The background of the golden retriever is quite fascinating. I know when I got my first retriever I didn’t know everything about how this breed came to be, but now I find it really fascinating. Originally the breed came from the Scottish Highlands in the late 1800s and was used primarily as a hunting dog. Over time, the breed was crossed with the golden retriever and also with the tweed water spaniel for the purpose of breeding a dog that was adapted to the harsh Scottish climate and terrain. Later in the breeding of Irish Setters, bloodhounds and more tweed spaniels were introduced, giving us the breed as we know it today.
There are different strains of the golden retriever and the color difference is quite noticeable. In the UK and Europe the coloration is much lighter, while in the US the color tends to range up to a deep rust colour. If it weren’t for the distinctive shape and fur covering, one might think it was a completely different animal.
Since he was bred as a hunting dog, it’s understandable how his name came to be.
About the Golden Retriever.
He is a large and powerful dog that has been bred for hard work and lots of it. It looks like they would be pretty fragile under all that fur, but they are actually very muscular animals bred to track animals. The female retriever is a slightly smaller animal than the male, measuring approximately 21 to 22 inches at the withers with a body weight of 55 to 65 pounds in height at the withers.
Exercise of the Golden Retriever.
Retrievers need exercise every day and thrive on having a good long run. By nature they want this exercise and if they don’t get it they are not performing at their best.
The coat is long and one might think that this is a hindrance when used as a game dog, but in reality its coat is double coated and water repellent. They are known as the “water dog” which seems strange when you look at all that thick hair, but they love water and if you can give your retriever a run through the water regularly they will love you for it.
Your pet will love playing games that are very physical like fetching sticks and balls, chasing a frizzbe, job hunting, racing with a biker, and anything else you can think of that is very physical.
Golden Retriever personality.
These dogs are wonderful dogs with many good attributes, especially their very loyal personality. They are calm, easy to train and not skittish like some dogs, and this is what makes them such a wonderful pet with small children. They will sit and wait for hours if they are trained to do so.