Mary Allen
Long, golden fur, his friendly nature, and his loyal gaze make the Golden Retriever one of the most popular pets in Germany. Here you will find everything you always wanted to know about the popular dog breed.
History of the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is one of the most sought-after family dogs today, which is not the least due to its friendly and bright nature. But how long has the Golden Retriever existed as we know it?
In the mid-19th century, hunting ducks and other wildfowl were popular with Scottish nobility. It was unavoidable that the valuable hunted prey sometimes ended up in rivers or lakes. For this reason, they needed a reliable dog that could retrieve the killed prey in any terrain to its owner. Of course, the dog should not damage them or even eat them.
So an obedient dog with a “soft” mouth and a good sense of smell was needed. So the Scottish Sir Dudley Majoribanks made it his mission to breed the perfect retriever. In 1865 he bought the yellow retriever Nous and the golden water spaniel Bell and began breeding them. Retriever breeding was a success and by the end of the 19th century, his new breed was widely known in Britain. Eventually, he was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as a distinct British dog breed.
The breed belongs to the FCI group 8, section 1, and thus to the retrievers. In the 1980s, the Goldie slowly became better known in Germany and in the 1990s it became the family’s absolute favorite dog. The Golden Retriever should not be confused with the Labrador Retriever. The Labrador has a much shorter coat and can be brown or black in addition to yellow or golden.
Traits and Character Traits
The purebred Golden Retriever was bred to be obedient and easy to handle so that it could be used for hunting without any problems. Because of this original determination, the breed is said to show a “will to please” towards its owner. That is, the dog wants to please its owner and is devoted and affectionate. Retrievers are not anxious or hectic by nature, but cheerful and lively in every situation. They are extremely patient, and adaptable and don’t let anything shake them.
The Retriever is quick to play and is often very active and playful even as an old dog. He is very attached to his human family and would like to be there everywhere. Due to its friendly nature towards strangers, this is not a problem with a well-behaved dog. He is also extremely intelligent and learns new commands and games with great motivation.
Bad weather can’t harm him and he needs his daily exercise even in rain and storms. A Golden Retriever is therefore particularly suitable for families who do a lot of sports with them and like to go hiking. He is very people-oriented and feels most comfortable in a family with a lot of social contacts. The Golden Retrievers also get along well with other dogs and you can keep them as a second dog.
How Do I Keep a Golden Retriever?
Considerations before purchasing
Of course, before you get a Golden Retriever, you need to do a few things. Dog training is relatively easy for him compared to other breeds, which makes the Goldie an ideal “beginner’s dog”. Nevertheless, before you buy one, you should ask yourself whether you are willing to commit to a dog for a long time.
The Golden Retriever has a relatively long life expectancy of 10-14 years. During this period of time, daily exercise, grooming and constant care of the dog should not be a problem. Due to its strong human bond, the Golden Retriever is absolutely not suitable for kennel keeping and is reluctant to stay at home alone. Ideally, you keep your dog in a house with a garden.
The acquisition costs for a Golden Retriever vary greatly. The price can vary from 200€ to over 1000€ depending on whether he is purebred or not, a puppy or an adult. Responsible breeders invest heavily in their breeding dogs to maintain the health and purity of the breed. Of course, this is reflected in the purchase price of the puppies. If you don’t want to buy a puppy, you should take a look at the “Retriever in Not e.V.” association. We are looking for people with dog experience who can take in a badly kept retriever and give it a new home.
Puppy development and education
When you pick up your Golden Retriever puppy from the breeder, it is usually 8-12 weeks old. This is the right time for the little one to get used to his new pack and learn how humans and dogs live together. The Golden Retriever bitch reaches sexual maturity at about the sixth month of life and the male at about ten months. The dogs are only fully grown physically when they are about two to two and a half years old. At this point, their wavy coat also reaches its full length and needs daily grooming.