Golden Retriever breed history. Origins of the Golden Retriever Appearance and Standards
HISTORY OF THE BREED
Birthplace of Golden Retrievers:
Manor of Lord Tweedmouth I
photo from Valerie Foss book
Golden Retriever This is a Golden Retriever.
"Retrieve" means: to find, return; save, in relation to a dog - "find and serve game."
Until the end of the 19th century, the word "Retriever" meant not a breed, but a function.
English Setters (already referred to as a breed in the 14th century) along with Pointers worked as retrievers too. There were no breed standards, retrievers were knitted based on their working qualities, no one was particularly worried about the appearance.
The need for retrievers arose thanks to ... a gun.
The advent of relatively modern hunting weapons that allow you to shoot a bird in flight has led to the fact that hunting has become a fashionable sport, an all-consuming hobby.
It is easy to imagine a swamp in November or April.
The nineteenth century, no one had even heard of simple, native rubber boots.
Whether you are a Lord or not, but in the icy swamp for a bird, as well as in the summer, warm, and once a day you don’t want to climb at all. (To get some idea of what is at stake: Lord de Grey, a first-rate shooter, is recorded to have shot 250,000 pheasants, 100,000 gray partridges and 50,000 grouses from 1867 to 1923. Only the bird found and brought home is counted .)
The life of a gentleman without a retriever turned into hell. In general, either you climb into the swamp a hundred or more times a day, or you are not an athlete. And if you are not a child or an old man, then they still have some doubts in the UK - if you are not an athlete, maybe you are not a gentleman? In general, there was an urgent need for the actual retrievers. Some hunters began to train their setters and pointers to find and retrieve a bird, but then they stopped doing the "point" stance.
At that time, the working qualities of dogs were of paramount importance, as well as the personality of the dog, especially the beloved. The gun dogs mated with each other, the aristocrats in their kennels brought out and jealously guarded "their own breeds", and gave them their names.
Since hunting became a sport, competitions inevitably appeared.
The first retriever competition was held at Stafford in 1867. The dogs were evaluated for flair, "soft mouth" (the dog must bring the bird intact), as well as obedience. The setter's passion for hunting as such was considered undesirable.
To be a good retriever, a dog had to be:
- non-aggressive and balanced,
- work with pleasure
- strong and hardy (a bird can weigh up to 7 kg.),
- preferably with round feet with thick pads
- medium size (to fit in the boat),
- the dog must swim perfectly and go into the icy water without hesitation, so it is good if it has a thick and not too long coat with a waterproof undercoat.
And, of course, a very good flair is absolutely necessary. Athletes crossed their setters with St. John's Newfoundlands brought to the south and northwest coast of England by Newfoundland fishing boats.
(St. John's Newfoundland is a dog much smaller than the Newfoundland we know, about the size of a modern setter, similar in build to a beagle).
It is important to remember that in those days the dogs called Setters and Spaniels looked very different from what these breeds look like today.
Thanks to the illustrations (woodcuts) in Colonel Hutchinson's famous book on dog training, we know what these dogs looked like.
In 1886, in a series of books published under the name "Badmington Library", one can read the following: "In our opinion, the retriever is the king of sporting dogs. His manners are full of dignity, his actions are the pinnacle of animal intelligence, he is a loyal friend and an excellent companion, no matter how one other hunting dog."
The history of the Golden Retriever breed is inextricably linked with the name of Lord Tweedmouth I.
The Lord belonged to the cream of Victorian society, lived with his family in London, but devoted all the rather long parliamentary holidays to his favorite sport - hunting on his Scottish estate. In 1854, for a huge sum, he purchased an estate of about 20,000 acres near the now famous Loch Ness.
Thanks to the development of the railways, the so-called "wilderness" became within reach and was turned into a fashionable estate with a park with exotic trees from all over the world, a unique dairy farm, a village built for workers. The manor is now a protected monument of manor architecture.
I have not been there, but the estate has been preserved, you can visit it.
People interested in the history of the Golden Retriever breed owe a lot to Elma Stonex and her work as a breed historian in the 1940s and 1950s. She managed to find through Lord's great-nephew Lord's stud books with his records, which he kept from 1835 to 1889. Lord's great-granddaughter donated this book to the English Kennel Club, where it is located.
In 1960, the Kennel Club of England officially recognized Lord Tweedmouth's contribution to the creation of the Golden Retriever breed and added the following to the breed description: "The origin of the Golden Retriever is less obscure than
most varieties of retrievers, as the breed was certainly started by the first Lord of Tweedmouth in the last century, as evidenced by his carefully compiled private stud book and records first made available by his great-nephew Earl of Itschester in 1952"
The romantic and popular version of the origin of the Goldens from Russian circus dogs has no basis, otherwise it would be reflected in Lord's scrupulous records.
The story, briefly, is this: shortly after the end of the Crimean War, the First Lord of Tweedmouth attended a circus performance in Brighton. Six or eight Russian Hounds caught his attention and especially delighted him with their intelligence, trainability and golden color. They were about 70 centimeters tall and weighed about 45 kilograms. The lord bought dogs, hunted with them on his estate, and they became the ancestors of the Golden Retriever breed.
