Golden Retrievers have rightfully earned their spot as one of the friendliest – if not the friendliest dog breed there is out there. These are the dogs all children love to play with, regardless of if they are their owners or not. No parent has ever feared that their child would be harmed by one of these dogs. But where can you find a golden retriever for yourself? How long do they live? Can you train your golden retriever? Is it even worth it to own a golden retriever in 2023?
Let’s get a deeper look into this beautiful and friendly dog breed.
Description
As you can probably imagine by their name the thing that stands out the most and sets these dogs apart from all others, is their beautiful golden fur. Golden retrievers all possess long, curly, golden hair all over their body. They have a long snout and round, black, beady, and loving eyes.
Weight and Height
As for their size, they are considered average, or maybe even a bit larger than the average dog with most of them weighing in at around 65 pounds (30 kilograms) while in some cases they can weigh up to 75 pounds (34 kilograms). As for their height, males can grow up to 25 inches (62 centimeters) in height while females typically are about 2 inches shorter reaching a height of up to 23 inches (56 centimeters).
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?
A golden retriever’s lifespan normally ranges from 10 to 12 years which is a little less than the average dog. However, there can always be exceptions and some golden retrievers will live well above 12 years old.
This obviously also depends on the treatment and care your dog receives so if you wish to maximize your golden retriever’s lifespan make sure to regularly do checkups at the vet, feed it good high quality dog food, and play with it or take it on enough walks.
Where Can You Get One?
The best and easiest way to get your hands on one of these dogs, is to get a puppy from a friend, family member, or acquaintance who is the owner of an older one ready to give birth. This may sound too obvious, but it actually is that easy. Golden Retrievers are quite common so you will probably stumble on someone who owns one or knows someone who does. If this does not work you can always look for one of them in dog shelters near you and if you still have no luck, you can get one from your local breeder.
However, this option will unfortunately leave a dent in your pocket since golden retriever puppies can sell for up to 1000 dollars.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
They Are Excellent Family Dogs.
The fact that these dogs will not harm anyone and have a friendly nature makes them perfect for large families, with children that will be able to play with them without the fear of angering them.
They will also get along with any friends you may invite over or pets you might already have. In addition, golden retrievers are the happiest when they get to spend time with their family and are caring and protective towards every member.
They Are Intelligent
When it comes to intelligence golden retrievers are some of the smartest dog breeds out there. They can easily grasp tricks and commands they are taught and can learn around 165 words. In general, they are one of the easiest dog breeds to train thanks to their high intelligence and eagerness to please their owners so there will most probably be no need to take them to a professional dog trainer.
They Are Not Barkers
Golden retrievers are not the type of dogs which will keep you awake at night or get on your nerves by barking constantly when they want food or attention. There will be no annoying barking with these dogs. They will only bark if they feel it is absolutely necessary – if some stranger for example is approaching your house.
They Are Excellent Therapy Dogs
Their gentle and loving personalities make them excellent therapy dogs, and this is why they are so widely used in orphanages or nursing homes. If you are tired, stressed, or upset, this breed will keep your problems away, even if it is for a short amount of time. They will cuddle with you and lick your face to make you feel loved and better about yourself.
Cons:
They Shed Heavily.
This long, silky, golden coat comes at a price. Golden retrievers will unfortunately shed quite a bit of hair, so expect to find hairs all over your furniture, couch, or even clothes. You will have to purchase a hair cleaning tool if you want to keep your house neat and tidy. A good dog brush such as the Biosilk De-sheding Brush will also help by minimizing the amount of fur they shed if you use it on a daily basis.
They Require Lots Of Grooming.
Golden retrievers will require lots of grooming, such as brushing their hair, clipping their nails, brushing their teeth, and obviously also trimming their fur when it gets too long. You can obviously take them to dog grooming courses near you, or invest in a dog grooming kit such as the Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series and do it yourself.
Health Problems.
Golden retrievers are some of the dogs that unfortunately may suffer from hip dysplasia, eye dysplasia, eyesight problems and cancer so make sure you do not skip vet check-ups.
They are not the best guard dog.
Even though they will alert you if someone is approaching, golden retrievers are more likely to wag their tail and greet an attacker playfully than to actually prevent him from getting in your house.
They Require Plenty Of Exercise.
This may be great news for active people, who have got free time and enjoy taking their dogs on walks, but for most of the people having to take your dog on long walks daily may not be a dream come true. So, before you get one for yourself make sure you will be able to meet their exercise needs by taking them on walks and playing with them. Having a large house with a large backyard would also make things considerably easier for you.
All in all, golden retrievers are great dogs to have, and we would highly recommend them to anyone with enough time and space.
Useful Equipment
- Fresh Breathies to finally kiss bad doggie breath goodbye.
- The Best Dog Grooming Kit
- Pet Hair Lifter to keep your house clean
- Dog Hair Brush
- The Best High Quality Dog Food
- Pet Merchandise
Useful Courses
- Brain Training for Dogs – the best & most effective dog training course in the market right now
So, let us know what do you think about these dogs? Would you get yourself a Golden Retriever puppy or is it just not worth it?
If you are a dog or pet lover in general here are a few more articles you may find interesting:
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- CHIHUAHUAS – HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE? SHOULD YOU GET ONE? EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEM
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