you should take their advice and start looking for another breeder to get your new family pet from. Getting a new puppy is a sensitive issue and it can be difficult to ask tough questions of your breeder.

Therefore, you should also consider talking with local law enforcement to see if there are any law violations against your breeder which can help you determine what they are like. It is likely a good idea to go with another Golden Retriever breeder if you find they have any violations whatsoever against them.

You shouldn't take the task of choosing Golden Retriever breeders lightly. When choosing a breeder knowing Golden Retriever information can help.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Questions For A Golden Retriever Breeder

Don’t assume that all Golden Retriever breeders are alike! They definitely are not. That's like saying that all car salesmen are alike. You have to meet and ask questions of the car salesman before you can decide whether you are getting a good deal or not. You will be overwhelmed by all of the dogs and Golden Retriever information the breeder is ready to give. Write down the questions you need to ask your breeder before you start shopping.

Puppy mills are a sad fact of modern life. Although there are many working to eradicate this unnecessarily cruel practice, there are still many puppy mills in existence in North America. You need to visit your breeder before you make any final commitments to be sure they treat their dogs humanely and get them proper vet care. At puppy mills, the dogs usually never see a vet in their short, miserable lives. Flee from any breeder who keeps their dogs in stacked crates or in their own waste.
Here are some of the main questions you want to ask any Golden Retriever breeder you are thinking of buying a puppy from. Ask them why they breed Golden Retrievers. What are the qualities they like in a dog? They should talk more about breeding sensible and healthy dogs rather than just show winning dogs. Do they use their dogs for hunting or obedience work, or just for shows?

Ask them about health certificates and hip dysplasia test scores on both the mother and the father. It is thought that hip dysplasia is a genetic problem. You also need to be sure what the breeder is responsible for in terms of the puppy's health and what you are responsible for. You need to ask if you can call for advice at no extra charge if you have training problems with your puppy. And ask for references and check them out.
You also want to ask for a written contract, which spells out what the breeder is responsible for. A good Golden Retriever breeder will already have such a contract for you! A good breeder will also be able to not only show you the puppy's mother, but also her health certificates. You need to be sure the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and eye conditions that can be passed genetically.

Then ask yourself why you are going through all of this. If you want show dogs, breeding dogs or hunting dogs, then stick with the Golden Retriever breeder you can best get along with and is as proud of his or her dogs like they would be their children. If you want a pet, then please do not go to a breeder. Instead, go to a Golden Retriever breed rescue group and adopt an adult or older puppy. You'll save a life and get a financial break that way.

Golden Retriever breeders should breed for the love of the breed not the money made from selling puppies. Golden Retriever information is abundant on the Internet.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Finding A Golden Retriever Breeders Club Online

Any person who is interested in getting a Golden Retriever as a pet is first going to have to learn about the differences between Golden Retriever breeders. There are literally thousands of professional and personal breeders located around the world, but there are those that are worth checking out and those that should be avoided. The bad apples are typically known as mass breeders, who tend to breed large numbers of dogs and then do not properly care for these dogs. They are more interested in the financial aspect of things and not for the breed of dog.

Some of these breeders are actually not educated at all on the breed and have no idea what they are doing. This typically results in poorly behaved, sickly dogs that may never be able to get their behavioral problems fixed, even with professional training. It is well worth it for any potential Golden Retriever owner to take the time to find the right breeder.
There are literally thousands of different Golden Retriever breeders located around the world, but only some that you should consider buying from. There are some Golden Retriever breeders, known as mass breeders, who are usually not educated at all on the breed and therefore really have no idea what they are doing. They do not take proper care of the dogs and are more interested in selling the dogs and making money fast than making sure that the dogs are healthy and happy.

To find the best breeder you should ask lots of questions and for the breeder’s credentials. You want to know how long they have been breeding for, whether they deal with any other breed of dog, and what their reputation is. You may even want to go so far as to get referrals, which means that you will be able to speak to other people who have already dealt with this breeder and who can give you some firsthand opinions on them.
You can speak to your veterinarian to find out more information on Golden Retriever breeders, and you may even want them to check the puppy out before you bring him home just to make sure that there is nothing unnoticeable wrong with him. Of course the most important things is that the dog is happy and is going to be a good pet, and there are several qualities that a dog needs to be a good pet.

He should be healthy and well socialized, both to other people and other animals. The dog should also grow up to look and act like what you would expect of a dog of that breed. This only makes sense considering that you took the time to choose a breed based on the characteristics that you liked. Your best chances of getting a happy healthy Golden Retriever puppy are to buy one from someone whose motivation is to produce the finest possible dogs and not someone who is breeding large numbers of dogs and selling them without a care as to who they are going to.

