Content
- Golden Retriever Basic Characteristics
- Advantages of having a golden retriever
- Your personality is balanced
- It's a very adaptable dog
- has a great intelligence
- It is the best companion for children
- It has a fair size
- Disadvantages of having a golden retriever
It is very difficult not to know a golden retriever dog. Very popular in various parts of the world, the specimens of this breed have gained space in our homes thanks to their excellent qualities. It's not just about their size or beauty, but also because they have an exceptional and balanced personality, as well as great intelligence.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain all the advantages of having a golden retriever as a companion in the home. So, if you are thinking of adopting a dog of this breed or crossbred, regardless of whether it is a puppy, adult or elderly, below are the reasons to do so. You'll also find out if perhaps it's better to adopt another dog with other traits if it doesn't fit your lifestyle. Remember that the most important thing, always, is to ensure that we can take care of an animal as it deserves.
Golden Retriever Basic Characteristics
The first step in discovering the advantages of owning a golden retriever is to know what its basic characteristics are, as they will allow us to have an idea of what to expect from the dog. Its origins are in the United Kingdom in the 19th century. They were waterfowl hunting dogs, even though they performed a lot of functions like companionship and assistance. The first golden retrievers appeared at the exhibition as early as 1908.
Are calm, friendly, not aggressive and especially good with children, with which they are tolerant and patient. They adapted to life in big cities, being equally happy in country houses. On the other hand, they are very good students when it comes to learning both basic orders and more complex commands. Furthermore, they are able to establish good relationships with other dogs and, in general, with other animal species.
As for its physical appearance, the color of its coat stands out, with shades that vary between cream and gold. The fur becomes lighter with age. What's more, they have a dense, impermeable inner layer. They have a relatively long life expectancy for dogs of their size, reaching up to 15 years of life. Other basic data are weight, between 27 and 36 kg, although they tend to be overweight and the measure up to the withers varies between 51 and 61 cm.
Advantages of having a golden retriever
The characteristics mentioned already give us clues to the possible advantages of living with a dog of this breed or crossbred. Below, we show the main reasons that justify why have a gold retriever.
Your personality is balanced
The first of the advantages of having a golden retriever that we can highlight is the balanced personality shown by the examples of this breed. The greatest proof of this is his work as an assistance dog, participating in therapies or making life easier for people with special needs. Obviously there can be exceptions, but we are referring to dogs of this breed in general.
They are docile dogs, which greatly facilitates both education and coexistence. What's more, they also tend to show themselves affectionate, although at this point it must be taken into account that this affection is bidirectional, that is, they also have a great need to receive affection, something to consider before adopting one.
Remember that these indications are not valid only for purebred specimens. The adoption of golden mestizos is another advantageous option. On the other hand, we always recommend adopting adult dogs. Among the advantages of this alternative we can include that they already have the character formed, so we know how the golden we take home is like. There are no surprises or as much work as caring for a dog.
It's a very adaptable dog
If the great advantage of having a golden retriever is its excellent personality, not least is its great adaptability. This means that we can make a golden person happy regardless of how our family is. You will be happy in a home with children or with a single person with both sedentary and active habits.
Along the same lines, you can adapt perfectly to living in an apartment, always, of course, that your basic needs are met. You will also be very happy in a house with the possibility of enjoying a patio, garden or land.
Furthermore, their adaptability also helps them to integrate into their new home when they are adopted. Therefore, we can consider choosing an older specimen with complete peace of mind. Even if there are other animals in the house or they may come later, the coexistence usually develops without any problem, whether other dogs or animals of different species. They are not aggressive, quarrelsome, nor do they show a tendency to bite.
has a great intelligence
In the 1990s, psychologist Stanley Coren drew up a list ranking a good number of dog breeds from higher to lower intelligence. It is noteworthy that intelligence referred to intelligence related to the ability to learn orders and obedience.
The golden retriever stands in a highlighted rank number four out of a total of 79. Therefore, we can say that the specimens of this breed are easy to learn orders with few repetitions and, moreover, they obey them in a high percentage of the times when asked.
His outstanding intelligence counts as one of the advantages of having a golden retriever and facilitates his training, but also implies the need to provide him with a good mental stimulation so that he doesn't get bored. A bored dog can manifest behavior problems.
Discover the complete list of the smartest dogs according to Stanley Coren.
It is the best companion for children
As we said when we talk about its basic features, one of the advantages of having a golden retriever it is the good relationship they establish with the little ones in the house. Not only do you have children at home, but this advantage also allows you to have no problems with visiting children or meeting them during any outing. Anyway, we have to educate the little ones so that they treat the dog with respect and care, in addition to monitoring its interactions, just in case.
It has a fair size
The last of the advantages of owning a golden retriever that we can point out is its size. Are big dogs but not so much to the point of hindering the daily lives of most caregivers. This allows us to live with them in apartments or houses and have the opportunity to accompany us on departures and trips.
On the other hand, it is not necessary to rule out the adoption of large dogs like the golden one just because of their size, since it is also essential to evaluate the characteristics such as those mentioned above, which are those that facilitate coexistence, regardless of size.
Disadvantages of having a golden retriever
Even though the golden is one of the dogs that best adapts to any situation, it's not all advantages for all people. Anyway, before mentioning the "disadvantages", we want to clarify that the correct thing to talk about animals, which are living beings with feelings and emotions, is to refer to characteristics that do not coincide with our routine or lifestyle. So, before adopting a golden, it is also important to remember that it is a dog that tends to lose a lot of hair, so we have to devote time to brush it to keep it healthy.
On the other hand, remember that we stand out as one of the advantages of having a golden retriever, the fact that they are affectionate dogs, which also need attention and affection from humans, which can be a problem for those people who do not have that much time. In these cases, too, we recommend reconsidering the idea of adopting a dog, as they all require time and affection. Finally, we must also emphasize that this is an animal that also needs to receive physical and mental stimulation due to its great intelligence and predisposition to overweight. In this other article, you'll see what you should consider before adopting a golden retriever.
When you decide to adopt a dog, whether or not it is a breed, it is essential to evaluate everything in order to provide him with the best life possible.
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