Everything You Need to Know About Golden Retrievers From Your Friends At The Puppy Lodge
Why are Golden Retrievers America’s favorite breed? If you ask us, it’s because they’re absolutely everywhere. Go to any park on Saturday morning, and you’ll see tons of Golden Retrievers wandering around, tails wagging, fur glistening in the sun, enthusiastically greeting everyone and every dog they pass. They’ve earned the title of “perfect family dog” over the years, and having raised and worked with Golden Retrievers for years ourselves, we think that title is spot on.
At The Puppy Lodge, we know Golden Retrievers. Really know them. We’re not your average puppy breeders who mate two dogs and hope for the best. We study pedigrees, temperaments, and health histories. We observe how our puppies react to different stimuli and what they need to become amazing companions who will make your life happier every day. And through years of hands-on experience and continued education on this wonderful breed, we’ve learned a lot.
Let’s start with where they came from…
Who Created the First Golden Retrievers?
Believe it or not, Golden Retrievers weren’t the result of some happy accident. Back in the mid 1800s, Dudley Marjoribanks, a Scottish aristocrat who later became Lord Tweedmouth, wanted to create the perfect hunting dog to accompany him in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. He wanted a dog that could retrieve both on land and in water, had the drive and stamina to keep up with him, and could be gentle enough to carry a bird in its mouth without damaging it.
After carefully breeding several dogs over decades, Lord Tweedmouth came up with the Golden Retriever. He bred Flat-coated Retrievers with Tweed Water Spaniels and included some Red Setter and Bloodhound mixed in as well. Every trait your Golden has today can be traced back to working by Lord Tweedmouth’s side. That oily double coat? It repels water, so they could swim in icy waters all day. Those soft lips that carry toys gently in their mouths? Perfect for retrieving birds without damaging their feathers. That boundless energy you have tokeep up with half the time, but then becomes your perfect cuddle buddy at night? Ideal for spending all day running through the woods with you and then lying by the fire with you at night.
Knowing this history will help you better understand your Golden years down the road. They were bred to work. To be attentive to your commands and your body language. To have a strong work ethic. To be athletic, yet soft. And those traits aren’t something you can train into your dog. It’s who they already are! That’s why we take such pride in continuing Lord Tweedmouth’s legacy by raising Golden Retrievers that exemplify everything this breed has always been meant to be.
Why Do You Fall In Love With Every Golden Retriever?
If you’ve met a Golden Retriever, you know exactly what we’re talking about. There’s something about these dogs that makes you fall in love with them the second you meet them. Unlike some dogs that are overly exuberant around people because they’re nervous and don’t know how to react, Golden Retrievers love people. Full stop. They waltz into a room and make instant friends. Whether it’s your dog-loving neighbor or your toddler who sticks their hands right in their face, your Golden will greet everyone the exact same way, like they’ve known them their whole life.
On top of that, Golden Retrievers have keen emotional intelligence toward their human families. They can read your mood like clockwork and will act accordingly. Are you in the mood to play? Your Golden is ready and willing to knock your socks off. Did you just have a bad day? Your puppy will lay their head in your lap and make sure you know they’re there to love you unconditionally. You know those therapy dogs you see at airports and shopping centers? 90% of them are Golden Retrievers because they have a special ability to sense and console their humans.
Don’t mistake that sweetness for weakness, though. Golden Retrievers are silly, goofy dogs. Expect them to steal your socks and run around with them dangling from their mouths. Expect them to find the biggest mud puddle in the park and roll in it right before the company is scheduled to arrive. Expect them to be staring at you, possibly even carrying their dog bowl around if you don’t feed them at the scheduled time you always feed them (even if you’re just running 5 minutes late). There will always be laughter when you live with a Golden.
Here at The Puppy Lodge, our puppies spend their first few months living with our six children. That means your new puppy has been snuggled by babies, played hard with teens, and exposed to every loud noise and every toy imaginable. They know people are their favorite thing in life. They know there’s nothing to be afraid of. And when they come home with you, they’ll show you just how happy life with a loving family can be!
Size, Coat, Colors, and Appearance
How Big Do Goldens Get?
Golden Retrievers grow up to be a medium to large breed of dog, though there can be variation in size depending on lineage. On average, our male Golden Retrievers will stand 23-24 inches tall at the shoulder when full-grown and weigh 65-75 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, standing 21.5-22.5 inches tall and weighing 55-65 pounds when fully grown.
