Golden Retriever Breed Information and Characteristics

Golden Retrievers are medium-sized dogs hailing originally from Scotland. They are best known for their furry coats, friendly nature, and even-tempered personalities. While it has been the most popular breed in the US, Golden Retrievers are gaining immense popularity over the last few years.

As their name suggests, Golden Retrievers were originally bred for retrieving ducks and fowl for hunters. Although they have been domesticated, they have retained their high-octane energies, reflexes, and intelligence. Golden Retrievers are born athletes and perform exceptionally well in sporting events, making you a proud parent!

Golden Retrievers enjoy a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. While their average height ranges between 21 and 24 inches, they weigh around 55 to 74 pounds on average.

Complete Knowledge Of The Breed

The biggest benefit of purchasing a puppy from breeders is that you obtain complete knowledge of the breed. All our dog breeders are well-versed with the nitty-gritty details regarding Golden Retrievers. They will provide you with every bit of information needed to bring a cute little puppy home!

Bringing Healthy Pets Home

Trusted dog breeders follow breeding standards regarding the physical and psychological characteristics of puppies. They focus on areas like coat length, height, weight, color, shoulder layback, gait, and more to give you 100% healthy Golden Retriever puppies. This ensures that the pets you bring home are fit and healthy.

Seeing The Puppy’s Parents

By approaching dog breeders to adopt puppies, you can see and meet a puppy’s parents before you bring the pet home. The dam (mother) and sire (father) give you a clearer idea about the way your little one would look and act when they get older!

Knowing Your Pup’s History

Another major benefit of adopting puppies from dog breeders is that it helps you know your puppy’s history. Most breeders provide their customers with a detailed history of the pups they adopt, often going back multiple generations. Moreover, getting your Golden Retriever puppy from a dog breeder helps you know their exact birth date!

Choosing the Best of the Lot

Dog breeders often guide you through the process of adopting a Golden Retriever. They help you choose the most suitable puppy based on your specific needs and preferences. Responsible dog breeders know their puppies the best and are more than happy to guide you along the way.

Expert’s Advice And Support

If you adopt your pet from a dog breeder, you get lifetime access to expert advice and support. Whenever you have any questions or confusion regarding your Golden Retriever puppy, you can always reach the concerned dog breeder for personalized help.

End-to-end Assistance

Every dog lover at Premium Pet House is more than willing to help you throughout your journey of becoming a pet parent. Whether it is your first time or another pet awaits a beautiful Golden Retriever puppy at your home, we will help you make the best choice. Our dog breeders will also resolve all your queries and give you all information regarding the puppy (and its breed) before you take it home.

Affordable Puppies

At Premium Pet House, you get a wide range of options at the most affordable Golden Retriever. Rest assured that you will not be paying even a penny more than necessary while purchasing your pet.

Responsible Breeding

We love dogs and would never want to see them suffer under any circumstance. Our group of responsible breeders follows ethical and safe breeding procedures, providing every dog with a healthy and conducive environment. Until you take a furry friend home, they live happily with their parents and friends at our farms.

A Variety Of Healthy Puppies

Depending on your specific requirements, we show you a range of different Golden Retriever puppies. This makes it easier to make your choice in terms of color, size, weight, gender, and type of breed. Moreover, we ensure that every single Golden Retriever puppy bred by us is fully healthy and free from health issues.

A Treat To The Eyes!

Putting everything aside, the sheer aesthetic appeal of Golden Retrievers is enough to convince anyone to bring a healthy puppy home! Their elegant coats, deep beady eyes, and innocent “puppy dog” faces have the power to charm you in an instant.

Intelligent And Easy To Train

Thanks to their lineage, Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent dogs. Spending a few weeks interacting with you and your family helps them understand what you say and follow your instructions. Their intelligence also makes it easy to train Golden Retrievers. Unless you need to train them in highly advanced tricks and skills, you can do without a dog trainer. A few weeks of basic training can help you teach basic commands to your Golden Retriever puppy.

Best Playmates For Kids

If you are looking for someone to keep your children company, a Golden Retriever might be the best alternative! Golden Retrievers make playful pets who love spending time with children. With their innocence and never-ending curiosity, they can relate to your children, making the two parties best friends in no time!

Adaptable Pets

Golden Retrievers are no-nonsense pets with no unnecessary demands. They are highly adaptable dogs who can live happily and in peace wherever you keep them. Whether you live in a studio apartment or a spacious bungalow, your Golden Retriever will be equally happy and content about the surroundings. As long as you give them their daily dose of exercise, they will not trouble you with anything.

They Remain Young At Heart

Another impeccable quality of a Golden Retriever is that they remain young at heart throughout their life. No matter how old your pet is, they will always be playful, loving, curious, and energetic like a young puppy. You will never find them old and grumpy, sitting in a corner and sulking!

