Tips, Help And News About Golden Retrievers

Red Golden Retrievers, are they really goldens? Traditional hunting dogs that Lord Tweedmouth created on his breeding program appeared more mahogany, sometimes auburn and almost red in color. But do Red Golden Retrievers really characterize the breed? 

During the 1800s, Tweed Water Spaniels were popular hunting dogs. However, they can only locate wild birds and cannot retrieve because of their small size and light coat. This is one of the main reasons why the gentlemen hunters preferred a medium sized hunting dog.

They wanted one that can retrieve fowls well in the wild and even in rough waters. Apart from extreme hunting skills, they also wanted one that looks sturdy and gorgeous at work with a coat that does not get dirty and preferably of darker shade.

From a yellow wavy coated Retriever bred with a Tweed Water Spaniel bringing four yellow pups, Tweedmouth also experimented mating the yellow colored pups to a Red Setter and black wavy-coated Retriever and liver colored flat-coated Retriever. The breeding line brought about different shades of gold, from light yellow gold to a rich and lustrous reddish brown and liver color.   

But what does the AKC Standard say about the coat? It says, “Rich, lustrous Golden of various shades. Predominant body color which is extremely pale or extremely dark is undesirable.” An auburn or mahogany may not be ideal, but this is not an automatic disqualification. It would only matter if your Golden is competing for a title. The one with a shade within the required range will be given a higher rank than the ones with extreme colors.

If you wanted a Golden with a darker shade, you might prefer to have an American Golden Retriever. This type resembles more of the hunting dogs. Their coat is more likely inherited from the Red Irish Setters and liver colored flat-coated Retrievers. English Golden Retrievers are lighter in color compared to American Goldens.

Red Goldens or Golden Retrievers with a darker shade are more popular in field trials and canine sports because of their long limbs and agility. Aside from that American Golden Retrievers are said to be more active and light weight which makes them efficient in all types of sports and field work. This is in contrast to their white counterpart who is more popularly known inside the show ring.

The color may vary in shades but one thing stands true, we love this breed not just because of its golden coat but because of their heart that is made of gold.

It is a must to check out Golden Retrievers information on health if you really love your golden fuzz ball. If you think you are doing your best in caring for your dog, read on this article to see if she is as healthy as she should be.

A healthy Golden’s coat is shiny, soft and lustrous, free from mats, bald spots and thinning. She should be well groomed and fur should be neatly trimmed from the head to the tail. Fleas, mites and ticks should be out of sight. Her skin should be smooth and supple, without any sores, scaling or scabs. Her muscles should be sturdy, free from lumps, redness or swelling.

Her legs should be straight and paws should be well aligned. She shouldn’t be limping and her nails and dew claws are neatly trimmed to the quick with no cracks. The sole of her paws should be clear from any cuts, burns or thorns.

Her eyes are clear, bright and free from inflammation and redness, green or yellow discharge. Her ears are pink on the inside, clean and neatly trimmed on the outside. No signs of thinning fur or scaling on the edges. It should be free from foul smell and discharge.

Her mouth, gums and tongue should be healthy pink and not pale. Sores, redness, cuts, bumps and bad breath should be absent. Her teeth should be sparkling white and free from plaque or any dark discoloration.

She should be eating normally, with no apparent signs of appetite or weight loss. She should be on the normal range at 55 to 65 pounds. Her water intake should be normal, an average of a gallon per day and depends on the weather and her activity. Her urine should be clear and not dark yellow. Her stool should be firm and brown, not loose, red or black in color. It should also be free from worms and rice grains. Her anal sac should be free from foul odor and dried stool.

She should be robust which is how a Golden should be with no signs of lethargy. She enjoys being surrounded with people and other animals. She is not aggressive and hostile when touched by strangers. She should be sociable and friendly.

Is your Golden looking healthy? Good health depends on her diet, water intake, exercise, lifestyle, vaccination and medical care. If you think you need to exert more effort on your Golden’s care, it is best to consult the one who knows best, the vet.

Golden Retrievers for Sale. You have seen posts on bulletin boards, in newspapers, pet magazines, yellow pages and a lot more on the web. With hundreds of advertisements, where can you really find the Golden one?

If you are a first time owner and new in the Golden Retriever scene, you have to be aware of where you are going to buy your Golden. There are lots of factors that you have to consider before deciding which breeder to get your puppy from.

First factor are hereditary diseases. A lot of fatal illnesses can be acquired from the sire and dam. Illnesses such as cancer, heart and eye diseases, hip and elbow dysplasia are just some. Golden Retrievers suffering from these are not qualified to be part of the breeding program. Not just because the disease can be passed on to their pups, pregnancy can be fatal for the dam too.

