Breed: Golden Retriever
Average Size: A male should stand from 22-24 inches and females should be 21.5-22.5 inch at the withers. The males weigh 65-75 lb and the females weigh 55-65 lb .
Appearance: The Golden Retriever has a variety of gold colors for the coats from light to dark. The coat is dense and water repellent and can be straight or wavy.
Lifespan: Average 10-12 years old
Habitat: They do very well in small living areas of at least 500 sq. feet but need an area to run since they are very active.
Food: Golden's are prone to obesity so a proper diet of human-grade food is important with lots of exercise.
Temperament: Golden Retriever's are considered the friendliest of dogs. They are equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them. Their gentle disposition does not make them a good choice for a guard dog. They are typically calm, intelligent and eager to please. Goldens can learn over 200 commands. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children. Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Due to their sociability and calmness they are commonly used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, and mobility assistance dogs. Golden Retrievers are very attached to their owners. Leaving them alone in a room can cause the dog to become very sad. They have a need to always have something in their mouth, and like to carry things around. There are an ideal family pet.
Special Traits: Adult Golden Retrievers love to work, are patient and have a keen ability to focus on a given task. Therefore they are commonly used when hunting especially since they have a love for water. They will seemingly work until collapse, so care should be taken to avoid overworking them. Due to their trainability they often compete in agility and obedience trials. They are also known to become excellent surrogate mothers to different species. Kittens and even tiger cubs from zoos are well taken care of by golden retrievers. In some cases, a retriever may produce milk for its adopted even though it may not have been pregnant or nursing recently.
Other Important Info: Goldens should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during heavy shedding. Twice a year. they shed profusely. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or otherwise an ear infection might occur. While shedding is unavoidable with Golden Retrievers, frequent grooming lessens the amount of hair shed. Severe shedding resulting in bald patches can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever. They are also prone to other medical problems such as cancer. The most common being hemangiosarcoma, followed by lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumor, and osteosarcoma. Cancer is the breed's biggest killer. They are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, and retinal dysplasia. Heart problems like subvalvular aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy are problems seen in Goldens. They are also prone to joint diseases and skin diseases especially allergies.
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