To fight the hair problem, buy a high quality vacuum cleaner and be prepared to use it frequently. It will also help to have a lint brush in every room to remove hair from your clothing before you go out. Covering the furniture where your Golden Retriever rests with a quilt will also help to reduce the scope of the shedding problem.
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Poor nutritional status affects the quality of your Golden Retriever's coat which can influence the amount of shedding your dog experiences. In addition to feeding your dog a high quality dog food, consider adding supplemental fish oils or omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to keep skin healthy and further control dog shedding.
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Brushing or combing your Golden several times a week can help to reduce the amount of free floating hair in your home. The thick undercoat should be combed on a weekly basis to remove dead hair. For regular brushing a high quality bristle brush should be effective. For combing the undercoat, an undercoat rake is probably your best choice since it has strong teeth designed to remove tough, heavy hair. Frequent brushing is one of the most effective ways to control dog shedding.
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Regular baths followed by a thorough brushing can help to reduce the amount of loose hair that ends up on your carpeting. Be sure to use a mild shampoo that won't irritate your Golden Retriever's skin.
Some sources recommend using a shampoo fortified with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which can help to maintain healthy skin and may reduce the degree of shedding. Be sure not to bathe your Golden Retriever more than once every 3-4 weeks since frequent bathing can dry out their skin.
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Consider adopting from a rescue group. Many of these dogs are already housebroken and finished with the chewing stage. There is usually nothing wrong with the dog; the owners didn't research the breed and later discovered that they and the dog were incompatible.
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Don't worry about adopting a Golden retriever if you have other pets. They do equally well with dogs and cats.
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Choose a golden retriever if you want an affectionate, loyal and friendly companion. They are not aggressive and make poor watchdogs because of their friendly dispositions. This, however, makes them good family dogs. They are excellent with children of any age.
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The night time will be the hardest. There are three things you can do. You can wake up at certain intervals and take the dog out, you could put down paper and see if the dog will go on them, or you can keep the dog in a cleanable area and clean up after it. I have always chosen to take the dog out a intervals and if I slept through and the dog had an accident it was my fault, not the dogs.
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In the beginning it's a good idea to take your dog out every hour to the exact same spot, say your chosen phrase, and use your reward if you are going to use rewards.
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Next feed your puppy breakfast. Immediately after your puppy is done eating take her outside to the exact same spot and tell the puppy whatever phrase you want to use for going the bathroom and always use that phrase during house training.
Most typically dogs will feel the need to go to the bathroom after they eat. One of the methods I have used is rewarding the puppy when he has finished going poop. I would always praise her and then give her a small dog treat. I kept doing this every time the dog went poop where it should. I only feed my dog three times a day but obviously the dog will need to be taken out more often.
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Start in the morning and take your puppy outside to place where you want the puppy to go to the bathroom. Stay by the puppy so that you can praise them when they have done what they should. Make sure you give your puppy plenty of time to do what it needs to do and if he doesn't do it just take the puppy inside.
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You see that cute little puppy and it you instantly fall in love and take it home. After about an hour you stumble across the reason why you always said you weren't going to get a dog. It's best to start right away with house training and you will find that you are actually training yourself more than your dog. Keep in mind that there are certain things you shouldn't do: Do not yell at the puppy, do not spank the puppy and do not rub the puppy's nose in it's accident. All this does is teach the dog to be scared of you and to hide what it has done. There are two schools of thought for house training. One is crate training and the other is just training them with the crate. I have always chosen to train without the crate.
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Dogs have a tendency to be inquisitive. Ensure your dog's safety by removing any cleaning chemicals, medications, or other poisons from the reach of your dog.
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If your Golden Retriever should collapse suddenly, you'll want to be prepared by know how to perform canine CPR. There are a variety of videos and books that can teach you the basic steps for reviving your dog. It pays to be prepared.
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Check daily for signs of illness in your Golden Retriever. Look for such signs as skin changes, loss of fur, increased panting, excessive thirst and urination, changes in his stool, vomiting, and personality changes. If your dog shows any of these signs, see your veterinarian. You want to diagnose potential medical problems early for the best prognosis. Be sure to have your dog evaluated by his veterinarian on a regular basis.
