The Golden Years: A Pet Owner's Guide to the Golden Retriever

Chapter One

Meet the Golden Retriever

You are about to enter your Golden years and your life will never be the same again. Just one glance into the chocolate eyes of these, the most lovable dogs on earth, and your heart will stir, stirring emotions through your body like soft electricity. These gentle dogs are playful, funny, and irresistibly huggable. They trot out of your fantasies and noisily leap into real life. Golden Retrievers are living proof that dreams do come true. It is impossible to keep your hands off these stand-up comedians. At times they are uninhibited clowns, and at other times they are the essence of canine dignity. To know them is to love them. Meet the Golden Retriever.

A breed profile will help you make the right decision if you are considering living with a Golden Retriever. In the event that you have already brought one home, it will be even more useful, by helping you understand the newest member of your family.

The first thing a family wants to know when deciding on a dog is what he is going to be like. Will he love you and be your friend? Will he fit into your lifestyle? Will he be fun to be with? Or will he just pee on the wallpaper, dig up the azalea bushes, and nip the UPS driver because he doesn't like his uniform? If you are in the process of choosing a dog, the primary consideration must be behavior. What will your dog be like? It's a big question.

All dogs share a common set of fundamental behaviors designed to help them reproduce and survive that can be seen in every aspect of their lives. Each breed, however, has behaviors that may be exaggerated, diminished, or unique to that breed. These behavioral variations are what make most dog breeds different from each other, in addition to their physical distinctions. They are predictable enough to give new dog owners a fairly accurate idea of what they should expect from a dog of a particular breed. Of course, each dog has its own personality differences, and these are less predictable. Nevertheless, it is helpful to learn in advance about the breed you are interested in.

The Golden Retriever's Original Function

To better understand your new dog's behavior, you should begin by learning about the breed's original function. This will help you understand your dog's traits and behaviors, because most of them are linked to it. Almost every breed has been established by serious people who have selected dogs for mating to emphasize size, type, coat, sensory abilities, skills, or behaviors. The 400 breeds (more or less) throughout the world are largely the result of human intervention in the mating process. Most breeds were created in order to develop dogs that were useful to humans in special environments and jobs, such as herding, guarding, various aspects of hunting, and in many other practical tasks.

The original function of Golden Retrievers was to assist hunters in the taking of waterfowl and upland game birds. Their job was to locate and retrieve birds that were shot by hunters. Although their skills are well suited for upland game birds that hide in the brush, such as pheasant, quail, and doves, Golden Retrievers are most useful to hunters of wild duck, geese, and assorted waterfowl. This is mostly because of the retriever's exceptional ability to swim, especially with a bird in its mouth.

In the early part of the nineteenth century, English bird hunters began developing dogs that would locate fallen game and retrieve it without damaging it with their teeth. These dogs were also bred to refrain from hunting for live game, as Spaniels did during that time. Thus began the development of the early Retriever types out of which has come the Golden Retriever.

A typical field-working Golden Retriever, if trained properly, will sit quietly with a hunter in a duck blind without giving away their presence. If the dog is allowed to watch through a peephole as the hunter shoots, he can visually "mark" where each bird falls, even from a great distance. Like most Retrievers, he will remember the locations. On command, the dog will dash out of the duck blind, plunge into icy-cold water, and swim quickly to the fallen bird. Like an Olympian, the dog will swim back to shore with the undamaged bird in its "soft mouth" to present the prize to the hunter. If required, the dog will go back into the water for other fallen birds. It is what he was born to do.

Golden Retrievers have been bred from their earliest beginnings for their intelligence, pleasing disposition, and even temperament, qualities that have blended well with their abilities in the field. However, the great majority of Goldens today are pets, show dogs, or service dogs. Only a relatively few work at the hunter's side despite the fact that their natural skills and inclinations for fieldwork remain as part of their personalities.

Golden Retrievers love people and are pleasing companions. They are born with a gentle, adaptive nature that allows them to live happily with most people in most homes. It is their easygoing nature that has created the desire in so many pet owners to bring them into their home as part of their family.

Typical Goldens are eager, alert, and self-confident. They are high-energy dogs that are ready to join in any activity you have in mind whenever you say the word. As high-energy dogs, they enjoy physical activities and never resist participating in them, nor do they unwillingly drag through various forms of work. They love games and going for walks.

