Everything To Know About The Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. It is very friendly, gentle and always with an attitude to please the owner. It gets along very easily with humans and hence considered as one of the most suited as a family dog. Here I touch upon some of the key aspects which need to be considered before you choose to adopt a Golden Retriever.

Golden Retriever's Attitude

Golden Retrievers are best suited as a family dog because of their soft and friendly nature. They go very well with all types of people - young, old and children. They also go well with known and stranger alike and hence ideal as a family dog. On the negative side this friendly nature hinders them from being a good watch dog. This breed has a more than average need for human interaction and hence requires considerable amount of care, time and attention. Therefore they are ideal for those who love to play and spend some time with the dog each day.

Energy Levels and Exercise

Goldens were originally bred for fetching birds and game by hunters and hence have very high energy levels. They are very active dogs and hence they like to go out, run around and love to play. They never seem to get tired of playing. Daily exercise like walking, jogging and playing "fetch" games is an important part of a Goldens care. As these dogs are intelligent as well, adding fun games along with other activities will keep them occupied & entertained.

Need for Training

It is obvious that every dog needs to be trained so that they are always kept under control. This applies to Golden Retriever even more as an undertrained Golden Retriever with its huge size, unbound energy and an eagerness to please might become difficult to handle.

Training is also important for other purposes. Like some of the other dog breeds, the Golden Retriever has a tendency to chew anything it finds interesting. This is a generally a nuisance but at times could turn out to be dangerous. This habit can be reduced by providing appropriate training. In addition to training providing the dog with its own set of toys will help as well.

Need for Care

These dogs love to eat and hence necessary care should be taken to ensure that they are not overfed. In addition to timely food supply they have to be exercised regularly. Improper food control and lack of exercise might result in obesity. They are characterized by their nice thick hairy coat. Keeping them neat and clean requires regular grooming effort. The presence of lush hair also mean that they shed hair regularly and hence proper care should be taken to clean fallen hair regularly.

Verdict

Golden Retriever is a dog for a true dog lover who loves to spend time with the dog and take care of it to ensure it's healthy and disease free. They need an owner who loves them and can devote more than average time and attention on a regular basis. Given the attention and care it's needed the Golden Retriever makes up with their loving nature and eagerness to please the owner.

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The Collie - A Great Family Companion

Collies are a larger dog (50 to 70 pounds and 22 to 26 inches tall) that requires moderate exercise. Because they were bred for herding, they do have the need for daily exercise, however, this can be playing with the kids in the backyard. They also enjoy taking walks about the neighborhood, so it is a good option for those that like to walk for exercise. The Collie can learn to fetch, but this is not natural to the breed and I would find other means of exercising the animal. The life span of the Collie is 10 to 14 years. Due to breeding, there are multiple health problems with the dog, so a mixed breed or careful selection of a pure breed is suggested.

The personality of the Collie makes it a great family dog. It is useful as a watch dog and will bark when it senses that something is not right. It tolerates children well and will be protective and loyal to the family. An intelligent dog, it "reads" the owners needs and tries to anticipate those needs. It is also playful and fun loving and large enough to tolerate rough play that children can sometimes provide. There are multiple stories of Collies rescuing people, children, or pets. History tells of one Collie that traveled over 2,000 miles to return to the family home when it was lost during a trip.

There are two different coats for a Collie: rough (long hair) and smooth (shorter hair). Both coats have an outer coat and an undercoat and both shed moderately. The two coats have different grooming requirements. Rough coats should be brushed a minimum of twice a week and more often (daily) if you want to have the classic Collie look of long flowing fur. Smooth coats can be brushed once a week. Especially, in warmer climates, the dog will need to be brushed frequently to help remove the shed fur. It is suggested that the dog be bathed about every 6 to 8 weeks. Due to the long fur (rough variety) this may mean a trip to a groomer. It can be difficult to manage the fur and get the job accomplished well. The smooth coat is much easier to bathe. As with all breeds remember to get nails clipped and brush the teeth about once a week or more often.