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Exercise Your Golden Retriever Daily.
Exercise not only has benefits of its own, it also reduces your dog's risk of obesity. Aim for a thirty minutes walk with your Golden Retriever twice a day. Your dog may also benefit from some organized play time with a ball or Frisbee. Exercise also helps to keep your dog mentally challenged which can reduce his stress level.
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Avoid Giving Your Golden Retriever Table Food
Feeding a dog high fat human foods increases his risk for pancreatitis, a potentially life threatening condition. It may be okay to give your dog wholesome fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, but consult with your veterinarian first since certain fruits such as grapes can be toxic to your Golden Retriever.
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Feed Your Golden Retriever a High Quality Dog Food.
By feeding your Golden Retriever a high quality diet, you'll reduce his risk of becoming overweight which is a risk factor for a variety of diseases in dogs including diabetes. In one study performed on Labrador Retrievers, dogs that were kept lean lived two years longer than the control group. They also were able to avoid developing some of the diseases associated with aging such as arthritis. Many commercial pet foods have additives that may be harmful to your Golden Retriever. If you can't find a good organic dog without dangerous additives, consult with your vet for some guidelines on how to make your own.
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Spay or Neuter Your Golden Retriever.
If you don't plan on breeding your dog, have him spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering can reduce the risk of certain types of reproductive cancers in dogs, including breast cancer in female dogs which is not uncommon.
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Golden Retriever sheds a lot. The main reason people give up their Golden Retriever is because they shed too much. The second reason is that they got bigger than expected.
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Golden retrievers love the water. Keep a towel handy when you go near the ocean or a lake.
Golden Retriever - Dog Lover
Purchase a hand vacuum if you plan to keep your Golden Retriever indoors. Its hair will stick to everything.
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Check with your vet regarding anal expressions - some dogs need help with this and it's a job better left to a professional. Look for signs like the dog dragging its bottom along the floor.
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Keep your Golden Retriever inside if at all possible. This is an extremely social dog, and it will be very unhappy if left alone outside while its family is together in the house.
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Remember that Golden Retrievers try very hard to please and train fairly easily as long as you are consistent and patient with them.
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Make sure to trim Golden Retriever's nails monthly to prevent foot problems.
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Bathe Golden Retriever infrequently ; it doesn't require special grooming and can be washed at home.
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Brush your Golden Retriever weekly to help keep shedding down. This breed sheds year-round.
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Learn about the health problems associated with Golden Retriever : hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, congenital heart disease, epilepsy, thyroid disorders and allergies.
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Keep your Golden Retriever's weight down. Overweight dogs have more health problems, including heart trouble and arthritis.
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They look like open, oozing sores that start out real small, could be the size of a quarter and if not treated quickly the size of it will escalate really fast and get out of control. Golden Retrievers can get hot spots very easily. Hot spots are often caused by allergies. The most common would be by fleas. If you do not get all the shampoo out of your dog this can cause a hot spot too. Most hot spots need to be shaved so that they will get well. Shaving the area promotes air circulation. It is best to see the vet before they get out of control.
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That is a tough question. Some of Golden Retrievers have allergies so this could be the cause. It could be inhalant, contact or food allergy. Many Golden Retrievers have very sensitive skin so it is important that you use medicated shampoo on them if they do. This can relieve a lot of the itching. Many of them have flea allergies and one flea alone can caused them to excessively itch.
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Not typically, but Golden Retrievers may bark if they are bored.
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There could be two reasons for this. Your Golden Retriever could have tapeworms or their anal sacs need to be emptied. The first thing to check is their stool. Tapeworms look like little pieces of white rice and are visible. If they have tapeworms you will need to see your vet for treatment. If you do not see tapeworms then you may need to take your dog to the vet to see if his or hers anal sacs need to be emptied.
