Golden Retrievers

Best dogs ever.

I love golden retrievers. I own one, Xena. I think golden retrievers are one of the mosst intelligent dog breeds. They're super duper friendly too. You will never come across an aggressive golden retriever, ever in your life. That is a guarantee.

Here is some information about golden retrievers, and very adorable pictures to go with it :)

The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties, and were named 'retriever' because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water, and are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They are a long-coated breed, with a dense inner coat that provides them with adequate warmth in the outdoors, and an outer coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels water. Golden Retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. Although they need substantial outdoor exercise, they should be housed in a fenced area because of their instinctual tendency to roam. The dog sheds copiously, particularly at the change of seasons, and requires fairly regular grooming.

The breed is a prominent participant in conformation shows for purebred dogs. The Golden Retrievers' intelligence makes them a versatile breed and allows them to fill a variety of roles – common ones being guide dog for the blind, hearing dog for the deaf, hunting dog, detection dog, and search and rescue participant. The breed's friendly, gentle temperament means it is unsuited to being a professional guard dog, but its temperament has also made it the third-most popular family dog breed (by registration) in the United States, the fifth-most popular in Australia, and the eighth-most popular in the United Kingdom. Golden Retrievers are rarely choosy eaters, but require ample exercise (of two or more hours a day). The breed is fond of play but also highly trainable.

Golden retriever puppies are just the cutest little things. And they don't stay small for very long, so enjoy it while it lasts!

Temperament

The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed, and is described in the standard as "kindly, friendly and confident".Golden Retrievers make good family pets, particularly as they are patient with children. They are not "one-man dogs" and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them.Their trusting, gentle disposition makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is considered unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed, nor should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous. The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, and with an exceptional eagerness to please.

Golden Retrievers are also noted for their intelligence. The breed ranks fourth in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs – following the Border Collie, Poodle, and German Shepherd – as one of the brightest dogs ranked by obedience-command trainability.

Typical Golden Retrievers are active and fun-loving animals with the exceptionally patient demeanour befitting a dog bred to sit quietly for hours in a hunting blind. Adult Goldens love to work, and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. They will work until they collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them.

Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable—due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers—and excel in obedience trials. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. Harsh training methods are unnecessary, as Golden Retrievers often respond very well to positive and upbeat training styles.

Golden Retrievers are compatible with other dogs, cats, and most livestock. They are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

Health and lifespan.

The average lifespan for a Golden Retriever is about 11 to 12 years. They are susceptible to specific ailments, so should be taken to a veterinarian for yearly checkups.

Golden Retrievers are known to have genetic disorders and other diseases. Hip dysplasia is common in the breed; when buying a puppy, the pedigree should be known and be examined by the OFA or by PennHIP for hip disease. Obesity is also common in the breed because Golden Retrievers love to eat. Puppies should eat about three cups of food a day and adults three to five cups, depending on the food and how active the dog is.

Golden Retriever facts

1. Goldens train you quickly that they deserve a lot of attention. "I dont know what you're doing, but you can definitely do it while petting me"

2. They are patient with puppies and kids, and always willing to play.

3. You thought that the couch was YOUR place to sit? HAHAHAHHAA. 

4. Goldens make the cutest puppies

5. Goldens will eat ANYTHING. Paper towels, napkins, crayons, toys.

6. But even though they're living vacuums, they can easily be taught to restrain themselves.

7. Tumbleweeds of fur rolling through your kitchen. A layer of blonde hair accessorizing your kitchen floor. If you own a golden, this is your reality.

8.Goldens make the best pillows. Good thing they love to cuddle!

9.You could be gone 20 minutes or the whole day. Either way, you know you're coming home to golden smiles :)

10. They have the most puppy dog eyes. You will never have the heart to scold them, no matter how much they get on your nerves.

Xena is my very own Golden retriever. She'll be two years old on the 1st of April 2015. By far the most energetic dog i've owned -and thats saying a lot. She's full of love, and she is HUGE. She understands when she has been a bad girl, and will act accordingly. Very naughty girl, but you cannot possibly stay mad at her.

A video on how smart dogs (in general) can be. :))