Theyre The Most Enthusiastic People We Know
If humans acted like golden retrievers do, it would be a strange world indeed!
Members of this breed are so enthusiastic about everyone they meet, everywhere they go, and everything they see and do that it would almost be annoying if it wasnt so endearing.
In fact, their enthusiasm for life, the universe and everything is contagious, so spend time with a golden and youll soon start to become one of those cheery glass-half-full people!
Will A Golden Retriever Attack An Intruder
;Golden retrievers are unlikely to attack an intruder, however, if the intruder is physically threatening a family member or you, they will push them to protect their owners in dangerous situations due to their strong protective instincts.
The topic of attacking an intruder is a very large one, and I have dedicated a full post to it. You can learn everything about how goldens deal with intruders here to understand your dogs behavior and what to expect from them in different situations.
Golden Retrievers Are Inherently Playful And Enjoying Making Friends
Golden Retrievers are designated to the Sporting Group of dog breeds, which means they love an active lifestyle. It is essential to keep in mind their energy level when deciding to adopt a golden. For instance, they wouldnt make very good apartment dogs, and if youre not a fan of walking, they arent the right breed for you.
Their water sporting and hunting past gives the breed unlimited energy and a love for playing outdoors and anywhere near water. They love to play fetch and will play for hours upon hours, which is perfect for families with energetic and adventurous children with large yards. The breed is not shy around new people and will welcome playtime with any companion who will join, human and animal alike.
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Golden Retrievers Are Social
While some dogs excel at being guard dogs or ferocious police or military attack dogs, golden retrievers typically fail at all of those. They simply love people and want to be friendly with everyone.
Golden retrievers will rarely if ever, shy away from a party. They love to be the center of attention, and not even necessarily in a loud, playful way. Even if they only get to greet each guest and lie near the party, theyre usually very content just being with all the humans.
Golden retrievers can get lonely if they arent given enough social interaction. This is because theyre such social dogs.
They Have A Developed Sense Of Smell
The Golden Retriever has a highly developed sense of smell, which is why you can teach it to bring back all sorts of different objects.
It is also thanks to its very powerful sense of smell that the Golden Retriever is used as a detector dog: it can find narcotics, explosives, or certain rare products such as truffles.
This breed has a nasal mucosa filled with millions of olfactory cells. It is estimated that there are 150 to 200 million in this breed, while there are 100 million in the Fox Terrier and Bulldog. If we make a comparison to humans, we only have 5 million olfactory cells.
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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! Goldens are one of the top breeds of dogs that get along well with 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.
Are Golden Retrievers Loyal The Myths And Truths
Dogs are the most loyal friend you can have. They will do anything to keep us safe. This makes some people wonder if the same applies to the friendlies dogs out there, such as Golden Retrievers, who do seem to be loyal but not
Are golden retrievers loyal? Yes, golden retrievers are incredibly loyal, they will literally do anything for you, the reason why golden retrievers are so loyal is because of their genetics and history as they were bred as hunting dogs so they needed to be extremely smart and loyal to their owner.
But to understand how truly loyal your golden retriever is and what makes them so loyal, keep reading.
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Reason #: Golden Retrievers Are Good With Kids
Golden retrievers are playful with kids of all ages, yet soft and gentle enough for small children.
They make great family pets because they seem to have a natural sense ofboundaries with children, which is both impressive and adorable.
For example, at Thanksgiving this past year my golden, Oliver, was playing wonderfully and gently with my 2-year-old nephew, but the very next day was wrestling and rough-housing with me.
Are Golden Retrievers Loyal To Just One Person
You have probably heard stories of dogs that are fiercely loyal to just one person.; Or they love one member of the family while ignoring the rest of the family.;;
Golden Retrievers are one breed that is ready to share its love around to all members of the family.; They will likely form a stronger bond with a specific family member, usually the primary food and exercise provider. Still, they will also share their love with every member of the family.; They are even accepting of other pets and are known to get along well with cats and birds.
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You Try New Things Together
No matter what your dogs energy level, shell love trying new things with you. Plus, itll help the two of you bond and secure your spot in her heart. For high energy dogs, try something like agility courses, hikes, and swims. For older or mellow dogs, try scent tracking, Kong toys, or puzzle games. Training is a great way to bond with dogs of every age and energy levelkeep it short and dont forget the treats! Here are some dog-friendly national parks to explore with your pup.
Top Ten Reasons To Not Get A Golden
Thinking about a Golden Retriever as a pet?
Top 10 Reasons NOT to get a Golden Retriever Printed with Permission – Cheryl Minnier
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Fun Fact : Golden Retriever Have Lots Of Shades Of Fur
Golden Retrievers have a lustrous coat of golden shade that makes them attractive than any other dog breed. One of the most interesting facts of Golden Retrievers is that their fur darkens with age. Also, there are three types of this breedCanadian, American and British.
The coat shades of these furs consist of a Golden tint but with slight variations towards yellow. Because of these variations, it is easier to distinguish between them.
Are Golden Retrievers Good Guard Dogs
Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. So you may be wondering whether or not golden retrievers are good guard dogs, or whether theyre just family dogs.
In this article youll find out the traits that make golden retrievers good guard dogs, the traits that make them bad guard dogs, how to train them, whether male or female golden retrievers are better, and other great alternatives!
So keep reading to find out more!
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Help Your Golden Understand His Turf
Since Goldens cant defend what they dont know is theirs, youll want to help them understand what belongs to them. This is related to their physical territory, but also the people in the household. Does he know to protect all of them or just some?; The more he understands as his responsibility, the better he will be able to protect.;
A Golden Retriever May Be Seeking Attention From Their Owner
This is common if you start ignoring your Golden or giving him less attention than before. Your furry companion will seek that attention by laying right on your feet, trying to solicit the lost connection. Golden Retrievers are extremely social dogs and need regular attention from their pet parent.
