When it comes to golden retrievers, a cute face will come to mind, which really fascinates many adults and children!
That’s right, today I’m going to introduce the most popular guy in the dog world: “Golden Retriever”. I believe that many people dream of raising a “caring”, “cute” and “loyal” big dog, and golden retrievers are the “first choice” in many people’s minds.
But do you know what you need to pay attention to when raising a golden retriever?
What “genetic defects” do golden retrievers have? Is Taiwan suitable for raising golden retrievers? How much does it cost to raise a golden retriever?
Golden retrievers are friendly and loyal, and are known as the warmest men in the dog world. Owning a golden retriever is actually quite therapeutic, but in Taiwan’s humid weather, taking care of it requires a lot of effort. Learn about Golden Retriever characteristics, personality, breeding tips and health care, and how to care for this friendly and loyal Golden Retriever.
Golden Retriever Introduction
Golden Retriever, originated from “Britain” and was originally a “medium and large hound” bred to “help in hunting”.
Their “gentle” and “steady” personalities can help hunters bite back their prey without damaging it during hunting. Golden retrievers are very “smart”. Compared with other dogs, their IQ is definitely at the “gifted” level and they are easily trained by people. The warm personality and intelligent traits make the golden retriever a popular candidate for “guide dog” and “search and rescue dog”.
Golden retriever height and weight
The “height” of golden retrievers is between “51 and 56 cm” for females, and between “56 and 61 cm” for “males”. In terms of weight, the “weight” of a golden retriever is between “25 and 32 kg” for female dogs, and between “30 and 34 kg” for “male dogs”. The height and weight will be finalized around the age of 2, but the “mentality” will not be “fully mature” until around the age of 3.
Average lifespan of a golden retriever
The “average lifespan” of a golden retriever is about “10 to 12 years”, and it will start to “age” from about “7 years old”. The average lifespan of a dog is about 12.5 years. The lifespan of golden retrievers is “not that long”, so we should cherish the time we spend with them.
Golden Retriever vs Labrador
People often confuse Golden Retrievers with Labrador Retrievers, but the differences in their characteristics can tell them apart! In terms of personality, although golden retrievers are friendly and easy to get along with, they are more intelligent and independent, while Labradors are simpler and more obedient.
| Breed | Golden Retriever | Labrador |
| Head | The face and ears are short | The face and ears are longer |
| Hair | long and fluffy | shorter |
| Tail | Fluffy tail | The tail is thick and hairless |
| Personality | Smart and opinionated | Simple and highly obedient |
golden retriever personality
Golden Retrievers have a very “gentle” personality and are very “gentle” to “children” and “other pets” at home. They also get along peacefully with “strangers” and are a good family companion dog.
But don’t forget their “fun-loving” nature just because they have a stable personality. They like to play “throwing and catching games” very much, such as “throwing a Frisbee or ball” and letting them pick it up. This is their favorite!
Golden retrievers are also very “greedy” because of their “innate genes” that make it difficult for them to feel full, so they are prone to “eating too much”.
Therefore, the pet owner should pay special attention to the “feeding amount”. Don’t let the dog eat as much as he wants. If you are not careful, you may become “overweight”!
Are Golden Retrievers easy to raise? 5 things you need to know about raising a golden retriever
Key Points 1. The “Genetic Defect” of Golden Retrievers
Common problems 1. Elbow joint dysplasia
“Elbow dysplasia” is a “genetic” problem that may prevent the golden retriever’s forelimbs from walking normally.
It is usually not noticed at first, but symptoms may appear “after exercise”. At this time, it is recommended to let the dog “rest appropriately.”
If it “continues to deteriorate”, it may cause “damage” or “inflammation” of the joints. It is recommended that owners start “treatment” and “maintenance” after “early detection”.
Common problem 2. Hip dysplasia
“Hip dysplasia” is also a defect caused by “genes”, and it is also a problem encountered by many medium and large dogs.
Hip dysplasia will cause the dog to “limb in its hind limbs” and “walk wobbly” when walking, and in the long run will become “inactive”.
Therefore, if you find that your originally playful and lively Golden Retriever gradually becomes unwilling to go out and play, you may want to “pay attention to whether it is a joint problem.”
Key Point 2. “Health Problems” of Golden Retrievers
Health Notes 1. Body prone to obesity
Golden Retrievers are less likely to feel full due to their “genetic” inheritance, so they can easily eat a lot accidentally!
Eating too much is not only easy to get fat, but also easy to cause indigestion. What’s even more frightening is that being “overweight” may make existing joint problems more serious.