Energetic Golden Retrievers should not be mistaken for hyperactive dogs. Hyperactive dogs are nervous, cannot sit still, are never comfortable, and never feel relaxed in their situation. Despite their abundance of enthusiasm, Goldens, by contrast, are perfectly capable of relaxing and spending time quietly, especially if the time is shared with a member of the family. Of course, a Golden will be ready for any activity you have in mind in an instant.

Golden Retrievers are responsive dogs. They accept training well and have an engaging desire to please. Those who live with them never hesitate to tell anyone how their dog tenderly responds to the concerns of its family. When Goldens look at you, their eyes reflect your feelings with unusual accuracy. They only seem to be human.

As a breed, Goldens are sensitive but not shy. Shy dogs are frightened, easily intimidated, and defensively aggressive. Sensitive dogs simply want your approval and cannot bear a bad-tempered rejection. A stern tone of voice is all that is necessary as a reprimand. Even that much produces a hurt look. This is not a breed that can tolerate harsh treatment or physical punishment of any kind. Goldens want to please you, and when they foul up it is usually because they were trying too hard.

The first year with Golden Retrievers is pure pleasure because they are high-energy dogs and fun to be with. Goldens are ready for anything; all you have to do is say the word. They see people: they like people. They want people to see them and to like them. Typically, they cannot wait to get into the family car with you. They will be ready to go before you are. They are always by your side and want to be part of what you are doing. This is in contrast to hyperactive dogs that are not fun, that have to be constantly corrected, that are always moving, always panting, always uncomfortable.

Golden owners soon discover they can release their dog's boundless energy by working him with training sessions, exercise, or play. Tossing a ball or stick and having the dog retrieve gives supreme pleasure to these dogs and uses up much of their energy. A vigorous swim is what they love most. Puppies, having much more energy than adult dogs, have less control of their enthusiasm, but this changes with maturity. These are dogs that are eager to learn and exceptionally bright.

Goldens can be taught almost anything. Ironically, if you unintentionally teach them a negative behavior, they will remember it and use it to get you to look at them or play with them. If a Golden puppy steals your underwear and you laugh, he will continue to do it for years, waiting for the reward of your laughter. These things become attention-getters to make you hang up the phone or stop talking to a friend and look at the dog.

As the years pass, you will discover that an important part of Goldens' charm is their quick emotional transition from exuberant play to attentive concern for you. A Golden is quite likely at some unsuspecting moment to lay his head on your arm and look into your eyes with unbelievable sensitivity. These are dogs full of surprises.

Important breed traits of the Golden Retriever are their love of people, their desire to get along with other dogs, their need to be cared for (including bathing, brushing, training), their constantly wanting to be petted, and their carrying anything and everything in their mouth. They love food and live for their next meal; they will do what they must to get it. They are very responsive to all forms of training. They can be taught to go hiking with you, to perform well in obedience trials, to behave appropriately with hospital patients, to work as therapy and assistance dogs. There is little they cannot be taught to do except work as protection dogs.

There is more to owning a Golden than the attention you give to the dog. You must be willing to accept all the attention that will be given to your dog; almost everyone who sees him will admire him and want to pet such a handsome dog. You will be unable to walk down the street without attracting those who want to stop you and look at your very special dog.

Goldens have a technique for getting you to hold, hug, and pet them. They come up under your arm with their head, nudge it upward, and flick your arm in the air so that it will drop over the back of their neck. This causes the palm of your hand to land flat on the dog's back. All Goldens do it.

Goldens can melt your heart with a look and get anything they want from you. A wistful stare usually means "Feed me."

Golden Retrievers know they are beautiful and never let you forget it. They are always posing. After you brush them, they tend to parade around and let you express your admiration. This behavior is reinforced by the frequency with which people tell them how beautiful they are.

An important breed trait is their intense desire to be with their family as much as possible. Nothing pleases them more than being in the backyard and having you toss a ball for them. However, if you go inside, they want to go in with you. Goldens are among the most social of all dogs and want the company of you, your friends, your neighbors, and anyone else who comes to visit. They are good-time dogs.