In the 19th century, Major la Poer Trench was the main promoter of this version. He had a sand-coloured retriever, descended from the estate of Lord Tweedmouth, this dog became the basis of the breed, which he registered with the English Kennel Club as "Retriever. Russian, Yellow". Although the "circus" version had no documentary evidence, the colonel actively promoted it, and before the Elma Stonex finds it was very common.
According to the documents found, Lord Tweedmouth and his son, while walking in Brighton, met a shoemaker with a beautiful yellow retriever, which that puppy received in payment of a debt from the estate manager, Lord Chichester. Lord Tweedmouth liked the dog, he bought it and named it Nous ("Wisdom" in Gaelic). It was the only yellow pup in the litter of curly-coated black puppies.
Lord Tweedmouth's stud book for 1865 records:
" Breeds by Lord Chichester. Born June 1964. Purchased in Brighton."
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Cowslip (1868) | Lord Tweedmouth I | Henry Edward, |
In 1868 Nous was bred to Belle (a water spaniel, a dog similar in size and shape to a retriever), which is also recorded. Three yellow puppies were born, the progenitor of Goldens as a special breed. One puppy, Crocus, was given to Lord Tweedmouth II, Cowslip and Primrose remained in the kennel.
From the second mating of Nous and Belle, Ada was born, which Lord Tweedmouth gave to his nephew, the Fifth Lord of Ilchester, and from her came the Retrievers, which later received the prefix Melbury. Lord Tweeedmouth's studbook records all subsequent litters and matings up to the last litter he received in 1889. The puppies were named Prim and Rose.
No records were kept after Lord's death and the estate was sold in 1905.
In 1995, pedigrees were found in the Oxford Library among Lord Harcout's papers, making it possible to trace the line going from Rose, a puppy from the last litter received by Lord Tweedmouth to the Goldens of Lord Harcout's "Culham" kennel, that is, to modern Goldens.
Lord Harcout was one of the first to show his Goldens, (in 1908 and 1909, at Crufts and Chrystal Palace), which were not yet named "golden" and were not registered as a special breed, but were described as "flat-coated retriever" , color Golden" - "Golden Flat-Coated Retriever".
In 1911 the word "flat-haired" was dropped.
There were about 20 dogs in his kennel and the first Double Champion in the history of the Goldens was bred there - in terms of working qualities and show - Dual Ch. Balcombie boy.
In 1909 Mrs. Charlesworth began to show her Goldens and became the owner of the First Champion titled Golden, the Normandy Campfire.
Thanks to intelligence, friendliness, poise, excellent temperament, working qualities and beauty, the breed very quickly became popular, and then super popular.
The first Goldens in America were Lady and Sol, presented by Lord Tweedmouth to a relative who had gone to America. This was in the 90s of the 19th century, and we know almost nothing about them.
The Golden Retriever was officially recognized in America in 1930 and in Canada in 1929.
In Russia, the first "official" golden appeared in 1989 - Princess Christina of Kansas.
I say "official" because four years ago a woman came up to me with my Goldens on the street and told me about her Golden, which was brought from Belgium and lived with her for 15 years. Unfortunately, I did not write down either her name or the name of the dog.
My older dogs will soon be 12 years old, and even in this short time a lot has changed.
Now we are often recognized. There are more and more Goldens. I am very happy about this, because I sincerely consider a person who has never been friends with the Goldens to be destitute.
On the other hand, people, be careful! Beware of fakes! Already now you can see "dogs similar to Goldens", but devoid of the main thing - the golden temperament. When the breed becomes popular, there are troubles.
Someone takes a dog because it is "fashionable", someone "as a gift", someone hopes to quickly earn a lot of money.
And the problems begin...
These dogs are amazing, the breed was bred with great love, let's keep it the way we got it, for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren. It's scary to think, but we can bring out the "Russian Golden", who will walk in a muzzle and sit on a chain ...
Thoroughbred golden-haired pets are a symbol of well-being. They are usually depicted at the porch of a well-groomed house, surrounded by a happy family. Indeed, the “golden” (that is, golden) retriever is truly a family dog. This is an animal that exudes universal kindness and extraordinary calmness. In addition, the golden retriever has a rich history and a huge amount of individual abilities.
The name of the breed is deciphered as follows: "retriever" - "bring, save", and golden - denotes the color of a chic coat. The breed was bred as a hunting dog, but today the dog is more of a companion and is practically not used for hunting.
The breed was developed in the UK, but the origins of the origin of dogs belong to the territory of Scotland. In the 19th century, there was no talk of an independent breed. Then there was only a group of dogs that took part in the hunt.
At that time, there was a need for dogs capable of finding shot game and even getting it out of water bodies. The goal of breeding a suitable breed was set by the Scottish Lord Tweedmose I. He selected only the best representatives of the breeds of hunting dogs and for more than half a century was engaged in selection work in his own kennel. Due to the fact that the lord documented his activities, it was possible to find out that the breeder took water spaniels and retrievers to breed the Golden.
