All you need to know about Golden Retrievers

If your family dreams of a true friend, affectionate, smart, loving communication, a retriever is an ideal option. He will be the company and brighten up loneliness, perfectly fit into a family with children. This dog is distinguished by high intellectual abilities, human orientation, and complaisant peace-loving disposition. A real companion dog.

Golden retriever is very beautiful in appearance, a puppy or an adult dog always causes emotion and admiration. The main characteristics of the appearance of the Golden Retriever:

• weight varies from 25 to 41.5 kg depending on gender;
• dog height - from 51 to 60 cm, females 5 cm lower than males;
• color allowed in one palette - golden, from cream to deep golden; excluded are red, mahogany, reddish;
• wool elongated type, may curl or be straight;
• undercoat dense type, does not allow water to penetrate;
• addition harmonious, all parts of the body are symmetrical, proportional;
• cheeks non-convex, elongated muzzle;
• round ears hang, fit tight;
• neck medium, without folds;
• muscles very well developed;
• belly does not hang, limbs are medium.

The main varieties of retrievers are similar to each other in terms of temperament, intellectual abilities, health, and life expectancy. But there are differences.

• American. A saturated shade, excluding very light and excessively dark. Tall, taller than Europeans.
• Canadian. It is an intermediate phenomenon, growth and body are similar to Europeans, color - to Americans.
• European. Most light in color, heavy compared to Americans, the muzzle is wide and more shortened.

This breed is incredibly popular all over the world, the number of registered retrievers is growing annually. They owe this not only to their spectacular appearance, but also to their amazing qualities - kindness, tolerance, and intelligence.

The obvious advantage of a dog is its high intelligence. Studies have confirmed that retrievers are among the most developed and savvy dogs in terms of intelligence.

As for the nature of the dog, the following features are distinguished here:

• sociability;
• great attitude to children;
• loyalty to the owners;
• balanced psyche, the nervous system is strong;
• peacefulness, disposition towards people;
• obedience.

Aggression to this breed is absolutely alien, they can enter into conflicts only if something threatens their life. With all the peacefulness of the dog is very powerful, strong. The retriever is suitable for a person or family in need of a companion, the retriever's watchdog qualities are doubtful - he is too kind and trusting for this role. Golden gets along well with other animals in the house, gets along with cats, as they have no propensity for dominance. In addition, they are very energetic, active, like outdoor games.

The relationship between the retriever and the children is especially prominent. The dog is incredibly balanced, non-aggressive and calm, children trust her fearlessly. These are excellent nannies who patiently endure the quirks of small owners, obey them. This is the safest breed that has a great effect on children, excellent tutors for children and people with increased needs come out of these dogs.

Retriever is often confused with labradors, this can be understood, since the dogs are somewhat similar, and there is some relationship between them. When breeding retrievers, Labradors were also used. Both of these breeds belong to the hunting ones, they look for game well and bring it.

However, with all the similarities, there are many distinctive points:

• wool Labrador is shorter and tougher;
• tail the retriever is omitted, at the Labradors - raised;
• character Goldens are more balanced, practical, tactful; Labradors are more emotional, cheerful, innocent.

Retrievers are good in that they can afford the owners of a city apartment and a private house. Caring for them does not imply any special difficulties. The main thing is to consistently accustom him to walking, hygiene, regimen. Since the dog belongs to the breed of hunting, you need to walk with her daily, and for a long time and actively.

Dog care includes the following procedures, simple, but requiring regularity:

• if necessary, you need to clean your eyes, inspect for any secretions, pus, redness, if you walked in the forest - rinse your eyes after returning;
• be sure to regularly brush your teeth with a special paste, as well as bones with fluoride;
• weekly inspect the auricles for redness and inflammation, wipe them with cotton wool disks;
• water procedures should not be too frequent, otherwise the protective layer will be broken, it is enough to do this several times a year using special shampoos, after walking the dog is washed locally as necessary;
• but the hair needs to be looked after every day, combing the dog.

But there are several genetic predispositions for certain diseases:

• retinal and joint dysplasia, the last defect is removed surgically, the first one can lead to blindness;
• epilepsy - can suddenly appear at any period of life, is successfully treated;
• von Willebrand diseasecan be cured by blood transfusion;
• atopic dermatitismay not develop medication, food.

