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The Golden could suffer from major
separation anxiety. Because Goldens are "people" dogs, they suffer when
their people need to leave them behind, even under the best of conditions
in their own home with a live-in servant. The Golden gives no hint that
they are stressed until they explode with a hot spot the size of a dinner
plate. If unable to work up a hot spot, the Golden will resort to a bout
of diarrhoea or another ailment serious enough to require a trip to the vet
as long as it does not require missing a meal.
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The Golden is first and foremost
a retriever. This means that they will make every effort to bring you
everything not nailed down. However, they never return anything to its
original location so a large portion of the day must be spent gathering
and redecorating.
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The Border Collie has "the eye",
an unblinking stare that is used to get what they want. The Golden has
something equally unnerving, "The Eye Shift." During The Eye Shift, the
Golden darts their eyes back and forth between you and any tennis ball.
This is done without any perceptible movement of their heads. The Eye
Shift can be done at any angle to accommodate a ball on the floor or
hidden high on a bookshelf. It is impossible to hide a ball from a Golden,
and every effort to do so will be defeated. Living with the Eye Shift is
like living with a non-stop tennis match. Golden Retriever owners learn to
ignore it or run the risk of developing vertigo.
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When things are quiet, the Golden
Retriever likes to drape in your lap or, at the very least, rest their
fifty-pound head. They are big dogs and it only takes about ten minutes
before your legs go numb. After watching a movie, one is reduced to
crawling to bed or the kitchen or waiting until feeling returns with a
painful burst of pins and needles.
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The Golden makes a terrible
watchdog. They like everyone. A Golden will try to work the Eye Shift on a
burglar with some patter that sounds like this: Hey, could you stop
filling that bag for just a minute and toss the ball on that shelf for me,
please, please, please. Yes, that shelf. Just follow my eyes. Right there.
Right there. Yes!
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This breed is known for their
versatility. They will do their best at any type of work they are offered.
Guide Dog? Sure. Agility? Can do. Obedience? How long should I stay?
Tracking. Where shall we start? This puts great responsibility on the
Golden owner to get involved in something. Goldens make their owners feel
guilty or at least they should.
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The breed has fragmented into at
least two distinctly different types that look strikingly different. The
lighter boned, darker coloured dogs bred to work in the field look very
different than their show bred relatives with their Hollywood starlet
blond coats and heavier bone. If you decide on a Golden, you will have to
make the tough choice of whether you want to join the camp of the beauty
queens or the athletes.
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This breed will sell its soul for
food. Julie Cairns writes in her book, The Golden Retriever, All That
Glitters that, "... gluttony is a common trait among Goldens, and many
will eat as long as food is available." Now that is an understatement. A
Golden who stumbles on an unattended dog food bag is a candidate for
exploding. An increasing number of Goldens have been appearing on street
corners sporting signs announcing that they will trade their services for
food.
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The death of a Golden presents a
serious problem, beyond the mere fact that they have died. When Goldens
die, they are automatically transformed in their friends' minds from a
perfect dog to sainthood. All deceased Goldens are known as Saint
Somebody. This makes it very difficult to get another dog.
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Goldens shed their coats frequently
and copiously. Do not buy one if you are house-proud, have pale coloured
carpets or a dodgy vacuum cleaner.
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Goldens are large dogs with an
uncanny knack of finding all the muddiest puddles. Some are great wallowers
- yours is bound to be one of them!
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Faeces are a by-product of all dogs,
which we all have to dispose of responsibly. It is one of the more
unpleasant facts of dog ownership, and most public places now require you to
pick up after your dog.
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A
well-bred and properly reared puppy will cost from R5000-00 to R7000-00 and
this is only the beginning. Veterinary fees are expensive, so it makes sense
to get pet insurance for your dog - indeed most breeders will insist you do so.
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A male Golden Retriever will
mature into a large dog, reaching as much as 56-61 cm at the shoulder and
can weigh anything up to 40kg's - a sizeable amount when it is attempting to
climb up into your lap for a cuddle. The female golden
will have seasons every 6 - 9 months. This is a big responsibility
to avoid unwanted litters & since Golden Retriever MUST live
with the family in the house, this could present some issues with
her discharge, that can become quite excessive.
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Goldens do not make good kennel
dogs, most are real couch potatoes, who unerringly find the most comfortable
sofas and the choicest position in front of the fire.
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Some Goldens are great landscape
architects, if your garden is a show piece, having your own Ground Force
team may not go down too well. The garden must also be well fenced with
sturdy boundaries, like Anne Robinson, puppies will always find the Weakest
Link.
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Although usually tractable and
obedient, given an inch, most will take the whole nine yards!
