Joint Diseases In Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers suffer from high rates of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 148,000 Golden Retrievers and found 20% dysplastic. Over 42,000 elbow X-rays were evaluated and 11% were dysplastic. For comparison, Flat-Coated Retrievers have a 4% hip dysplasia rate and less than 1% elbow dysplasia rate.
Other common orthopedic health problems in Goldens include luxating patella and osteochondritis.
Goldens are prone to tearing or rupturing the cruciate ligament in their leg. Repairing it is an expensive surgery with a long recovery time.
Panosteitis can occur in young Golden Retrievers.
Golden Retrievers Are Gentle
Golden retrievers are one of the most gentle and kind dog breeds, which comes from their deep-rooted desire to please their owners.
Theyre amazing with kids and rarely cause trouble around the house , which is why theyre well-known as a great family dog.
You can even see how much they adore their owner by their love and ability to play fetch.
Theyre also a very tender dog breed famous for their incredibly soft mouth grip.
Just think about it: What other dog breeds could possibly hold a raw egg in their mouth and carry it around without breaking it?
How To Care For Your Dog
Golden Retrievers simply love outdoor plays and live for action. If you are fond of jogging or hiking and you have a Golden Retriever as your pet, consider yourself to have a pal to accompany you at all times. Or, if you want to toss a ball in your yard, your Golden Retriever dog will be overjoyed to play a game of fetch.
As their name implies, Golden Retrievers truly love to retrieve. 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous exercises 2 times a day is enough to exhaust your dog and keep it mellow when he/she comes back inside. However, slacking on activities will only result in behavioral issues.
Golden Retrievers are most happy when you give them a soft, chewy toy, a ball, rolled newspaper, or a smelly sock to carry in their mouths. Special care is advised for raising and taking care of a Golden Retriever puppy. This particular breed grows quickly, and you can see a significant difference between 4-7 months.
However, this age is crucial and can make them vulnerable to bone disorders. Dont let your fur baby play or run against rock hard surfaces like pavement, at least until he turns 2 years of age and has fully-formed joints. Playing on the grass and puppy agility classes are safe.
Golden Retriever Dogs Diet/Food
The diet for a Golden Retriever must comprise an adequate balance of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals. If you choose any premium brand of dog food, it is best to prevent ones with rich ingredients.
Grooming and Maintenance
Common Health Problems
Goldens Are Naturally Protective Of Everyone
An extreme example of an overly protective Golden would be one taking the side of a thief who is in trouble with an angry crowd. However, this is still possible with a Golden Retriever.
This is especially likely if you have trained your Golden to be compassionate, which may come very naturally to these dogs. Golden Retrievers will spontaneously offer help to anyone who seems to need it.
While teaching your Golden to be humane is a good thing, this may work against you and others when the Golden needs to identify and catch an impostor.
We recommend you train your Golden to always refer back to you and take commands before acting in favor of a stranger. If thats what you teach them, a simple No will suffice to keep the Golden by your side.
These traits arent deal-breakers at all youll just need to invest some time in training your Golden if you want them to become proper guard dogs.
Why Golden Retrievers Are The Best Family Dog
July 02, 2020
If youve ever been blessed to have a dog as part of your life, then you know that theres something about a dog that makes you a better person. Choosing to add a dog to your family is a big decision, and if you have children, then there are even more factors to consider.
Of course, you want to find a dog that is good with kids, but you most likely are also looking for a pup that will quickly become their best friend. Golden retrievers have enjoyed a long reputation as a great family pet, but what exactly is it about this breed that makes them such a good family dog?
Whats An Ideal Guard Dog
Guard dogs are meant to scare away strangers and alert their owners when unwelcomed characters are approaching, or any other form of danger is imminent. For this canine job, these dogs should possess certain qualities.
Here is your quick list of qualities that make ideal guard dogs:
- Guard dogs should be large enough to instill fear in strangers.
- They should be athletic enough to move fast and with ease when they sense danger.
- Guard dogs should be fearless and courageous, attacking to defend when needed.
- They should be loyal and stay by the owners side during an encounter, not easily lured with treats to the strangers side
- Guard dogs should be intelligent, watchful, and alert so they can notice, judge and assess real danger.
- They should manifest instinctual protective behaviors such as jumping between the owner and an impending source of danger and barking or growling when danger is sensed.
- Guard dogs should be obedient, heading the owners command to attack when danger is real or keep off when danger is misjudged.
The rest of this article will explore whether the Golden Retriever possesses any of these qualities to qualify as a good guard dog.
