Golden Retriever
History
Scotland is cited to be the birthplace of the Golden Retriever. Believed to be a cross-breed between the Tweed Water Spaniel and the Flat Coat Retriever, Golden Retriever was bred exclusively as a hunting dog. The breed was registered in Canada in the year 1927 and AKC recognized the breed in the year 1925.
Appearance
The breed has a well-balanced body with a broad head, tapering muzzle, brown eyes with dark rims and hanging ears. The average height of a male Golden Retriever is 23 – 24 inches at the shoulders and weighs about 65 pounds. Its outer coat is water-repellant, whereas the inner coat is dense. The coat comes in various shades of lustrous gold or cream.
Personality
Popular as an intelligent breed, the Golden Retriever is a loyal, active, playful and easy-to-teach breed. Though bred as a hunting dog, their friendly nature makes them poor guard dogs. The breed is friendly with children and other pets at home.
Health Concerns
The average life expectancy of the breed is about 12 years. The breed is prone to health problems like skin allergies, congenital eye problems and hip dysplasia. Golden Retriever has a tendency to bloat, thus regular exercise is a must.