Golden Retriever Attributes
The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. It is characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat. It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered breeds in several Western countries. It is a frequent competitor in dog shows and obedience trials; it is also used as a gundog, and may be trained for use as a guide dog.
Appearance
The Golden Retriever has a broad head with a well-defined stop, with dark eyes set well apart, a wide and powerful muzzle, a large black nose, dark-pigmented and slightly drooping flews, and ears of moderate size set high and hanging with a slight fold.[9][10] The neck is muscular and fairly long with loose-fitting skin, the shoulders well laid-back and long-bladed, and the body deep through the chest with well-sprung ribs.[5][9][10] The back is usually level from withers to croup and the long, straight tail is usually carried flat, roughly in line with the back.[5][9][10] The forelegs are straight with good bone, the hind legs are powerful with well bent stifles and muscular thighs, and the feet are cat-like.[5][9][10]
The double coat is a recognizable and striking feature:[7] the outer coat is long, flat or wavy and has good feathering on the forelegs, while the undercoat is dense and provides weather resistance.[9][10] The coat can be any shade of cream, yellow or gold; the coat typically becomes paler with age.[9][10] The Kennel Club breed standard prohibits red or mahogany-colored coats, but a few white hairs on the chest are permitted.[8] Originally only yellow or golden colored examples were permitted, this excluded many outstanding cream colored dogs; to overcome this in 1936 the Kennel Club’s standard was amended to include the cream color.[5] The cream color, which in more modern times can be almost white, has become the dominant color and is particularly favored by conformation show exhibitors.[11]
Temperament
The Golden Retriever is considered an intelligent, gentle natured and very affectionate breed of dog.[2][7] As is typical with retriever breeds, the breed is generally calm and biddable, being very easy to train and extremely keen to please their master.[5][7] The breed is known to make excellent pets and family dogs, being generally extremely tolerant of children and keen to accompany any member of the family in a range of activities.[3] Due to their affable natures, the breed is often completely devoid of guarding instincts.[3]
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_Retriever&oldid=1155005240