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Loving Your Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers love almost anyone, including those they meet on the street if that person is willing to come and pet them and give them attention. This is part of the reason that so many families love to bring the Golden Retriever home; they are so sweet and affectionate to those around them. They do not tend to gravitate towards a single person like some other breeds because they have plenty of love to go around.
However, because they love food and think they need a ton of attention, you may notice that the Golden Retriever does have a tendency to follow a certain person around. This may be the person who spends the most time with them, the one who plays with them and rubs their belly, and the person who gives them the most food.
They Help Us Get Some Exercise
We all like to think that were disciplined enough to get regular exercise but, honestly, we probably wouldnt go for long daily walks if it wasnt for our dogs.
Goldens need to walk for at least an hour a day, but can happily go much further, so they get us moving and keep us more fit and healthy.
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They Cannot Be Left Alone
If youre thinking of getting a dog that you can leave at home alone during the day, dont even think about getting a golden. Golden Retrievers crave and need human attention.
If you dont plan on making a golden an important member of your family, you shouldnt get this breed. Golden Retrievers are very social, and love to be around their family. They need to be included in family activities, in order to be happy.
If you work all day, it is a good idea to take your golden to doggie daycare or hire a dog walker to walk your dog. This way your golden will not become bored, or depressed from being alone all day.
Coat Color And Grooming
Golden Retrievers have a dense, water-repellent outer coat with a thick undercoat. Some coats are wavy, some are straight. The fur feathers on the back of the front legs and underbody, with heavier feathering on the chest, back of the thighs, and tail.
Golden Retrievers come in all shades of gold, from light to dark gold. Some breeders have begun selling “rare white Goldens,” but the American Kennel Club does not recognize white as a coat color for the breed.
Golden Retrievers shed moderately in the winter and summer, and heavily in the spring and fall. If you live with a Golden, you’ll need to adapt to a certain amount of dog hair in your house and on your clothes.
The Golden’s thick coat means lots of grooming. Daily brushing is recommended to prevent tangling, and once a week is the bare minimum. Your Golden will also need a bath at least once a month, often more frequently, to keep him looking and smelling clean.
Brush your Golden’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
Begin accustoming your Golden to being brushed and examined when he’s a puppy. Handle his paws frequently;;dogs are touchy about their feet;;and look inside his mouth. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you’ll lay the groundwork for easy veterinary exams and other handling when he’s an adult.
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Golden Retrievers Are A Great Size
Golden retrievers arent incredibly tall dogs, usually around two feet at the shoulder. If you think your dog is significantly taller than that, think about how high they may hold their head. The taller they hold their head, the taller they look!
Theyre also only a rough 70 pounds or less, when healthy and in shape. I know that I know a lot of golden retrievers heavier than that, but thats just from extra love in the form of food. Theyre heavily made up of muscle and fluff, making them both athletic and cuddly.
Theyre big enough to help with rescue teams. Because of how comfortable in water most golden retrievers are, they can be a great help to people who are drowning or in a different water-related emergency. Theyre also used by other rescue teams.
Golden retrievers are strong dogs, especially for their size. Most of their weight is a muscle, which means they can be very slim dogs.
In rescue situations, golden retrievers can go places humans wont fit. Theyre strong enough that some have been trained to rescue injured or disabled people by dragging them out.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing your goldie is what size of kennel theyll need. Check out this article on The Happy Puppy Site on golden retriever sizes.
They Are Prone To Waxy Ears
Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers are prone to waxy ears. This tends to be a result of poor air circulation due to their long ears.
Although it is not always the case, waxy ears can be the symptom of a more serious problem, such as an infection or mites. If left untreated or if not treated correctly and consistently, ear problems can become chronic and affect the dog’s quality of life.
The most common cause of ear infections in Golden Retrievers is yeast. After swimming or bathing, take the time to dry your dog’s ears. Effort should also be made to keep ears clean. There are solutions available for purchase or that you can make at home that, in addition to cleaning and soothing your Golden Retriever’s ears, will also change the pH level, creating an environment yeast should not thrive in.
Be careful; Goldens will eat almost anything that resembles food, regardless of whether or not it is good for them.
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Reason #: Golden Retrievers Are Fearless
Like I said in the previous tip, goldens were bred to be hunting dogs.
You cant be fearful and be a hunting dog at the same time!
And that fearlessness still persists today.
Have you heard the story of Todd, the golden who saved his mom from a rattlesnake bite in Arizona?
He took a bite to the face while on a walk that could have easily been for his mother.
Golden Retrievers Are Great As Service Dogs
Weve already talked some about how great golden retrievers are as rescue dogs, but how about how popular they are as service dogs? Golden retrievers are popular as seeing-eye dogs, hearing dogs for the deaf, and many other service dog specialties.
What are some of the reasons why golden retrievers are so popular as service dogs? Well, its because of their smarts, temperament, loyalty, eagerness to please, and size. Theyre intelligent dogs, being able to learn new commands and ideas quickly. They catch on to new tricks quickly.
Theyre of good temperament, being eager to please their human. They arent likely to ever try to run away and will, in fact, do many things to take care of their human, whether theyre trained to service animals or not. This loyalty to their owner is what makes them such great service dogs.
Golden retrievers are a great size as well for being a service dog. Theyre large enough to help support a person if needed or to protect their owner if needed. Their size also means they can block their owner if their owner is in danger, a common training for seeing or hearing aid dogs.
If youre interested in a service dog, either for yourself, someone else, or as a trainer of one, check out your local services. Each state has different organizations you can look into or join in with. Read about them on AKCs website.
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