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About Golden Retrievers: Everything You Need to Know

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about golden retrievers

All About Golden Retrievers

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about golden retriever puppies, then you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into all there is to know about these loyal and loving pup-friends – from their personalities and needs, to where they come from and how to care for them.

Whether you’re looking for a faithful companion or just curious about Goldens in general, this post will have everything you need to know! So get your paws ready and let’s dive in!

golden retriever

What are Golden Retrievers?

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are recognized by the American Kennel Club. Known for their friendly personalities, loyalty, and trainability, they make wonderful family pets as well as therapy and assistance dogs.

Originally bred in Scotland in the late 1800s, Golden Retrievers were used for retrieving game birds during hunting expeditions. Today, they are still widely used as hunting dogs, but they are also widely popular as family dogs.

Puppies typically grow up to weigh between 55 and 110 pounds and stand 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder. They have a thick coat of golden or cream-colored fur that sheds moderately throughout the year.

Golden Retrievers are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They excel in obedience trials and make excellent service dogs, therapy dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs.

They enjoy human attention and enjoy being part of family activities. When left alone for long periods, they may become bored and destructive.

If you’re looking for a loyal, friendly, and loving companion dog, a Golden Retriever may be the perfect breed for you!

History of the  breed

Originally developed as a gun dog by gamekeepers to retrieve shot waterfowl from rivers and lakes, believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1800s. Due to their friendly disposition, intelligence, and trainability, Golden Retrievers have made excellent assistance dogs, and they are now widely used as service dogs by the disabled.

One of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States and is also popular in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Characteristics

Golden Retrievers are some of the most popular dogs in the world, and it’s no wonder why! They are intelligent and friendly and make great family pets. Here are some things to know about golden characteristics:

-Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs, and still have a strong instinct to retrieve.

-Their coat is water-resistant and sheds heavily twice a year.

-Goldens need a lot of exercise and love to water.

-Known for being gentle and good with children.

Temperament

These dogs are known for being gentle, intelligent, and compassionate. They are usually loyal, obedient, and easy to train.

In addition to being active and playful, Golden Retrievers enjoy spending time outdoors, which makes them excellent companions for mountain hiking in Colorado. 

Your dog could love to be by your side on of trails in Colorado but when it comes time to rest they also make a great cuddle buddy on the couch.

How Many Puppies Do Golden Retrievers Have?

Golden retriever puppies are known for being incredibly adorable, with their fluffy coats and playful personalities. When it comes to how many puppies a golden retriever can have in a single litter, the average number typically ranges from 6 to 10. However, it is common for some golden retrievers to give birth to as few as 1 or as many as 12 puppies at once. The size of the litter can be influenced by various factors such as the age and health of the mother, genetics, and environmental conditions. Owners need to provide proper care and attention during the pregnancy and after birth to ensure that all the golden retriever puppies grow up healthy and happy.

How to train a Golden Retriever

The best way to train a Golden Retriever is with patience and positive reinforcement. Like all dogs, Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent and learn quickly. However, they can also be stubborn and hardheaded at times.

That’s why it’s important to use positive reinforcement techniques when training your dog.

Tips 

The great thing about our Golden Retrievers is that they love to please, so training can be easier than some other breeds

1. Start with basic commands. The first commands you should teach your dog are sit, stay, come, down, and heel. Once your dog has mastered these basics, you can move on to more advanced tricks.

2. Use treats as rewards. When your dog does something you ask of him/her, be sure to give plenty of praise and a treat as a reward. This will help reinforce good behavior and motivate your dog to continue obeying commands.

3. Be consistent. Everyone in the household must use the same commands when training the dog. This will avoid confusion and help the dog learn more quickly.

4. Practice often. Like anything else, practice makes perfect! The more you work with your dog on obedience training, the better he/she will become at following commands.

Responsibility of the owner

After bringing home your fur buddy, you first need to create a comfortable, safe environment for your new furry friend. That means dog-proofing your home and yard and setting up a crate or doggy playpen in your designated puppy room.

Your pup will need plenty of chew toys to help with teething, as well as comfy bedding and blankets.

As far as food goes, always consult with your vet to find the best diet for your growing pup. Puppies need more frequent meals than adults, so start with three small meals per day and adjust as needed. Be sure to have fresh water available at all times.

Potty training will be one of the biggest challenges you will face with your new puppy. Be patient and consistent, using positive reinforcement when they make progress. Many owners find clicker training to be an effective way to teach their pups proper potty habits.