As a result, early golden retrievers appeared, which immediately created competition for smooth-coated retrievers. However, at that time it was far from the final design of the breed. Then there were more popular breeds, and many breeders woke up with excitement in breeding their own breeds. But all the clumsily bred breeds failed in the process of competitions of gun dogs in England, but the Goldens proved their superiority. From that moment on, the breeding of golden retrievers began with great enthusiasm.
The work was under the vigilant supervision of experienced breeders, mandatory tests were carried out to identify working qualities. All representatives of the breed that did not fit any criteria were weeded out. Real champions of their breed began to appear, who were able to achieve great success in various exhibitions. There were many fans of these golden beauties, the breed gained popularity.
Since 1911, representatives of the breed began to be registered with a separate name - "golden retriever", which distinguished the breed from their ancestors - "goldens". In 1930, the breed received its recognition in the United States. In Russia, the breeding of the Golden Retriever began in 1989.
Description of the Golden Retriever breed
Representatives of the breed are real handsome men with a noble appearance, but many breeders are sure that the “golden” in the name of the breed is not a shade of wool, but a description of the character.
Even the first goldens were subject to certain requirements, which are also met by representatives of the modern breed:
- Dogs of medium size should have a strong physique.
- strong limbs with thick skin on paw pads (the latter protected from sharp reed leaves).
- Hardy, hardy animal.
- The dog is able to swim, and is equipped with a waterproof undercoat.
- The dog is distinguished by perfect obedience.
Body mass representatives of the breed varies between 25-41.5 kg. Height males at the withers are usually 56-61 cm, females - approximately 51-56 cm. The appearance of a pet has its own specific features and characteristics:
- Head in golden retrievers, it is moderately wide, wedge-shaped, with clear lines of the skull. The nose is even, ending in a black lobe of classical shape. The mouth is deep, with developed teeth and a bite in the form of scissors.
- Eyes are of medium size with a dark brown iris and dense, pigmented eyelids, widely spaced. The look of the Goldens is friendly, often interested. The auricles are small, hanging, with rounded ends.
- torso harmonious, rectangular in shape, with well-fitting skin without sagging. Dogs have developed muscles and strong bones. The neck is medium, oval, with a moderately pronounced withers. The back is straight, with a wide loin.
- Rib cage broad, rounded ribs.
- The limbs are proportional, the joints are strong with developed muscles. The brushes are rounded, on the paw pads there is thick, black pigmented skin.
- Tail smooth, lowered down, during work it rises to the level of the back.
The pigmentation of the coat in Golden Retrievers is their identification mark, it is light golden with a slight pinkish tint. Cream shades are allowed as standard, as well as a small amount of white hairs in the chest area. The guard hair is soft, elastic, close to the undercoat. The coat may be smooth, wavy, but not curly. The undercoat of dogs is dense, it can protect the animal from water and frost.
In addition to wool, you should take care of the eyes, as dogs have a tendency to uveitis - inflammation of the choroid of the eyeball. They should be regularly inspected, and washed or wiped with chamomile decoction or a special agent.
It is also recommended to inspect and clean the ears with a cotton swab with boiled vegetable or baby oil. as it grows. The oral cavity is examined and if tartar is found, a specialist should be consulted.
Golden retriever puppy photo
Golden Retriever Video
How much does a golden retriever puppy cost
You can buy a pet-class puppy from a kennel for an average of 25,000 rubles, a baby of a higher show class costs around 58,000-65,000 rubles. A thoroughbred puppy can be bought from private breeders for 25,000-35,000 rubles, but a lower price tag should alert.
A pet that does not have a pedigree can be bought for 12000-14000, of course, there are no guarantees of the absence of defects and confirmation of the purity of the breed in this case.
When purchasing a golden retriever, it is worth considering that the dog needs attention and special care. Only if the requirements are met, the golden retriever dog will delight its owners and cause admiring glances of passers-by.
Golden Retriever Kennels
- Moscow http://www.foresttown.ru
- St. Petersburg http://mygoldens.ru
- Kyiv http://moriani.com.ua/ru/main-2
- Minsk www.cataleyagold.com
The Golden Retriever has a unique history, which is interesting because for a long time one version of its origin was officially recognized, and then another appeared that proved the legendaryness of the previous one.
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beautiful legend
According to the mythical version, the breed originated from Russian Shepherd Dogs, which were circus dogs. The father of the breed, the Scottish Lord Tweedmouth, allegedly bought them after performing in a circus, in which they impressed him with their intelligence and skills. It happened, according to him, in 1858. The lord bought 8 dogs for a fabulous sum and started breeding them on his estate, not far from the famous Loch Ness.
This story was told to everyone who was interested in the breed, and was even published in the magazine Rural Life. The Lord actively popularized this version and added that he wanted to organize an expedition to Russia, in particular to the Caucasus, in order to bring more Russian Shepherd Dogs. It is difficult to say why this legend was needed. Most likely, it was a kind of skillful PR of a new breed, which immediately interested everyone. Origin from amazingly intelligent dogs, luxurious golden color, romantic circumstances of their acquisition - everything was in the hands of Lord Tweedmouth.