Youll need to remember that Golden Retrievers werent built for guarding. Instead, Goldens were bred for hunting and retrieving. As such, theyll need to develop into guard dogs any missing qualities with training.
Are Golden Retrievers Good With Babies
Golden retrievers are known for being great around babies.
Theyre gentle and loving, and are usually not heavy barkers.
But you still want to take be careful establishing their relationship.
Take it slow introducing them and always supervise your pup around your baby.
Also, keep in mind that their mouths could have some germs that you dont want your baby to be exposed to yet, so be careful letting them get too close, as most goldens cant hold their licker.
There are loads of stories out there about goldens sleeping under cribs or letting babies crawl or sleep on them, so if you have a baby and a golden, be sure to take lots of pictures and enjoy this precious time!
Things You Should Know Before Getting A Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a dog breed that originated from Scotland, bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, like ducks or other upland game birds. Its a medium to large dog at about 20 to 24 inches tall, weighing between 55 to 75 pounds. The lifespan of the Golden Retriever is around 10 to 12 years.
Golden Retrievers are some of the most popular dogs both in the US and worldwide, thanks to their beautiful appearance and their nice characters.
I wrote this article about some of the things you should know about Goldens, because many of them end up in shelters, abandoned as soon as their owners have realized what having a dog really means.
Contents & Quick Navigation
What Are Golden Retrievers
It is generally accepted that Goldies originated in Scotland around the 1830s. Its thought the breed came out of a local desire for a superior upland retriever for Scotlands 19th-century bird hunters. Basically, as shotguns got better there were more hunters and more game birds were being hunted.but more birds were being shot and lost. The need was great for a new dog breed that was dependable and easy to train as a water and upland fowl retriever. Thus, the was born as a new sporting breed. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention in all things, including dogs!
In 1925, the AKC accepted Golden Retrievers as a distinct new breed. Today, Goldies are extremely popular in North America and Europe as a much-loved family pet, medical and police assistance dog, and as a prized sporting dog. As you will see below, the Golden Retriever is a wonderfully affable dog that bonds tightly with his or her human family.
Why The Golden Is Our Breed Of The Month
According to the American Kennel Club , Golden Retrievers are intelligent, friendly and devoted. These members of the Sporting Group have a life span of 12-14 years. They are outgoing, loyal, playful and easy to train. With all of that going for them, its no surprise that Golden Retrievers are so popularand why they are the Bil-Jac Breed of the Month for July.
To celebrate the breed the AKC refers to as The Peter Pan of Dogs, here are our Top Ten fun facts about Golden Retriever.
Origin Of The Golden Retriever
This is the story of a that is the perfect hunting dog. Important in British society at the start of the 20th century and initially known as the, Yellow Flat-Coated Retriever. They soon became a humanitarian dog.
Their friendly disposition and continuous desire to please, makes them the third most popular family breed by registration in the United States. They are the fifth most loved dog in Australia, and the eighth most famous breed in the United Kingdom. Little by little, their popularity has spread throughout the world.
They Have A Unique Sense Of Smell
Many different dog breeds have been blessed with a keen sense of smell; however, Golden Retrievers have an unusually unique nose with an exceptional sense of smell. They have been ranked as one of the top breeds of dogs that display this quality, which is why they also make excellent hunting dogs and ideal trackers. From using their nose to find their way back home to tracking different kinds of animals and scents, they are always alert.
Goldies have an ability to smell almost everything that has a scent, and with the right kind of training, they can be made to do so on-command as well.
They Are Friendly Towards Strangers
Golden Retrievers are because they are very friendly to strangers. Now, this may not be in relation to them being good family dogs, but hear me out. Imagine taking your Golden Retriever out for a walk. During your walk, another person and his dog look like theyre going to pass by you and your Golden Retriever. If youre thinking that your Golden Retriever will start barking at them, youre highly mistaken.
This is because Golden Retrievers are friendly even towards strangers. They dont have a single bone in their body that will make them think, Stranger danger! In fact, they might get over-excited and want to greet these people!
This is why training them to stay put comes in handy. The fact that your Golden Retriever is trained to follow commands will make your daily walks a lot easier. They wont get the urge to bark, chase, or get aggressive towards things or people who are unfamiliar.
Only take your Golden Retriever out for walks if you are strong enough to hold them back if they want to run off. Additionally, I also highly suggest that you train your Golden Retriever enough until they are considered well-behaved before taking them out into the world.