Take the time to find reputable Golden Retriever breeders and your time and effort will be more than paid off in the end. It is important that anyone looking to buy a puppy learn as much Golden Retriever information first so they will know what to look for in the dogs, both in terms of physical health and personality.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Judging Criteria For The Golden Retriever Standard

The Golden Retrievers is a specific breed of dog that belongs to the sporting group of dog breeds. They are a mid-sized dog, with a friendly and eager to please personality. They love being around people, and are easily trained. There are specific things that qualify a dog to be up to the standard according to the American Kennel Club. These items fall under the categories of general appearance, size, proportion, substance; head, neck, topline, body, forequarters, hindquarters, coat, color, gait and temperament. Under each of these, there are very specific ideals, descriptions of traits that define what the perfect Golden Retriever looks like.

There is also a criterion by which a dog is considered disqualified. For Golden Retrievers, there are two disqualifiers. First, the Golden Retriever will be disqualified if the height is more than one inch from the standard, either too high or too short. The second item is if there is an undershot or overshot bite. Other than these two items, there are no automatic disqualifiers.

The American Kennel Club has specific standards for dogs to meet the category of the perfect dog. For specific information, one should consult the AKC website. Some of the things included in the standard are that the eyes should be dark brown, but medium brown is considered okay. They should have a lot of expression in them, and be friendly and intelligent looking. They should have short ears, where when pulled forward the tip of the ear just covers the eye.

The coat of the Golden Retriever should be smooth and rich. There are various golden shades that are acceptable, but the mid-gold range is best, avoiding the lightest and darkest. The fur should be dense and water-repellant. The fur should lie close to the body, and can be wavy or smooth. The natural look of the coat should be left, and it should not be cut or clipped unnecessarily, though it is appropriate to trip the feet and some stray hairs.
The American Kennel Club has set out the specifics of the Golden Retriever standards. All breeders are aware of the standards and should be selling dogs that meet these standards. All Golden Retrievers that do meet the AKC standards will have some things in common. They will be active, alert dogs that stay involved in the world around them. As typical of a hunting dog, they will be hard workers, and not content to just lie around. They will be muscular, friendly, and love to interact with people. The coat will be a beautiful mid-gold color, with a firm and resilient outer coat, either straight or wavy. The tail will be held proudly, and the eyes will be intelligent and friendly. A dog that meets the Golden Retriever standard will be a dog that anyone could be proud to own and show. To get the specifics of the American Kennel Club Golden Retriever Standards, one should check the AKC website.

The standard for Golden Retriever is laid out in specifics by the American Kennel Club, and can be found at the AKC website. The criteria include things such as how muscular the body is and how well the trot is coordinated. Those who want Golden Retriever information about the AKC standard can find it in this article.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Golden Retrievers Make Great Pets

The Golden Retriever is a wonderful dog for a family to own. It has terrific qualities, like being people-friendly, having a great sense of smell (leading to its being used as a narcotics-sniffing dog for law enforcement), hunting ability, confidence and a strong sense of loyalty. They became a breed as a mix of several sporting breeds plus some bloodhound.

Originally, a Scotsman named Sir Dudley Majoribanks experimented by crossing a Retriever that had a wavy coat with a Tweed Water Spaniel that was yellow. The offspring from them were then crossed with an Irish Setter and a Bloodhound that was sandy-colored. The result from this mixing was the Golden Retriever, as we know it today. The breed was officially recognized in Great Britain in 1913. It is now one of the most popular breeds of dog around the world. Families enjoy their good qualities, and they are also used in many other ways because of their tracking ability and great sense of smell.
Golden Retrievers are best if they have a mid-gold coloring and haven’t got any white patches on their fur. They love to be around people. In fact, in order to be happy and not get into mischief, Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercise and human attention.

All that energy can be guided, thankfully, through obedience training, particularly while they are young. Golden Retrievers can be trained to be good watchdogs, barking to signify that a stranger is near. They love to swim, and can be trained to hunt, track, and find narcotics, so they are often used by law enforcement for those purposes. They are also used as rescue dogs. Being highly trainable and sociable dogs, many are trained to be guide dogs. They are also fun to have as a family pet, because they love to please their owners and can do that by being obedient to their training and by performing tricks.
Golden Retrievers can make excellent family pets, as long as certain things are kept in mind. First of all, they need to be obedience trained, starting as a puppy. This is important so that they learn what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t, such as jumping up onto furniture and people, and coming when called. It is much easier to teach them the right behavior from the beginning than to get them to unlearn a bad habit. The owner also needs to remember that their dog will need plenty of exercise. Without exercise, the dog is likely to be bored and will be more destructive, digging holes or hurting furniture. The dog will also need attention from its humans, as it is a highly social animal and is eager to please. Be sure your dog knows you love it, and give it plenty of positive attention when it does behavior you like.

The Golden Retriever is a great family dog, though its natural abilities also lend them to use in law enforcement and as guide dogs for the disabled. They are good at swimming, hunting, tracking, rescue and they are easily trained and love to be with people and other dogs. Anyone seeking Golden Retriever information can find that in this article.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

All About The Personalities Of Golden Retrievers

Best selling author Lisa Scottoline has four Golden Retrievers and one Welsh Corgi. She writes about them like this, "When you have a house full of Goldens, you think to yourself, You know, we need a dog". And which dog causes all the trouble in her home? The Corgi. Which dog literally ate part of her finger? The Corgi. Which dog is on doggy Prozac? The Corgi.