They’re strong, athletic dogs that were built to work, not constant lapdogs you can curl up with on the couch. Their golden coats can range from a light cream color to a deep golden shade. Some variation can occur from puppyhood to adulthood as well.
Golden Retrievers have water-repellent double coats, with a dense undercoat and a long outer coat. Plus, that adorable feathering on their chest, legs, and tail, which gives them their elegant movement. And oh yeah… they shed. Like CONSTANTLY. So if you don’t want your furniture and clothing to become accessories that match your Golden perfectly, this may not be the breed for you.
Life Expectancy
With proper diet and exercise, Golden Retrievers typically live 10-12 years, though many make it into their teens. Proper nutrition, regular vet checks, and exercise play a big part in how long your Golden Retriever will live.
Daily Exercise Needs
Golden Retrievers need LOTS of daily exercise. We’re talking an hour a day of intense activity. A leisurely stroll around your neighborhood just doesn’t cut it. They NEED physical activity to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Don’t believe us? Try letting your Golden lounge around all day with no access to a fenced yard. You’ll come home from work to a crazy dog busting at the seams.
The good news is they love to run! Take them on that morning jog with you. Watch them fly behind you on hiking trails. Throw a tennis ball in a pool and watch them go! Retrievers were bred to run, run, run. So when you give them that exercise they crave, you’ll have a happy, tired puppy on your hands.
But don’t forget about mental stimulation either! These guys are intelligent and require that their brains be exercised, too! Teaching them tricks and commands is fun for both of you. Puzzle toys, hide-and-seek, and constant learning will keep them guessing and eager to please you. That’s why you see so many Golden Retrievers in agility, dock diving, and obedience competitions. Not only do they have the drive to learn new tricks, but it also provides mental and physical exercise.
Grooming Requirements
Let’s backtrack for a minute. Remember that coat we mentioned? Yeah, it needs regular grooming. At a minimum, brush your Golden Retriever 2 times a week to prevent matting and loosen up all that shedding fur. Be sure to really concentrate on brushing out their feathering, as that’s where most mats will occur. During the shedding seasons, which happen twice a year but feel like all year long to us fur parents, you’ll want to brush your Golden daily.
Bathing is recommended to keep them smelling good and looking beautiful. Don’t bathe them too often, though; it is recommended weekly to keep your Golden healthy on the inside and beautiful on the outside.
Yup, there is some work involved when you own a Golden Retriever. But the reward of owning such a wonderful dog is worth every minute you spend caring for them!
Indoor Or Outdoor Dog? Living Situation
Golden Retrievers love having a backyard to run around in. However, if they’re given proper exercise, they can do very well in an apartment setting. The main thing your Golden needs is an owner who will commit to exercising them every day. A tightly leash-trained puppy in a studio apartment with owners who walk/run them every morning and take them to the dog park every afternoon will thrive. Give them a huge backyard to play in, but let them entertain themselves all day? You’ll come home to a bored, unhappy puppy who knows how to scream bloody murder until you come home from work, just like your neighbor’s Labrador.
One thing Golden Retrievers do NOT tolerate well is being left alone for long periods of time. These dogs are people-oriented. They crave being with their pack (that’s you!) all day long. If you work long hours or are gone from the house 8-10 hours a day, your dog will probably suffer from separation anxiety and can display various forms of unruly behavior. Unless you’re prepared to invest in doggy daycare or a dog walker, Golden Retrievers might not be the right dog for your lifestyle.
Can You Train a Golden Retriever?
One of the many reasons we love raising Golden Retrievers is that they’re one of the easiest breeds to train! Not only are they intelligent, but they’re eager to please you. Plus, they are food-obsessed enough that treating them will get you anywhere you want to go in training. They want nothing more than to make you happy, which already puts you miles ahead of some of the more stubborn breeds out there.
Start training your puppy early. And consistency is key. You’ll quickly teach them what behaviors you’ll reward and what you won’t. Positive reinforcement is your new best friend. You don’t need to yell or be super strict with your Golden. In fact, doing that can ruin the trusting relationship you have with your puppy. Their ears will perk up when you simply change your tone of voice. They’re also incredibly smart at reading your body language. And yes, treats can solve any problem your puppy has.
