Everything you need to know about golden retrievers

If your family dreams of a true friend, affectionate, intelligent, loving communication, the retriever is ideal. He will make a company and brighten up loneliness, perfectly fit into a family with children. This dog is distinguished by high intellectual abilities, human-centered, docile and peace-loving disposition. This companion dog.

The Golden Retriever is very beautiful in appearance, the puppy or 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 the gender;
• dog height - from 51 to 60 cm, females 5 cm below the males;
• color allowed in one palette - golden, from cream to rich gold, red, mahogany, and reddish are excluded;
• wool elongated type, can 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, muzzle elongated type;
• round ears hang, fit tightly;
• neck medium, without folds;
• muscles very well developed;
• belly not hanging, limbs medium.

The main types of retrievers are similar in temperament, intellectual abilities, health, longevity. But there are differences.

• American. Saturated color, excluding very light and too dark. Tall, taller than Europeans.
• Canadian. It is an intermediate phenomenon, height and body similar to the Europeans, color - with the Americans.
• European. The maximum light in color, heavy in comparison with the Americans, muzzle is wide and of a more short form.

This breed is incredibly popular around the world, the number of registered retrievers grows annually. This they owe not only to their spectacular appearance, but also to their amazing qualities - kindness, tolerance, and intelligence.

The obvious advantage of a dog is high intelligence. Studies have confirmed that in terms of mental abilities, retrievers are in the top of the most developed and clever dogs.

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

• interpersonal skills;
• wonderful attitude towards children;
• loyalty to the owners;
• balanced psyche, nervous system is strong;
• peacefulness, disposition towards people;
• obedience

The aggression of this breed is absolutely alien, they can enter into conflicts only if their lives are threatened. With all the peace-loving dogs are very powerful, strong. A retriever is suitable for a person or a family in need of a companion; the watchdog qualities of a retriever are doubtful - he is too kind and trusting for this role. Golden will get along well with other animals in the house, get along with cats, as they have no inclination for dominance. In addition, they are very energetic, active, love outdoor games.

Relationships between the retriever and the children stand out. The dog is incredibly balanced, non-aggressive and calm, fearlessly trust her children. These are excellent nannies who patiently endure the quirks of the little masters who obey them. This is the most secure breed, which is excellent for children, excellent tutors for children and people with heightened needs come out of these dogs.

Retrievers are often confused with Labradors, this can be understood, since dogs are somewhat similar, and there is some kind of relationship between them. When breeding retrievers used including Labradors. Both of these breeds are hunting, they are well looking for game and bring it.

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

• wool Labrador is shorter and tougher;
• tail the retriever is lowered; at the Labradors it is raised;
• character Goldens more balanced, practical, tactful; Labradors are more emotional, fun, ingenuous.

Retrievers are good because they can afford the owners of a city apartment and a private house. Care of them does not imply any particular difficulties. The main thing is to consistently teach him to walk, hygiene, mode. Since the dog belongs to the hunting breed, it is necessary to walk with her daily, and long and actively.

Caring for a dog includes the following procedures, simple, but requiring regularity:

• as necessary, you need to clean your eyes, inspect if there is any discharge, pus, redness, if you walked in the woods - wash your eyes on return;
• be sure to regularly brush your teeth with a special paste, and 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 if necessary;
• but you need to take care of the wool every day, combing the dog.

But there are several genetic predispositions for some diseases:

• retinal and joint dysplasiathe last defect is surgically eliminated, the first one can lead to blindness;
• epilepsy - may suddenly manifest at any time in life, successfully treated;
• von Willebrand disease, can be cured by blood transfusion;
• atopic dermatitis, can not develop drugs, food.

One of the necessary conditions for the healthy development of a retriever is vaccination. It is important to inoculate the animal for preventive purposes in a timely manner, this is done at the age of puppies, and revaccinations are carried out as adults in accordance with the schedule.

There are three diseases from which it is necessary to vaccinate a retriever:

• from parvovirus enteritiswhich affects the gastrointestinal tract and requires complex long-term treatment;
• for rabies - this viral disease can strike a person;
• distemper - Another virus that can not be defeated, it leads to the death of the animal.

While the dog is not vaccinated, avoid contact of the puppy with other animals, very carefully choosing places for walking.

The diet is an important point in keeping a dog; its health, development, and well-being depend on it. There are two options for feeding - dry ready-made food and natural products. Both of them are good in their own way, but in the second case it is necessary to take care of drawing up 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 entire feed.

A quarter of the total diet is cereals: wheat, buckwheat, rice. You can not give manna, pearl barley, corn. Another fourth of the menu is vegetables and fruits. Well suited pumpkin, turnip. beets, cabbage and carrots. All citrus fruits, grapes, exotic, rhubarb and spinach are strictly forbidden. In addition, you need to give the dog cheese and dairy products, lean fish.

Banned flavored yogurt, ryazhenka. milk, cream. Since dogs by nature love to eat and rarely control themselves, they can overeat, therefore observe moderation in portions is necessary.

It is much easier for the owner to opt for dry food, which is sold in finished form. 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 the dry food already has all the necessary complexes of vitamin and mineral types necessary for the development and health of the retriever.

Because dogs of this breed are potential allergies, should be very careful about feed unknown producers, cheap. Any type of feed is selected individually, first a small portion is given, then it gradually increases. If the skin and fur have changed shade, the dog began to itch, it is better to stop taking it and see the vet.

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 be eating, like an adult dog - 2 times a day. The daily ration is divided equally by all feedings.

Retrievers respond well to training, but much depends on the owner. He must 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's training.

• Socialization. Obligatory stage education dogs. Even as a puppy, he should be in places where people and animals can see: parks, playgrounds. After all vaccinations have been made, it is very useful to allow contact with other dogs, avoiding stray. The dog should be able to walk on a leash, ride in the car, adequately behave in the elevator. All this is achieved by gaining experience.
• Obedience. Since the breed understands well, the weakness in the character and behavior of the host immediately becomes apparent to them, which is what they use.
• Patience. An indispensable condition for the education of the dog, you can not offend and humiliate them in any case.
• Perseverance Mild physical coercion is necessary, so you put the dog in a position where it needs to obey. This may be a slight pressure on the croup, withers.
• Promotion. Praise and delicacy fastest teach the dog to learn teams and skills.

Bred only thoroughbreds that are fully consistent with the standards. Mating can be no earlier than at the age of 18 months for males, 20 months for females. Before the most viscous dogs give antiparasitic agents. Walking during the heat of the female requires its special treatment, otherwise it will lure all the males around. Male dogs are prepared a little differently - they increase the protein content in the feed. A pair of quality walk and do not give food just before the mating.

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

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