They Rarely Bark Noisily

Another major benefit of having Golden Retrievers is that they do not bark noisily and disturb your neighbors. You can rest assured that they are not the kind of dogs who bark incessantly for no apparent reason. They are quiet, playful, and bark softly when they are delighted to be with you!

Their Temperament Is Ideal

With a Golden Retriever puppy at home, you will not need to worry about erratic behavior and anger issues. You will never find your pet in a sudden fit of anger and irritation for no reason. They are even-tempered and well-mannered dogs who are always calm and composed. They do not get irritated easily, even if troubled a little by the kids at home!

Important Considerations Before Bringing Home A Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers Are Highly Food-motivated

The biggest foodie you know stands no chance in front of a Golden Retriever! They are some of the most food-motivated breeds in the world, often making their pet parents spend a fortune feeding them every month. Food is the biggest motivator for a Golden Retriever, whether you want to train them or get them to behave nicely in your house. However, these habits can be managed and the food craze of Golden Retrievers can be managed if you train them at a young age.

Dealing With All The Shedding!

Before you bring a Golden Retriever puppy home, it is important to note that they are heavy shedders. There is no escaping from the hair they will shed all over your house, pretty much throughout the year. Their thick double coats tend to shed a lot, especially before and after winters when they blow their coats. While you cannot control the heavy shedding, you can manage it by grooming your Golden Retriever pup regularly and keeping your house clean.

Not The Best Guard Dogs

If you are looking for a tough nut to guard your house, Golden Retrievers may not be the best option. While they are athletic and energetic, they lack the instincts of guard dogs. You cannot expect a Golden Retriever to scare off intruders and safeguard your house. They are too playful, goofy, and innocent to be guard dogs!

Be Aware Of Separation Anxiety

Your Golden Retriever will love you a bit too much. This often leads to separation anxiety if you fail to give them enough attention. Never make the mistake of keeping your pet tied outside your house or making them feel neglected by not attending to them for too long. Although they do not demand constant attention, they have an inherent desire to be loved and wanted by their pet parents.

Tendency To Gain Weight

As Golden Retrievers love food, they tend to become overweight if you do not watch their daily food intake and exercise. They need their daily dose of exercise to burn the calories they consume throughout the day. Make sure you take them out for walks at least twice a day and don’t overfeed them. A Golden Retriever will never say no to food. It is your responsibility as a pet parent to monitor their diet and keep them healthy.

They Can Be Stubborn

Before you bring a Golden Retriever home, know that you may end up spoiling them with your love. Retrievers tend to get stubborn over time, especially when it comes to getting things they love. You may have a hard time convincing your pet and/or dissuading them from being notorious in your house. It is no different than dealing with a sassy teenager!

Age-wise Food And Care For Golden Retrievers

If you are looking for Golden Retrievers, it is important to have complete knowledge of their feeding requirements at every age. With a wolf-like appetite, Retrievers need immense care when it comes to feeding them the right items. At all ages, they need a wholesome diet to keep them fit and maintain their energy levels.

Here is everything you need to know about the food and care needed for Golden Retrievers at different phases of their lives:

0 to 2 months

Just like a human child, a newborn Golden Retriever survives on their mother’s milk for the first four weeks of their life. Dog breeders ensure that the puppies get all the necessary nutrients from their mothers’ milk. However, if a puppy’s mother is not available when they are extremely young, you can replace the natural milk with a commercial puppy milk replacer. Make sure you consult a dog breeder or a vet before feeding anything to a puppy younger than 2 months. Once your Golden Retriever puppy crosses the one-month age mark, you can make the transition from milk to solid food items. These starter foods provide the energy and nutrients required by your pet to remain healthy and active.

2 to 15 months

As Golden Retriever puppies get older, their food intake is bound to increase. Between the ages of 2 and 15 months, they should be fed at least twice or thrice every day, maintaining a daily calorie intake of 2,200 calories. At this age, 25% - 30% of your Golden Retriever puppy’s diet should contain proteins to fabricate their lean muscle mass. 12% - 18% of their diet should consist of fats to give them the energy needed to play with you and your family! It is also important to feed your puppies food items rich in Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids to keep their bones and joints strong.

