Golden Retriever breed guide

Golden Retrievers are intelligent, friendly and devoted, with an endearing love of life when not at work. In motion they move with a smooth, powerful gait.

AKC says early socialization matters for a young Golden Retriever, with gentle exposure to a wide variety of people, places and situations between about seven weeks and four months.

Golden Retrievers live 10 to 12 years. Responsible breeders screen for elbow and hip dysplasia, eye conditions including juvenile cataracts, pigmentary uveitis and progressive retinal atrophy and certain heart diseases including subvalvular aortic stenosis.

Golden Retrievers shed their thick, water-repellent double coat heavily once or twice a year and moderately all the time. A good brushing-out with a slicker brush once or twice a week removes much of the dead hair before it reaches the furniture.

Like most sporting breeds, Golden Retrievers need plenty of daily exercise and one that does not get enough is likely to engage in undesirable behavior. They are great companions on long runs and bike rides, though AKC advises consulting a vet before strenuous or high-impact activity for a young dog.

The most important name in early Golden history is Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Lord Tweedmouth, who developed the breed in the Scottish Highlands during Victoria's reign. For the 50 years from 1840 to 1890 he kept scrupulous records of the breedings at his Guisachan estate to create an ideal hunting dog.

Tweedmouth wanted a dog suited to the rainy climate and rugged terrain, so he crossed his Yellow Retriever with a now-extinct breed, the Tweed Water Spaniel and Irish Setter and Bloodhound were also among the crosses.