Friendly, reliable and trustworthy...three words used to describe the Golden's temperament. Add to that description a good-looking versatile hunter and you've summed up the dog as a whole. The Golden is another of the retriever breeds known for its lustrous coat, ranging through every shade of golden under the sun, and an unbeatable personality.

A wonderful breed that has had numerous faults creep into its lineage from years of over-breeding to satisfy the demand of the breed's popularity. It has become a breed closely associated with hip dysplasia from the indiscriminant breeding. There also seems to be an increase in behaviors not traditionally seen in this  breed, ranging from nervous/compulsive disorders to aggression.

Should the potential puppy owner be discouraged by this? Yes and no. It is a breed that will require you to do some research into the breeder to ensure he or she is a steward of the breed and doing everything in their power to improve upon this wonderful dog. But once that research is done, and a good line is found, your odds of having a wonderful companion are excellent.

The Golden is simply a beautiful dog that can be just as happy playing fetch with the kids in the backyard as it would be chasing roosters on the weekend.

Photos courtesy Jerry Moulden

Clubs and Organizations

• Golden Retriever Club of America
  www.grca.org

Health Information

• Golden Retriever Club of America Health Page
  http://www.grca.org/menu_health.htm

Rescue Information

• Rescue Organizations
  http://www.grca-nrc.org/