Breeds 101: Those Great Golden Retrievers

Good-natured, photogenic and energetic, Golden Retrievers have it all.

If you were to take a survey asking respondents to choose their dream dog, chances are high that a Golden Retriever would rank fairly high in the results – according to the American Kennel Club, they are the third-most popular breed.

This breed is fairly large – females generally stand about 21.5-22.5 inches at the withers (shoulders) and weigh 55-65 pounds, while males generally stand from 23-24 inches at the withers and weigh 65-75 pounds – and has a water-repellent wavy coat perfect for shampoo commercials.

They are sporting dogs, developed in Scotland in the late nineteenth century to aid in hunting waterfowl, and the breed was first recognized by The Kennel Club of England in 1911. The AKC recognized the breed in 1925, and several years after that the Golden Retriever Club of America was founded.

According to the AKC Breed Standard, Goldens must be “a symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy or long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression [with] a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident.”

The breed makes good service dogs, in addition to being a good candidate for rescue work.

With boundless energy, steadfast patience and a willingness to please, they work well with hunters at retrieving downed ducks, and perform well in dog sports of agility, diving, field trials and flyball.

It’s not all fun and games, though – while they a lifespan of 10-12 years, Goldens call fall prey to cancer, hip dysplasia, heart disease, eye problems and obesity.

Two Presidents have had Goldens serve as the First Dog, Gerald Ford’s Liberty and Ronald Reagan’s Victory, respectively.

Famous onscreen Goldens include Shadow from the Homeward Bound movies, Comet from Full House, Buddy from the Air Bud film series and Doug from Pixar’s Up. 

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