6 Facts about Golden Retrievers
We are celebrating National Golden Retreiver Day (3rd February 2022) by sharing 6 facts about this lovable breed. If you have a question about your Golden Retriever, download the Joii Pet Care app for free advice from our vet nurses.
1. Where do Golden Retrievers come from?
The Golden Retriever originates from Scotland, dating back to the Victorian era. The breed has black Wavy Coated Retriever, Tweed Water Spaniel, Bloodhound and Irish Setter in their ancestry.
2. What is the history of Golden Retrievers?
Originally bred as gun dogs, the Golden Retriever belongs to the sporting breed. However, their friendly and gentle nature makes them pretty poor guard dogs!
3. What is the personality of a Golden Retriever like?
Golden Retrievers are renowned for being a friendly and lovable dog. The breed are perfect for families with children and are also great at meeting new people and other dogs. The breed is very intelligent and eager to please, making them a dream to train in comparison to some of the other more stubborn breeds around!
4. When was the Golden Retriever officially recognised?
Golden Retreivers were officially recognised by The Kennel Club in 1911 - an exciting year for our trusty Retrievers!
5. Who are the ancestors of Golden Retrievers?
Golden Retrievers have Wavy Coated Retriever, Tweed Water Spaniel, Bloodhound and Irish Setter in their ancestry. This mixture explains their gorgeous coats and gentle nature.
6. What are Golden Retrievers most common health problems?
The most common health related issues in Golden Retrievers often relate to:
Eyes
Unfortunately, various hereditary eye problems can occur in Golden Retrievers. Eye conditions can seriously affect the dog’s vision and could lead to them losing their eyesight completely. Because most of these eye problems have no effective treatment, it is strongly advised to only get a puppy from a reputable breeder. The breeder should have both of the breeding parents annually screened and certified by the BVA/Kennel Club Eye Disease Scheme.
Skin
Another hereditary health problem that Golden Retrievers can suffer from is the skin disease Ichthyosis. The disease often causes a high amount of dandruff flakes and scaling. Although the issue doesn’t tend to be itchy and Golden Retrievers typically get a mild form of this disease, it can make their skin more susceptible to secondary skin infections. There is no cure for the scaling, but in mild cases it can be managed with appropriate skin products.
Heart
Certain heart diseases are also more common in Golden Retrievers than in other breeds, such as a condition called subaortic stenosis (SAS). This is a narrowing of the aorta, the big vessel that carries blood away from the heart. It's recommended that
Hormones
One of the hormonal diseases that is often found in Golden Retrievers is hypothyroidism. This impacts the thyroid gland of the dog and results in a lack of thyroxine, a hormone that controls the metabolism of the dog. Signs of this disease are hair loss, a thin coat, blackened areas of the skin, lethargy and weight gain. This disease shouldn’t be left untreated as it affects the dog’s quality of life. Dogs diagnosed with this condition, will need to take oral medication for the rest of their lives.
Joints
Golden Retrievers can suffer from genetic health problems, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These are serious joint deformities that can develop to become very painful and as the dog grows older. These joint issues are often remedied with costly orthopedic surgeries or managed with medications and therapies.
There's no surprise that the breed is so popular. We'd love to see pictures of the Golden Retrievers of Joii - just head to Instagram and tag us for a chance to be featured on our page!