One of the necessary conditions for the healthy development of the retriever is vaccination. It is important to vaccinate the animal in a timely manner for preventive purposes, this is done at the age of puppies, in the adult state, revaccinations are carried out according to the schedule.

There are three diseases from which you need to vaccinate a retriever without fail:

• from parvovirus enteritis, which affects the gastrointestinal tract and requires complex long-term treatment;
• from rabies - this viral disease can affect a person;
• plague - Another virus that cannot be defeated, it leads to the death of the animal.

Until the dog is vaccinated, the puppy should avoid contact with other animals, very carefully choosing places for walking.

The diet is an important point in the maintenance of the dog, its health, development, and well-being depend on it. There are two feeding options - dry prepared food and natural products. Both of them are good in their own way, but in the second case, you need to take care of creating the right balanced menu for the retriever. The basis of the diet is meat: beef, rabbit, chicken, turkey, boiled offal - they make up half of the total feed.

A quarter of the total diet is cereals: wheat, buckwheat, rice. You can not give semolina, pearl barley, corn. Another fourth part of the menu is vegetables and fruits. Pumpkin, turnip are good. beets, cabbage and carrots. Categorically banned all citrus fruits, grapes, exotic, rhubarb and spinach. In addition, you need to give the dog cottage cheese and sour-milk products, low-fat fish.

Flavored yogurts and fermented baked milk are prohibited. milk, cream. Since dogs are naturally fond of eating and rarely control themselves, they can overeat, therefore maintaining moderation in portions is necessary.

It is much easier for the owner to opt for dry food, which is sold ready-made. It is necessary to select premium food first for puppies, and then for adult dogs of large breeds. In this case, natural products are excluded from the diet. The composition of dry food already contains all the necessary complexes of vitamin and mineral types necessary for the development and health of the retriever.

As dogs of this breed potential allergies, you should be very careful about the feed of unknown manufacturers, cheap. Any type of food is selected individually, at first a small portion is given, then it gradually increases. If the skin and coat changed color, the dog began to itch, it is better to stop taking it and see the veterinarian.

As for the number of meals, up to 5 months, the pet is fed 4 to 6 times a day, gradually reducing. By 8 months, the puppy should already eat, like an adult dog - 2 times a day. The daily portion is divided equally into all feedings.

Retrievers lend themselves well to training, but much depends on the owner. He should be consistent, patient and calm. Goldens do not tolerate physical punishment, humiliation, shouting, swearing. All this very quickly becomes the norm, and then it is almost impossible to get the dog to execute commands in the usual manner.

There are several rules to consider when starting a retriever training.

• Socialization. Mandatory stage of raising a dog. He should also be a puppy in places where he can see people and animals: parks, playgrounds. After all vaccinations are done, it is very useful to allow contact with other dogs, avoiding stray ones. The dog must be able to walk on a leash, ride in a car, behave appropriately in an elevator. All this is achieved by gaining experience.
• Obedience. Since the breed understands well, slack in the character and behavior of the owner immediately becomes apparent to them, which they use.
• Patience. An indispensable condition for raising a dog, it is impossible to offend and humiliate them in any case.
• Perseverance. Physical coercion in a light form is necessary, so you put the dog in a position where it is necessary to obey. It can be light pressure on the croup, withers.
• Promotion. Praise and goodies most quickly teach a dog to learn commands and skills.

Only purebreds that fully comply with the standards are bred. Mating can be no earlier than at the age of 18 months for males, 20 months for females. Antiparasitic agents are given to dogs before they are very viscous. Walking during estrus of the female requires her special treatment, otherwise she will lure all the males of the area. Dogs are prepared in a slightly different way - they increase the protein content in feed. A couple of quality walk and do not give food before the mating itself.

Breeding puppies lasts from 62 to 64 days. It is necessary to increase the amount of protein in feed, almost removing carbohydrates. A pregnant female is fed three times a day. Additionally give vitamins, remove fruits, vegetables from the menu. It is necessary to consult a doctor if childbirth did not occur on day 66, in general, the first birth should take place under control. If several bindings in a row have not ended in pregnancy, an examination should be carried out.

About the features of the breed Golden Retriever, see the video below.