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No, most Golden Retrievers will bark at strangers but most of the time they will greet the stranger at the door with their tail wagging and a toy in their mouth ready to play. They will most likely show them where all the silverware in the house is.
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Some dogs are born with more drive than others, a puppy that is not properly socialized generally will not retrieve. Some puppies have no play drive which allows them to learn to retrieve on their own. It generally has to be encouraged by either the puppies siblings (as in "take away games") or by the owners engaging the dog in play and praising the dog for the retrieving behavior. Shaping the behavior by using praise when the puppy goes after the thrown object , more praise when he touches the object or picks it up, more when he takes even one step towards you with the object, etc.
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Golden Retrievers are usually physically mature by 2 years of age. Mentally, it depends on the dog but usually not before 3 years of age.
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Yes, letting your dog out for potty breaks only is not considered enough exercise. They are a sporting breed and as such need plenty of exercise. Throwing tennis balls, swimming and romping with other dogs is great exercise. You do need to be careful exercising your Golden Retriever under the age of 18 months old. They need exercise but it must not be forced. You should refrain from jogging with them until they are fully grown because you can damage their joints.
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Do not shave your Golden Retriever. An undercoat rake and a steady routine of brushing will solve the problem. Golden Retrievers actually have two coats of hair. Their coat is designed to keep them comfortable and protect them in both winter and summer. During the winter, the undercoat grows, and in the spring they being to blow that coat. The undercoat rake is designed to remove all of the dead undercoat. When first using one, it will take a few sessions of raking and brushing to remove all of the dead coat, but once you have done that, a weekly routine of brushing and using the undercoat rake will keep shedding to a minimum. The first time you use it, you will be shocked at the amount of hair you remove.
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Yes they do! Golden Retrievers shed most all year round and there are least two times a year that it is a lot. You can expect dog hair everywhere if you own a Golden Retriever. They need to be brushed daily and regular use of an undercoat rake will significantly improve the shedding. Daily brushing also keeps them from matting. If you do not like dog hair in your house a Golden Retriever is probably not the dog for you.
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Neutered pets can’t develop testicular tumors and have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. If you neuter your Golden Retriever early you will have less chances of medical problems, territorial aggression, leg lifting, roaming, behavioral problems, mounting & possessive aggression.
The biggest reason for spaying or neutering your dog is dog responsibility. Males who escape their yards can sire litters without their owner’s knowledge. Millions of unwanted dogs are euthanized everyday. The primary cause of this is people who fail to spay or neuter their dogs, and who abandon or give up dogs because of lack of commitment to training a dog.
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There are many reasons you should spay your Golden Retriever.
If you have your female spayed before her first heat cycle you are protecting her against mammary tumors, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer. Spayed pets will not have heat cycles that soil your rugs. Sterilized pets behave better.
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No, if they are neutered early enough, 6 months to 1 1/2 years, they do not become territorial markers or leg lifters. They will squat like a female Golden Retriever.
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Absolutely not! Males in most cases are much more affectionate than females. Males are big loving teddy bears. Female Golden Retriever are generally more independent than males.
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Other than the obvious, the difference between the male and female Golden Retriever is predominately size. Females are normally between 50-60 lbs and males are 65-80 lbs. Of course this can vary because of genetics.
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The typical life span of a Golden Retriever is 12-15 years.
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Puppy Selection : Don't let a breeder laugh off his puppies' timidity with assurances of, "Oh, they just haven't been handled much." Lack of socialization means laziness or ignorance on the part of the breeder. You do not want a Golden Retriever puppy from a lazy or ignorant breeder. If he can't even socialize properly, who knows what else he screwed up in breeding or raising these puppies?
Shy puppies become shy dogs.Golden Retriever puppy who hide or tuck their tails or shrink away from you are not safe choices as pets. Don't try to convince yourself that you can "bring them out of their shell." You don't know what's going on in these puppies' genes. Shy puppies usually become shy dogs who may snap defensively at anything that startles them.
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Golden retrievers are known to be gentle around children, and are also highly intelligent and obedient dogs. Golden retrievers are more commonly thought of as family pets, however, due to the fact that they are not used as guard dogs or police dogs – so they don’t give the impression that they might be potentially dangerous.
