If you are a lover of the golden retriever, have one or are thinking of adopting, it is essential that you know these 10 curiosities of the golden retriever.
As you know, the golden is a tremendously popular dog, either because it belongs to the group of the most intelligent dogs in the world, because it is an excellent family dog or because of its tremendous acceptance as a therapy dog.
Keep reading and discover curiosities and details about this wonderful golden-haired breed on our site:
5 things you didn't know about the golden retriever
- The ideal dog for children The golden retriever is known as a gentle, friendly and relaxed dog. If he has received a good socialization, has his daily doses of exercise and has covered all the 5 freedoms of animal welfare, he will undoubtedly be the perfect dog to play with your children.
- They love water Although there may be some golden retrievers who dislike water because they don't know it, the truth is that most of them enjoy without limits of a dip in the beach, the river or some source of the city. Take him with you to one of these places and see how he enjoys.
- They are very easy to train. Being so intelligent it is not surprising that the golden is an easy dog to train. As long as we use positive reinforcement (and never punishment) we will discover surprising results.
- Prodigious Smell. Thanks to this highly developed sense, the golden is capable of learning to look for objects of all kinds. Perhaps for this reason he has been used as a detector dog for explosives, narcotics or simply as a truffle hunter.
- They need to bite. It is something basic that any dog needs, but in this case with greater intensity. Using teethers, toys or a kong are some options for this.
5 False Golden Retriever Myths
In addition, we share with you 5 false myths that have accompanied this noble breed for a long time. Pay attention to these curiosities if you are considering adopting a golden retriever:
- The retriever is a dog eager to please the human being This is so false and absurd that it is hard to believe that this myth has become popular so much. Aren't we supposed to be the most intelligent species on the planet? And yet we have come to believe that dogs (not just retrievers, but other breeds as well) are born with an innate desire to please humans. Absurd! Neither Retrievers nor other breeds of dogs are born with the desire to please humans. If you want your retriever to do your bidding, you have to make it worthwhile for him. Don't expect that just because he's a retriever, your dog will be willing to do everything you want… and even less things you haven't trained him to do.
- Retrievers are instinctive collectors Absolutely false! The people who think this are the ones who know the least about collection training. While it is true that retrievers have a certain predisposition to look for the downed prey (or the ball, or the stick that is thrown), it is not true that they have an instinctive predisposition to take it in their mouths, bring it and deliver it to its owner. Collection is an exercise that is trained, not something that is born spontaneously. It is very likely that you have witnessed an untrained retriever on occasion, but those are rare coincidences that occur with retrievers as well as with other dogs. Just because your retriever occasionally fetch the ball doesn't mean it's in his genes to fetch. Remember, if you want your retriever to be a retriever, you have to train him to do so. Don't trust that instinct will suffice because that's not true.
- Retrievers are soft-mouthed dogs Whoever thinks that has never been bitten by a retriever. The soft mouth develops from when the retriever is a puppy, and only when the dog is taught to have a soft mouth. If the dog is not trained to retrieve gently, you can be sure that he will destroy the pieces he retrieves. Training a dog to have a soft mouth begins during puppy socialization, and later becomes part of retrieval training. There are different methods to train the collection, and all of them take into account the need for the retriever not to damage the piece. So don't get the idea that your dog is soft mouthed just because he was born a retriever. If you want him to have what is known in dog lovers as "soft mouth", you have to train your dog for it.
- Retrievers can work tirelessly I don't know where such nonsense came from, but it's a myth that applies to many dog breeds. It is simply false and inhumane to think that a dog, be it a retriever, a shepherd or any other type, is capable of working tirelessly. Dogs have physical and psychological limits and are not machines that can work to the user's liking. This myth is very dangerous, so make sure you completely banish it (if you ever believed it) so as not to harm your best friend. Keep in mind that your retriever may not realize his limitations (as is often the case), and may want to hunt all the time. It is you who must regulate the time and intensity of this activity so that your dog does not harm himself.
- Retrievers can spend many hours in cold waters While it is true that retrievers have a coat that protects them from water and cold, it is not true that they are immune to cold. It is not a good idea to keep a retriever in cold water for a long time or make him charge several times in cold water, because he can become hypothermic and die. Each owner must be responsible for their retriever and must seek the best for them, and must not subject them to extreme conditions that are beyond the actual capabilities of dogs.