An important reason for the great popularity of Goldens is their ability to withstand city stress. They are among the most adaptive of all dogs, adjusting easily to family life after dog shows, obedience trials, or even fieldwork, and they love every minute of the transition. They are the perfect dog to grow old with.

Golden Retrievers have only a few inherent negative traits. They shed seasonally. If they are not brushed at least once a week, their fur gets on everything. They may scratch themselves excessively, creating skin irritations, or "hot spots." Thorough brushing several times a week controls the problem.

A laughable but annoying trait is their love of playing with their water bowl and sloshing around the floor in puddles they created. Some Goldens enjoy slurping a drink and bringing it to you in their mouth, no matter what you are wearing. Almost all of these dogs will sooner or later dunk their toys in the water bowl and bring them to you dripping wet. Golden Retrievers are not ideal dogs for exceptionally neat and tidy people, but their messiness may be tolerated by those who love the breed and may not necessarily be considered negative by everyone. Of course, negative traits that are not typical of the breed can be less than endearing.

In a questionnaire sent to a number of active Golden Retriever breeders, they were asked to describe the typical personality traits of the breed. It is interesting to see how many of them agree with each other and offer similar comments. These are their responses:

The breeders were also asked, "What behavioral characteristics are unique to your breed?" They answered:

Nontypical Traits

It is important to understand that some dogs are not typical of their breed and create a false impression about breed characteristics. Occasionally a Golden is born that is not typical and can only be considered a genetic misfortune. This has happened to most breeders at one time or another despite their experience and good intentions. However, most dogs that are not typical of their breed are the result of bad breeding practices. Bad examples of the breed are most often the result of ignorance, apathy, the irresponsible pursuit of profit, and greed. When a breed becomes as popular as the Golden Retriever, it is always in danger of being exploited in an attempt to satisfy the great demand by overbreeding.

The law of supply and demand motivates profiteers to mate all the Golden Retrievers they can get their hands on without the selectivity necessary for a good breeding program. In that situation there is no thought of the health or behavior of the dogs that are mated. Dogs that may have inherited diseases, disorders, poor breed type or temperament are most likely going to pass on those negative factors to their puppies. Once atypical breed traits or health problems are established in the gene pool, it is anyone's guess which future puppies will inherit those problems.

Other reasons for atypical breed traits that appear in Goldens may be harmful circumstances and events that have occurred in the dog's life. Among these could have been harsh and unhealthy living conditions, abusive treatment, no training, improper training, little or no medical attention, isolation from people, or serious mistakes made by uninformed breeders or dog owners.

What the Breeders Say

Breeders of Golden Retrievers were also asked in the questionnaire, "Which traits would be atypical of the breed?" Once again there is much agreement among them. Here are their replies:

Searching for a Golden Retriever Puppy

Selecting the best Golden Retriever for you and your family requires some homework and some legwork. Read as much as possible about the breed (in books, articles, pamphlets) and then go out and meet the Golden people (exhibitors, breeders, veterinarians, dog trainers, groomers, pet owners) and talk to them, asking them all the questions you can think of. These activities are not only interesting and informative, they are also great fun. If you do this, you will become capable of selecting the best puppy available. You will also be quite proud of yourself and your new dog.

Although dogs are everywhere and getting one is easy, getting the right one is a little harder. Acquiring a dog on impulse can be a disaster waiting to happen. Some people become pet owners by chance. This may happen when a puppy is purchased as a last-minute Christmas or birthday gift or if you give in to the emotional appeal of a young puppy cunningly placed in your arms. Getting a dog in such a way often leads to anger and sadness. Of course, many people have successfully found pet dogs without much fuss and have been very happy with the outcome. Nevertheless, the risk of failure is high, and it can lead to heartbreak for everyone concerned. The best chance of avoiding this is to learn how to select a sound, healthy dog.

Before selecting a puppy, attend All-Breed or Specialty dog shows featuring the Golden Retriever. Show listings can be obtained directly from the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, or from the Golden Retriever Club of America. This will give you an opportunity to see good examples of the breed and talk to owners, handlers, and breeders. At a dog show you will definitely find many sources for high-quality Golden Retrievers. You can also find breeder ads in the popular dog magazines such as Dogs USA, Dog Fancy, AKC Gazette, Dog World, or in Blood Lines (UKC). Write or call the American Kennel Club for their breeder referral information or for the address of the current secretary of the Golden Retriever Club of America, from whom you can obtain a list of Golden Retriever breeders in your region. Write to: American Kennel Club, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010.