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Basic golden retriever training should begin the moment your dog is bought home especially if he is still a puppy. Good early habits endure and will result in a well behaved golden retriever in the future. These tips are for training your Golden Retriever :
1. Always begin your golden retriever training inside the home where your dog stays. Your dog will learn faster when he/she is in a familiar environment.
2. Work on one new command or trick per training session. This will allow your golden retriever to learn, understand and familiarize each new training better and faster.
3. Make sure you always use and repeat the same word or command for each particular training.
4. Train you golden retriever in short, frequent sessions. Dogs have a short attention span and will get easily distracted or bored.
5. End the training with a positive note or with your golden retriever wanting more. This will allow your dog to look forward to the next training session.
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Recommended feeding daily amount: 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Feed your golden retriever depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Golden retriever are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference--the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your golden retriever and the less of it you'll need to shake into your dog's bowl.
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Purebred dogs too have their share of health problems, which are inherited genetically. Generally Golden Retrievers tend to suffer from minor health problems which are quite common in nature, and can be easily cured if looked after carefully. Your vet can help you with this problem.
Similarly, distemper virus is a common health problem of Golden retrievers and is an airborne disease. Symptoms include cough, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You should take golden retrievers to the vet immediately if it manifests any of these symptoms.
Heart worms are among the most common health problems of Golden retrievers, and can grow up to 12 inches in the heart or lung arteries in all dog breeds. It may sound tough to believe, but another common health problems of Golden retrievers is heat stroke. One of the most serious health problems.
Golden retrievers face is rabies. It has a very serious affect on your dog’s nervous system. To prevent this, you should make sure you get your dog rabies shots periodically as per the vet’s instructions.
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The Golden Retriever has a kind, friendly and confident temperament. They are not "one man dogs" and are equally friendly with strangers and those familiar to them. Their trusting, gentle disposition therefore makes them a poor guard dog. Any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility towards either people, dogs or other animals, whether in the show ring or community, is completely unacceptable in a Golden Retriever and is not in keeping with the character of the breed and is considered a serious fault. Nor, should a Golden Retriever be unduly timid or nervous.
The typical Golden Retriever, is calm, naturally intelligent and biddable, with an exceptional eagerness to please. They are excellent with children and this, along with their other qualities, has made them a favorite family pet.
As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever loves to retrieve. Whether it's a thrown stick, tennis ball or flying disc, retrieving can keep a dog of this breed occupied and entertained for hours, particularly if there is water involved. They might also pick up and retrieve any object that is near to them when greeting a human friend. Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock.
Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, their calmness and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
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Matting, shedding and hot spots are the hurdles for the Golden Retriever owner when it concerns Golden Retriever grooming. Not only that, puppies should be accustomed to Golden Retriever grooming supplies at an early age so they will welcome grooming sessions as they mature. Young puppies do not need grooming yet you should groom the puppies anyway with the array of proper Golden Retriever grooming supplies. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will prevent and reduce the occurrence of matting for feathery-coated Golden Retrievers. The correct smooth coated Golden Retriever is also prone to matting if its undercoat does not receive regular brushing. A thorough session of Golden Retriever grooming takes one half hour to perform. An owner with a feathery-coated dog should devote time to daily grooming to prevent matting. Once a week, a thorough grooming should be done for smooth coated Golden Retrievers.
During shedding season, these dogs will shed a large amount of hair, which can be controlled with daily grooming. Hot spots are an irritated skin condition to which Golden Retrievers are prone. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will help with matting problems. Unless a mat is cared for with thorough Golden Retriever grooming, it will grow larger and more painful for the dog as it pulls at more hair and skin. This can irritate the dog’s skin. As well, fleas are attracted to the matting. For dogs with an abundance of feathery hair, mats can appear overnight. It is important that feathery-coated dog owners include Golden Retriever grooming in their daily schedule.
