Golden Retriever Temperament: Affectionate and loving allrounder for a family
Are you thinking about getting a dog? Do you believe a Golden Retriever might be the right choice for you? If so, this blog post is for you! We will share with you some of the pros and cons of owning a Golden Retriever, talk through a little Goldie history lesson and what it's like to live with a Goldie so that you can make an informed decision before adding one of these furry friends to your family.
Their easy-going and lovable temperament, makes them top the list of favourite dog breeds almost every year. So, don't miss out on these Goldie Nuggets! (I know, terribleā¦.)
History of the Golden Retriever
Scotland didn't only give us Whiskey, the Loch Ness Monster and the well-pitched sound of bagpipes. They also gave us the Golden Retriever. We should be forever grateful.
Lord Tweedmouth is pointed out as the main instigator of the breed that we know and love today. In 1968 he bred a wavy-coated Retriever called Nous to a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. Voila. The first Golden Retriever litter was born with Crocus, Cowslip and Primrose. They seem to be the foundation of all of today's Golden Retrievers.
The idea was to breed a dog who could be a capable hunter on land and water. Retrieving shot birds was their primary job.
Dogs similar to the Golden Retriever appear in old paintings before Lord Tweedmouths. However, the Goldie definitely has a more extended history!
Golden Retrievers stand at around 61 cm at their tallest, with males being larger than females. The average weight can be anywhere between 29kg and 36kg. They have a dense undercoat with a flat, wavy top coat that makes them entirely waterproof. A Golden Retriever's colour can be on all spectrums from whitish cream to a deep orange-red.
Like their cousins, the Labrador Retriever, their life expectancy is around 10-12 years. This is quite normal for a breed that size. The oldest Golden known was 19 years and 11 months when she crossed the Rainbow bridge. A precious little angel called Augie.
Below table shows all Golden Retriever registrations with the UK Kennel Club. In Q2 2022 3,046 Goldie puppies have been registered with the UK Kennel Club. That is even more than last year at the same time!
Q1 2021 | Q2 2021 | Q3 2021 | Q4 2021 | 2021 total | Q1 2022 | Q2 2022 |
2,414 | 2,731 | 3,232 | 3,431 | 11,808 | 2,419 | 3,046 |
Source: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/2402/quarterly-breed-stats-gundogs.pdf October 2022
What is it like to live with a Goldie?
You'd be surprised how clever they are. According to a study, the Golden is the fourth most intelligent breed in the world, only outsmarted by Border Collies, Poodles and German Shepherd Dogs. But, unfortunately, that can make them easily bored. And unfortunately, destructive at times! They are often referred to as "mouthy" as they like having stuff in their mouth to chew on.
It's a good idea to avoid plasticky toys and instead focus your effort on natural dog rope toys. In addition, lots of exercise, mental ability games and switching up walking routes will tire your Goldie and avoid unwanted behaviour.