Selecting a Good Puppy

Puppies are appealing and huggable. On first sight you will want to take them all home because it is difficult to choose one over the other. Their large brown eyes seem to say, "Take me. I love you." Golden puppies are tantalizing and make it almost impossible to make an intelligent selection. Apart from noting personality differences and which one looks best, the most important criteria for selecting a pet dog are health and temperament. It is in your best interest to know the difference between a puppy that is healthy and of good temperament from one that is not.

Most breeders proudly show likely buyers a pedigree, which is an impressive-looking document outlining a puppy's parentage, or family tree, going back at least three generations. It will tell you a lot about a puppy if you are familiar with Golden Retrievers of high quality by name and with the kennels that produced them. It is a meaningless document to those who know little or nothing about such matters as "foundation stock," past and present Golden Retriever champions, and the kennels that produced the dogs mentioned in the pedigree.

However, most breeders are eager to explain a puppy's pedigree to you if you show the slightest interest. There is something to be gained by reading the document even if you don't understand all of it. For example, if there is at least one dog listed in the pedigree with a Champion title, it is an indication that the puppy comes from a line of quality breeding. Of course, you may still get a great dog with or without a champion in the family tree, especially if it is to be a companion animal. If you have done your homework, you will be able to recognize a few of the names of the kennels with important reputations. One could very easily show up on a pedigree.

Another important document a breeder or retailer may show you is an AKC registration certificate for the litter of puppies you are looking at or for an individual puppy. An official American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club registration certificate is a document that is supposed to prove a dog's purebred status. That is all it means. It does not guarantee in any way the quality of a dog or puppy. It is important to understand this.

It is far more useful to see the mother or father of the puppies you are looking at. One or the other should be available if you are visiting a kennel. This is where your experience at dog shows and the books and pictures you have examined will serve you. If the puppies' parents appear to be in good health and seem to have an even temperament, it is likely that their puppies will grow to be somewhat like their parents. If you have read the Official Standard for the Golden Retriever from the American Kennel Club (reprinted at the end of this chapter), you should be able to tell if the dogs come close to it or not.

Because most puppies are bought as companion animals, a breeder may refer you to a "pet quality" dog rather than one with "show potential." Do not be put off by this. Many breeders will not sell a puppy with show potential to someone who wants a pet. Those puppies are usually reserved for the breeder if he or she shows dogs or for someone who will "campaign" them at dog shows and try to win the fifteen points necessary for a Champion title. This is an expensive and time-consuming activity. Dogs that earn the title Champion help establish a kennel's reputation and the quality of its breeding program. For the breeder it is a matter of pride and economics.

"Pet quality" puppies are wonderful dogs. Important matters of health and temperament are different considerations from a puppy's "show potential." Such dogs have simply not met every aspect of the Official Standard and have limited chances for winning dog shows, which should not matter to anyone who just wants a dog to live with. Pet quality dogs are the best companion animals in the world.

The most important consideration when selecting a puppy is good health. A simple set of observations when looking at a litter of puppies or an individual dog will help enormously. It is essential to be as objective as possible and try to discover any medical problems before you make your selection. Nothing short of a veterinary examination can accurately reveal all aspects of a puppy's health. You are entirely on your own when making your puppy selection.

Still, you do not have to be a health-care professional to know when you are looking at puppies in good health. A healthy litter of puppies should be frisky and outgoing; they should appear to be enjoying themselves and glow with good health. If there is one puppy in the group that is sluggish, upset-looking, walks or runs with a limp, has an exceptionally unhealthy-looking coat, or shows any obvious signs of bad health, be cautious about your selection.

The puppy coat should be soft, bright, and healthy-looking without clumps, mats, or bald patches. A coat in bad condition can be a sign of disease, parasites (worms, fleas, ticks, etc.), physical stress, emotional stress, or an unhealthy environment. A healthy puppy's coat should be loose, supple, and have no bald patches of hair or dandruff-like flakes. At a very young age it is normal for the Golden coat to be somewhat fluffy and without a lot of shine.

