Chapter 1

Are You Meant for Each Other?

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting acquainted with your Golden Retriever

Admiring the well-rounded Golden: personality, brains, beauty, and ability

Understanding why Goldens aren't for everyone

Adding up the Golden price tag

If you live in a typical neighborhood, then you're probably neighbors with at least one Golden Retriever. Goldens seem to be everywhere - down the block, on television, and in every magazine. These big, beautiful furries are the most popular advertising gimmick of the 21st century. Not only are they huggable, they're trainable as well. What other dog can leap so high or smile so wide into that camera lens? As one of the five most popular dog breeds of the American Kennel Club (AKC), Goldens are no doubt one of the most photographed subjects in the media. Of course, Golden fanatics don't see anything strange about this, and love every doggie moment. Heck, even nondog people will admit (under their breath) that those Golden Retrievers are kinda cute.

This chapter gives you the inside scoop on this special breed. If you haven't fallen in love with your neighbor's Golden already, you will by the time you're done browsing this book.

But - and this is a big but - although Golden Retrievers are great dogs, they're not for everyone. This chapter also tells you how to determine whether you're one of those lucky people who is perfect for the breed.

The Name Game

The Golden Retriever is aptly named - especially the "golden" part. What began as a description of this dog's yellow coat more appropriately describes his sunny disposition and his 14-karat value to his owner and to society. Goldens are great family dogs and all-around good sports who think they were created purely to please their person. This happy, funny, friendly fetcher of anything not nailed down has captured a permanent corner of the American heart, home, and marketplace. Give them a spot with a human on it (as you can see in Figure 1-1, this Golden will gladly join you on the couch!), a puddle to play in, and a stick or tennis ball to fetch and carry (maybe not in that order), and you've made their day. As a bonus, throw in an occasional duck or pheasant - after all, retriever is 50 percent of this dog's name!

© Getty Images.

FIGURE 1-1: There is no better place to lounge than with a Golden at your side!

ARE ALL GOLDEN RETRIEVERS GOLDEN?

The color of that lush Golden Retriever coat dates back to the breed's four original yellow ancestors crossed with a few selected hunting breeds sprinkled here and there during the late 19th century. Today, the breed color can range from very pale blond to reddish gold to deep Irish Setter red.

Keep in mind that the color of the Golden's coat has nothing to do with his intelligence or equally golden temperament. Color matters occasionally in the conformation ring. Some show judges seem to prefer a blonde or lighter coat, which only means they probably spent too much time watching reruns of old Marilyn Monroe movies.

More than Beauty

The Golden Retriever's personality is as golden as his outer coat. This dog was bred to please, and please he does. He started out as a hunting partner who delivered birds to hand, and has evolved into modern times delivering whatever suits his owner's fancy. He's always happy to oblige.

Because they were originally bred to work in tandem with humans, Goldens are also highly trainable and eager to please. These dogs are a breath of fresh air in an era of too many wild and crazy dogs who sometimes drive their owners nuts.

Trainable doesn't mean that Golden Retrievers are born already trained. It just means they're very willing fellows who like to work as a team, and if you're the captain of the team, your Golden will be delighted to do your bidding. Remember the part about the captain; it's important! (See Chapter 7 for more on training.)

FORGIVE AND FORGET

Goldens have the dog world's most forgiving disposition and will blithely dismiss all those dumb mistakes you're bound to make. Whether you come home 2 hours late, forget his dinner bowl, or accidentally step on his tail, he'll forget it ever happened once you smile at him. (A hefty scratch behind his ears, and he's your slave forever.) That does not imply that you have his permission to do stupid things. It just means he understands you're only human.

Likewise, you should follow his good example and forgive your dog his trespasses. In dog terms, they're not mistakes because he's just a dog and is the product of his instincts and your training, good or bad.

The Do-It-All Golden Retriever

If the Golden Retriever were a human, you'd be envious. Not only are Goldens beautiful, intelligent, and friendly, they're also natural athletes who have dipped their paws into every canine sporting discipline. These dogs are joyful companions who are willing to try anything as long as they can enjoy it with someone fun to be with.

Beyond sportsmanship, that famous Golden nose has nudged its way into almost every other facet of the human-animal connection. Today, Golden Retrievers serve as assistance dogs for the physically disabled, guide dogs for the blind, and hearing dogs for the deaf. And that Golden nose keeps on sniffing, working for law enforcement as drug and arson detectives, and as search and rescue dogs who find victims buried under snow and earthquake rubble. Beyond that, with their sweet demeanors, they also excel as therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing homes where, unlike the average hourly employee, they love their jobs. And they work for free, unless you count dog biscuits as a paycheck.

Why Not a Golden Retriever?

Of course, you want a Golden Retriever. What person in his right mind wouldn't? And you firmly believe you and the dog would be a golden combination. Right?

Well, maybe. Despite their high-profile status in the media, Goldens aren't for everyone. This is a sporting breed, folks. These high-energy dogs require training. On the other hand, Goldens are easily trained and love to learn, so training could and should be a fun but very busy experience.

With no offense intended to my favorite breed, the following sections outline some reasons that you may want to think twice about life with a Golden Retriever.

Hair, hair, everywhere

The Golden Retriever has what's called a double coat, which means that he has a soft downy undercoat to insulate him from the cold and heat and a longer outer coat of guard hairs. These hairy critters shed their downy undercoat in huge quantities every spring and leave a little dog hair all over the house all year long. The resulting clouds of dog down all over the house can make you tear out your hair as well.

DO YOU REALLY WANT A PUPPY?

Golden Retriever puppy fever isn't a dog disease; it's a people condition that most often occurs in spring when some humans become infected with an uncontrollable urge to add a puppy to the family. It can lead to dog heaven or, heaven forbid, a nervous breakdown if the affected person thinks all Goldens are like the ones they see on television. The cure - getting that cute puppy immediately - can be worse than the disease.

If you're serious about getting a Golden puppy (or any puppy) and not just caving in to the kids or some other wild and crazy impulse, follow the advice of responsible dog owners and breeders. Look deep into your dog-loving soul and check out the big picture. Love alone is not enough. This is a commitment that hopefully will last 12 or more years!

Brushing will help keep that nuisance dog hair to a minimum. Daily brushing is best - twice weekly is a must. If you use a professional groomer, expect to pay $50 to $75 per grooming session. Pretty is seldom cheap. (For more on grooming, see Chapter 13.)

Move over!

If you want to live with a Golden Retriever, make sure you have room for one. These big sprawling fellows easily occupy at least one couch cushion or easy chair. Everything's big, including their muddy paw prints on your kitchen floor and their nose prints on the window. That happy Golden tail can easily clear your coffee table. (Sorry, move your Waterford.)

In short, Goldens need space, and lots of it, both in-house and out. A yard is a must, and good fencing is the best way to keep him safe and out of trouble. (Yes, given the opportunity, he will try to wander off in search of squirrels, bunnies, and other varmints.)

BORN TO RETRIEVE

The Golden Retriever is a Scotsman, a hunting dog born and bred in Scotland over 150 years ago. To the Golden's credit, he has surpassed Scottish tweeds and kilts in popularity, and today performs well beyond the duck blind he was born for. Overdosed with talent and versatility, the 21st-century Golden consistently outperforms other breeds in almost every discipline in dog sports, including more mundane activities like sock and shoe theft. (Just ask my personal Golden Retriever crew about that!)

Daily dose of exercise

A...