15 Months To 8 Years

Once your Golden Retriever puppy reaches the age of 15 months, their daily calorie intake should be slightly reduced to 1,500 calories. Unlike younger puppies, they are satisfied with two meals every day. This is the age when pet owners should be careful with the quantity of food given to their Golden Retriever puppies. Overfeeding your pet will definitely make them obese. Between the ages of 15 months and 8 years, Golden Retrievers need a diet with 30% proteins. This improves your pet’s bone density and endurance. The fat content in their diet should be limited to 15% to 20%. This controls excessive shedding and helps Retrievers restore their coat’s natural radiance. The carbs in your pet’s diet at this age should be kept around 30% to 35% to give them sufficient energy and keep them active. It is also important to include EPA and DHA fatty acids to enhance your Golden Retriever’s mobility. 8 years And Above

As your Golden Retriever gets older than eight years, their physical activity decreases, making them more susceptible to obesity. Make sure you do not feed them any more food than necessary to keep them from getting overweight. At this phase of their lives, Golden Retrievers need a diet with low carbohydrates and moderate proteins and fats. However, they need food high in fiber to ensure steady metabolism and digestion. Food Items Not Suitable For Golden Retrievers

Let us now have a look at a few major food items that are not suitable for your Golden Retriever:

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Raw eggs
• Wheat
• Corn
• Soy
• Onion
• Garlic
• Grapes

Daily Routine For Golden Retrievers

The daily routine of an adult Golden Retriever should include at least two walking sessions of 20 to 30 minutes. Irrespective of the times of the day you take your pet out, never make the mistake of leaving the walks out of their routine. It is also advisable to indulge your Golden Retriever in some physical activity every day to burn the calories they gain from hefty meals.

When it comes to cleanliness and hygiene, you can bathe your pet once every four to six weeks. However, it is important to groom a Golden Retriever and brush their coat every day. This helps you control excessive shedding and keeps your pet attractive.

Major Health Problems For Golden Retrievers

If you are on a hunt for the best Golden Retrievers, it is advisable to know all possible health problems your beloved pet may encounter in their lifetime.

Here are some of the major health problems Golden Retrievers may endure:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a common health condition where your pet’s thighbone does not fit properly into their hip joint. The heritable condition makes some dogs show lameness and pain in one or both of their rear legs. It is also possible that you do not notice any visible signs of pain or discomfort in your Golden Retriever despite the presence of hip dysplasia. A few cases may also lead to other serious conditions like arthritis.

Elbow Dysplasia

This is another heritable health condition common in Golden Retrievers. Elbow dysplasia occurs when the three bones making up your pet’s elbow grow at different rates. The health complication leads to pain and lameness. Vets often suggest surgery to be the best way to tackle elbow dysplasia.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a group of eye-related complications that deteriorate the dog’s retina over time. At an early stage, your Golden Retriever may suffer from night blindness. As the disease progresses, they might lose their daytime vision as well.

Cataracts

This is another eye-related condition commonly encountered by Golden Retrievers. Just like humans, cataracts in dogs lead to the development and growth of cloudy spots on one or more lenses. While most cases of cataracts in Golden Retrievers lead to poor vision, some of them may also lead to severe loss of vision.

Allergies

Golden Retrievers are also prone to certain allergies related to specific food items, pollen, or other substances. These allergies often manifest themselves in your pet when they start incessantly licking their paws or rubbing their face. Make sure you get your Golden Retriever checked by a vet under such circumstances and obtain all details regarding their allergies (if any) from the breeder you get them from.

Golden Retrievers Are Born With An Athlete’s Instincts

As they were originally bred to help hunters and fishermen in fetching ducks and waterfowl, Golden Retrievers have evolved with athletic instincts. While they are no longer used for such purposes, Retrievers are some of the most hard-working and energetic dogs in the world. This is why Golden Retrievers are often preferred as search and rescue dogs at disaster sites.

They Make Great Therapy Dogs

Golden Retrievers have the ability to make people struggling with mental health complications feel better. Owing to their high intelligence, playful nature, beautiful looks, and comforting coats, they are often the first choice for therapy dogs. Their calm demeanor and loving nature can instantly put you at ease and elevate your mood.

They Like Carrying Objects Around

Retrievers are often referred to as “mouthy” dogs as they love carrying objects in their mouths wherever they go. From sticks and toys to clothes and related accessories, you are likely to find your pet carrying something in their mouth for the most part of the day. If you are bringing a Golden Retriever home, make sure you keep an eye on your valuables as they may get misplaced by your furry friend in no time!

Golden Retrievers Have Soft Mouths

While they have a habit of carrying objects around in their mouths, you need not worry about damaging them as the breed is born with soft mouths. Unlike the majority of dog breeds that tend to tear or damage the objects they carry, you can rest assured that your Golden Retriever will simply carry things from one place to another. It is often said that a Golden Retriever’s mouth is so soft that they can carry a raw egg without cracking it!

They Are The Stars Of Competitions

Thanks to their athletic instincts, intelligent personalities, and high-octane energies, Golden Retrievers are often Bookie’s favorites at event competitions. If you train your pet well enough, you can have them compete against other breeds and make you a proud pet parent! Their obedience and agility add to Golden Retrievers’ knack for winning almost every competition they are a part of.

Golden Retrievers Have Always Been Popular

While Golden Retrievers started gaining fame and relevance fairly late, the have always been popular in the West, especially in the US and Canada. Since they caught the public’s eye, Golden Retrievers have often secured a position in the top ten lists of most countries