Second factor is the overpopulation of dogs. The more we buy from irresponsible breeders, the more they will meet demands in producing poor quality litters. These substandard puppies usually have illnesses that cannot be treated or have not been socialized early on and develop bad behaviors. Owners of such consider surrendering these poor dogs in shelters. The cost of surgery and treatment is high or because the behavior of the dog can no longer be improved.

Third factor is the years that you want to spend with your Golden. You probably wanted to have one because you wanted a lifetime companion, a dog who will be with you for the next 10 or more years of his life. With all the hereditary diseases and poor nourishment involved, 10 years is not guaranteed if you bought your dog from a profit breeder.

Theses are the reasons why you have to screen breeders before purchasing a puppy. You have to ask for health certifications, pedigree, AKC registration, temperament test and medical records. You have to visit the breeding site and see if the pups and parents are given the best care and socialization. You have to find out if the breeder just breeds for money or for the breed’s integrity.

If you bought a pup from a reputable breeder, chances are you are getting a high quality and healthy pup right from the start. No need to surrender to shelter or spend a lot for treatments. And longer years of loyal companionship are guaranteed.

Golden Retriever puppies, we cannot help their lovable charms. He could look so angelic the moment you took him home but wait for a few days and he will become your worst nightmare, a nonstop chewing machine. Sounds scary? There is always a solution.

Puppies love to explore, and they do this using their mouths. Not just that, they chew when they are bored, feel lonely or when the gums ache because of teething.

They do not have any preference on what they feel like mouthing on or chewing. It can be your cordless phone, your plush pillows, carpet and even your used socks.  They don’t care about the price, the value, appearance or the smell of what they will chew on. They will just chew whenever they want to.

This is when puppy-proofing helps. Puppy-proofing is making your home safe for your pup and making the pup safe for your home. It is a must before taking home your new Golden puppy.

When you puppy-proof you have to remove all enticing, fragile, chewable and choking objects ahead of time. You simply have to keep them out of your puppy’s reach just to be safe from trouble. You have to lock restricted rooms, storage for household chemicals and cupboards. You have to cover all wires and cables with tape. You should spray bitter apple on your furniture and appliances. You have to keep all your clothes, shoes, laundry, blankets, table runners and children’s toys out of your puppy’s sight.

There is no use punishing your pup. He will not understand what harm he has done after chewing your $500 worth Oriental carpet. Neither can you be punished for not keeping this thing away prior his arrival.

You can always give your pup an option by buying him less expensive chew toys rather than your expensive belongings. When you catch him chewing on your property, do not pull the object away from his mouth. Entice him with the chew toy instead. This should be readily available when he arrives for him to learn to chew on the right things at an early age.

Simple obedience commands like sit, no and drop it helps a lot too. That is why it is a must to teach these to your dog a day after he arrives. Enrolling him in obedience classes will surely enhance his behavior. Keeping him busy with activities, play and toys will lessen his destructive chewing.

There is always a solution your puppy’s chewing problem and there is no better way you can do that by starting now.

Golden Retriever Kennels are very helpful when you plan to go out of town and cannot bring your dog along. They provide a safe and caring abode for your Golden buddy when no one is available to care for him. But it depends on the kennel or doggie residence that you leave your dog into. You also have to be careful in choosing a home away from home.

At least two weeks before your planned travel, start looking for the right kennel for your dog. The best way you can find one is not on the yellow pages but by asking your vet, dog trainer or your dog owner friends. After getting a good list near your location, start visiting the kennels one by one.

Check the facilities. How does it smell? Are the dogs placed in different crates or just in one cage? Is the place clean? Is there a place where dogs can take a walk and potty? Is the facility well maintained and well lit? Is the staff courteous? How do they treat visitors and the dogs?

A good kennel is not just a place where you can leave your dog. It is also a welcoming residence. It is not just a comfortable place to stay, it should also give him reasons to be happy. They make sure that the dogs are well taken cared of while the owner is away and assures that they will also be given right exercise and treatment.

Ask if the kennel also provides additional services like grooming and training. This is to ensure that your dog will be given the best care and education even while you out.

Sadly though, even if the facilities are clean, kennel cough virus, fleas and mites are lurking even in the neatest and tidiest kennel. Ask your vet to immunize your Golden against kennel cough. Also inquire on how your dog can prevent fleas and mites infestation.

Before dropping off your dog, you also have to prepare him. Ensure a buckled collar with ID. Make sure that he is well socialized and will not show hostility when handled by strangers. It is also advisable to update all his vaccines especially his rabies shots. Pack his goodies like his toy, blankets, food and water bowl and his dog food. This is to make him more at home during his stay. Inform the staff if your dog needs special medical or geriatric treatment ahead or if he has some bad behavior that needs to be dealt with.

When you find the right kennel, make reservations and drop off your buddy on the set date. Make a swift good bye and have a safe and worry-free trip.