The golden retriever, which has just celebrated the 150th anniversary of the breed's founding, is one of the most popular dogs today. Intelligent and versatile, it is also beloved for its outstanding character traits.
Versatile and extremely intelligent, the golden retriever is by now a star both in sport and in leisure. Among the various theories about the breed's origins, the least far-fetched traces its descent from the flat coated retriever and the tweed water spaniel, now extinct. There are also those who tell of a keen English dog fancier, Lord Tweedmouth, who is said to have purchased specimens of hunting dogs of the Russian retriever breed and then crossed them with the bloodhound and the setter. It was in particular the pairings with the tweed water spaniel that allowed the characteristics of the future breed to be established.
If Lord Tweedmouth was the golden's father, Mrs. Charlesworth – another keen dog fancier of that era – was undeniably its "mother", because the club, the official recognition and the first breed standard owe a great deal to her. Thanks to her efforts, the breed was officially classified in 1903, first in England, then gradually in the countries where it is most widespread, both in Europe and in North America.
On 24 July 2018, 361 golden retrievers gathered in the Scottish Highlands to celebrate the anniversary of the breed's founding 150 years earlier. They are currently registered and recognised as a single breed, even though two quite distinct types exist: the British and the American. The American type is in turn divided into the United States and Canadian varieties. Setting aside these subtle differences, the golden retriever remains recognisable by its basic morphology and its character traits.
Although golden retrievers are classified as land and water retrieving dogs like their cousin the labrador, individuals of this breed are truly versatile and their roles range from working and pet therapy to companionship and sport. "They are perfect dogs for sporty people, for families and for anyone who doesn't want to be alone," explains Stefania Marchitelli, animal behaviour therapist.
"The golden is very sociable both with people and with other animals. It is absolutely not suited to anyone who wants a guard dog or an independent dog, because it loves the company of humans and its own kind. It is very gentle and will certainly have no particular problems growing up with children, but one must bear in mind that it has a more sensitive character than the labrador, so not everyone may cheerfully put up with clumsy pats, fingers in the eyes or fur-pulling. The company of young children will be perfectly fine as long as the child is taught to respect the dog," the therapist concludes.
The expert's view is also reflected in that of someone who shared years and experiences with a dog of this breed. "They are magnificent dogs, but very 'hands-on', so to speak," Laura tells us — she had a golden by her side for more than ten years — "so their interactions with young children and elderly people need to be monitored. Above all, males of this breed tend to be boisterous. Training and a great deal of patience, however, go a long way towards smoothing out these character traits."
Having originated as a working dog, and a retriever specifically, the golden retriever is an active dog and therefore ideal for anyone who wants to involve it in sporting activities, from a simple run to a mountain walk, from a swim in the sea (individuals of the breed love water) to organised sporting activities at dog training centres. "The important thing is to always make the golden a part of shared life," notes Stefania Marchitelli, "otherwise you will have by your side a deeply unhappy companion that is ready to channel its energy into household objects, causing damage and problems."
These are extremely intelligent and easily trainable dogs which, owing to their sensitivity, learn readily, but also know how to identify the weak points of those around them and use them to their own ends. Resisting the imploring, utterly sweet gaze of a golden is difficult, if not impossible. "Be careful, however, not to use harsh methods when interacting with it; its very sensitivity means that one must always work exclusively using positive reinforcement, keeping the use of punishment to an absolute minimum and avoiding any form of coercion entirely. If we want to love it in the right way, we will need to learn to communicate with it in a firm but very gentle manner," Marchitelli concludes.
Like many other medium-to-large breeds, golden retrievers can suffer from hip dysplasia. This is an inherited condition in which the hip joint (the coxofemoral joint) forms incorrectly and therefore tends to move and shift from its normal position. Dysplasia is considered a multifactorial genetic condition, meaning that the environment plays an important role in how hip dysplasia manifests. For this reason, intense exercise and excessive feeding can accelerate the development of the condition, especially if the animal is still a puppy or young. A preventive X-ray and, where appropriate, the advice and treatment of a vet specialising in orthopaedics can resolve uncertain or already compromised situations. Many dogs with dysplasia can in fact lead an almost normal life without suffering even in old age, provided appropriate lifestyle adjustments are made preventively.
Injuries, muscle strains and lameness are of course a fact of life for a sporting dog like the golden, but its sound constitution and robustness make it possible to keep the minor incidents that can occur during sporting activities or countryside runs under control. Among hereditary conditions, the golden retriever may also suffer from cataracts. In general, the condition can be diagnosed when the dog is still a puppy and its presence does not always interfere with the animal's ability to see. In other cases, however, it can cause total loss of sight, which is why it is important to undergo specific check-ups with an ophthalmologist vet, who may also recommend surgery. As regards day-to-day care, the golden is a robust and sporty dog: a good periodic brush and a bath during the moulting season will help keep your companion clean and tidy even after walks and outdoor activities.