It is recommended that when choosing “snacks”, choose snacks that can be “given in small amounts” and are “rich in animal protein”, such as “dried meat”, “dried fish”, etc.
Health Note 2. Otitis
The golden retriever’s ears are usually “always covered” and the inside of the ears are “stuffy and airtight.” If the owner does not pay attention to cleaning, it is easy to suffer from “otitis”.
Otitis is usually caused by “bacterial infection.” Common causes of bacterial infection include the following:
🐶My ears are always wet after taking a shower
🐶ear scabies
🐶allergy
🐶Too much earwax
🐶Improper digging
Owners can check the golden retriever’s ears regularly every week to observe whether there are any signs of “odour”, “redness”, “discharge” or “ear inflammation”.
And regularly use “cleaning fluid” specially designed for dogs to “clean the ears” of golden retrievers. When cleaning, be careful not to insert cotton balls into the ear canal to avoid damaging the dog’s ear structure.
Point 3. The “active nature” of golden retrievers
After all, golden retrievers are “large dogs”. It is recommended to take them out for a walk for at least one hour every day so that they can “discharge their batteries”.
Coupled with their naturally “fun-loving” personality, if they don’t get enough exercise, they may “break down the house” to consume energy!
Golden retrievers have “hound blood”. In addition to walking, you can also plan some “throw and pick up” games or “swimming activities”. They will be very happy.
Key Point 4. Golden Retriever’s “Moulting Problem”
Golden Retrievers are “double-coated” and “long-haired” dogs. Although they are not “too difficult to groom”, the amount of hair shedding is considerable. It is recommended to comb the hair at least 2 to 3 times a week, and at least once a day during the shedding period in spring and autumn.
The hair loss problem of golden retrievers can easily cause “allergy” to the human respiratory system. Therefore, before adopting or buying a dog, you must “think twice” about whether it is suitable.
Key point 5. “Obedience training” of golden retrievers
Golden Retrievers are very easy to train because they are “intelligent”, “love to eat” and “like to please humans”! Coupled with their playful and active nature, they are very suitable for training as “search and rescue dogs”, “detection dogs” and “hounds”.
Usually we can treat some “small snacks” as rewards, and “give rewards” when they “do the instructions correctly”. Commands such as “shake hands” and “sit down” are basically no problem for these smart golden retrievers!
Golden Retriever Price
The price of a golden retriever will be affected by factors such as “origin”, “bloodline”, “age”, “health” and other factors. The price will fall between “20,000 to 80,000” and will fluctuate depending on the seller.
It should be noted that no matter where you buy or adopt, please make sure that the other party is a legal channel.
Where can I adopt a golden retriever?
When you think of golden retrievers, you may think that because they are “breed dogs”, they can only be obtained by “purchasing” them.
In fact, golden retrievers also have the opportunity to be adopted! The following societies have the opportunity to adopt golden retrievers:
Golden Retriever Little League
Golden Retriever Alliance-Adoption-Rescue-Association Area
Lost Cats and Dogs Help to Find, Rescue and Adopt
The cost of raising a Golden Retriever for one year
Necessary expenses
Food expenses: main meals, fresh food, snacks, rewards, etc., about 1,500 to 3,000 yuan per month, depending on the dog’s weight and food intake.
Medical expenses: including vaccinations, deworming, physical examinations, preventive drugs, health foods, etc., approximately 2,000 to 5,000 yuan per year, depending on the dog’s medical needs.
Insurance cost: If you choose to purchase pet insurance, the premium will be approximately $2,000 to $5,000 per year.
Training costs: Dogs may attend training classes or social events, which range from approximately $1,000 to $3,000 per year, depending on need.
Unexpected medical expenses: For example: emergency medical treatment or surgery, which are relatively unpredictable expenses. It is recommended to set aside some budget each year for emergencies.
Non-essential expenses
Toys: Rubber balls, chew toys, etc., about $1,000 to $1,500 per year, depending on frequency of purchase and type of toys.
Daily necessities: such as mattresses, collars, clothes, etc., about 1,000 to 2,000 yuan per year, depending on needs.
Bath and Grooming: Includes grooming supplies, bathing and grooming services, approximately $15,000 to $60,000(Taiwan Dollar) per year, depending on your dog’s needs and frequency.
Travel and pet hotels: If owners need to board their dogs when traveling, they will need to spend extra, about 1,200 to 3,600 yuan per year, depending on the frequency of travel and the choice of pet hotels.