Don’t stop at just teaching your Golden basic commands, though. They’re capable of learning so much more! That’s why Golden Retrievers are often used for search and rescue, service dog work, and therapy dog organizations. Their stability and desire to please you make them perfect candidates to continue learning tricks and behaviors throughout their lives. It’s mental stimulation they crave.
Things To Watch Out For: Golden Retriever Health Problems
Golden Retrievers are a generally healthy breed. Like any purebred dog, there are certain health concerns that are more likely to appear as they age. Hip and elbow dysplasia are conditions you’ll find with many large breed dogs, which is why responsible breeders will have all their breeding dogs tested for both of these conditions.
Remember when we told you why you should choose a reputable breeder? This is why. Every one of our breeding dogs has extensive genetic testing and vet checkups before they’re ever bred. We make sure they have clear hips and elbows and are genetically screened for common health issues that affect Golden Retrievers. That doesn’t guarantee your puppy will be healthy forever. But it DOES drastically reduce the chances of your dog developing many of the health concerns commonly found in Golden Retrievers.
Routine vet visits, along with keeping your Golden at a very healthy weight and plenty of exercise, can help your Golden to live a longer, happier life. And keeping your Golden at a healthy weight is KEY. These dogs LOVE to eat with a passion you wouldn’t believe. If you free-feed your Golden (always having food available), you’ll quickly find your puppy trying to become obese. And that puts unnecessary stress on their developing joints.
Breeding Philosophy
WHY did we decide to breed Golden Retrievers?
We believe in Golden Retrievers and their ability to positively impact people’s lives. That’s why we take breeding them so seriously. We won’t breed just because it’s fun or our dogs are pretty. Every Golden Retriever we bring into our breeding program has to pass the same strict health checks, temperament grading, and testing we require of our other dogs.
Early Neurological Stimulation
Have you heard of puppies going through something called Early Neurological Stimulation, or ENS for short? Every one of our Golden Retriever puppies goes through a series of developmental exercises between day three and sixteen of life. ENS was developed by the United States Military to breed the best working dogs for its use. Research showed that puppies that underwent ENS had stronger immune systems, healthier hearts, reduced stress, and better adaptation to new environments and situations. Plus, they’re more confident! We firmly believe in providing our puppies with the best foundation possible. That groundwork starts with ENS.
DNA/Genealogy Testing
We spend way too much money on genetic and health testing. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t!
When you purchase one of our Golden Retriever puppies, you can rest easy knowing their parents went above and beyond our health requirements. Only dogs who pass our standards are considered for our breeding program.
Socialization
With six kids ranging from age 2 to 15, our property is like Puppy University for socialization. Your new puppy is around kids yelling, playing, being chased, and more. They experience vacuum cleaners, equipment, phones, and people coming and going.
Our puppies also get used to being handled by strangers. The Danville Veterinary Clinic comes to our property once a week to examine our adults and puppies. So our puppies are comfortable with leashes, being held by strangers, and being examined. There will be plenty of vet visits in your Golden’s life. Exposing them to these situations at an early age will make vet trips less stressful for both of you.
Our Kennel
As a Purdue Canine Care Certified breeder, an independent organization visits our facility to ensure we provide a safe and healthy environment for our dogs. We have heated tile floors and geothermal cooling to keep our dogs cool in the summer and warm in the crazy Ohio winters. With 5 acres of land, our dogs have plenty of room to roam and play.
Every puppy we send home with you will leave with up-to-date vaccinations, microchipped, and a 3-year health guarantee from us. We also include a blanket with mom’s scent on it to help ease those transition pains. All of the puppies are started on Purina Pro Plan.
The Puppy Lodge Golden Retriever Puppy Promise
We don’t consider ourselves just breeders of Golden Retrievers. We breed life-long family companions. We take the time to get to know you and what you’re looking for in a puppy. We answer any questions you have (yes, even the ones you think you shouldn’t ask). And we don’t stop when you bring your new puppy home, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Thinking about a Golden Retriever, but aren’t quite ready to make that decision? We’d love to help you decide whether a Golden is right for your family. Schedule a visit to our small farm to meet our dogs. See how we raise our puppies. Ask us anything, we’ll answer!
Thinking a Golden Retriever puppy would make the perfect addition to your family? Contact us and let’s find your perfect furry match!