Golden Retriever

Breed history:

 This dog is the result of the crossbreeding between the straight hair Retrivers,  wiry fur Trevers , Tweed water Spaniels and the reddish Setters and it appeared at the end of the 19th century and became one of the most widely spread breeds in the world, being highly appreciated for its qualities.

Description:

 It is a medium- to large-sized dog, with a harmonious, symmetrical build, the most beautiful and noble dog of the Retrievers. The head is broad with a trapezoidal muzzle, a black and dark brown nose and a prominent stop. The eyes are rather big, oval and dark. The ears are short, pointed, placed high and drooping. The tail is of medium length, kept low or high, but not too much above the backline. The fur is double-layered, with soft, straight or a slightly wavy hair, of different tints of golden. The fur is thicker and slightly longer on the neck, abdomen, feet, chest and tail. They can have a white patch on the chest.

Personality:

 It is an intelligent, well balanced, not too noisy, sensitive, tenacious, watchful dog, with a good memory. It is attached, obedient and devoted to its master, loving and affectionate with children, watchful and cautious with strangers. It gets along very well with other dogs and other household animals.

Grooming:

 This fur of this dog must be periodical brushed to remove the dead hair and the fur will be trimmed if necessary to have a pleasant and tidy look. The excess hair between footpads will be removed and the ears will be kept clean. 

Living conditions:

 It is a dog with a rather high level of activity who likes to take daily exercise, to run alongside a bicycle, to swim, to play fetch, to take part in training, agility and flyball contests. It can adapt to the offered conditions, even in an apartment, on condition it gets the daily exercise it needs physically and mentally. It needs training and socialization. 

Training:

 This dog learns easily and will never forget what it has learnt. It is a sensitive dog and the training should be gentle, as varied as possible, because they can learn and have a lot to offer. It needs training and socialization. 

Usefulness:

Although used in the past especially for bird hunting even in water, today it is used as a companion for blind people, for search and rescue operations. It is a pleasant, loving and devoted companion and a good watchdog.