It should be added that his estate, in which the breed was born, was really a fabulous and interesting place. It was a huge estate with an amazing park of exotic trees brought from all over the world. There was also a unique dairy farm and hunting grounds, in which, at the invitation of the lord, the cream of Scottish society spent time.
The first breeders of golden retrievers were only noble people, which added even more noble gloss to the breed. So, Colonel Le Poer Trench acquired a puppy from Lord Tweedmouth, which he subsequently registered with the English Kennel Club. The dog was listed as a Russian Yellow Retriever. For a long time, the circus version was popular, according to which the new breed came from Russian Shepherd Dogs. Even Caucasian shepherd dogs were called her ancestors. Although the appearance and character of the Golden Retriever pointed to other ancestors, most people believed the beautiful legend.
Official version
Serious cynologists understood that the circus version could not be true. Therefore, it was only necessary to study the origin of the golden retriever, and the truth turned out. Elma Stonex thoroughly studied the history of the breed from the written sources she found. Their authenticity is not in doubt, as they were stud books kept by Lord Tweedmouth. They trace the chronology of the formation of the breed from 1835 to 1889. Now these records are kept in the English Kennel Club.
Sheds light on the history of the breed and the Lord's letter to his great-nephew, who also bred Golden Retrievers. The letter describes in detail all the events related to the origin of the breed. Lord bought the first dog from a shoemaker from Brighton, who at one time received a puppy of a beautiful golden color from a forester from the Chichester estate. The lord named the golden dog Nous, which means “wisdom” in the Celtic dialect.
Nous was bred to Belle's Tea Colored Water Spaniel. From this mating, three yellow puppies were born, who became the founders of a new breed. About all subsequent matings, the lord made entries in the stud books until his death. The last puppies born on the estate during his lifetime were Prim and Rose. In 1995, papers were found that traced the pedigree line from Rose to modern Goldens.
Information about matings with and Bloodhounds, which also participated in the formation of the breed, has been preserved. Tweedmouth culled all black puppies, leaving only yellow and golden ones. On the estate, the Gisesen nursery was organized, which was widely known in Great Britain. The owner of the kennel presented the best puppies to his friends, aristocratic hunters. Some of them were also engaged in breeding the breed, actively infusing the blood of Labradors.
Therefore, after the death of Lord Tweedmouth and the sale of the estate, the breed did not disappear, although the circle of breeders was so closed that the general public and even cynologists knew little about it. This is evidenced at least by the fact that in the work of the famous cynologist of the early 20th century, Robert Leighton, the golden retriever breed is not mentioned about the hunting dogs of England.
In creating the breed, the merit is not only of Lord Tweedmouth, but also of those breeders who began to exhibit it and seek official recognition. One of them was Lord Harcoat, who represented his dogs at dog shows. At that time they were not yet recognized as an official breed and were called Golden Flat-Coated Retrievers. Another equally famous breeder was Mrs. Charlesworth. The future British Champion was born in her kennel in 1912, it was the first Golden Retriever to be awarded such a title. The Golden Retriever Club was founded in 1913. But connoisseurs of the breed waited for official recognition only in 1960. In Russia, the first representative of the breed appeared only in 1991.
The Golden Retriever is the second most popular dog in Europe. This is evidenced by the number of registered representatives of the breed in European dog handlers clubs.
Breed standard: main characteristics
The appearance of the Golden Retriever is remarkable for its amazing proportionality. This is a beautiful, well-built dog, active, with confident movements and a friendly look.
The head looks harmonious in relation to the body. The muzzle should not be pointed or rough, it should be broad and deep, but not massive. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is clearly expressed. The description of the eyes deserves special attention. They should be dark brown in color, with the same dark stroke, and have a pleasing expression.
Strong jaws with a scissor bite. The teeth are large, preferably in a complete set.
Ears of medium size, hanging down. Set at approximately eye level.
The chest is powerful, with deep, well arched ribs. The back is straight, the croup and tail seem to continue its line. The American standard allows for a slight sloping croup.
The forelimbs are straight and muscular. The shoulder blades are equal in length to the shoulders. The elbows are close to the body, the shoulder blades are laid back. Such a structure of the limbs is necessary for the dog to perform its functions as a hunter. She runs easily, without wasting extra energy, throwing her front paws far forward.
The hind limbs are muscular, with strong bones. A well-defined knee joint is important, the degree of stretching back of the paws during the run and the strength of the push depend on it.
The coat may be straight or slightly wavy. The undercoat is thick and waterproof. Around the head, starting from the ears, and on the neck, the hair is longer. Such a mane gives the dog a good-natured expression, which is so valued in the breed.
The coat color should be golden or cream, but not red or dark gold. Mahogany color or too dark is unacceptable. The American standard "dislikes" all colors, except for a rich golden hue. English is more loyal and accepts pale colors.
The height at the withers of males is 56-61 cm, females are on average 5 cm less.
