Dog Breeds: Golden Retriever

Dog Breeds: Golden Retriever: This breed does extremely well with children and loves playing with them and despite its size can adapt well to sleeping on the floor. Bred as a working dog they love to learn and do so with an amazing rapidness. Without equal as a "retriever" this breed is friendly and beautiful and does as well hunting as it does playing in a home with children. Loved for its sweet facial expression and its friendliness, the Golden Retriever is obedient and affectionate. Even though this big dog sometimes looks clumsy it needs at least an hour of vigorous exercise daily.

Questions and answers
Q: I had my five-year-old golden retriever neutered and he now weighs 42 kilos. My veterinarian has told me that he is overweight. I was told to feed him less, but I am only feeding him one meal a day. I can't starve the poor fellow, what should I do?
A: Your dog is definitely overweight. A golden retrievers weight should not exceed 35 kilos. It's common for neutered dogs to sometimes gain weight because they tend to eat more. You can help your dog lose that extra weight by feeding him less calories, not less food. Instead of giving him dog cookies, give him vegetables such as carrots etc. Make sure also that he does not eat in between meals and take him out to get exercise everyday.

Unique Needs: Can live outdoors without difficult and is little affected by cold and humid conditions. The Golden Retriever has a dense undercoat that needs regular careful attention and brushing. The skin and coat have a strong smelling greasy secretion that is unique to this breed. It is very important that their diets be monitored and that they be exercised faithfully and sufficiently because if not they will quickly become overweight and this can lead to a multitude of problems.

Temperament: The Golden Retrievers love of children makes them ideal for families. They love to be close to their masters and can get along well with other animals.

Genetic Defects: Hip dysphasia: Hip dysphasia is a hereditary malformation of one or both articulations of the hip that often times not detected until the animal is a teenager, or an adult. The symptoms of this disease cause the dog to have difficulty when getting up after having slept causing him to hop and limp.

Epilepsy: This problem is more frequent in golden retrievers than in other pure breeds. The dog will suffer from these attacks suddenly. Normally the dog recovers quickly, although sometimes the animal might remain motionless and disoriented for several hours after the attack. This sickness is usually controlled by anticonvulsive medications. 

Average Height:

• Males: 56 to 61 centimeters
• Females: 51 to 56 centimeters