Sturdy, with a golden coat and sweet facial expression, the Golden Retriever has enchanted crowds with its qualities. It has become one of the most wanted dogs as family’s companions in other countries, where the big size is appreciated, not only indoors but also for strolls. It also endures well young children’s rough play, demanding as opposed, an exceptional gentleness.
It is so popular that it ranks second in registered puppies in Japan and third in England. In the USA, as there is a great variety of breeds, it ranked fourth in 2004.

Intelligence and Temperament
It stands out as one of the most obedient breeds inclined to serve the man. It is not by chance that they are mentioned in the book “The Intelligence of dogs”, by Stanley Coren, as the fourth most easily trained breeds for obedience, among 133 breeds analyzed. Very observant, it associates cause and consequence and readily understands what we want from them.
They are gentle, friendly, eager to please, have a nice temperament, and are sweet with strangers, other dogs and even with cats. A silent dog, it only barks at times as an alarm call, in case they listen to a strange noise.

Adaptation Capacity
The Golden Retriever is easily adapted to the owner’s lifestyle, even in small places. At home, it seeks for the family closeness, but it does not require attention all the time.
It lies down in a corner and interpolates the attentive viewing of the movements around, with short naps. It blends the quietness with a high physical activity, thus fitting the moment’s pace. Highly inclined to activities and with a physical endurance envied by athletes, it loves to escort us in long walks. It does not resist getting into a lake, the sea or a swimming pool, as it is a great swimmer.

Extremely patient with children, it roleplays the perfect “uncle”. It endures the rough plays without losing the temper.

Other proofs of the exceptional qualities of the Golden is that they make part of a selective group of canine breeds and are indicated as guide dogs for the blind and are also useful in mental and physical diseases therapies.

BREED INFORMATION

Buying a Puppy
It must be sturdy and have a strong muzzle with a well defined stop (the point where the foreface meets the nose). Eyes must be dark brown and the nose must be black. Teeth scissors bite. Require an X-Ray of the parents and be sure that the result states “Authorized for Inbreeding”, as they are prone to hip dysplasia.

Size
Males: 56 to 61 cm. Females: 51 to 56 cm. By the AKC standard – American Kennel Club, males from 58.4 to 60.9 cm and females from 54.6 to 57.1 cm should be qualified in case they present a variation of about 2.54 cm for more or less than the established.

Color
Any color from golden to cream, but never red or mahogany. Some white hairs on the chest are allowed.

Cares
They do not smell badly, so only bath them when necessary. Brush them with a firm bristle brush once a week to get rid of dead fur.

Official Breed Standard

  • Golden Retriever – AKC American Kennel Club
  • Origin country: Great Britain
  • Usage: hunting
  • General Appearance: symmetrical, well put together, active, powerful, possessing a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident, displaying a kindly expression
  • Characteristics: biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability
  • Temperament: friendly, reliable and gentle
  • Head and skull: Broad skull, well defined but not abrupt; muzzle- straight in profile, blending smooth and strongly into skull; the muzzle length is the same as the skull, slightly deeper and wider at stop than at tip; stop- well defined and black nose.
  • Eyes: Dark brown, set well apart, dark rim.
  • Ears: Rather short with front edge attached well behind and just above the eye
  • Mouth: strong jaws, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, that is, upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws
  • Neck: Good length, clean and muscular
  • Forequarters: Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body 
  • Body: Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart; ribs deep, well sprung; level topline
  • Hindquarters: Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles; hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out
  • Feet:   Round and cat-like
  • Tail: Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.
  • Gait/Movement: Powerful with good drive; straight and true in front and rear; stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front
  • Coat: Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat
  • Color: Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany
  • Size: Height at withers for males 56-61 cm (22-24 in) and for females 51-56 cm (20-22 in)
    Standard CBKC Breed Information: FCI Standard n. 111 of 04/30/94 (FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale n. 111 of 06/24/87), except the ones mentioned as AKC.

To read:
”The New Complete Golden Retriever”, by Gertrude Fischer, Howell Book House Publisher, New York - USA.