You will need a few Golden Retriever grooming supplies to deal with mats. A mat must be carefully untangled with a wide toothed comb by starting at the edges and then working into the mat. Plain water will tighten the mat so you may use oil or detangle formula conditioner to untangle the mat. A mat can be cut away easily and safely with a mat breaker. Try to avoid using sharp edged scissors on a mat, use rounded edged scissor if necessary. Use the services of a groomer as necessary. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies, you can groom your dog well. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies and regular grooming sessions, you can effectively control any shedding, matting and skin conditions for your dog. Frequent checks for matting and the immediate removal of particles will control potential problems.
Two brushes will be good additions to your Golden Retriever grooming supplies toolkit. The slicker brush has a wide head with short bristles and can be used on a wide area. The pin brush has wide set long bristles for feathering. Give your dog a thorough brushing before a bath or wetting its coat. Tangles will worsen when wet with water. Detergent based shampoo will remove natural skin oils and can irritate sensitive skin. Oil can be gently worked to detangle a knot. The undercoat can be lost if too much bathing occurs. To avoid this, brush out dirt and wash the legs and underside with plain water.
During regular Golden Retriever grooming, check for hot spots while using a flea comb to inspect the skin beneath the undercoat and to detangle the undercoat. Gently check and clean your dog’s ears and nails once a week. Trim nails as necessary as a part of your Golden Retriever grooming schedule.
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Golden Retrievers vary widely in color.As indicated by their name, their coat comes in light golden colors to dark golden colors. The coat is dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat against the belly. The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows. Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colors for the Golden coat.
The Kennel Club (UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat color. Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany color, referred to as "redheads", although this is not accepted in the British show ring. As a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a dark dog a darker colouration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult color. A golden's coat should never be too long, as this may prove to be a disservice to them in the field, especially when retrieving game.
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British type
Some variations do exist between the British type Golden Retrievers prevalent throughout Europe and Australia, and those of American lines and these differences are reflected in the breed standard. Its muzzle is wider and shorter, and its forehead is blockier. It has shorter legs, with a slightly deeper chest, and shorter tail. Its features make it generally heavier than the Canadian type. Males should be between 56–61 centimeters (22–24 in) at the withers and females slightly shorter at between 51–56 centimeters (20–22 in). Their weight, however, is not specified in the UK standard. The KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines. The eyes of the European type are noted for their roundness and darkness as contrasted with the triangular or slanted composition of their American counterparts. A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat color of any shade of gold or cream; however, red or mahogany are not permissible colors. Originally cream was not an acceptable color in the UK standard; however, by 1936 the standard was revised to include cream. It was felt this exclusion was a mistake as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were lighter in color than the then current standard permitted. As with American lines, white is an unacceptable color in the show ring. The British KC standard is used in all countries with the exceptions of the US and Canada. Some breeders of this type in America may import their dogs to improve the temperament and health noted in those bloodlines . The incidence of cancer among English bloodlines is significantly less than is seen in the American lines.
Canadian type
The Canadian Golden Retriever is a newer type of Golden. Appearance is meant to be similar to the American type in height and weight, with a light coat color. Color is described as not as light as a British type, and not as dark as an American type. Field line Golden Retrievers tend to be smaller and have a less dense coat than their conformation line counterparts, and they are usually darker in color. Golden Retriever, 8 month old puppy. 
American type
The American type is similar to the Canadian type. It is tall, with a moderately narrow muzzle, and a chest the is not generally deep. Its stomach does not curve heavily, and its withers are almost level with it's shoulders. The American type is sometimes bred with the English type to give is a white or cream coat. However, American types most commonly have dense, dark coats.
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The Golden Retriever is a breed of dog, historically developed as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game and lame hens during hunting.As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and an instinctive love of water.Their intelligence and versatility sees them employed in a variety of roles including illegal drug detection, search and rescue, as hunting dogs and as guide dogs.Their friendly, eager-to-please and patient demeanors have also made them popular family dogs.
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Welcome to our Golden Retriever dog blog. Here you will learn about Golden Retriever health care, any tips and you can find good experiences from many people who love Golden Retriever.
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