Collies are intelligent dogs that like to be around the herd (family). They can be a good dog for a first time owner that has the time to spend on grooming. They do well in agility trials, as companion dogs, assistance or therapy dogs, and herding. The herding instinct is so strong that they may herd other pets or children! They do not tolerate hot climates as well as cooler climates. They will adapt to apartment swelling as long as they get regular exercise on a daily basis. This dog does require the owner to be an active part of its life or it can become noisy and bark frequently.

Collies are loyal, intelligent, and dignified as a family pet and watch dog. It does require regular exercise and nearly daily grooming.

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When it comes to obedience training, all dogs are not created equal. Many dogs are difficult to train and even some of the top 3 breeds that are easier to train can be a challenge for even the best dog trainer. Here, in no specific order, are the top 3 dog breeds that are easier to train than others.

Border Collie

Many a famous dog has been a Border Collie, with good reason. Border Collies are easy to train and generally pretty obedient. It is worthy to note that the females tend to be a bit easier to train than their male counterparts. Perhaps because females tend to be more nurturing.

German Shepherd

It's with good reason that police departments nationwide use German Shepherds, their K-9 units know how to train them and the dogs respond well to trainers and training methods. They can be very protective of the family yet gentle with young children. Renowned for their ability to run and capture criminals, this breed also makes an excellent family dog.

Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdogs offer up a lot of dog with a very gentle disposition. They are pretty easy going and very obedient. They love to romp and play and will often prefer the company of a child playing over an adult. They kind of meander or amble along and tend to take their sweet time doing so. They are very easy to teach to sit, lay down and shake hands. This breed tends to only bark at something serious such as a new dog in the area, a stranger or something else that is out of character for the area in which they live.

Runners Up

Two other breeds worthy of mention are the Golden Retriever and The Australian Shepherd. Both are fairly easy to train and can be great additions to most families if they are trained properly.

Every dog is able to learn do well with obedience training. However, the above mentioned breeds tend to learn more quickly and keep the skills that they have learned. Again, in all cases, the females of the breeds tended to learn more quickly and stick with their training. It's important that training begin as soon as the dog is brought home and if there are any issues, always seek the help of a professional trainer.

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Are Some Breeds of Dogs More Loyal Than Others?

When bringing home a new pet, there are a number of qualities you'll want to look for. You'll want to find a pet that you'll be able to train properly. You'll want an animal with a good temperament. And most of all, you'll want to find a dog that will be loyal.

While loyalty is a trait that's strongly associated with dogs, certain breeds of dog are far more loyal than others. If you're hoping to get an extremely loyal dog, you'll want to make sure you go with one of these breeds.

Collies are famous for being loyal thanks to the show Lassie. These dogs are very intelligent, and they're also extremely protective of the people who own them. They're a great dog for a family as long as you have the space for a large dog. Collies need lots of exercise!

Another dog breed that is known for its loyalty is the German Shepherd. This breed of dog is frequently used by both the police and the military. They're also used as service dogs. They're a naturally loyal breed, and they are quite protective of the family that cares for them.

Beagles were bred to be hunting dogs, but they're also an extremely loyal breed. In fact, this type of dog has been used by homeland security. They are very protective of their owners and have worked hard to make sure they get help in emergency situations.

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved breeds around, and it's easy to see why. It has lots of energy, an excellent temperament, and it's extremely loyal. They make wonderful family dogs, and they can provide a lot of companionship to an individual as well. They're a great fit for all kinds of homes.

While the Kuvasz breed isn't as well known as some of the other breeds on this list, it makes for an excellent pet. They make very good service dogs, but they also have a sense of humor and can be very playful. They're great guard dogs, and they're great companions as well.

As you can see, some breeds of dogs are a lot more loyal than others. If you're hoping to bring a loyal pet into your home, make sure you look at these breeds first. You're sure to be happy with them. They're popular dogs for a reason!

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