Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Their beautiful coats and seemingly always happy and friendly demeanor makes them favorites of families everywhere.
Goldens are also highly valued for their loyalty and intelligence. They are very active and love to play with children, but I’m guessing there’s a good chance you already knew that!
But what don’t you know about our beloved Goldens? Read on to learn 5 interesting facts about these beautiful, incredibly sweet doggies!
1. Golden Retrievers are cross bred
Contrary to what many believe, Goldens did not appear until relatively recently in our history. A royal known as Baron Tweedmouth lived alongside the Scottish border near the Tweed River and was well known for hunting.
He kept many types of retriever dog breeds, but they often did not survive the severe conditions. To remedy the problem he sought to create a new kind of breed. He crossed a Tweed Water Spaniel with a Wavy-Coated Retriever, and the first yellow coated dog was born.
It was then cross-bred again with a Bloodhound, which gave birth to the first Golden Retriever.
2. Golden Retrievers look after cats
You’ve probably seen plenty of movies where cats and dogs and all kinds of other animals are peacefully coexisting in one home. But while this certainly happens in real life, not all breeds of dog take to it easily.
Goldens, on the other hand, are well known for their love for practically anyone, including cats. Put a Golden and a cat in the same home, and the Golden will likely want to become fast friends. Though plenty of breeds can be friendly with cats, Goldens take to it much quicker than most.
3. There are three types of Goldens
There are actually three distinct types of Golden Retrievers: American, Canadian and British. British Goldens are found mostly in Europe and Australia. They typically have a broader skull and a light colored coat.
The American variety are less muscular and thinner, but taller than their British cousins. They also will have a darker colored coat than the other types.
Canadian Goldens are similar to American Retrievers as they are thin and have a dark coat. They are the tallest variety of Golden.
4. Golden Retrievers are fast runners
If you’ve ever played fetch with a Golden, this probably comes as no surprise to you. But did you know just how fast they are? Goldens have been known to reach speeds up to 30mph (or 48km/h).
Take a look at this video of an 11-month old Golden that reaches over 25 miles per hour while running on snow. And of course, the beautiful boy has a huge smile on his face the whole time!
5. They get lonely if left by themselves
Another way that Goldens stand out from other breeds is their ability to experience sadness much like we do. Trainers advise not to leave them alone for long periods as they can become depressed.
If they are left alone for more than 7 hours they will start to experience sadness. Try getting a dog walker, or another pet if your Golden has to be left alone for long periods of time on a regular basis.
If neither of those will work for your family, check out our article on separation anxiety which has some great ideas on how to keep your Golden occupied and happy while you’re away.