Character
Only positive opinions can be heard about the character of the Golden Retriever. It is difficult to find a person who would not like communication with these interesting dogs. They are so good-natured and human-oriented that they are ready to constantly express their love and devotion to him. In this regard, golden retrievers have long ceased to be just hunters. They have become companion dogs, guide dogs, and they are also actively used in zootherapy.
By their presence, they calm people, relieve stress, and eliminate aggressive behavior. They are used. They are able to perfectly console a person when he is upset or crying with something. These dogs perfectly feel the mood of the owner and any person. We can say that if you decide to buy a golden retriever, then you will always have a soft “vest” in which you can cry. They say that even when you just hug this dog, you begin to calm down, there is so much positive energy in it. Golden retrievers will never bare their teeth or growl at a person, so it is difficult to imagine them in the role of guards and bodyguards. They are not wary even towards strangers. They also transfer their love of love to other animals. They never provoke fights, and can even endure attacks from other dogs for a while, simply avoiding conflict. But sometimes another dog still pisses them off, and then they give a worthy rebuff, showing their power.
These dogs are not only obedient, they are very helpful. They always want to be useful. They will never lie still if the owner is doing something in which they can also take part. Some owners skillfully use this quality, and for example, teach them to serve various items to them.
Golden Retrievers are happy to go everywhere with the owner, get acquainted with other people and animals. You can be sure that a dog of this breed will never offend even strangers in the ball. But there is no need to think that this breed is just kind, calm bumpkins, capable only of playing. There are many cases when golden retrievers rescued people during fires and floods. They can save a drowning person without an outside team. Golden Retrievers are not only smart. They are also able to assess the situation themselves and make decisions quickly. The reaction of these dogs is lightning fast, so they act very quickly in extreme situations.
Golden Retrievers have an excellent sense of smell and outstanding training abilities. Therefore, representatives of this breed are often used by the police, customs, and airports to search for prohibited substances and weapons.
Friendship of a golden retriever with a leopard
The whole world is watching the touching friendship of the golden retriever Tommy with the leopard. Animals live in South Africa in Pretoria and love each other's company and joint walks.
Golden Retriever Care
You can keep this breed both in an apartment and in a private house. The main thing is not to deprive the dog of your attention and not leave it in constant solitude. A chained golden retriever, deprived of the company of people, is a sad sight. Such treatment does not go unnoticed for the mental health of the dog. Therefore, before you buy a golden retriever puppy, think about how much time you can devote to him daily.
A feature of the breed is that the dog does not choose one owner in the family, all family members can train it or carry out hygiene procedures.
You need to carefully monitor the eyes of the dog. If you find purulent discharge from the eyes every day, then this is not a harmless phenomenon. This may be the first sign of distemper, and a symptom of the presence of worms. Therefore, you should not limit yourself to simply rubbing your eyes and instilling a drop, you need to examine the dog for diseases. Although the reason may be more harmless, for example, from getting sand or dust into the eyes.
If the dog was on a hunt, then after that it is imperative to rinse her eyes, since while running through the forest and thickets, various debris usually gets into her eyes.
Ears can be examined less frequently, about once a week. Rinse them with water or a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide. You can simply wipe the inside of your ears with a damp cotton swab.
Many people think that taking care of a dog's teeth is not necessary. But sometimes this opinion leads to the formation of tartar, to the appearance of yellow plaque. Such a dog can no longer become the winner of exhibitions. You can buy a special toothbrush and paste and periodically brush your dog's teeth or do the same procedure with a cotton swab.
You can wash the dog at your discretion. Usually this procedure is not necessary more often than 2-3 times a year. You need to wash your golden retriever with special shampoos that do not wash off the protective layer and do not lead to dry skin.
It is desirable to comb the dog's coat every day, then it will look well-groomed. After all, the golden coat of a retriever is one of the main advantages of its appearance. This decoration is especially important for a show dog. If you want to shine with your pet at shows, then you need to turn to the services of a professional trimming. You can master this art yourself, then you will need patience, free time and a special tool: massage brush, comb, scissors. And remember that the judges at the exhibitions really do not like it when the work you have done on the haircut is visible. The coat of a retriever should look as natural as possible.
Giuseppe, a golden retriever, works as a salesman in his owners' shop in Ocala, Florida. He greets customers and helps them push their shopping carts to the checkout. The store sells exotic fish, aquariums and related products.
Raising a Golden Retriever
Some owners, having learned that this breed is very smart and kind, do not pay enough attention to its training. They decide that the dog does not need to be taught anything at all, it will grow up and become smart and obedient. This is an erroneous delusion, any dog needs to be trained and taught at least basic commands. A golden retriever living in the city must know at least 3 commands: “Come!”, “Fu!”, “Next!”. The dog is quite large, and not everyone knows that she is kind. If your healthy retriever rushes to an unfamiliar child to lick it, then the parents of this child will not listen to your cries that this is a kind dog, and it will not touch anyone. Therefore, from the first months of a dog's life in your home.