This shows the big contrast between Golden Retriever temperaments and the temperaments of most other dog breeds. Although every dog is an individual, for the most part Golden Retrievers are calm, trainable and submissive. However, they need proper nutrition, grooming and exercise to get this good-natured and stay this good-natured. Golden Retrievers aren't the perfect dogs, but for many they are worth their weight in gold for their personalities. If you are ever saddled with a Golden Retriever, you could do a lot worse.
There are some negatives to living with Golden Retrievers that you should prepare yourself for. These will be mild for some people and calamities for others. Golden Retrievers need daily grooming, or they get matted. They shed more than other breeds. It has been said they have more of a doggy odor than other breeds. They also were bred to be Retrievers (hence the name), which means they have a compulsion to pick things up in their mouths and carry them to your home. This can mean they find a big dead rat and carry in into your living room, fully expecting to be showered with praise.

Golden Retrievers, because of their popularity, have been victims of their own success. Some unscrupulous breeders more concerned about how many puppies they can sell as opposed to how healthy the puppies are have over bred them. There is an effort of Golden Retriever breeders to try and reverse health problems that can be passed on through genes. Just to be on the safe side, expect your Golden Retriever to have skin problems, hip dysplasia, eye problems and heart problems.
You can also help sweeten a Golden Retriever's naturally sweet disposition by getting your dog spayed or neutered. This helps reduce your dog's chances of getting in fights, wandering off to find a mate or getting cancers of the reproductive organs. Golden Retrievers also become more interested in paying attention to you instead of their hormones. Still, even a mature Golden Retriever usually does not make a good guard dog, as they want to make friends with everyone.

You also cannot skimp on regular veterinary care. Golden Retrievers are prone to eye diseases, although they can adjust well to being blind. They are also prone to hip dysplasia, but that can be partially prevented and often successfully treated. Golden Retrievers tend to even like their vets and do not stress out as much as other breeds at the thought of going to the vet's or a groomer. They also are very good about taking pills, because they love food. Just slip the pill in food.


Carol Matthews has interviewed many owners, vets and trainers about Golden Retrievers. A Golden Retriever also like to serve as a seeing eye dog or rescue dog. You can find lots of Golden Retriever information on the AKC website.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

A Few Historical Facts About The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever, a truly intelligent dog among all other breeds, is popular for its all-embracing services in the domains of field trials, obedience, hunting and providing true guidance and services to blind people. In the beginning of the 1800's, people from old England and Scotland considered hunting as their game of interest at one hand, and a mode for collecting food on the other. The talent of the Golden Retriever was first noticed in the domain of hunting, since these dogs are of medium size and have the flexibility to scroll through fowling lands, including upland gaming zone and waterfowl.

Lord Tweedmouth at Guisachan Estate in Scotland first recorded the breeding of the Golden Retriever officially. In the year 1952, the great nephew of Lord Tweedmouth published all the records to the public for the first time. In the middle of 19th century, Lord Tweedmouth bought his golden puppy, called Nous. The breeding location was his estate, where Lord Tweedmouth tried to breed the Golden Retrievers with desired characteristics and temperament.
Tweed Water Spaniels were exclusively used for the purpose of hunting in the early years. It was mainly because these dogs have a true sense of intelligence, bravery and liveliness. The early breeding of the Golden Retriever was largely dependent on the contribution of Tweed Water Spaniels. Breeding between Nous and Belle, a female Tweed Water Spaniel, was held in the estate and they produced four golden puppies. However, the breeding of modern the Golden Retriever is highly influenced by Irish setter, Bloodhound and Tweed Water Spaniel.

The popularity of the Golden Retriever increased significantly during the last decades of 19th century. The Golden Retriever officially appeared to the public for the first time in 1908 at Crystal Palace, England. In the year 1913, the Golden Retriever Club in England was established and with this establishment a separate recognition for this breed was marked. It was 1920 when the Golden Retriever reached to North America and loved by many people.
In the year 1925, American Kennel Club (AKC) gave the breed recognition to the Golden Retriever. The time between the 1930's and 1940's is identified as the most flourishing years of the popularity of the Golden Retriever. This dog is so obedient that it won the Obedience Champ Title from the AKC in 1977, where it competed with other breeds as well. While in the early years of breeding, the efficiency of this truly intelligent dog was only limited to its hunting ability, but later on the Golden Retriever was recognized for its versatile characteristics.

In the initial days, the dark shade of the coats of the Golden Retriever was predominantly preferred by people, however, the preference has changed dramatically in due course of time. Following the years of first breeding, the popularity of this breed has never failed and today this dog has obtained the utmost popularity as a truly intelligent, obedient and courageous dog throughout the world.


The Golden Retriever has gained a worldwide popularity due to its excellence in obedience, outstanding working ability and rich golden hairs. If you would like to get Golden Retriever information, this article will provide it for you.

Golden Retriever for Sale