Do not encourage your Golden Retriever to be overly-friendly to other dogs and people. You may never know if you are crossing a boundary with those people or not. Its always good and polite to approach them with a calm and relaxed energy.
Why Goldens May Not Be Good Guard Dogs
Even the biggest Golden Retriever fan will admit that these dogs arent the best guard dogs compared to the options in the market. Its not really a bad thing, but you should know these qualities if you plan to turn your Golden into a guard dog.
Certain qualities will make the Golden a perfect friend and companion. But when seen as a guard dog, the same qualities might be disqualifying for the guard-dog task.
Are Golden Retrievers Good With Cats
Golden Retrievers are a breed of even temperament and friendliness, so they are a great dog to introduce to other animals, even cats! As long as the dog and cat are properly introduced or have been raised together from a young age, there will be no issues between the two. Goldens are not generally territorial with others and can be introduced to a cat companion at any time. Once they are used to one another, your golden will accept the cat as part of the family.
Neutering Can Cause Health Issues To A Golden Retriever
Researchers at the University of California have discovered that has negative effects on Golden Retrievers, increasing your dogs chances of getting joint disorders and cancer. In this post, Dr. Karen Becker talks about alternative methods of keeping your dog from breeding, such as a vasectomy or tubal ligation.
Even if you choose not to neuter your dog shes still prone to a long list of medical conditions, which include:
- hypothyroidism;
- eye disorders;
- skin problems.
If you own a Golden Retriever you need pet insurance that covers her for a wide range of health issues, besides accidents. This can increase your regular expenses, but its usually a good investment as Goldens are in the top of the most expensive breeds in terms of medical costs, with an average of $961 a year.
Are Golden Retrievers Friendly With Strangers
If you have a friend over and your golden has never met them, you might be asking yourself, will they react well? Golden Retrievers are always open to making new friends, and they will rarely react aggressively towards strangers. This means if your house guest is as ready to play as your golden, then they will get along great. If your golden is apprehensive to a stranger at first, it may just take a treat and a belly rub to make them friends.
Golden Retriever Vs Lab
These purebred breeds are alike and different in several ways. Labs and Goldens are very similar in size. However, Labs are slightly larger. Their coats are also similar, and both shed more than an average dog, but Goldens require a bit more grooming than labs. Goldens are golden in color, but Labs come in three coat shades yellow, black, and chocolate. While both are energetic, intelligent, and loyal, Goldens tend to be more gentle and sensitive than Labs.
Final Thoughts On What Is Bad About Golden Retrievers
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. As a total fan of this wonderful breed, I thought it would be hard to come up with anything bad about Golden Retrievers but easily came up with 13.
What about you? Are you able to look past the 13 bad things about Golden Retrievers? Let me know what you like or dont like about this breed. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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More traits and characteristics of Golden Retrievers
If I was considering a Golden Retriever, I would be most concerned about…
To help you train and care for your dog
The Cast Against Goldens
Put down the pitchforks! Golden retrievers are great, but they aren’t the only type of pooch that can fit fantastically into a family. cites bulldogs, beagles, bull terriers and Newfoundlands as being typically great with kids, and that’s by no means a comprehensive list.
As puts it, you really “can’t go wrong with a dog that has a gentle demeanor, friendly attitude, trainable nature and an ability to keep up with your family.” And that dog can belong to many breeds.
So Are Golden Retrievers The Friendliest Dogs
From my experience and as a golden retrievers dog parent, absolutely! The Golden Retriever has proven time and time again that it is the friendliest and most loyal dog. Whether you want to play all day outside, have a snuggle at bedtime, or need an intelligent dog who will warn you of danger and work as hard as you do, the Golden Retriever ticks all of the boxes of mans best friend!
Determining If A Golden Retriever Is A Good Family Dog
Lets take a look at the most common traits that make the Golden Retriever such a well-suited dog to families. As I discuss each trait, I also include certain issues that families should consider for each trait.
If you want to read a more in-depth article on the pros and cons of a Golden Retriever, I suggest taking a look at this article when you have a moment: Golden Retriever Pros and Cons: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
How Big Do Golden Retrievers Actually Get
Golden Retrievers are dogs.
The height and weight of Golden Retrievers will vary by gender.
| Gender | |
| 21.5 to 22.5 inches | 55 to 65 pounds |
Information courtesy of the American Kennel Club.
The breeds size should not pose a significant issue for most family living situations; however, there are some considerations to keep in mind.
Due to its larger size, the Golden Retriever may not be best suited to apartment living .
