The golden brightness of tenderness. The infinite beauty of simplicity.

When we decided to bring a new four-legged member to our family, our list of priorities was quite long. Our future dog had to be loyal, sweet, noble, non-aggressive, unconditional, joyful, obedient, trainable, people-loving... But weren't those too many characteristics to be found in a single dog ? Would there be a breed that gathered them all ? To our joy, we found out there certainly is a breed : the Golden Retriever. Well balanced, friendly, sensitive, with those nostalgic eyes that invite us to shelter by their side to forget all about this crazy human world we live in, at least for a moment... 

 The Golden Retriever origin is found in Inverness, Scotland, and is due to the work of one man, the first Lord Tweedmouth, Sir Dudley Marjoribanks. He obtained from a Wavy-coated Retriever (ancestor to the Flat-coated Retriever) called "Nous" and a Tweed-water Spaniel called "Belle" four puppies : Crocus, Primrose, Cowslip and Ada, which are considered the real founders of the breed.

The first Golden were considered as Flat-coated Retrievers, Golden variety, by the English Kennel Club Registers in 1903, and only in 1911 Golden Retrievers were admitted as a separate breed. 

Golden Retrievers are strong, well-balanced, medium-large dogs. Males stand 23-24 inches at the shoulder (55-58 cm.) and females 21.5-22.5 inches (52-54 cm.). Males weigh 65-75 pounds (29-31.5 kg) and females 55-65 pounds (25-29 kg.).

Males have a broader skull than females. Golden Retrievers' eyes are dark brown and no white area should be seen when looking at front. Their nose is black and, although its colour may vanish in cold weather, it should never be pink or with no pigmentation.

Their ears are set high. Drooping hound ears are considered a serious defect.

Their tail is strong, curving upwards, neither curled nor carried between the legs; it's well-fringed and it's almost always wagging.

The coat is dense, water-repellent, and its colour varies from cream to gold. Neither red nor stain are admitted. White marks are not allowed, except for those due to aging. However white should not be mistaken with cream, as cream is quite common in puppies and it turns to gold when the puppy grows up.

The feathering, typical Golden Retriever characteristic, is moderate behind the front legs and under the body, and it's heavier in the neck, behind the back legs and under the tail. It demands daily brushing to favour its growth and health.

Golden Retrievers have an intelligent and sweet expression. They're trustworthy and friendly to people and other dogs. Their nostalgic eyes reveal their constant need of tenderness. They welcome all human contact with joy and their owner's love is so vital to them as the air they breathe.

Although they were originally created as hunting dogs, they've become one of the top family dogs due to their loyalty and patience, both in Great Britain and USA. It's also remarkable their labour as dogs for the blind, handicapped and elderly people.

Golden Retrievers love water, perhaps because of their Tweed-water Spaniel blood. However they should be introduced to it with tact, without attempting to force them to it, because we run the risk of hurting their feelings.

Golden Retrievers are not noisy dogs, but they can bark if they see something unusual in their environment or ,simply, if they're bored.

Goldens are beyond doubt the ideal family dogs, due to their excellent temperament, patience and balance.

They should never be overfed. Besides, the daily ration should be distributed into two or three takes at least, avoiding physical activity one hour before and three hours after each take.

Golden Retrievers have an innate need to please their beloved owner and they also show a great sensibility, so training should be consistent but never harsh, because we can easily hurt their feelings. In fact, we'll surely obtain better results with rewards and praise than with punishment.

Golden Retrievers' popularity has triggered off that many money-minded people have started breeding unhealthy puppies. That doesn't mean that the breed particularly suffers from certain diseases, it means that we should watch out against them.

1) Hip Displasia:

It's a hereditary disease caused by a poor developement of the formation of the hip joint. It's detected through X-rays when the puppy is 6 months-1 year of age, but the test is only fully reliable when the dog is 2. As any hereditary disease, both parents should be fee of hip displasia (OFA certification) to be able to breed.

2)Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy :

This disease implies a progressive deterioration of the light-receptive area of the eye (retina) which can result in complete blindness. It's also hereditary and both the sire and dam should have the required clearance (CERF: Canine Eye Registration Foundation)

3)Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis :

It's a hereditary heart disease that can be detected through auscultation or echocardiogram.

Dear Wendy,

You can't imagine how long we looked for you. We knew you were the ideal breed for us, but as it's not usual to see a Golden Retriever in Buenos Aires' streets, we sometimes thought we would never find you in our country.

We would have liked that Foxy loved you as much as we do, but you know how stubborn Foxy is. Don't be sad, try to understand him. Apart from the usual elder brothers' jealousy, Foxy is a bit ill and we should take from him only what he can give. And who knows ? He may change his mind one day.

We have so many plans to share with you : a swimming pool in our backyard to swim together in Summer, sharing your life with human brothers and sisters (and we promise we won't get jealous if they learn to say your name before they say mom or dad), holidays at the beach to let you experience the sea, living the unforgettable experience of your becoming a mother (when you are the right age for that) and seeing your beauty and sweetness reflected in your babies...

But there is plenty of time for all that.

Enjoy your childhood and your games with grandma's Ugas, that adorable mixbred who is crazy for you. Grow up so healthy as you are now, and don't worry about anything, we're here to protect you and take care of you forever.

We love you,

Mom and Dad.