The skin underneath should not have any damaged surfaces, scaly areas, or sores. A puppy's skin or haircoat should not show evidence of fleas, which resembles grains of salt and pepper. Active fleas may or may not be visible. Your new puppy should have clean, smooth, undamaged skin.

Healthy eyes should be clear, clean, and alert, with no excessive watering or sensitivity to light. Unnatural markings or inconsistent coloring on the corneas (the outer covering of the eye) may indicate corneal ulcers, which appear as colorless, indented spots. They are considered to be a serious medical condition. If a puppy's eyes seem to tear excessively or if he continually rubs his eyes with a paw, he probably has a medical problem.

The ears of a Golden Retriever puppy should be clean, particularly on the inner surface. Dirty-looking or waxy material inside may mean the puppy has ear mites. Ear mites are minute white specks that move. They are common parasites in dogs and cause infection. If a puppy shakes its head excessively, scratches and rubs its ears, and behaves in a restless manner, it is very likely infected with mites. Veterinary care is necessary.

To test for deafness, slap your hands behind a puppy's ears. Rattle some keys loudly where he cannot see them. If there is no response, it is likely the puppy does not have normal hearing.

When selecting a puppy, temperament is one of the most important aspects to consider. This has an important bearing on emotional stability and the potential for acceptable behavior as an adult dog. A Golden Retriever puppy that is going to be a companion animal should be playful, enthusiastic, curious, eager, self-confident, energetic, and affectionate. Do not look for the most pushy puppy unless you are looking for a show prospect; in that case choose the boldest puppy of the litter. That dog will want people to pay attention to him and that kind of behavior is best for the show ring.

What is unique to Goldens is the way they shower you with a million kisses. Golden puppies should come right up to you and lick your face. Normal puppies love everybody. If one puppy in a litter is described as "calm," it is a substitution for the word shy. Normal Goldens do not become truly calm until they are three years old. This is true of most breeds. All puppies should be active and all over the place; if not, something is wrong.

Beware of shy, timid, or overly aggressive puppies. What is heartwarming or cute at twelve weeks can make you quite unhappy at six or eight months of age. A shy puppy may cringe, cower, or become aggressive when petted, picked up, or cornered in any way. Golden puppies that are not curious, energetic, playful, or anxious to greet you are either sick or untypical of the breed and should be avoided. (Of course, puppies can also be tired at the time of viewing and may simply want to take a nap.) When considering buying a puppy, try to imagine what he will be like as a grown dog. Look for an outgoing, friendly dog who comes right up to you and does not hide in the corner or run with fear.

Do not choose a puppy with a shy temperament. Shy dogs grow up to be abnormally frightened of anyone or anything that is unfamiliar. They do their best to avoid most people, animals, or changes in their environment.

A puppy with a mild temperament is not necessarily a shy puppy. A mild-tempered puppy may be somewhat aloof with strangers and take a wait-and-see attitude before making direct contact. That is not the same as shyness, which is a serious behavior deficiency.

Another temperament type to avoid is the aggressive dog. Puppies that growl seriously from their throat are warning you that they will bite. That is unacceptable and undesirable behavior and indicative of an aggressive puppy who will grow into an aggressive, possibly dangerous dog. If you are suspicious of overly aggressive behavior, place the puppy on his back and hold him with your hand placed on his neck for ten or fifteen seconds. A puppy with a potential behavior problem will growl, snarl, howl, bark, and even snap and bite to get back on his feet. Do not choose this puppy as a pet.

Puppies that have been handled by humans on a regular basis after three weeks of age have been "socialized." This means they will be more adaptable to living with humans and will accept obedience training easily. If they have been allowed to remain with their mother and litter mates for seven weeks, they are likely to adjust easily to other dogs as well as humans (providing they have been socialized).

The transference of genetic characteristics plays an important role in dog behavior, too. If the puppies' mother and father are at ease with strangers, congenial, outgoing, and friendly, it is likely that their puppies will be the same, providing they have been handled properly.