If you are a keen person, then you will definitely be interested in other opportunities for training a golden retriever: freestyle, agility, circus training. With such a dog, you can start staging theatrical performances and perform with it at charity events in orphanages. In a word, raising a golden retriever can make the life of its owner much brighter and more interesting.
Baxter, a golden retriever from Massachusetts, rescued his brother Bailey. They both got lost in the woods, and Bailey got stuck in the bushes and couldn't get out. When Baxter returned home, he immediately led his mistress to the place where his brother had been trapped.
Where to buy and how to choose a puppy
It is difficult to be guided by common sense when they offer you on the market and say that this is a descendant of the famous Golden Retrievers. But it is better not to make decisions about buying spontaneously.
To get started, find out if there are breeders of this breed in your city. Meet them, look at the golden retriever, its behavior, and decide if this is really the breed of your dreams. Then you can contact the kennel club in your city and find out about the planned matings or already born puppies and say that you intend to buy a golden retriever for the soul or for exhibitions.
If there is no such organization in your city, then this is not a problem. Thanks to the Internet, you can get in touch with lovers of this breed. The easiest way to find them is on special forums or in groups on social networks. There you can look after yourself and the breeder of the mother of your future dog. In fact, the choice of a breeder is also very important, because the health of your pet depends on his honesty and proper care of puppies at the initial stage of their life.
If it is not possible to personally see the father of the puppy, then it is still advisable to contact the breeder and look at his photo, video. Before buying a Golden Retriever puppy, people pay a lot of attention to studying the pedigree of his parents. On the one hand, this is correct, but this does not guarantee the absence of flaws in the offspring of the eminent couple. Therefore, more attention should be paid to puppies. This is not 5 minutes of watching puppies play. You need to carefully examine the puppy for both health and compliance with the standard. Therefore, it is not recommended to book puppies that are only a few days old, seeing them only in the photo.
In Europe and America, golden retrievers are kept on the staff of schools where children with various diseases study. Dogs do an excellent job as psychologists and healers, and also help children with limited mobility by giving them the right items.
puppy price
The cost of Golden Retriever puppies depends on the availability of documents confirming its origin, on the presence of champions in the pedigree, and on the prospects of the puppy as a show dog. The average cost of a puppy of this breed 25 thousand rubles. The minimum bar rarely falls below 15 thousand rubles.
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Golden Retrievers were bred for hunting purposes. Despite this, these dogs are distinguished by their special good nature and friendliness to people.
At the moment, they are more often bred not for hunting, but as a beloved family member. They are very cheerful, and quite energetic animals.
In this regard, the owner will have to physically exhaust the pet during walks.
They are extremely intelligent, but lack of movement can negatively affect their behavior.
Legend
According to a fictional version, the Golden Retriever was bred from Russian Shepherds who performed in the circus. Founded the breed, Lord Tweedmouth.
He said that he acquired the sheepdogs after their sparkling performance in 1858. The breeder bought eight individuals for a huge amount, and began to breed them on his estate.
This story was told to everyone interested in the new breed. Tweedmouth actively spread this story and said that he was going on a new expedition to the Caucasus.
In order to purchase a few more shepherd dogs. It is difficult to say why he needed this invention. Perhaps it was elementary, an inventive PR move.
True
Cynologists, studying the history of the origin of the golden retriever, stud books and other records, found out the truth. In the surviving books, there was a complete chronology of the formation of the breed.
Light on her, shed a note from the lord, sent to a relative. It described all the events in detail.
The first dog, the lord took from the shoemaker, who, in turn, received an unusual puppy from the forester.
The dog was given the nickname Nous, which in translation meant wise.
Nous was crossed with a light brown water spaniel. So three yellow puppies were born.
The descendants of the spaniel became the progenitors of the breed. About further matings, Tweedmouth made detailed notes until his death.
There was information about crossing with Irish Setters and Bloodhounds, they also participated in the formation of the breed.
Puppies with black coat color, the lord culled, leaving only yellow and gold. On his estate, the Gisesen nursery was organized, which earned fame throughout England.
The breeder gave the best dogs to familiar aristocrats.
The Golden Retriever owes its appearance not only to Lord Tweedmouth, but also to those breeders who began to exhibit it and, as a result, achieved public recognition.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, an amateur club, golden retrievers, was created. For the first time, carriers of this breed were brought to Russia only by the end of the nineteenth century.
The popularity of the breed is growing to this day. Only in America, more than seventy thousand individuals are registered every year, and the statistics are steadily growing.
Love for this breed is explained by their temper. Golden Retrievers are kind, smart, agile, ideal companions for everyone. Golden Retrievers live, on average, ten to twelve years.
Appearance
Golden Retrievers are well built. The head is in proportion to the body, slightly protruding and broad, oblong. The nose is large, jet black.
The ears of the dog, rounded, hanging, pressed to the muzzle. Neck of medium size. The chest is deep, and the back is even, muscular.
The tail is on the same level with the back, the belly is not drooping. The paws are quite large.
Intelligence
Golden Retrievers are very smart animals. This is confirmed by the research of a psychology professor from America.
