The Golden Retriever is one of the most versatile dog breeds known to man. Their intelligence and versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dog, as guide dog for the blind, as therapy dog, and as a service dog for the disabled. Its friendly, eager-to-please and patient demeanor has made it one of the most popular family dogs in the world. The Golden Retriever has an endless number of positive attributes when being considered as a family pet. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events.

Golden Retriever puppy are known to be very playful and very friendly and making it the best choice for kids of all ages. While young children should always be supervised when playing with any dog, the Golden Retriever is remarkably accepting of children’s sudden and often random movements or behaviors. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. They are a fairly robust and healthy dog breed that can be expected to live for 10 to 14 years.

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Golden Retrievers are the second most commonly registered breed with the American Kennel Club. The only other breed that outranks the Golden Retriever in popularity is the Labrador Retriever. They are dually coated. The outer coat is silky and soft. The undercoat provides the necessary extra layer to maintain proper body temperature throughout the year and repel water when hunting or participating in water activities. The Golden Retriever was originally bred to be a hunting dog because they are instinctive retrievers. This makes them ideal as a hunting companion, particularly for bird hunters that typically are hunting in rough terrain and/or areas with water. They are not pointers or well suited for flushing out game like other breeds such as cocker spaniels or Blue Tick, but they will swim in rough, cold water to retrieve game or charge through thick bramble and brush to locate and return with the prize. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular family pets. One reason for being a great family dog is because of their calm and easy going temperament. Golden Retrievers are good around children because of their tolerant disposition. Golden Retriever will generally be far more patient of the clumsiness and irregularity of a toddler or young child than other breeds. Golden Retrievers are excellent service dogs. (more…)