Common health problems in Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are susceptible to some health problems, many of which are genetic. Some of the most common health problems seen  include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, cancer, allergies, and eye disorders.

Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common health problems associated with this dog breed. Hip and elbow dysplasia are conditions caused by malformations of the joints, resulting in pain and arthritis. Hip dysplasia is particularly common in large breeds.

Another thing about this breed is that Heart disease is a common health problem. Many different types of heart diseases can affect this breed, including congenital heart defects, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy.

Cancer is also a concern for Goldens. They have a higher-than-average incidence of certain types of cancers, including lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, and mast cell tumors.

Golden Retrievers are also susceptible to allergies. Skin allergies are the most common type, but food allergies and environmental allergies can also occur.

Eye disorders are also relatively common in Golden Retrievers. Some of this breed’s most common eye disorders include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts.

Since Golden Retrievers a susceptible to multiple genetic disorders, a Responsible Golden Retriever Breeder will do genetic health testing on their Golden Retriever Parents to ensure they are not passing any of the genetic disorders to their offspring.

golden retrieves in the snow

Coat type of Golden Retriever puppy

The Golden Retriever is wonderfully known for their beautiful coat and brilliant color. Their water-repellent coat makes them ideal water foal dogs. Their flowing straight hair is medium in length and feathers from the tail, neck, and legs. The colors of the dog’s coat can range from red golden, light golden, to cream.

Body type of Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are medium-sized dogs ranging in size from 21-22 in tall at 55-65 lb. for females and 23-24 inches tall at 65-75 lb. for males. In addition to, a deep chest and a broad head with medium-sized ears.

Would a Golden Retriever Make a Good Guard Dog?

Golden Retrievers are eager-to-please, friendly dogs, and lack guard instincts. They also take well to strangers and are gentle. In addition, they are not known for barking but will occasionally let you know when someone is approaching the home. To sum it up, all these characters put together do not equal a good guard dog.

Are Golden Retrievers good with small children?

The Golden Retriever is not known for their aggression and will rarely bite unless it’s being threatened or scared. First off, we should put the power of a brilliant retriever chomp into viewpoint.  The Golden Retrievers’ max aggressive bite is measured at 190 PSI. Whereas, the chomping power of a human is somewhere in the range of 100 and 150 PSI. Comparatively, the most powerful bite coming from a Kangal is 743 PSI. In any case, a fun-loving nip from a Golden Retriever won’t have this sort of power.

Quite known for their friends-go-lucky personalities. Therefore, it may be no surprise that they are friendly to other people and animals. Making this breed a good choice for families with small children, service dogs, and multi-dog homes. As well as, gentle with children and affectionate.

All About Golden Retriever Puppies Photo

Contagious Diseases and Viruses

Waiting until your Golden Retriever is fully vaccinated before going to dog parks and social gatherings is just as important if not more so than getting an early jump on puppy socialization. 

You need to take precautions to ensure your puppy stays healthy at such a delicate stage of life. Holding your Golden Retriever puppy in the Vets office waiting room is a great idea. Avoid taking your puppy into public places such as feed stores and dog parks until they are fully vaccinated.

I know you are excited to show off that cute Golden Retriever puppy but it’s best to just wait until he/she is immune to light-threatening diseases such as parvo.

Overview

With their intelligence and loyal personalities, Golden Retrievers are a wonderful breed of dog to have as part of the family. They can be trained easily for basic obedience and some tricks, making them great companions for children or even therapy dogs.

If you think that a Golden Retriever is the right fit for your family, make sure to do your research so you know exactly how they will need to be taken care of.

With proper care and training, these loving animals can bring years of joy into any home.

Reserving a Golden Retriever Puppy

Now that you know all about Golden Retriever Puppies, Would you like to get one of your own? If so, why wait?

Golden Crest Retrievers has helped many Golden Retriever lovers and first-time Golden Retriever owners find the puppy for you, and we’d love to talk to you more about our Golden Retriever puppies in Colorado. Our team can assist you in finding the right pup by completing our Puppy Application, and we will gladly reach out to you.

Picture of Mark Otto

Mark Otto

Mark Otto is a Golden Retriever & Goldendoodle Breeder in Colorado. Along with his wife and 4 children, they aim to raise healthy, happy, socialized puppies that will bring families so much joy. Mark has been raising puppies since 2019. Golden Crest Retrievers believes a puppy benefits from being handled daily and exposed to new stimuli, including sights, sounds, textures, and people, to optimize their physical and mental development during their critical socialization period.