It has been proven that this breed ranks fourth in intellectual ability out of one hundred and thirty-three breeds.
It should be noted that these four-legged are good students. Throughout their lives, they perfectly learn the lessons they receive.
Character
The main features of the character of this breed can be called:
- sociability;
- loyalty;
- love for children;
- stable psyche;
- friendliness;
- accommodating.
Golden Retrievers can engage in combat with other dogs, only in emergency cases when there is a threat to life. They are quite strong dogs, because of this, they often win in such fights.
The Golden Retriever is more of an enviable friend than a guard.. He is very trusting of people, and it is quite easy to circle him around his finger.
It is better to buy such a dog for people who already have other pets. They do not seek to dominate, and therefore they treat other pets kindly.
Golden Retrievers are easy to train. These dogs often help the police, and work for the benefit of society, at airports, sniffing out prohibited items.
It is worth starting to train a puppy no earlier than two months old, using simple developmental tasks.
At the age of six months, with a young dog, you can start to deal with more seriously.
Due to the fact that dog training is a responsible matter, cynologists recommend sending your pet to a specialized school.
Care
It is not difficult to follow the long hair of a Golden Retriever. Even if you have to do it quite often. Since there is a lot of wool and it is quite thick.
To do this, you will need a comb for long hair. Comb it regularly once or twice a day.
If you skip combing, then the chic fur will become overgrown with tangles, and the lost hairs will stick around all the furniture and other things in the house.
In principle, even if the care of the animal meets the requirements, you will not be able to completely eliminate the ingress of hair on things.
Then you will either have to scratch your pet harder, or purchase an expensive vacuum cleaner.
The main care for this dog, for the owner, will be the need to walk the pet often and for a long time, to exhaust him physically to the maximum.
The dog needs at least two hours of walking, with the possibility of active behavior. In order to reset the energy accumulated during the day, buy a good ball.
In general, feeding a Golden Retriever is no different from feeding dogs of other breeds. That is, there are no special features in nutrition.
From the moment you have it, you should determine what you will feed him, dry food or natural.
This means that you cannot exchange dry granules for homemade soup in one day, and vice versa.
In the case where you have chosen dry food, purchase food that belongs to the highest class, otherwise it is more correct to feed natural products.
Inexpensive feeds contain low-quality ingredients, and they should not be bought at all.
Well-prepared, dry food can have an even better price than homemade food. This is especially true for city dwellers.
In general, it is up to you to decide what your pet will eat.. The main thing is not to overestimate dry food. The animal will receive the vitamins and minerals necessary for its body from homemade food.
Over time, experience will accumulate, and you will be able to independently organize the ideal diet for your pet.
Photo gallery
The dog needs at least two hours of walking, with the possibility of active behavior. In order to reset the energy accumulated during the day, so before choosing this particular breed, think carefully about it. In the meantime, we invite you to see photos of this faithful and reliable friend.
The Golden Retriever has gained almost worldwide recognition as a companion dog and excellent babysitter, although it was originally bred in England to hunt ducks. It is said to be a golden dog with a golden disposition. Despite all the positive features, such a jewel is not suitable for everyone.
The Golden Retriever hails from England, a country where hunting was an all-consuming fashionable hobby, and the main condition for success was the availability of reliable four-legged helpers. The word "Retrive" (when applied to a dog) means to find and serve game. Until the end of the 19th century, retrievers were not a separate breed, the name indicated the function.
Many hunters independently crossed and selected dogs, and then jealously guarded their "breed". One of these amateur breeders was Lord Tweedmouth, it was thanks to his efforts that Golden Retrievers appeared. He worked on the breed from the late 1960s to 1890. Lord died in 1894, and his legacy had already spread throughout England by that time. Many dogs have become honorary sires in various kennels, among them Culham and Noranby (most pedigrees descend to them).
For a long time it was believed that several circus dogs from the Caucasus laid the foundation for the breed. Russian yellow retrievers - under this name, the breed was presented at the Kraft exhibition in 1913-1915. In 1952, a descendant of Tweedmouth, the Earl of Ilchester, published an article that completely destroyed the circus legend. It turns out that the uncle had a stud book with detailed records, but, apparently, he did not want to share them. The pedigree of the first Goldens begins with a huge number of breeds: Water Spaniels, Irish Setters, Flat-Coated Retrievers and Labradors. In the future, the blood of Bloodhounds, and sometimes outbred dogs or mestizos, rushed.
In 1913, Noranby owner Mrs Charlesvos founded the first Golden Retriever Club and developed the breed standard. Since then, golden hunters can be considered an independent breed. The first retrievers were dark. Over the decades, the color has become more diverse. In Europe, almost white Goldens are found, while in the USA they focus on breeding dogs of dark tones.
Video review of the Golden Retriever dog breed:
Appearance and standards
Golden Retrievers are harmoniously built, strong and robust with balanced movements and a friendly look. Height at the withers - 50-60 cm, weight -25-35 kg, males are noticeably larger and more powerful. The movements are free, straightforward, with a good push.