When observing a litter of puppies, kneel at floor level and observe which ones are curious about you, friendly toward you, want you to touch them. With the breeder's permission, lift them in your arms, one at a time, to see if they are at ease with you. Hold each puppy in your arms with the belly facing up. If the dog submits with ease and pleasure, his temperament is just fine. If he squirms desperately to get away, he may be aggressive or nervous. If he whines and whimpers, he may be shy. A normal puppy will either thrash about playfully or settle in and enjoy the contact. He should follow you around when you set him down on the floor. Try playing with him. A friendly, outgoing puppy should enjoy playing with you. He may roll on his back and flail his paws in the air or place your finger in his mouth or try to climb on you and lick your face.

Try tossing something for the puppies to retrieve. They should respond well to this. Get them to come to you by clapping your hands. Observe how social they are with each other. Pay attention to whether or not they interact reasonably with their brothers and sisters. Avoid a loner or a puppy that is a bully around the food or in play.

A new puppy should be taken to his new home at eight weeks of age. This makes bonding with the young dog more successful. Waiting longer than eight weeks makes the process more difficult unless the puppy has interacted with many different people. See Chapter 4, "The Golden Bond." There is more to canine health than clear eyes and a glossy coat. A happy, self-assured puppy that delights in the company of humans is likely to enjoy good health and long life.

The Official Golden Retriever

Serious breeders and exhibitors (those who compete at dog shows) work hard to produce dogs that compare favorably to the American Kennel Club's Official Standard for their breed. This is not only appropriate but essential, because these are members of the Dog Fancy who have the responsibility of preserving (and improving) the qualities of their breed, which include physical characteristics and behavioral traits.

Although pet owners rarely have the same concerns about their dogs as breeders and exhibitors, some considerations apply equally when selecting a good dog. Many potential pet owners are not sure what the breed of choice should actually look like or what kind of behavior to expect. Attending canine competitions (the dog sport) involving obedience trials, field trials, hunting tests, agility, and other contests may be helpful, but the most popular event is the dog show. The dog show, as sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, is formally referred to as a conformation show. It is a competition concerned with a dog's skeletal form, musculature, movement and gait, coat color and pattern, and overall appearance, health, and behavior.

In a dog show the dogs' various physical structures are judged against guidelines detailed in the Official Standard. It is not a beauty contest, although many dogs entered in dog shows are among the most beautiful-looking in the world. The "conformation" of a dog pertains to overall appearance and physical formation, involving both its individual characteristics and the sum total of those characteristics as a well-balanced composite.

American Kennel Club judges examine each dog in competition and decide how closely it compares to the descriptions in the Official Standard for the breed. The dogs that are judged to be closest to the written standard win points for a championship title (fifteen required), awards, and prizes. Although the Official Standard for any breed represents an ideal, it is used by breeders, exhibitors, and show judges as an important guideline for evaluating dogs within a breed.

It is worth the effort for potential pet owners to read the Official Standard of the breed of dog they want. How else can you determine if the puppy being considered comes close to the type of dog you have your heart set on? Before you read the standard, however, here are a few pointers that can be of help with the puppy selection.

Although the standard offers a category of "Size, Proportion, Substance," the pet owner should not allow a puppy's size to become an issue. Often, the smallest Golden puppy grows to be a big dog. A puppy's size is not necessarily an indication of its height or weight as an adult dog. Look for an average-size puppy somewhere in the middle when compared to the others in the litter, not the largest, not the smallest.

All shades of the rich, golden hair color are acceptable in the show ring and should be considered by the pet owner. The consideration of coat color is a matter of personal preference (and puppy availability) and does not reflect negatively on breed type. The colors range from deep red to yellow-gold to cream. Many Goldens have an allowable dot of white hair on the chest, which is common and is not penalized in the show ring. Some puppies have dark skin pigmentation on the stomach, beneath the coat, which often lightens or disappears with maturity. No acceptable Golden Retriever has any black hairs in the coat. Some experts believe that the color of the hair on a puppy's ears indicates what the color will be when the dog is an adult.

A Golden Retriever puppy that is true to type should have dark brown eyes, the darker the better. The eyes should always be darker than the coat color.

Official breed standards are created by the various national breed clubs and reviewed and approved by the American Kennel Club. With that in mind and with the generous permission of the American Kennel Club, we reprint here the Official Standard for the Golden Retriever.

_____________________________________________________________

Official Standard for the
GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Copyright © 1996 by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis
Excerpt posted with permission from http://www.twbookmark.com

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