The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is yet another wonderful breed originating from Great Britain. First raised to be a water retriever and a hunter the breed has since graduated to the all important service dog, a guide dog for the blind. The Golden Retriever was recognized by the American Kennel Club, AKC, in 1925 as has since enjoyed tremendous popularity in the United States appearing in the number 4 spot on their Popular Dog List.

The Golden Retriever is a loyal, gentle dog that really thrives on the companionship of his "humans." I would not recommend this breed if you do not have a lot of time to give, as Golden Retrievers do not do well in homes with owners that are frequently absent. In these situations they tend to display alot of behavioral issues like Dog Chewing, and signs of Separation Anxiety.

However, if you are home, and do have the time to give, Golden Retrievers can make wonderful family pets. They are highly intelligent and easily trained because of their willingness to please and their obedient nature. A little practice and consistency is generally all you need to teach a Golden Retriever Basic Commands like, Sit, Stay, and Fetch, and Housebreaking is relatively painless as well.

Golden Retrievers are also extremely social dogs, not only will they thrive on attention from you, but they adore attention from just about anyone they come into contact with. This quality doesn't make them the best of watchdogs or guarddog, but it does make them a fantastic choice for a household with children. Golden Retrievers are generally gentle, but it seems that when they are around children they are extra careful and move very cautiously. Now, that doesn't mean you should leave a small child unattended with a dog, as with all dogs their should always be supervision as children are easily hurt accidentally, or can hurt the dog in their play.

Grooming is another matter entirely. The double coated Golden Retriever does need frequent brushing to remove dead hair, minimally 3 times a week, and also needs bathing every 4-6 weeks. Shedding is a year-round event for these dogs, getting worse in the Spring, which probably makes them a bad choice for an allergy sufferer.

Overall the Golden Retriever is a great Family Dog, and I recommend the breed very highly!