History of the breed
The breed of dogs Golden Retriever originates from a pair of “Russian shepherds” who lived in Scotland, on the shores of Loch Ness.
Golden Retrievers got their love for water and swimming from a Labrador Retriever, a yellow straight-haired retriever from the island of Newfoundland and a Scottish Setter, and a subtle flair from a Bloodhound.
Appearance
The exact description of the Golden Retriever breed (breed standard) dates back to 1913.
Golden Retrievers have a strong, harmonious physique with muscular, rounded legs. These are rather large dogs, reaching at the withers up to 60 centimetres and up to 40 kg in weight. A thick, water-repellent coat with a good undercoat allows them to swim in water bodies without any problems at any time of the year. The coat can be either straight or wavy.
Color – all shades of golden and cream. As a rule, puppies of this breed are much lighter than adults, and to determine the future color, it is necessary to pay attention to the coat in the region of the baby’s neck.
The nature and characteristics of training
Even though originally Golden Retrievers were bred as a gun dogs, today this breed is practically not used by hunters.
Goldens have evolved into companion dogs, water rescuers, attentive guides, caring nannies, customs officers and police officers. And all because this breed is distinguished by a kind disposition, docility and obedience, incredible endurance and hard work, as well as high intelligence. Golden Retrievers are not used as guard and guard dogs, since they are not aggressive.
Golden Retrievers are everyone’s favourites: both in the family and in the service, they know their job. They are very easy to train – they fulfil commands with great pleasure, and more than other breeds strive to please a person.
These dogs have highly developed intelligence and an excellent memory. Therefore, if one day some kind of prank got away with them, they will repeat it, according to the principle “what is not prohibited is allowed”. And you will no longer be able to wean from this pet. Therefore, it is necessary to teach the baby to order and to accurately perform tasks as early as possible. From the first months, the puppy is taught to perform elementary commands: “Sit”, “Lie down”, “Stand”, “Come to me”. They need to be pronounced strictly and clearly so that the kid understands that this is not a fun game, but serious work. The execution of the command must be followed by encouragement in the form of a ready-made delicacy.
Special training begins, as a rule, after a year, when the dog learns to perfectly follow simple commands. If you predict an exhibition career for your pet, it is important to teach him to use a collar and a leash, to jogging together in the ring and to perform an exterior stand. Dogs of this breed can be excellent guides for the blind and canine therapists for children with serious illnesses (cerebral palsy, hyperactivity, autism, mental and physical retardation). Such dogs are trained jointly by zoopsychologists and dog handlers.
Features of care and maintenance
Small puppies are fed with special balanced food 4-5 times a day, and walk with them 5-6 times a day for 20 minutes.
As you grow, the number of walks is reduced, and their duration is increased. An adult Golden needs two walks: a short one – about an hour, a long one – 2.5-3 hours.
Dogs of this breed are famous for their good health, which is an indicator of an elastic, shiny coat. Comb them out daily to prevent the formation of tangles. They bathe – once a month, and also after each walk, during which the dog frolicked in the water.
Golden Retrievers are prone to overeating, as they are very fond of chewing. Therefore, the amount of food consumed and the intensity of physical activity must be strictly monitored. Do not overfeed your pet during training: to consolidate a positive conditioned reflex, a small treat is enough. And the older the dog gets, the more willingly he will follow commands and without additional tasty encouragement. After all, love, attention and respect of the owner are no less strong motivations for Golden to be obedient.