Golden Retrievers For Dummies

can help you match a puppy to your goals and lifestyle. (If you don’t have a breeder, you should check out Chapter 3.)

middle of the road guys, and a shy, quiet wallflower if there is one.

No matter what the sex of your dog, you need to make sure that you spay or neuter it as soon as your veterinarian recommends it. (S

While some females may be to be more sensitive and easier to discipline, others tend to pout or sulk when disciplined. Personally, I’ve raised plenty of both — wild and wooly females, and soft, tender males — and it all depends on personality.

Females, on the other hand, mature more quickly and tend to become lady-like before they’re 2. (

You don’t need a high-powered Golden who craves action and would be bouncing off the walls from boredom. Better to look for a laid-back animal, possibly from show lines, where the breeder’s priorities lean more toward looks than to athletics.

Breeders and buyers now look for longevity and cancerfree ancestors in their pedigrees. Be sure to ask whether any dogs in the first three generations died of cancer and at what age.

General appearance
A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy nor long in leg, displaying a kindly expression and possessing a personality that is eager, alert, and self-confident.

They’re all Golden Retrievers, but be careful which you choose. While each type should have a heart of gold, remember there are gold-plated and several varieties of solid gold.

a result, there are often a huge difference in how each type of Golden looks and acts.