Head
The head is in proportion to the body, all lines are well defined. The muzzle is broad, its length approximately equal to the distance from the occiput to the stop. The jaws are strong, the bite is correct. The eyes are set wide apart, the eyelids are dark, the color of the iris is dark brown. Hanging ears are located at eye level, medium in size. The stop is well marked. The nose is pigmented.
Frame
Goldens should be harmoniously built, graceful rather than massive. The format is somewhat stretched. The height at the withers is approximately equal to the distance from the shoulder blades to the tail. The chest is deep. The back is straight, the loin is short. The long tail continues the line of the back. The limbs are massive and should stand well under the body. Paws are rounded, like a cat.
Wool and colors
The Retriever's coat is medium length, straight or wavy, with feathering on the chest, ears, paws and tail. The undercoat is dense and waterproof. The color can be any shade from dark gold to light cream, almost white. A few white hairs on the chest are acceptable.
Character and psychological portrait
Golden Retrievers are smart, kind, calm dogs that rarely bark and love spending time with humans more than anything. They are absolutely not prone to dominance or aggression, and therefore become excellent nannies for children. Cheerful and energetic, they charge everyone around with positive.
Dogs with good-natured appearance and devoted eyes are born actors. They became the heroes of the films "Napoleon", "The Road Home", "King of the Air", etc. Retrievers do not choose one owner, they love all family members equally. Very loyal, but not jealous. They perfectly feel the mood and adapt to the rhythm of family life. Strangers are friendly and trusting. Golden is a great friend and companion, he can be an excellent hunter, but he will never become a guard. Even if the owner is in danger, the pet is unlikely to rush to protect him. Only his powerful appearance and bass barking can come to the rescue. Retrievers get along well with other animals, whether it be a cat, dog or rodent.
Education and training
It is necessary to raise a puppy from the first day of appearance in the house. Goldens are deservedly considered highly intelligent dogs, they have a wonderful memory, what was once allowed to be done will be difficult to prohibit in the future. Many problems are related to walking.
In the conditions of the city, it will take a lot of strength and patience to wean a pet to pick up garbage, the remains of other people's feasts and prioritize the owner's team. The main thing when working with a retriever is the absence of violence and endurance. Already from the first months of life, a pet is taught to simple commands: “come”, “sit”, “place”, etc. Golden retrievers lend themselves perfectly to training, they catch commands on the fly, but they are not always in a hurry to fulfill them if they find themselves more an exciting activity.
From 7-9 months old, it is worth going through an OKD with a puppy or its analogues, for example, a controlled city dog, and then maintain the acquired skills or move to a new level. With Goldens, they successfully master freestyle, agility and other sports. It is pointless to take a course of protective guard duty.
Retrievers are very active, they need increased physical and mental stress. Already from 2 months, the puppy is walked up to 6 times a day for 10-20 minutes. Over time, the number of walks is reduced, and the load is increased. An adult retriever is walked at least twice a day. The first time is about 30 minutes, the second walk is complete, about 2 hours with games and training. Representatives of the breed are wonderful companions for a morning bike ride or a run.
If the dog does not receive sufficient physical activity, its character changes not for the better, and behavior often becomes destructive.
Golden Retrievers can do well in an apartment if they get enough exercise from walks. Combing in this case should become a daily ritual. A more acceptable option for the owner and the dog would be to live in a private house with unlimited walking around the site.
Hair care
It is recommended to comb out the Golden every day, if this is not possible, then the more often, the better. They use combs with frequent and rare teeth, special mittens, and during the molting period, also a slicker or furminator. Swimming is often not recommended. Water procedures with shampoo, balms and conditioners are shown no more than 5 times a year. Frequent washing can adversely affect the condition of the skin and coat. Summer swimming in ponds, washing paws and belly after walks do not count.
Nail clipping, hyena eyes and ears
With sufficient physical activity, the claws grind off on their own to the required length. Otherwise, they must be cut so that they do not interfere with walking and do not cause injury. Ears should be checked regularly for dirt or signs of infection, especially during the warmer months. As necessary, clean the auricle using special lotions. Monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the lacrimal ducts.
Diet
At any age, nutrition should be balanced and portioned. The dog should not eat plenty, it can cause obesity. Feeding a pet natural or ready-made food is an individual matter. In food, goldens are usually not picky, so the choice is up to the owner. A puppy from 3 months to six months is fed 4 times a day in small portions. By the age of 7 months, they are transferred to 3 meals a day, from a year and a half to two meals a day.
Health, breed diseases and life expectancy
Golden Retrievers are hardy and energetic dogs with good health. However, there are a number of diseases to which they are most predisposed, some of which are hereditary:
- Epilepsy;
- Progressive retinal atrophy;
- Willebrand's disease (hereditary hemorrhagic disorder, which manifests itself in increased bleeding);
- joint dysplasia;
- Diabetes;
- Atopic dermatitis, other skin diseases.
- Predisposition to otitis due to poor ventilation of the auricle;
Regular check-ups with a veterinarian will help to recognize the disease in advance and begin treatment at an early stage.
Average life expectancy is 10-12 years.