The Golden Retriever would do best in a home with a backyard, on an acreage, or a farm, where space is available for the dog to play and exercise.
Family Consideration: Size can be an important consideration if your household has small children or toddlers. Golden Retrievers especially younger ones can be exuberant while playing at times. In their excitement, Goldens can forget how big they are relative to small kids and possibly knock them over. Therefore, keeping small children supervised when playing with dogs is always recommended.
What You Need To Do
You need to find out the cause of the pain. For example, if your Golden Retriever is drooling a lot, something might be lodged in his mouth or its a dental issue.
If your doggy is limping, then something might have pricked his delicate paw. Find it and get it out.
If you cant find out why your dog is in pain, take it to the vet.
Children And Other Pets
The amiable Golden Retriever isn’t bothered by the noise and commotion of kids in fact, he thrives on it. He’s a large, strong dog, though, and he can easily knock over a small child by mistake.
As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he’s eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child.
The Golden’s attitude toward other pets is the more the merrier. He enjoys the companionship of other dogs, and with proper introductions and training, can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals.
Why Does A Golden Retriever Bark
There are lots of reasons why Golden Retrievers bark. It istheir way to vocalize their emotions and/or desires.
Think about how many different reasons you talk during aday. Well, barking is your dogs way to talk and communicate. So, I think it isa mistake to try and get a dog to NEVER bark.
My wife and I have these discussions from time to timeabout my dogs barking. My wife does not like the fact that I am not moreinsistent in stopping all barking.
The fact is, I like that my Retriever barks. She does notbark often. But when she does, I can usually figure out why she is barking.
Golden Retrievers And Children
If you have a young family then Golden Retrievers can be fantastic with children. If socialised properly from a young age, Retrievers can be quite calm and tolerant. While they usually have a great temperament, its best to always supervise your dog with children.
As puppies, its normal for Retrievers to be mouthy, which means they have a tendency to nip and play bite. This is especially true when theyre teething. Although they dont mean this in an aggressive way, its best to use positive training techniques to let them know that biting you can be sore and isnt a fun game. That way, when theyre adults theyll know this isnt a good way to play with humans or other dogs.
Always supervise children and vulnerable adults with your Golden Retriever and make sure you can to help avoid any conflicts. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and play with dogs with care and kindness, to prevent any issues.
Do Golden Retrievers Understand Your Yelling
Golden retrievers understand what you are feeling when you are yelling, they can tell from your facial expressions, voice, and body language if you are angry, sad, or happy.
So thats how your golden understands what you are feeling and it explains how they behave after breaking or ruining something as well.
They also can know why you are yelling at them, for example, if they ruined your shoes or wrecked the house while you are away, they usually expect that you are going to yell at them because they know that they did something wrong.
They Are Prone To Health Problems
Golden retrievers are popular amongst family members and friends because they make a great addition to any household. They are loyal, affectionate dogs, and make great pets due to their loyalty. However, many dog owners who have them share the fact that these dogs are prone to health problems. Most golden retriever owners recommend against owning Golden Retrievers until they get to know the symptoms of ear infections and sinus problems .
Many people who own golden retrievers may worry that these dogs are prone to health problems or temperament problems. While these dogs can get the occasional problem resolved such as ear infection or allergies there are far more serious health issues that can occur as time goes on without proper care. Golden Retriever puppies should stay with the family rather than in an independent place until they are able to protect themselves against potentially harmful insect bites, intestinal blockages and other problems.
Health problems include incontinence, pancreatitis, hip dysplasia and an enlarged prostate. And stomach problems are pretty common too, as puppies deal with changes in their intestinal lining which can lead to ulcers and damage if left untreated.
All You Need To Know About Golden Retriever Dogs
With every passing year, the Golden Retriever ranks amongst the top 3 breeds of popular dogs in the United States of America, and its not really that complicated to fathom why.
Golden Retrievers are known for their amicable and loving personalities and picture-perfect good looks. This makes them the most popular and ideal family pet for most families.
A typical Golden Retriever is super friendly, easy-going, and absolutely adorable. It might even easily give off an impression of being a low-maintenance dog. However, they demand plenty of training, exercises, and mental stimulation.
Golden Retrievers can be quite chill compared to other breeds, but most of them arent too thrilled to laze around on the couch all day.
If you are considering whether a Golden Retriever dog will be a good addition as a pet for your family, then this is the ultimate guide for you. We have pulled up some essential facts on this beloved dog so that you can use these valuable insights to your advantage.
Keep reading to get all the insights on Golden Retrievers and the best way to care for them.